A guide to UK train seat reservations: Are they recommended?

Though many UK trains allow you to board without a reserved seat, a train seat reservation can make your journey more comfortable. There are more reasons than you may think, too.

• Guarantee a Seat - You avoid the uncertainty of standing for part (or, if you’re unlucky, all!) of your journey.
• Sit Together: Booking a seat is beneficial for families, friends or groups who want to sit together.
• Choose Your Preferred Seat: Whether you prefer a window view, a table, or you want to be in the quiet carriage, you have the freedom to choose.
• Stress-Free: Knowing you have a guaranteed seat means you can arrive at the station relaxed, without needing to compete for space or try and squeeze onto a full train.

Not every journey requires a seat reservation, but there are certain times when booking one can make a big difference to your comfort.

Long-distance journeys

For longer trips - such as London to Edinburgh, Birmingham to Manchester, or Cardiff to Glasgow - a train seat reservation is worth it, unless you want to risk standing up for hours or having to move around more than you’d like to.

Peak travel times

One of the key train seat booking tips is to research peak travel times before you plan your journey. Busy trains fill up quickly, and booking a seat is recommended to make sure you can get on board without any worries.

Special occasions

If you’re travelling as a family, with friends or to a special event, seat reservations make the entire experience not just stress-free, but much more enjoyable altogether. 

Reserving seats ensures your group can sit together on busy trains. It’s also ideal if you’re carrying extra luggage, travelling with small children, or you just want to make your journey a little bit more sociable for your group.

Not every train journey in the UK requires a reserved seat. For many services, you can buy a ticket on the day and hop on the next available service, or even buy an advance ticket without an assigned seat.

Short journeys and regional trains

For shorter routes such as London to Cambridge, Manchester to Liverpool, or commuter services, seat reservations are often unnecessary. These trains run frequently throughout the day, and most passengers only travel for short distances, so seats quickly become available.

Off-peak travel

Off-peak trains are quieter and more relaxed, making it easier to find a seat without needing to reserve one and having a much higher chance of hopping straight on without it being too busy. 

Uncertain travel plans

When your schedule is flexible, it can make sense to skip seat reservations. Some tickets are only valid for a specific train when a seat is reserved, so keeping your options open allows you to travel at different times and change plans at the last minute, without worrying about losing your seat reservation.

Of course, even when reservations are optional, it can still be worth booking a seat in advance, especially for busy routes.

Booking a train seat is simple if you use Trip.com. You can easily add a seat reservation when you buy a ticket on the app and on a desktop. All you need to do is enter your journey details and search for available services in the search box above. Once you’ve chosen your train, select your ticket type. If seat reservations are available for that service, you’ll see an option to reserve a seat before payment.

Alternatives to seat reservations

If you prefer to keep your plans flexible or if reserving a seat isn't an option, there are still a handful of ways to make your journey comfortable.

• Travel Off-Peak: One of the easiest ways is to avoid crowded trains and travel off-peak. Off-peak trains tend to be quieter, meaning you can usually find a seat without needing a reservation.
• Flexible Tickets: Flexible tickets allow you to travel on different trains throughout the day. This flexibility means that if a seat isn’t available - or if you want to catch an earlier or later train - you can change your plans without having to buy a new ticket.
• Early Arrival: One of the best UK rail travel tips is to arrive at the station early and find a seat before everyone else does. This approach is particularly useful on busy commuter or regional services where seat reservations aren’t common.