From family days out to staycations, travelling by train with kids in tow can be testing – but Gloucestershire train company Great Western Railway has a few ways to make it easier.
SoGlos shares seven ways GWR helps family train journeys go smoothly when travelling from Gloucestershire.
Fixed price family tickets
GWR offers fixed price family tickets to a range of destinations – including London Paddington – with up to two adults and four children travelling for just £39 one-way with its Family Advance Standard ticket. Ideal for frugal family days out!
Exciting destinations
Taking travellers to beaches from Brighton to St Ives; cultural hotspots from Exeter to Oxford; and of course, the capital, families in Gloucestershire can explore the country by train on the GWR network.
With services to Gatwick Airport and Portsmouth Harbour, as well as connecting bus services to Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter airports from GWR stations, families travelling further afield can start their journey on the train, too.
Two for one attraction tickets
Families travelling by train can get two for one tickets for top attractions across the country, including Legoland Windsor, SEA Life London and the STEAM Museum in Swindon. By registering on the 2FOR1 app and showing a valid rail ticket, two adults can get entry for the price of one.
For more information, see two for one attraction tickets with GWR.
Free WiFi on all GWR trains
Keeping kids entertained on long journeys can be tricky, which is why GWR offers free WiFi on all of its train services. Whether it’s watching Paw Patrol or streaming songs on Spotify, big and small kids will have something to keep them occupied all the way.
Snack trolley service on board
GWR offers a range of snacks on board, with options including sandwiches, wraps, crisps, chocolate, and hot and cold drinks. You won’t even have to leave your seat, as the friendly staff bring the trolley through the train during the journey.
Baby changing facilities and step-free access
There are family-friendly facilities at a number of GWR stations in Gloucestershire, with step-free access at both Cam & Dursley and Gloucester, handy for pushchairs; free public WiFi at Cheltenham and Gloucester to keep kids entertained while waiting for the train; and baby changing facilities at Cheltenham, Gloucester, Kemble and Stroud.
There are baby changing facilities on all GWR trains, too.
Friends and family railcards
For frequent train travellers, a Family and Friends Railcard makes train travel cheaper. Up to four adults and four children aged five to 15 can travel on the same railcard – even if they’re not travelling together – as long as there’s at least one five to 15-year-old in each group. Children under five travel free with the Family and Friends Railcard too, with each adult able to bring up to two children under five with them. You can even bring a dog on board for free too.
The railcard costs £30 for one year or £70 for three years, saving families an average of £131 per year.
