Off-Peak tickets
Flexible travel on Fridays
We've relaxed the usual travel restrictions for Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak and Off-Peak Day tickets on Fridays for trains departing from and arriving at London Kings Cross and Stevenage. That means if you have a flexible ticket you can travel at any time on a Friday (as long as your ticket is valid for then!).
Make sure you reserve a seat if you do decide to travel on a different train, it's to keep you and other passengers safe when they travel with us.
Will other routes have similar restriction easements in place?
Will this easement be applicable on any other days of the week?
For customers who have booked ahead and avoided peak services, are they able to now transfer their booking to another service?
When can you use an Off-Peak ticket?
The trains you can catch and the times you can travel with an Off-Peak ticket vary depending on when the journey is, where you’re going and which train company that you are travelling with. So be sure to check your ticket’s terms and conditions
Flexible Fridays:
- We’ve relaxed ticket restrictions for Off-peak tickets on Fridays for trains departing from and arriving at London Kings Cross and Stevenage, so you can travel at anytime to help spread demand. Make sure you reserve a seat if you travel at a different time.
Usual off-peak restrictions:
- If you’re travelling in and out of London King’s Cross, Off-Peak tickets are not valid for travel on northbound trains departing London between 06.45 and 07.59 (Monday to Friday) or between 15.59 and 17.45 (Monday to Thursday only). And on southbound trains which arrive into London before 10.08 (Monday to Friday). You can travel anytime at the weekend.
- You’ll need to make your outward journey on the date shown on the outward part of your ticket
- You have to make your return journey within one calendar month of the date shown on your ticket. For example, if you booked to your outbound journey for 7 July, the last day you could use the return ticket would be 6 August. Off-Peak restrictions will also apply to the return journey.
- Not all journey restrictions are set by LNER, so please check the time restrictions for the journey you're making before you buy.
Super Off-Peak tickets
If there’s more than one Off-Peak fare for a journey, the cheaper fare with more restrictions is called a Super Off-Peak ticket.
- Super Off-Peak restrictions for journeys to/from/via London King’s Cross and Stevenage are slightly different. If you're travelling in/out or via London King's Cross, Super Off-Peak tickets are not valid for travel on northbound trains departing London/Stevenage before 09.06 and between 14.59 and 18.59 inclusive (Monday to Thursday) or between 14.59 and 18.15 on a Friday only. On Southbound journeys, Super Off-Peak tickets are not valid for travel on any train which arrives in London/Stevenage before 11.17 (Monday to Friday).
- Super Off-Peak tickets are not available in First Class.
When can you use an Off-Peak Day ticket or an Off-Peak Travelcard?
Outward and Return journeys must be made on the date shown on your ticket. Break of journey is allowed. Times you can travel:
NORTHBOUND: On any train from London King's Cross timed to depart at 09.53 or later, except 15.40-19.01 inclusive, Monday-Friday.
SOUTHBOUND: On any train to London King's Cross timed to arrive in London at 11.00 or later, Monday-Friday.
An exception applies to Off-Peak Day tickets between Stevenage and London King’s Cross as these tickets are not valid for trains timed to depart after 04:29 and before 09:30, Monday - Friday. There is no restriction for your return journey of the ticket.
More information
Are Off-Peak tickets refundable?
Up until 31 December 2021, if you cancel your booking BEFORE 18:00 the day before travel, you can get a fee-free refund.
If you cancel your ticket AFTER 18:00 the day before travel, an industry-standard £10 admin fee is applied.
Can I change my travel plans?
Off-Peak Tickets
You can travel on any Off-Peak train on the date shown on your ticket. For Off-Peak Return tickets, you must make your return journey within one calendar month (excluding Off-Peak Day tickets). If you would simply like to change train times to travel on a peak service, for travel on the same day, please pay the difference in fare at the Travel Centre. There is no administration fee to make this change. Find out how to change your ticket here. If you want to travel on a different day, you need to refund your ticket online via My Account or at the station and buy a new one. You can find out all about refunding your tickets here.
Super Off-Peak Tickets
You can travel on any Super Off-Peak train on the date shown on your ticket. For Super Off-Peak Return tickets, you must make your return journey within one calendar month (excluding Super Off-Peak Day tickets). If you would simply like to change train times to travel on a peak service, for travel on the same day, please pay the difference in fare at the Travel Centre. There is no administration fee to make this change. Find out how to change your ticket here. If you want to travel on a different day, you need to refund your ticket online via My Account or at the station and buy a new one. You can find out all about refunding your tickets here.
Do I need to book in advance?
No, you can buy an Off-Peak ticket up to a few minutes before departure.
Can I break my journey?
Yes, you can stop off at stations along your route of travel.
Can I get a discount with a Railcard?
Yes, you can save up to a third of the ticket price with a Railcard. Find out more about Railcards.
Are there discounts for children?
Yes, there is a 50% discount for children aged 5-15, and under 5s travel free. Read more about travelling with children.
Can I reserve a seat?
Yes, you can reserve a seat in advance if you want, but you don’t have to. Seat reservation is recommended on busier trains, for example on Friday or Sunday afternoons. For any train that leaves before 10:15, reservations are closed the night before. After that, reservations close two hours before the train departs the first station.
Is it possible to book a First Class Off-Peak ticket?
Yes, on a few selected journeys to/from London. Where they are available, LNER First Class tickets also let you use any of our First Class lounges for free.
What happens if disruption affects my travel plans?
If you decide not to travel due to disruption, you can claim a refund on any unused tickets without needing to pay an administration fee.
Terms & conditions
If travelling on LNER trains using an Off-Peak or Super Off-Peak ticket, it is essential that you read these terms and conditions carefully. If you board a train that your ticket is not valid for, you may be liable to purchase a new ticket or pay an excess fare. If travelling with other train operators, please check with that operator for restrictions that apply to their trains.
When there is more than one Off-Peak fare for a journey, the cheaper fare with more restrictions will be called Super Off-Peak. Most LNER Off-Peak tickets do not allow travel before 09.30 Monday-Friday. (See different conditions below for journeys to, from or via Stevenage and London). However, if you have a connection with another train company please check their travel restrictions as they may be different to ours. Time restrictions do not apply on Saturdays, Sundays or Bank Holidays.
Travel restrictions and validity to, from or via London
1. Off-Peak tickets
Outward journeys must be made on the date shown on your ticket, and return journeys, where applicable, within one calendar month. Only available on selected journeys. Times you can travel:
NORTHBOUND: On any train from London King's Cross except those timed to depart 06.45-07.59 Monday-Friday and 15.59-17.45 inclusive, Monday-Thursday.
SOUTHBOUND: On any train timed to arrive in London King's Cross at 10.08 or later, Monday-Friday.
2. Super Off-Peak tickets
Outward journeys must be made on the date shown on your ticket and return journeys within one calendar month. Times you can travel:
NORTHBOUND: On any train from London King's Cross except those timed to depart before 09.06 Monday-Friday and from 14.59-18.59 inclusive, Monday-Thursday and from 14.59-18.15 on Fridays.
SOUTHBOUND: On any train timed to arrive in London King's Cross at 11.17 or later, Monday-Friday.
Note: Super Off-Peak Single tickets for some journeys are sold at a special web only fare that is not available at Ticket Offices or Travel centres. If you go to a Ticket office or Travel Centre to change a ticket which was advertised as a “web only fare”, you will have to refund your existing ticket and then book a new one. This may result in you paying substantially more to buy another Super Off-Peak Single ticket.
3. Off-Peak Day Return and Off-Peak Travelcards
Outward and Return journeys must be made on the date shown on your ticket. Break of journey is allowed. Times you can travel:
NORTHBOUND: On any train from London King's Cross timed to depart at 09.53 or later, except 15.40-19.01 inclusive, Monday-Friday.
SOUTHBOUND: On any train to London King's Cross timed to arrive in London at 11.00 or later, Monday-Friday.
4. London restrictions: Super Off-Peak and Off-Peak Day Returns
From 2 January 2019, Thameslink & Great Northern have introduced Super Off-Peak Day Return/ Travelcards to their weekday ticket range between Peterborough and London Thameslink/ London Terminals. Travel restrictions are listed below:
- Super Off-Peak Day tickets cannot be used on trains that arrive into London Terminals before 10.55 or that depart London stations between 16.30 and 19.01.
- Off-Peak Day tickets between London King's Cross and Stevenage have no time restrictions for your return journey.