Airplane: England’s domestic airlines include British Airways, BMI. BMIbaby, EasyJet and Ryanair. Domestic flights are only worthwhile for traveler with great time pressure.
Rail: Travel by train are more expensive but comfortable and usually less time-consuming than bus journeys. In addition, the railway lines often lead through charming landscapes.
There are more than 20 different rail operators in Great Britain. Great Western routes, for example, run from London to Bristol, Cornwall and South Wales. National Express East Coast connects London with Leeds, York and Scotland. Virgin Trains connections run from London via Birmingham and Carlisle to Scotland. Network Rail operates the stations and is responsible for the tracks.
National Rail Inquiries provides timetables and tariff information for all railway companies. There is also an overview of a large number of special offers and train and network cards. Tickets can either be bought from the individual train operators or from one of the central ticket service providers.
On British trains there is the option of traveling first class or in the so-called standard class. The price difference is around 50 percent.
Car: if you travel to England with your own car or motorcycle, you are independent and flexible, but you also have to dig through the dense traffic of the cities and sometimes have to accept terrifying parking fees. Motorways and major A-roads are expressways that stretch from one end of the country to the other. Smaller A-roads as well as B- and secondary roads offer some delightful insights into the English landscape and are ideal for car and motorcycle tours.
According to prozipcodes, a foreign driver’s license must be valid for at least 12 months in England.
the The parking situation in English cities is sometimes quite tense, as there is hardly enough space for the numerous cars. Many cities have a park-and-ride service that allows parking on the outskirts and a comfortable bus ride to the center.
Yellow lines – single or double – on road bikes indicate restrictions. Signs then explain the limited parking space. Red lines mean there is a general no-stopping policy. It should also be noted that the towing services in London and other large cities act very quickly and efficiently against parking offenders.
The main English automobile clubs are the Automobile Association and the Royal Automobile Club. There is also the Environmental Transport Association.
When driving a car or motorcycle in England, it should be noted that there is left-hand traffic and that you have to pay attention to traffic from the right at intersections and roundabouts. In addition, except when overtaking, a left-hand drive applies and there is a general obligation to wear a seatbelt or helmet. Telephoning while driving is not permitted or is only permitted with a headset or hands-free system. Speed limits are 48 km / h (30mph) in built-up areas, 96 km / h (60mph) on country roads and 112 km / h (70mph) on highways.
Insurance
Liability insurance is compulsory in England.
Rental car
Rental cars in England are relatively expensive compared to other countries. The largest car rental companies with offices in England are 1car1, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Sixt and Thrifty. There is also the possibility of renting motorhomes or campers. They are more expensive than normal rental cars, but you save the cost of accommodation. The websites of Cool Campervans, Just Go or Wild Horizon provide information about rental options.
Bus: Long-distance buses are an inexpensive, but also a bit slower way to travel to England. National Express is the main operator and offers bus connections to the main centers. The company Megabus also offers inexpensive bus connections between 30 English cities. There are various discount offers and special tariffs for traveling by long-distance buses.
English cities have good public transport networks. However, the buses are operated by a bewildering number of companies. Larger cities have tram and subway systems. In rural areas it should be noted that the bus timetables are primarily tailored to the needs of school children and commuters. Services may therefore be limited during weekends and holidays.
There are also different tariffs and special offers in local transport, from single tickets to day tickets to combined tickets, about which the respective providers provide information.
As in other parts of Great Britain, Postbuses carry passengers in addition to the post office in England. This is especially important in rural areas, for example for hikers and backpackers. Information and timetables are available from Royal Mail Postbus.
Taxi: there are two types of taxis in England: the famous black cabs that can be hailed anywhere on the street and the cheaper minicabs that can only be ordered by phone. You can get information about the numbers of local taxi companies, especially in rural areas, in pubs or via the National Cabline.
Bicycle: a trip through England by bicycle is definitely worthwhile. Renting bicycles in London, Oxford, Cambridge and other tourist centers or areas is straightforward. Cycling tours are particularly popular in Kielder Water in Northumberland, in the Grizedale Forest in the Lake District and in the Peak District in Derbyshire.
It is also worth noting that Bristol is England’s first “bike city” with an extensive network of bike paths, rentals and other facilities. Other cities such as York, Cambridge and Chester are to be expanded in a similar way.
