Traveling by Train throughout the UK is notoriously expensive. A single anytime ticket from London King's Cross to Leeds costs about $145 (as of October 2010), and takes about two and a half hours. If time is of the essence, train travel to Leeds might be the best option, but ticket prices can reach upwards of $170, depending on the time of day you wish to travel.
Trains in the UK are comfortable, but not especially accommodating. It's not uncommon for a train to be entirely booked and all seats to be filled, which can lead to an uncomfortable journey, especially if your seat is on the floor.
The cheapest option in the United Kingdom is often taking a National Express bus. The service is regular and coach stations are located in every major transport hub of the country. A ticket to Leeds from London's Heathrow Airport costs $40 to $50 and buses run about every two hours.
The journey is about six and a half hours, so for those with a flexible itinerary and no children, coach travel can be very pleasant. Bus travel in the UK is clean and comfortable, and a fraction of the cost of taking a train.
The most cost-effective option for traveling to Leeds may be to book a flight. For $120 to $180, you can fly from London Heathrow to Leeds in just over an hour. Cheaper flights are usually booked about two weeks in advance, but sometimes last-minute deals are available within the UK. A roundtrip flight will be cheaper than a one-way ticket, so for a day trip to the northern counties, flying is an excellent option.
