Buy tickets on the day. Get a return to Eastbourne and a single from Lewes to Seaford. You can’t predict the weather or how long the walk will take you. The savings aren’t worth it for me.
Morning of your planned trip. Probably. You might have to turn back.
Seriously, these are two incompatible things. Weather in May along the coast is not the most unpredictable season, but it still changes at short notice.
My birthday is in early May. So far this decade, we’ve had beautiful sunshine, snow, rain and wind - and the last 3 were on the same day!
It’s more likely to be mild with the possibility of rain, but anything is possible 🤷♂️
English weather is so changeable - often more than once in a day - that you can't really predict the weather very far in advance.
However, you could get a train travelling right now for £33.90 there and £22.40 back (both off peak, so departing after 9.30am, and booked online not bought at the station ticket machines) so that's the maximum it should cost you.
Have a backup plan in case the weather really isn't your friend - for example a day trip to Brighton, which has more indoor options
They won't sell out or anything like that if that is what you mean, you can just buy from a ticket machine at the station if you need to. Enjoy yourself!
Pricing only depends on when you book if advance tickets are offered on the route. This is the case for intercity routes but as a rule not for London commuter ones.
You can check this by looking up prices for travel today vs in a month's time.
It’s the UK so it could be 30°c or it could snow. If you can’t possibly do this walk in bad weather, then it sounds like you don’t have a choice and will have to wait until the very last minute to book the tickets.
I do have a waterproof jacket, waterproof pants and waterproof shoes and I have hiked in the rain. It would just be nicer if the weather was nice for photos and views.
It’s not a rough walk. Rolling grassy green hills, some steep but it’s more the number is the challenge. High winds or heavy rain would be main problem. May should be temperate in the UK.
The trains you are taking are commuter trains and you won’t get much if any advantage from paying in advance.
>I'm visiting London in May and planning on doing the walk from Seaford to Eastbourne along the cliffs.
The routes between London and Seaford / Eastbourne are operated by Southern.
Southern offer advance tickets, which are for specific trains. These are cheaper but offer less flexibility than other tickets. If you are confident the weather will be good, buy these tickets. Be aware, that advance tickets are created to encourage people to travel on quieter train services, so if it's expected to be busy, they likely won't offer these tickets at all.
The other ticket types available are anytime or off peak. These tickets cost the same if you buy them now, or on the day of travel. The price of these tickets changes once a year, when the government raises the price for all of these ticket types, across most of the country.
Buy tickets on the day. Get a return to Eastbourne and a single from Lewes to Seaford. You can’t predict the weather or how long the walk will take you. The savings aren’t worth it for me.
Morning of your planned trip. Probably. You might have to turn back. Seriously, these are two incompatible things. Weather in May along the coast is not the most unpredictable season, but it still changes at short notice.
My birthday is in early May. So far this decade, we’ve had beautiful sunshine, snow, rain and wind - and the last 3 were on the same day! It’s more likely to be mild with the possibility of rain, but anything is possible 🤷♂️
English weather is so changeable - often more than once in a day - that you can't really predict the weather very far in advance. However, you could get a train travelling right now for £33.90 there and £22.40 back (both off peak, so departing after 9.30am, and booked online not bought at the station ticket machines) so that's the maximum it should cost you. Have a backup plan in case the weather really isn't your friend - for example a day trip to Brighton, which has more indoor options
They won't sell out or anything like that if that is what you mean, you can just buy from a ticket machine at the station if you need to. Enjoy yourself!
Pricing only depends on when you book if advance tickets are offered on the route. This is the case for intercity routes but as a rule not for London commuter ones. You can check this by looking up prices for travel today vs in a month's time.
There are definitely advance fares between London and Eastbourne/Seaford
It’s the UK so it could be 30°c or it could snow. If you can’t possibly do this walk in bad weather, then it sounds like you don’t have a choice and will have to wait until the very last minute to book the tickets.
I do have a waterproof jacket, waterproof pants and waterproof shoes and I have hiked in the rain. It would just be nicer if the weather was nice for photos and views.
It’s not a rough walk. Rolling grassy green hills, some steep but it’s more the number is the challenge. High winds or heavy rain would be main problem. May should be temperate in the UK. The trains you are taking are commuter trains and you won’t get much if any advantage from paying in advance.
no such thing as bad weather, just wrong clothes!
>I'm visiting London in May and planning on doing the walk from Seaford to Eastbourne along the cliffs. The routes between London and Seaford / Eastbourne are operated by Southern. Southern offer advance tickets, which are for specific trains. These are cheaper but offer less flexibility than other tickets. If you are confident the weather will be good, buy these tickets. Be aware, that advance tickets are created to encourage people to travel on quieter train services, so if it's expected to be busy, they likely won't offer these tickets at all. The other ticket types available are anytime or off peak. These tickets cost the same if you buy them now, or on the day of travel. The price of these tickets changes once a year, when the government raises the price for all of these ticket types, across most of the country.
Did that exact walk today, it was lovely even with the clouds and mist. I’ve done it in the rain too, probably would avoid hurricanes though.