Cheap tickets from Aberdeen to Birmingham

A question about : Cheap tickets from Aberdeen to Birmingham

I bought my son a ticket to go to the Gadget Show Live at the NEC in Birmingam in early April. I think we would like to take the train rather than drive, as it's a fair haul from Aberdeen to Birmingham when it's supposed to be a treat.

So I'm looking for the best price tickets for one adult and one child (11)(12 by the time we travel) - travelling down Tuesday 7th April and back up either Thursday night or Friday morning.

Not being a regular train user, I'm not sure how to get the best prices on tickets. I know that Virgin did a 25% discount on tickets to the NEC, but that needs to be 3 months in advance, and I seem to be too late for that.

Any help is really appreciated.

Also any tips for a good B&B round that area always appreciated.

Guy

Best answers:

• Also toying with flying. Seems we can get a return flight for around Ј100 each...
• The NEC station is Birmingham International. If you don't mind arriving after 9pm on the Tuesday, you can get an advance for Ј27.50 on the way down if you catch the 14.04 from Aberdeen.
  The return leg depends when you are willing to travel. If you are willing to leave early you can take the 6.15am from New Street on either Thurs or Fri and get back home for Ј27.50 as well. You'll have to buy an advance from New St. to Aberdeen (rather than International) and then buy a separate ticket to get from Birmingham International to New Street, but this is only about Ј3.60.
  If you don't want to travel so early in the morning then there are advances available for several trains later on Friday for about Ј54. All these fares are currently available on National Rail Enquiries. Book quickly before the advances go up in price.
• Have you got a railcard?
  If not might be worth getting one to reduce the cost.
  https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_...40.aspx#family