1.  Book in advance.  Many advance purchase fares are available.  These are the cheapest tickets.  Although most will allow booking up to 48 hours before travel or even by 1800 the day before travel, many have different price bands from lowest to highest.  So when the cheapest fares sell out they move on to a higher band and so on.  Therefore the earlier you can buy the better...in theory.  However rail companies are managing demand.  Sometimes the fare starts off a little higher, then drops if there isn't demand before rising again.  Keep in mind that the cheapest fares are only ever offered if the train is not busy.  If its busy they simply charge higher fares and you won't get the cheap ticket no matter when you book or what train you take!

2.  Consider using more than one ticket!  In certain situations is may be cheaper to buy to tickets rather than one.  As we said, the rail companies won't like this!  For example some routes will only have a standard return.  By 'splitting' your journey in two and taking two cheap day returns some impressive savings may be made.  You can also do this with advance fares but if the first train is late, you have lost your ticket for the connection.  Depending on the saving and if you don't mind the risk it can be an option.  Another possibility, is to buy say a cheap day return for one part of your journey and an advance fare for another.  Advance fares are often only available on major routes so rather than buy a very expensive ticket from your departure point to your destination, buy an advance fare to the nearest big town and then a local ticket.   

3.  Don't use all of your ticket!  If you are traveling from a town with no cheap day return for example (it's perhaps too far to be considered a day trip) try looking for a ticket from a town before your stop.  It may be that this is now far enough to have a discounted advance purchase ticket.  This isn't technically within the rules, but there is nothing to stop you getting off before you were supposed to! (so long as you don't get on again!)

4.  Travel in a group.  There are many types of group fare for up to 4 adults available.  These tickets offer huge savings over 3 or 4 individual tickets and are priced to be competitive with the cost of using a car to transport a similar number. 

5. Don't forget Railcards!  These offer great savings for Seniors, Young People, Students and Families.  You can purchase them at any staffed railway station.  Find out more about Railcards here.