
Family and Friends Railcard
Is a Family and Friends Railcard worth it?
A Family and Friends Railcard offers you multiple benefits for just £35 per year.
Giving you one-third off rail fares for up to 4 adults, and up to 4 children aged 5 - 15, a huge 60% off. Travel together whenever you like, and having two adults named on the Railcard allows one cardholder to travel when the other is busy.
Am I eligible for a Family & Friends Railcard?
If you're aged 16 or over, you’re eligible for a Family and Friends Railcard. But to use it, one of the named adults on your railcard must travel with at least one child (aged 5-15) – you can get a discount for up to four adults and four children travelling together with one railcard!
How much can I save with a Family & Friends Railcard?
A Family and Friends Railcard saves you one-third on up to 4 adult fares and 60% on up to 4 children’s tickets, across each and every weekend, making day trips easier than ever. You can have two named adults on your railcard, so if one cardholder isn’t using it, the other can still enjoy the savings! Get discounts on off-peak train tickets and make your weekend family getaways more affordable. It’s the ultimate money-saver for families who love to explore by rail.
How much is the Family & Friends Railcard?
Just £35 – or save more with a 3-year railcard at £80 (that’s less than £27 per year!) – there’s also no limit to the number of times you can use it. With discounts on every journey, your Family and Friends Railcard is perfect for budget-friendly family travel throughout the year across the UK. So the potential for adventure is huge!
Where can I use the Family & Friends Railcard?
You can use your Family and Friends Railcard to travel anywhere in Great Britain on the National Rail network, meaning unlimited destinations across England, Scotland and Wales! Popular destinations include trips to London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Cardiff, the Lake District, or Cornwall beaches.
Where can I buy a Family & Friends Railcard?
The quickest and easiest way to buy is online – purchase your Family and Friends Railcard in minutes from the comfort of home. Alternatively, you can buy your railcard at any staffed station ticket office, or over the phone: 0345 3000 250. All you need is your address and email address, the name of the second cardholder and a debit or credit card for payment.
Choose how you want to carry your railcard – it’s completely up to you! Get a digital railcard on your phone, or opt for a physical card to keep in your wallet. Both options deliver the same great savings, so pick whichever suits you!
Not eligible for a Family & Friends Railcard? There are a number of other Railcards available, including the options below. You could also purchase a family ticket when travelling with family on Northern trains. This creates one singular ticket that can be purchased through the app - no more lost or forgotten tickets!
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about buying a Family and Friends Railcard.
Up to 4 adults can travel on a Family & Friends Railcard, but only two of them need to be named on the card.
Up to 8 passengers can travel using a Family & Friends Railcard. This means 4 adults and 4 children can travel using the Railcard.
No, the minimum number of passengers required to use a Family and Friends Railcard is two people. This means one adult aged 16+ and one child aged 5-15.
Children under 5 years old travel for free and so do not require a ticket. However, to be eligible to use the Family & Friends Railcard discount, at least one child in your group must have a child rate ticket. Therefore, if the children are all 4 or under, you can buy one discounted child ticket so that any accompanying adult can benefit from the Family & Friends Railcard discount.
Children who have just turned 16 are still entitled to get a discounted child fare for a time. If you have a 1-year Family & Friends Railcard, your child who has turned 16 can travel as long as the Railcard is valid.
If you have a 3-year Family & Friends Railcard, your 16-year-old can only travel as a child until they turn 17.
Yes, but with a restriction that excludes morning peak time services Monday to Friday (not including public holidays) when journeys are made wholly within the London and South East area.
No, the discount does not apply to Season tickets.