This page covers the common types of transport students are likely to use when travelling around the UK.
· Travelling by air
The UK has a number of large international airports as well as smaller airports that all offer domestic flights within the UK.
London airports include; Heathrow, Gatwick, London City, Stansted and Luton.
Southern airports include; Southampton, Bournemouth, Exeter and Bristol.
Midland airports include; Birmingham, Coventry, East Midlands and Norwich.
Northern airports include; Manchester, Liverpool, Blackpool, Leeds-Bradford, Humberside and Newcastle.
Scottish airports include; Glasgow, Prestwick, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness.
Welsh airports include; Cardiff and Swansea.
Northern Irish airports include; Belfast and Londonderry.
Because the UK is relatively small, most people choose not to take internal flights, instead choosing to travel by rail or road. The exception is when someone needs to travel to Northern Ireland, travel to Scotland from London or the South of England, or simply when people need the fastest means of transport available. Naturally, flying is generally the fastest way to travel; however, it is usually considerably more expensive than taking a train or coach.
The train is a very popular method of transportation in the UK which is well served by an extensive rail network covering most urban areas, large and small. Note that London has six main railway stations that serve different parts of the UK. For detailed information about the UK’s rail network see www.nationalrail.co.uk.
The train is particularly popular with students travelling around the country, often at the start and end of term times. Student rail cards are available for a small fee that give holders discounts when buying tickets to travel outside of weekday morning rush hour times.
The costs of tickets vary according to the distance to be traveled and the time and date of travel, as well as when the ticket is booked. Booking train tickets in advance is considerably cheaper, so it is recommended students book as far in advance as possible, rather than leaving it till the last minute. Avoiding travelling during weekday mornings, before 10:00am, will also lead to cheaper fares.
Bookings can be made in person at main railway station ticket offices, over the phone or on-line. A good website to use is www.thetrainline.com.
· London Underground (the Tube)
The capital city of London is the only city in the UK to be served by an underground train system. It is commonly referred to as “the underground” or “the tube”. It consists of 12 lines, each of which is represented by a name and a certain colour which are used on maps and signs within stations. The tube network covers the whole of the Greater London area, so is a very convenient method of transport whenever travelling around the capital.
The tube is used by millions of people every day and gets especially busy in the mornings and late afternoons (morning and evening “rush hours”) so journeys are best planned at other times if possible.
When using the tube, it is recommended to plan each journey in advance. Travellers must purchase a ticket from the station ticket office or from an automated ticket machine before passing through the ticket barriers and descending to the correct platform. In general, stations are well marked with plenty of signs to show which platforms are for which line and the direction trains are travelling in. Travellers may need to change lines once or twice in order to reach their final destination. When changing lines, simply follow the signs in the station to find the correct platform to catch the next train from.
The whole tube network is divided into six zones. Central London is zone 1 and zone 6 is the outermost zone. The cost of a single or return ticket depends on the number of zones a journey will cross. If making a return journey across four or more zones or if making multiple tube journeys in one day it is often cheaper to buy a “one day travel card”, which allows for unlimited trips on the tube as well as all London buses from 9:30am onwards Monday to Friday, and all day on Saturday and Sunday, on the day of purchase. If making frequent trips on the tube it may be worthwhile investing in a weekly or monthly travel card which can be used all day, every day, including before 9:30 on weekdays and will usually save travellers money if they use the tube at least every week day.
Pick up a tube map, ask for information about weekly or monthly tickets or about anything else at any tube station where help is usually available at a ticket office. For more information see www.tfl.gov.uk.
Note that the tube does not run all night; travellers should try to find out the time of the last train and make sure they are not left stranded on the other side of London. Most lines run until about 12:30 at night.
Remember when using the escalators; stand only on the right side so other travellers can walk up/down the escalator on the left side. It is also considered very rude for travellers to push their way onto a carriage as soon as the doors open, instead of letting people get off the train first.
Bus routes can be found in almost every town and city in the UK. Large urban areas commonly have extensive bus networks with many routes. Catching the bus is a popular choice when travelling relatively short distances that are too far to walk. It is a convenient and fairly inexpensive means of transportation.
Working out which buses go where can be done a number of ways. Checking the information displayed at bus stops, usually found at the side of the road, is the easiest way, especially if a student knows that they will catch a bus from a particular stop. Bus stops show information about all the bus routes that use that stop, including full details of each bus’s route. Maps that show an area’s bus routes can be very useful and can be found in some major bus terminals, train stations and travel information centres. Students can also telephone the local bus companies and/or check information on-line.
Most bus routes stop running at night, sometime after midnight. In urban areas, daytime buses are often replaced by “night buses” which run less frequently, sometimes on the same routes as the daytime buses, sometimes using their own routes.
When taking a bus, students must pay the driver when getting on the bus. They should tell the driver how far they want to go, then the driver will tell them the fare. Students must use coins when paying the fare, notes are not usually accepted.
One day, weekly and monthly travel cards can all be used on London buses. In many urban areas, weekly and monthly bus passes are often available for anyone that needs to use the bus frequently.
Travelling long distances by coach is a popular alternative to travelling by train. It usually works out cheaper than the train and takes only a little longer time. Every town and city in the UK, as well as many smaller villages, are served by coach routes that can take passengers to many destinations, close and far. There are many different coach companies operating in the UK. Many will only serve a certain area or have a certain base location from which all their routes operate. Most coaches that travel to and from London terminate in Victoria, in central London. The largest coach operator is National Express, who has routes that cover the majority of the UK and also travel to Europe. For more information see www.nationalexpress.com.
UK taxis, also called cabs, come in two different types.
The first type is the traditional taxi that can be hailed in the street or found in designated waiting areas. Such taxis use meters that charge the traveller according to the distance covered and the time spent stationary or at very low speeds. These can be found in all major towns and cities in the UK. London’s famous “Black Cabs” come under this type of taxi. Such taxis in other areas of the UK come in various shapes and colours; however, all should be recognisable as taxis and all will display a “taxi” sign. Note that taking this type of taxi over a long distance can prove to be very expensive.
The second type are usually referred to as “mini cabs”. These are privately owned vehicles that operate as licensed taxis. Mini cabs cannot be hailed in the street. They must be ordered over the telephone or in person, through a mini cab office. Offices are commonly found close to railway and underground stations, among other places. The type, age and condition of vehicles used as mini cabs varies significantly. When using a mini cab, always ask how much the fare will be at the start of the journey. In general they are less expensive than using traditional taxis.
Students are strongly advised never to accept a lift from strangers or anyone in the street that says they are a mini cab driver. For safety reasons, only ever use licensed taxis or mini cabs that have been pre-ordered.
Note that it is customary, although completely optional, to tip taxi drivers about 10% of the fare.
Overseas students that wish to use a private car in the UK must be over the age of 17 and have a valid driving license from their home country or an international driving license / permit. For Chinese nationals, permission to drive in the UK is only given for 12 months following arrival in the UK. Chinese students wishing to continue driving in the UK after 12 months must apply for a UK provisional license and then take a UK driving test.
The same rules apply for riding motorcycles in the UK, although the minimum age for riding a moped / scooter is 16 and students must take a motorcycle proficiency test after 12 months.
Some important rules to remember when driving in the UK;
Cars can be easily purchased in the UK, either new or secondhand. New cars can be purchased from new car dealerships. Secondhand cars can be purchased from multiple sources, including new car dealerships, secondhand car dealerships (including “car supermarkets”), car auctions and direct from private sellers.
When purchasing a secondhand car through a private seller, the buyer must fill in their details on the vehicle registration form (V5 form) and sign and date the appropriate section. It is then the seller’s responsibility to send the form to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The DVLA will then register the vehicle under the new owner on the national database then send a new V5 form to the new owner at the address they put on the form. When purchasing a car through a dealer the dealer will assist the buyer with all the necessary forms.
Note that if purchasing a car through a private sale, the buyer should make sure that the vehicle belongs to the person selling the car. Ask to see the seller’s identification and check that it matches the details on the V5 form.
Anyone wishing to drive a car in the UK must have insurance. There are many car insurance companies and insurance agents in the UK so it is recommended to obtain a few quotes before choosing which company to use. The minimum car insurance cover is referred to as “third party only”. This will cover any damages to third parties. “Third party, fire and theft” cover will also cover the cost of replacing the car incases of fire or if it is stolen. These types of insurance policies will not cover any damages to the car if an accident is caused that is the fault of the policy holder. “Comprehensive” car insurance will cover every eventuality, including covering any damages to the driver’s car no matter whose fault the accident was. Obviously, comprehensive car insurance is more expensive. Other factors that will affect the cost of car insurance are; type and value of the car, driver’s age, occupation, UK address, driving experience and the driver’s previous car insurance claims. Note that some insurance policies (commonly comprehensive policies) also cover the policy holder for third party damages when driving other cars, i.e. if borrowing a friend’s car.
All cars over three years old must have a valid Ministry of Transport (MOT) certificate. This is an annual test of a car’s roadworthiness that can be carried out at any approved MOT test centre, including many car dealerships and garages. Buyers should be weary of buying secondhand cars without an MOT or with an MOT that is soon to expire, as older cars may need extensive repairs and new parts, to pass the MOT test, which can result in a large repair bill.
All private vehicle owners must also pay a road tax for any vehicles they own. Cars are usually purchased with current road tax. The buyer takes responsibility for renewing the road tax when it expires after they purchase a car. Road tax can be paid to cover either 6 or 12 months and can be paid for at any main post office in the UK. When renewing road tax the vehicle owner must provide the vehicle’s V5 form, proof of insurance and current MOT certificate if applicable. The post office will issue the vehicle owner with a tax disc which must be attached to the inside of the car’s windscreen.
If driving in central London, drivers should be aware of the “congestion charge”, which is a charge for any car that enters central London during the daytime on week days.
For further information about driving in the UK see www.dvla.gov.uk.
Travelling by bicycle is popular among students in the UK. It is relatively cheap, involving only the initial cost of purchasing a bicycle. This can save students a lot of money over time. In addition it is a good way to keep fit and healthy.
In the UK, only a very few roads and routes in a few towns and cities have dedicated bicycle lanes; therefore bicycles must usually be ridden on the road. Riding on the pavement is not allowed. This means cyclists must be very careful of cars and traffic on the road when riding. By law, students must use a bicycle light whenever riding at night. Ideally they should also wear a safety helmet and light coloured or reflective clothing, although these are not legal requirements. It is also recommended to use a suitable locking device when leaving the bicycle in a public area. Note that cyclists are not allowed to ride bicycles on dual-carriageway roads, such as motorways and A-roads.
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