Trainline’s May Bank Holiday Travel Update 

Living for the City (Break)

Ahead of the Early May Bank Holiday, Trainline has been analysing travel data trends to find out what’s really got Brits on the move. Trainline’s latest insights have found that data* looking at rail passenger uplifts between Saturday 2nd and Monday 4th May suggests a strong preference for journeys to regional cities and historic cultural hubs, with Brits looking to dive into our abundant local history and character-filled destinations for the upcoming long weekend.

Trainline's most popular city trips for Early May

Hereford

Hereford has shown a passenger uplift of +61% for the early Bank Holiday, with those travelling to the historic city able to enjoy a wide variety of attractions and things to do. Hereford Cathedral has existed since the 8th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can also join an historic walking tour of the city from the cathedral’s Main North Porch entrance, which run daily between 1st April and 31st October.

Getting there: Hereford city centre is roughly 13 minutes’ walk from the station, and the cathedral is roughly 17 minutes’ walk.

Chichester

Chichester is another cathedral city that has displayed an increase in bookings, with an uplift of +49%. Visitors can walk around the city centre via the Roman Walls, which are the most well-preserved in Southern England. Other notable attractions include the city’s ‘secret’ Bishop’s Palace Gardens or the Pallant House Gallery, a leading modern British art gallery located in a Grade I listed building.

Getting there: The Roman Walls Guided Tour starts at the Tourist Information Centre at the Novium Museum, which is 12 minutes’ walk from the station. The Bishop’s Palace Gardens are nine minutes’ walk and Pallant House Gallery is just eight minutes’ walk.

Skipton

Skipton, billed as the Southern gateway to the Yorkshire Dales, has experienced an uplift of +43% for the long weekend. Visitors can head to the atmospheric Skipton Castle for some medieval history and if you fancy stretching your legs a bit further, you can continue on to Skipton Castle Woods, a circular woodland route taking in the beauty of the Yorkshire countryside.

Getting there: Skipton Castle is 16 minutes’ walk from the train station, with the woods a few minutes beyond.

Grantham

Grantham in Lincolnshire is a lively market town, full of local history and great local food, and has shown a passenger uplift of +29%. Visitors to the town can choose from a mix of attractions and sites, including the Grantham Museum for exhibitions about famous locals such as Margaret Thatcher; the towering spire of St. Wulfram’s Church or for some light refreshments, a quick stop at the Angel & Royal on the high street, which claims to be England’s oldest inn.

Getting there:

The Grantham Museum is nine minutes’ walk from the station, St Wulfram’s Church is 15 minutes’ walk and the Angel & Royal is just 12 minutes’ walk.

Winchester

Winchester is the former seat of King Alfred the Great and has shown a +21% uplift for the Bank Holiday break. Another cathedral city on the edge of the glorious South Downs National Park, visitors can see the famous cathedral or head to the Westgate Museum for panoramic views of the city. Another part of the museum that’s steeped in history is the Great Hall, which was famously home to the legendary King Arthur’s Round Table.

Save on Easter travel with Trainline’s top travel tips

Let SplitSave find cheaper combinations

Buying separate tickets for different parts of the same journey can sometimes be cheaper than one through fare. SplitSave, a feature built into the Trainline app, automatically checks this for you. You stay on the same train, but the app finds better value ticket combinations where they exist.

Consider getting a Railcard before you go:

A Family & Friends Railcard gives 1/3 off adult fares and 60% off kids’ tickets – really handy for sightseeing days out. It’s a myth that it’s just big groups as well – single parents travelling with children can benefit too.

Travelling as a pair? Try the Two Together Railcard. It’s another common misconception that this railcard is just for couples. You can have multiple cards with different partners (not just romantic!) travelling at the same time, making it ideal for days out with other friends and family coming along for the ride.

Remember GroupSave if you’re travelling with friends

GroupSave offers up to 1/3 off train fares for groups of 3–9 people travelling together on Off-Peak services – perfect for day trips, sightseeing, or exploring the UK as a group. Just make sure everyone travels on the same train and the discount will be applied automatically when booking!

*Data based on increase in passenger numbers between 2-4 May 2026 compared to 25-27 April