Just been doing some investigating of trains from Reading - Blackpool. Virgin do the route all the way to Preston, then it's just a short hop on the local train.
However, looking at comparitive fares (since you can't search more than 12 weeks out), for a Friday night up, and Sunday afternoon back, cheapest return in standard is £72.10, and the cheapest in first is £244.00.
Using the book-two-singles trick, standard class goes up to £78 (taking the same trains, but with better availability I might be able to snag £42), and first is exactly the same at £244.00
But... splitting the journey at Birmingham New Street (which basically means staying on the same train, but buying tickets for the Reading - Birmingham, Birmingham - Preston and Preston-Blacpool bit separately), the standard class comes down to £41.70 (booked as singles) or First is £131.10 (again, booked as singles at the lowest available fare)
Now, because I'm looking at a weekend in April rather than the actual dates in June, these won't be the final fares. But it is very interesting that exactly the same journey can be nearly half the price if you split the route up. You don't need to get off the train at the points you're ticketed in between - as long as the train stops there, this is a perfectly legal way to get much cheaper fares
Pete
Just for clarity, is the idea to arrive on the Saturday morning or the Friday evening? Just thought I should check as you spoke of staying in the Hilton and went on to say "and then on the Saturday" - as though we'll have been there Fri night?
