- What does “breaking up a journey” mean?
- When are you allowed to break up your journey?
- Can I make an overnight stop-off?
- What happens if you break your journey without permission?
- Example: Breaking up a journey from London to Manchester
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Have you ever wondered if you can hop off at a station along the way on your UK rail journey to explore for a few hours (or longer), and then simply hop back on the train later?
The quick answer is: yes - but only sometimes! Whether you’re allowed to break up your journey depends on the type of ticket you’ve purchased. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about breaking your journey on UK trains, so you can travel flexibly and confidently.
Photo by Stephen Craven
What does “breaking up a journey” mean?
A break in a journey means leaving the train at an intermediate station along your ticketed route, either to:
- Sightsee or grab a meal
- Visit friends or attend an event
- Stay overnight and resume your trip the next day
You’d then simply continue to your final destination after this using the same ticket, without needing to buy a new one.
When are you allowed to break up your journey?
| Ticket type | Break of journey allowed? | Ideal for |
| Anytime | Yes ✅ | Total flexibility, business trips |
| Off-Peak | Usually ✅ | Day trips, late morning/early evening travel |
| Super Off-Peak | Usually ✅ | Leisure travel during quiet hours |
| Advance | No ❌ | Budget trips, fixed schedules |
✅ Anytime, Off-Peak and Super-Off Peak tickets
Anytime and Off-Peak tickets are ideal if you’re thinking of making a stop-off. You can break up your journey:
- On the outward leg of an Off-Peak or Anytime ticket
- On the return leg of a Return ticket (if rules allow)
❌ Advance tickets
Unfortunately, Advance Tickets do not allow you to break up the journey, as they are only valid on specific trains and times. If you leave the train early, your ticket becomes invalid and you may be charged for a new fare.
Can I make an overnight stop-off?
If you have an Anytime or Off-Peak ticket, you can usually stay overnight and continue your journey the next day if:
- You depart the next day before 04:30 am (this technically counts as the previous day)
- You depart on the next calendar day and your ticket allows for it (not a same day return, for example)
What happens if you break your journey without permission?
If you use an Advance ticket to break your journey:
- You risk being charged the full fare from your stop-off point to your destination
- You may receive a Penalty Fare or be required to buy a new ticket
- In extreme cases, it can be considered fare evasion
Always check your fare conditions in advance to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Example: Breaking up a journey from London to Manchester
Let’s say you’re travelling from London to Manchester on an Off-Peak Return ticket.
With that ticket:
- You can get off in Birmingham, have lunch or explore for a few hours
- Then continue your journey later the same day to Manchester
- On the return leg, you can also stop in Milton Keynes and then continue to London
If you had an Advance ticket, however, you'd have to stay on your booked train the entire way.