Plan your journey for Christmas

Find out more about when tickets are released, any engineering work and what festive treats we have in store this Christmas.

We’re lifting Peak restrictions

To keep you moving this Christmas and to help you save those pennies, we’re lifting our Peak restrictions. That means all Avanti West Coast services from Friday 22 December to Sunday 7 January inclusive are Off-Peak. Buy an Off-Peak ticket for these dates and get all the flexibility you need – travel at any time.

When can I buy train tickets?

If you’re travelling on a weekday, tickets usually become available 12 weeks in advance. On weekends and bank holidays, they’re released 8 weeks ahead. This is because most planned engineering work takes place at weekends, so an amended timetable takes a little longer to be finalised.

Planning further ahead than 8-12 weeks? No problem. Sign up for a Ticket Alert and we’ll email you as soon as our great range of fares goes on sale, including our best value Advance tickets.

Even if tickets are released at shorter notice than normal, you’ll still get the best choice of tickets, prices and seats as soon as they’re available to buy. If anything else is affecting the release date for tickets, such as engineering work or industrial action, we’ll let you know on this page.

Festive ticket calendar

Mon 18
December

Buy tickets
now >

Tue 19
December

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now >

Wed 20
December

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now >

Thu 21
December

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now >

Fri 22
December

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now >

Sat 23
December

Buy tickets
now >

Sun 24
December

Early shutdown:
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now >

Mon 25
December

No trains running on
Christmas Day

Tue 26
December

No trains running on
Boxing Day

Wed 27
December

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now >

Thu 28
December

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now >

Fri 29
December

Buy tickets
now >

Sat 30
December

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now >

Sun 31
December

Early shutdown:
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now >

Mon 01
January

Major works:
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now >

Tue 02
January

Buy tickets
now >

Wed 03
January

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now >

Thu 04
January

Buy tickets
now >

Fri 05
January

Buy tickets
now >

Sat 06
January

Buy tickets
now >

Sun 07
January

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now >

Which ticket type should I choose?

If it’s the best value you’re after, our Advance fares are for you. You can save up to 70% by booking as soon as tickets are released! Check the calendar above to see which festive dates have tickets available and which are coming soon. You can set a Ticket Alert if your preferred travel date isn’t available yet and we’ll let you know as our great range of tickets go on sale.

If it’s flexibility you’d prefer, take advantage of our festive Off-Peak travel window and try an Off-Peak Return. As long as tickets are on sale for your outward travel date, you can keep your options open and return within one month. Just click the ‘Anytime’ tab when you’re choosing your return options on our website, or tap ‘Open return’ on our app. When you’re ready to head back, be sure to check before you travel to see all the confirmed departure times on your route and for live updates about any disruption.

Planned engineering work

Network Rail are carrying out major engineering work on 25 and 26 December (when no trains are running anyway) and additionally on New Year’s Day, Monday 1 January 2024. We’ll share more information here nearer the time, but we expect rail replacement buses in a number of locations on the West Coast Main Line on 1 January, and significantly extended journey times. We expect timetables to be confirmed 8 weeks ahead (around the start of November).

Last trains on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve

Due to engineering work the following day, the train service finishes much earlier than usual on Sunday 24 December (Christmas Eve) and Sunday 31 December (New Year’s Eve). The last trains of the day will all leave their origin stations before 6pm, so be sure to check before you travel and arrive in plenty of time for your train.

The last trains to and from our key destinations are listed below. If your destination isn’t listed, just pop your journey details into our journey planner and then try clicking ‘See later trains’ until you find the last one.

What are the last Avanti West Coast trains from London Euston?

Sunday 24 & Sunday 31 December

Going to

Last train

Liverpool Lime Street

17:42

Birmingham New Street

17:39

Glasgow Central

16:29

Manchester Piccadilly

17:52

 

What are the last Avanti West Coast trains to London Euston? 

Sunday 24 & Sunday 31 December

Leaving from

Last train

Liverpool Lime Street

16:43

Birmingham New Street

17:21

Glasgow Central

16:38

Manchester Piccadilly

17:15

 

FEEL GOOD Christmas with Avanti West Coast

Our West Coast Main Line travels all over the UK. And at Christmas time, it's going to take you to all the winter wonderland attractions you're hoping to visit. From Manchester's Christmas Markets and Birmingham's Bullring, to Edinburgh Castle and Blackpool Illuminations, our West Coast is right at the heart of every Christmas Adventure.

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London's Christmas Events

Find out more
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Top Christmas Tips

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Best Christmas Markets

Find out more

Book direct with Avanti West Coast

This festive season make sure that you book your train tickets with Avanti West Coast to ensure that you have the best offers available. Here's why:

  • No booking fees - Book direct with us and you won’t pay a penny in booking fees. We also guarantee to give you the best price for your journey. If you find a cheaper Avanti West Coast ticket elsewhere, we’ll refund the difference (T&Cs apply).

  • Avanti Priority - Sign up for an Avanti account and get notified by SMS with the platform number before everybody else if you're travelling from London Euston.

  • Choose your seat - Choose the seat that's just right for you and if you change your mind you can also change your seat.

  • Seat upgrades - Be treated like a VIP from A to B. Even if you’ve already booked your train ticket, you can upgrade to Standard Premium or First Class via our website or app.

Discover more benefits of booking direct with Avanti West Coast.

Get more this Christmas
with Club Avanti

From 10% off everything on your first journey to a complementary First Class ticket.

Join Club Avanti this Christmas and see how rewarding it can be!

Discover Club Avanti