Any rail station in Britain to the Isle of Man...

It's a well-kept secret!  You can buy a special SailRail train & ferry ticket between any rail station in Britain and Douglas on the Isle of Man, one-way or return in either direction using the booking form on this page.  You hop on a train to Heysham (just north of Blackpool) or Liverpool and take a comfortable ferry to Douglas on the Isle of Man with the famous Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.  One ticket covers both train & ferry, centre to centre, no airport hassles, no baggage fees, no flights.  What's the journey like?

London to the Isle of Man from £102.50 return

Manchester to the Isle of Man from £62 return

Isle of Man to York from £68 return

Little Kimble to the Isle of Man from £102.50 return

Little where ?  Exactly! Any station in Britain to Douglas. Even Little Kimble.

Buy tickets online ►►►►►

Information on this page...

Ferry schedules to the Isle of Man    Ferry schedules from the Isle of Man   

How much does it cost?    How to buy tickets   What's the journey like?

Hotels & accommodation  Tourist offices, Isle of Man bus & TT race info

Manx Electric Railway  Snaefell Mountain Railway   Isle of Man Steam Railway

No airports, no flights, just relaxed train & ferry...

London to Douglas by fast train to Liverpool or Heysham, then a relaxing ferry to the Isle of Man.

London, Birmingham, Manchester ► Isle of Man

• Click here for a route map showing the UK rail network & ferries to the Isle of Man.

• You can check train & ferry times from any rail station in Britain to Douglas Isle of Man using the online booking form opposite, just enter the name of your local station and your dates of travel.  Minimum check-in for all these ferries is 25 minutes before sailing time.  Times vary, but here are the usual times:

• Depart London 09:30, Birmingham 10:20 or Manchester 11:16, arrive Douglas at 17:45 on the 'Ben My Chree'.  Daily all year round, you can leave London Euston at 09:30 (09:45 Sundays) on a 125 mph 'Pendolino' train for Lancaster, change onto a special 'boat train' leaving Lancaster around 12:28  for Heysham Port station, arriving 12:57.  At Heysham, the station is right next to the ferry terminal.   The Isle of Man Steam Packet's all-weather ferry 'Ben my Chree' sails from Heysham at 14:15 arriving Douglas Sea Terminal at 17:45.  Douglas Sea Terminal is in central Douglas at one end of the promenade, walking distance from all the hotels, see map of Douglas.  This ferry sails daily, except on Saturdays & Sundays from November to March when she sails at 14:00 from Liverpool Birkenhead instead.  Check times for your date of travel using the booking form opposite.  There's a strange error in the rail industry database, the ferry arrival time at Douglas is 17:45, not 16:45 as shown.  What's the journey like?

• Depart London 16:07, Birmingham 16:01 or Manchester 17:07, arrive Douglas at 22:15 by fast ferry.  Daily from April to October, you can leave London Euston at 16:07 (16:02 Sundays) on a 125 mph 'Pendolino' train arriving Liverpool Lime Street station at 18:15.  It's then 15-20 minutes walk or a transfer by taxi or bus C2 (see www.merseytravel.gov.uk) to Liverpool landing stage next to the famous Liver Building, see map of Liverpool.  On most dates the SeaCat fast ferry 'Manannan' sails from Liverpool at 19:30 arriving Douglas Sea Terminal at 22:15.  Check these times for your date of travel using the booking form opposite.  What's the journey like?

• Mondays, Fridays & Saturdays, depart London 08:07, Birmingham 08:36 or Manchester 09:07, arrive Douglas at 13:45 by fast ferry.  On most Mondays, Fridays & Saturdays from April to October, also Thursdays in late June, July & August, take a train to Liverpool Lime Street, walk (15-20 mins), taxi or bus to Liverpool landing stage next to the Liver Building, see map of Liverpool, and take the fast ferry 'Manannan' sailing from Liverpool at 11:15 arriving Douglas at 13:45.  Check times for your date of travel using the booking form opposite.  What's the journey like?

Isle of Man ► London, Birmingham, Manchester

• Click here for a route map showing the UK rail network & ferries to the Isle of Man.

• You can check train & ferry times from the Isle of Man to London or any station in Britain using the online booking form opposite, just enter 'Douglas (IOM)' in the 'From' box and any station you like in the 'To' box.  Minimum check-in for the ferry is just 25 minutes before sailing time.  Times vary, but here are the usual times:

• Depart Douglas 08:45 by 'Ben My Chree' to Heysham, arrive London 16:11, Birmingham 15:55 or Manchester 15:18.  Daily all-year-round*, the all-weather ferry 'Ben My Chree' sails from Douglas Sea Terminal in city centre Douglas at 08:45 arriving Heysham at 12:15.  A connecting 'boat train' leaves Heysham Port station (right next to the ferry terminal) at 13:15 arriving Lancaster 13:32.  Change at Lancaster for onward trains to Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham & London.  On most days there's a 13:39 train from Lancaster arriving London Euston at 16:11.  (* = On Saturdays & Sundays from November to March the ferry departs  Douglas at 08:00 and goes to Liverpool Birkenhead, not Heysham).  Check times for your date of travel using the booking form opposite.  What's the journey like?

• Depart Douglas 15:00 by fast ferry to Liverpool, arrive London 21:05, Birmingham 20:18 or Manchester 19:41.  Daily from April to October there's a 15:00 SeaCat from Douglas Sea Terminal arriving Liverpool landing stage next to the famous Liver Building at 17:30.  It's 15-20 minutes walk, or transfer by taxi or bus C2 from the landing stage to Liverpool Lime Street station, see map.  The 18:48 'Pendolino' train from Liverpool Lime Street arrives London Euston at 21:05.  Check these times for your date of travel using the booking form opposite.  What's the journey like?

• Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays, depart Douglas 07:30 by fast ferry to Liverpool, arrive London 13:38, Birmingham 12:47 or Manchester 12:01.  On most Mondays, Fridays & Saturdays from April to October, also Thursdays in late June, July & August, the fast ferry 'Manannan' sails from Douglas Sea Terminal at 07:30 arriving Liverpool landing stage at 10:00.  Walk (15-20 minutes), taxi or bus C2 to Liverpool Lime Street station, see map.  A train leaves Liverpool at 11:04, change at Crewe, arriving London Euston at 13:38.  Check times for your date of travel using the booking form opposite.  What's the journey like?

How much does it cost?

Can it be done any cheaper?  London to the Isle of Man for £34!

The SailRail tickets are often the best value for return journeys or travel at short notice, especially considering their flexibility, as you can use any train even if the ferry is late, and as the price is fixed, you can buy them at any time, even on the day of travel.  But in principle, you can book a no-refunds, limited-changes-to-travel plans 'Advance' ticket from London to Liverpool from just £11.50 or so one-way (buy online here or at www.virgintrains.co.uk) then buy a separate ferry ticket from £22.50 or so one-way at www.steam-packet.com.  Or vice versa.  That would get to from central London to the Isle of Man for around £34 one-way.

About these SailRail fares...

These SailRail fares cover both the train and the ferry.  They're centre-to-centre, no extra cost getting to & from airports, no airport taxes, no baggage fees.  You can buy them in either direction, one-way or return starting on the mainland or starting in Douglas.  Check prices using the online booking form above, or go to www.steam-packet.com (look for the small 'Sail and Rail' link at the bottom of their home page).  Can it be done any cheaper?

One-way = This price is good for for any day, any date.  The ticket can be used on any ferry sailing you like & any suitable connecting trains on the date shown on your ticket.  No time or train restrictions.

Economy Return = This price is good for any day, any date except Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays in June, July, August & September.  You must travel outward on the date shown on your ticket, using any ferry you like & any suitable connecting trains.  You can return any day within 1 month by any ferry & any suitable trains, except on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays in June, July, August & September.

Low Saver Return = You only need this ticket if your outward or return journey is on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday in June, July, August & September.  You must travel outward on the date shown on your ticket, returning on any day within 1 month.  Valid on any ferry you like and any suitable connecting trains, any day, any date.

Children under 16 go for half the adult fare.  Children under 5 travel free.   Railcard holders (Senior, disabled, family, 16-25) get around 25-30% off these fares.

Bicycles: To book a bicycle space on the ferry with your train+ferry ticket call 01624 661 661.  Bikes either go free or for a small charge on trains, call National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 to ask.

Dogs & other pets go on the ferry for £5 one-way, £10 return, you simply pay at the port.  There is a separate dogs & owners lounge on the Ben My Chree.

First class fares to the Isle of Man don't exist, but you can buy a cheap first class advance fare between London and either Liverpool or Heysham, and buy a ferry ticket separately at www.steam-packet.com.

How do you use these tickets?

Which trains, ferries & routes can you take?  You can use any ferry from Liverpool or Heysham to Douglas run by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, and can take any suitable train to connect with that ferry.  You must travel out on the date on your ticket, with a return ticket you can come back on any day on which your ticket is valid up to 1 month after your outward journey.  There are no time restrictions and no train reservations are necessary, you just hop on any train and show your ticket when asked.  Indeed, if you have multiple connections to make to reach the ferry, I'd recommend playing safe by taking an earlier train than the one suggested by the online system.  You can take any permitted train route from your starting station to either Liverpool or Heysham.  Tickets from stations in zones D & E can be used via London at no extra cost as well as via any more direct route, going via London can often be simpler and sometimes quicker.  If you want to go via London, just enter 'London (mainline stations)' in the 'via' box when using the online booking form above.  Feel free to go out via Heysham, back via Liverpool, or vice versa, whichever route seems most convenient when you see the train & ferry times using the online booking form above.

After buying your ticket online, it's a good idea to make a ferry reservation:  Your train & ferry ticket will not include a ferry reservation.  You can simply turn up at the port and show your train & ferry tickets as there's almost always spaces available.  However, in theory the ferry can get full so to be 100% sure of getting on your chosen ferry I recommend calling the IoM Steam Packet Company on 01624 661 661, tell them that you have a SailRail ticket and ask them to make a foot passenger reservation for you. You then simply quote your reservation reference number at the port.  Top tip:  Why not book a seat in the ferry's Premium Lounge?  You can ask to have a seat in the Premium Lounge added to your  ferry reservation for £16 extra each way, with complimentary tea, coffee & soft drinks, table seating with laptop/mobile charging points, and steward service for food from the cafe.

How to buy tickets...

You can buy SailRail train & ferry tickets to the isle of Man:

• Online, using the booking form above, which links to www.raileasy.com.

• By phone, try calling the following train company telesales lines:  First Trans-Pennine on 0845 678 6974, Virgin Trains on 08457 222 333 or Chiltern Railways on 08456 005 165.  Any train company can in theory easily sell these fares, but in practice staff often aren't very familiar with them so be polite but persistent (feedback would be appreciated!).

• In person, from any main railway station, though again staff aren't usually very familiar with this product so be polite but persistent. 

• On the Isle of Man, you can buy these tickets over the counter from the Ferry Travel Shop in the Sea Terminal at Douglas.

• Alternatively, you can book a regular ferry ticket online at www.steam-packet.com, then buy train tickets separately at www.virgintrains.co.uk.

What's the journey like?

London to Liverpool or Heysham by train...  This is a Virgin Trains 125 mph Pendolino train boarding at London Euston.  The trains have air-conditioning, WiFi (free in 1st class, charged in 2nd class), and a shop selling newspapers, drinks and snacks.  These trains tilt into the corners at high speed on the curvaceous West Coast main Line...

Heysham to Douglas aboard the ferry Ben My Chree...  This is the Ben My Chree arrived at Douglas Sea Terminal.  Unlike the airport, the Sea Terminal is in Douglas city centre at the south end of the promenade, a few minutes walk from all the main hotels, see map.		More relaxing than flying...  The ferry Ben My Chree is small but perfectly formed.  It has a self service food lounge (above), cafe-bar, shop, and open decks. WiFi is available for a small fee.  Smoking is permitted on deck.

Premium Lounge:  A top tip when phoning to make your ferry reservation is to pay for a reserved seat in the Premium Lounge (above).  Leather seats, complimentary tea, coffee, biscuits, and the steward will bring you drinks from the bar or food from the restaurant on request.  The Ben My Chree's Premium Lounge is at the front of the ship directly below the bridge, giving excellent forward views of the Isle of Man approaching...		Isle of Man ahead!  With the sun glittering on the waves, the Isle of Man emerges from its blanket of mist.  This mist is known as Manannan's Cloak, Manannan is the mythical being that protects the Isle of Man.  There's a diagram on the top deck identifying the hills you can see.  Douglas is in the gap between the hills, to the right of Douglas the tallest peak with two masts at the summit is Snaefell, 2,036 feet.

Or Liverpool to Douglas on the fast ferry Manannan.  It's seen here at Liverpool landing stage, right next to the famous Liver Building, 15-20 minutes walk from Lime Street station or there are taxis waiting on the quayside.  See map.		The Premium Lounge on the Manannan is at one side of the smaller upper deck.  Complimentary tea, coffee, biscuits, and at-seat food and drinks service.  The Manannan is all non-smoking, even on the outside deck areas.

Douglas Sea Terminal.  You can buy SailRail tickets from the Steam Packet Company travel shop.  The tourist information office is here.		Douglas' Victorian promenade, looking south from the Manx Electric Railway station towards the Sea Terminal.  Map of Douglas showing Sea Terminal.

Tourist information & hotels...

Tourist information:  www.gov.im/tourism.  There is a large and helpful Tourist Information office in the Sea Terminal.

Hotels & accommodation in Douglas and other locations on the Isle of Man:  See the search system below

Isle of Man TT motorcycle race...

The famous isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy) motorcycle race is traditionally held in the last week of May and first week of June each year.  It's been a feature of the Manx calendar since 1907.  Accommodation and transport can be very hard to come by during that period, and travel can be difficult as roads are closed for the race.  The course travels from Douglas to Ramsey and back, over parts of Snaefell.  The official Isle of Man TT Race ('Tourist Trophy' motorcycle race) website is www.iomtt.com.  Wikipedia entry.

Bus, train & tramway information for the Isle of Man...

For a route map, timetables and operating days, also Isle of Man bus information, see www.iombusandrail.info.  Ask about 'Island Explorer' tickets which give 1 day or a number of days' unlimited travel on the island's buses, the Manx Electric Railway, the Steam Railway and the Snaefell Mountain Railway.

The Manx Electric Railway:  Douglas ► Laxey ► Ramsey

Between March and November, the Manx Electric Railway links Douglas with Laxey & Ramsey.  Ramsey is the Isle of Man's second biggest town, Laxey is the stop for the famous Laxey wheel and the mountain railway up Snaefell.  The ride on the MER to Ramsey should not be missed, it's a wonderfully scenic ride on a unique tramway, twisting and turning, up and over the hills and along the coast.  The Manx Electric Railway runs every 30-60 minutes from mid-morning to late afternoon, taking 30 minutes to Laxey and 1 hour 15 minutes to Ramsey.  Timetables and fares are at www.iombusandrail.info.  Map showing tram terminus in Douglas.

A Manx Electric Railway tram at Douglas (Derby Castle) terminus, at the north end of Douglas' 2-mile-long promenade.  There's a small ticket office, and a pub next to the terminus if you need refreshment.		Each tram has one enclosed car and one open-sided car.  The narrow-gauge two-track electric railway twists and turns, climbing steeply out of Douglas alongside the road, the sea visible over the cliffs.

At Laxey station, you can change for the Snaefell Mountain Railway.  The connecting tram to Snaefell summit is seen here on the left.  The station has a welcome tearoom, www.laxeystationcafe.com.		The famous Laxey Wheel is the world's largest working waterwheel, and a Manx icon.  It's a 10-15 minute walk up the valley from Laxey station.

On its way to Ramsey the railway passes through some of the Isle of Man's most beautiful scenery.  The line was opened to Laxey in 1893, and to Ramsey in 1899.		This is tram 6 at Ramsey.  All the trams are original, the oldest dating from 1893, the newest dating from 1906.  The trams run round their trailer car at each terminus.

The Snaefell Mountain Railway, Laxey ► Snaefell Summit

A simple change of tram at Laxey station gets you onto the Snaefell Mountain Railway.  An offshoot of the Manx Electric Railway opened in 1899, it links Laxey with the summit of the Isle of Man's one and only true mountain, the 2,036-feet-high Snaefell.  It runs April to October, mid-morning to early afternoon, usually every half an hour.  On leaving Laxey station, it climbs up the opposite side of the valley to the famous Laxey Wheel, giving great views of the wheel, then curving round the top of the mountain to arrive at the tram terminus and restaurant/tearoom at the summit.  You can see the whole island from up there.  Highly recommended!  Timetables and fares are at www.iombusandrail.info.

At Snaefell summit, 2,036 feet above sea level.  Time for a cup of tea...		The view from the summit, looking towards Laxey.  The Laxey Wheel is just visible to the naked eye.

The Isle of Man Steam Railway, Douglas ► Port Erin

The delightful Isle of Man Steam Railway links Douglas with Castletown and Port Erin to the south, from March to November with roughly hourly departures mid-morning into the afternoon.  Timetables and fares are at www.iombusandrail.info.  Map showing steam railway station in Douglas.

The Steam Railway station is at the south end of town, just inland from the Sea Terminal.  The booking hall-cum-tea-room features old maps showing how the steam rail network once reached Peel and (by a long way round) Ramsey.		The Isle of Man Steam Railway is a wonderful way to travel between Douglas and Castletown and the sleepy seaside town of Port Erin.  You'll see coastline and green scenery from the train.

A steam train at Port Erin station.		Port Erin.  The beach is 2 minutes from the Steam Railway station.

Hotels & accommodation on the Isle of Man

You can book hotels in Douglas and on the Isle of Man, or almost anywhere in Britain through www.hotelscombined.com, just use the search box below.

Hotels in Douglas...

In Douglas, most of the hotels are arranged along the promenade, a few minutes walk from the sea terminal.  The most famous and luxurious hotel in town is the Sefton, the Empress is also a good choice.

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