Flying into LHR, arrival 10 AM, weekday. Plan to take train to Middlesbrough out of Kings Cross. I looked at the BMI flight to Teeside, but it doesn't go until 16:00 and is more expensive. It will be two traveling, one UK, one US citizen, both carry-on. Cost is a factor. My questions are:

1. Planning to take tube to Kings Cross - seems easier than first taking HEX and then going to tube. Would be cheaper too. Any suggestions?

2. Want to buy cheapest tickets available for travel, looks like 48 GBP single for most times. When can I reasonably expect to catch a train out of Kings Cross and what happens if we miss the train I've prebooked - full fare? Should I buy for a later one and try to get onto an earlier one if I get there sooner?

3. The choices to Middlesbrough are GNER/Northern Rail connecting at Darlington and GNER/Transpennine Express connecting at York. What would be the most scenic, comfortable and/or convenient? Both take about 3 and 1/2 hours.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

1. I would jump on the tube as you're arriving after the rush hour and, although the journey time is slightly longer, is less hassle (assuming you're arriving at LHR T3) as the tube goes direct to King's Cross. Definitely cheaper at �3.80 one way. Reckon on a journey time of 50 mins.

2. Cheapest one way fare is �29.50 for a 7-day advance purchase which is only available off-peak. The �48.00 fare is the next lowest and both have restrictions meaning you must travel on the train indicated on your ticket otherwise you will be charged the FULL fare (�85.50 being the flexible open ticket). Trains leave KGX every 30 mins most of the day with a few exceptions.

3. Change at Darlington. You spend half an hour longer on the express and less time on the local trains (which are far less comfortable). York station is a lot busier than Darlington so it makes sense to change trains at Darlington. Scenic-wise, not much difference in it.

I recently did a trip report for a similar journey:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=413757

First off, congratulations on being one of the very few people who can spell Middlesbrough correctly!

I'd second UK flyer's advice and add that the Tube at Heathrow can look scarily crowded, but it's usually quite easy. Use the credit card machines instead of queuing. Then go down the stairs, turn round and go to the very end of the train. There's almost always space there. And if there isn't, walk over to the other platform - these trains leave every 2 minutes, you're not in trouble if you miss one.

I assume you're going to Middlesbrough for family/friends? It's not exactly on the tourist routes... That said, it's got some excellent industrial heritage (the transporter bridge, the civic buildings), some wonderful countryside around it (Rosebery Topping and the North end of the North York Moors) and some great coast (Saltburn by the Sea, or even further afield to Whitby, for the best fish and chips in the country). It's about the most industrial place I've ever been to in the UK (mostly due to the massive expanses of British Steel Redcar and ICI Wilton) but it definitely has its spots.

Enjoy your trip.

UK flyer - thanks for the recommendations and the wonderful trip report. Sounds like an interesting journey all the way up to Scotland, hopefully we can take that sometime too. Do you think I can make a 12 or 12:30 train out of KGX with a 10:00 LHR arrival?

stut - yes, heading up to visit my fiancee's Dad who has just moved to Guisborough (alternate spelling Gisborogh ). I have not been to this part of the country, so I'm looking forward to it. I've heard of a couple of the places you mentioned, I hope we have a chance to get around some. This is actually a whirlwind friend and family visit: train to Middlesbrough, hire car to Manchester, fly to Plymouth and hire car back to London. Like the old John Candy movie, "Planes, Trains and Automobiles". We get over about twice a year, I enjoy it no matter where we end up going

Hi,

First congratulations for your upcoming marital plans!

The 1200 from KGX doesn't call at Darlington, unfortunately, but the 1230 does. If your flight arrives on time then you shouldn't have any problems catching the 1230. This arrives in Darlington at 1513 and the connecting service leaves at 1530 from across the opposite southbound platform, if I remember rightly, but do check, and arrives into Middlesbrough at 1555.

If you want the cheapest fare then book well in advance (as far ahead as possible). These fares are notorious for not being available for when you want to travel. Midweek has good availablity, weekends not so.

A handy note to remember when travelling on a restricted ticket. If for whatever reason you miss the train on which you're booked (tube delays, plane problems, etc) then just go to the ticket office and explain what happened, they'll verify and stamp the back of your ticket to allow travel on the next train.

Have a great holiday!

Doesn't always happen, but definitely go to the ticket office to get a new ticket should you miss your train - on board, they will only sell full fare singles, you may still be able to rebuy discounted in the ticket office.

You also might consider flying LHR-MAN and then taking the transpennine express as a through train from MAN (at the airport itself) to Middlesbrough... LHR-MAN has both BA/BD on the route so it is possible to pick up cheap flights e.g. �55 from MAN v �100 ish from MME is what i normally expect prices to be.

I'd connect in York, but then I'm probably biased because of where I live

stut is right on Middlesbrough - i live just the other side of the Moors, and haven't visited it/stopped there (although I'm sure I've been to Guisborough). However, Ridley Scott, director of Bladerunner, grew up there, and has said that the chemical works by night influenced the designs used in Bladerunner - I actually prefer Middlesbrough by night because of this - I drove through late last night looking at these (again). They are very cool - in an industrial way!

Thank UK flyer. I bought our tickets for the 1230, cheapest available was the �48.00 level. The GNER web site, while good about showing times and prices, is not very world traveler friendly when it comes to buying a ticket. It won't take a non-UK credit card. We were able to call and book it very quickly over the phone, no problem that way. We are heading over next Wednesday, looking forward to a nice trip