UK is well connected by road, rail and air.

Travelling by train

The network of train services in the UK is extensive and well used, ranging from local lines to fast intercity routes. On a very long journey, you also have a sleeper compartment.

Fares

Fares depend on when you travel, where you go, and how far in advance you book your ticket. The most expensive fares are for last-minute bookings travelling during weekday peak hours (mainly business commuting hours).

Standard open singles/returns and standard day singles/returns can be used at any time on the day shown on the ticket.

Cheap day singles/returns are available in a few areas for certain local journeys but can only be used outside peak travel times.

Saver singles/returns are discounted tickets that you can use on longer rail journeys, but outside peak travel times.

Super Saver singles/returns are discounted tickets with more limitations on when you can use them than Savers (only on off-peak days).

Network Away Breaks can be used for certain journeys in London and South-East England, subject to restrictions on travelling in peak hours.

Super Advance and Apex tickets have to be booked in advance and are available in
limited numbers on selected journeys only.

Season tickets are available for unlimited travel for a week or any period between one month and a year.

Travel cards can cover all forms of transport in London. If you travel to London from another town, the Travel card can combine your main journey with travel around London.

Multi-modal tickets are available in some areas, which can be used to travel on other types of local public transport.

Railcards (Young Person's, Senior, Family, Network and Disabled Person's) last a year and get you reductions on rail journeys outside peak travel hours. If you travel at or before 10.00 a.m. Monday to Friday, a minimum fare will apply.

Rover/Ranger tickets give you unlimited travel in a specific area or throughout the UK for seven or 14 days.

Train companies sometimes offer other special bargain tickets and discounts, but usually these will only be valid on the trains of the train company offering them.

The BritRail Pass is available to those from overseas coming to the UK, allowing unlimited travel on the UK rail network for up to one month.

Here are some examples of the range of prices you can expect to pay for a single (one-way) weekday adult ticket booked in advance, depending on the type of ticket you have bought and the time you are travelling at:

London - Bristol £15.50-£42.00
London - Edinburgh £25.00-£85.00
London - Leeds £23.00-£66.00
London - Manchester £10.00-£98.50
London - Oxford £16.50
London - Swansea £26.00-£61.00

If you buy a Young Person's Railcard or a Student Coach Card, you are entitled to reduced fares on most journeys.

Bookings

You can book rail tickets:

In person at UK train stations with ticket offices or self-service ticket machines, or at all National Rail-appointed travel agents throughout the UK (indicated by a sign with a double arrows symbol which National Rail-appointed agents display).
If you book this way, you can pay by cash, cheque, credit card or bank debit card.

By telephone. Many train companies have a booking line - call any of the numbers in the box on the next page, which will also help if you are not sure which train company you wish to use. To book by telephone, you'll have to give your credit card number to the booking agent.

Over the Internet. Some train companies operate websites and there are also specialised train ticket websites like http://www.thetrainline.com, which can also be used to book tickets. To book online, you will have to use a credit card.

For information on train timetable visit http://www.networkrail.co.uk, for information on British rail please call +44(0) 8457 484 950

Coach

The network of coach services is even more extensive than the rail network, reaching many small and remote places. There are many different coach operators. Some specialise in a particular route and others serve wider areas. National Express is a major coach company that operates throughout the UK. (For journeys entirely within Scotland, Scottish Citylink operates in place of National Express.)

In London, most coaches arrive at and depart from Victoria Coach Station, which is about 10 minutes' walk from Victoria railway station. You can buy tickets for your journey here and find out about the various coach services.

Fares
Fares tend to be much cheaper than for rail services but travel times are longer.

Specific fares vary from service to service. Here are some examples of single

(One-way) weekday adult fares if booked in advance:
London - Bristol £13.00
London - Edinburgh £27.00
London - Leeds £16.00
London - Manchester £17.00
London - Oxford £9.00
London - Swansea £17.50

For details of National Express fares and schedules, check www.gobycoach.com, or telephone +44 (0)870 580 8080

London Underground

'The tube' is one of the easiest ways to get around London.

There are 12 different lines, each with its own name (e.g. the Metropolitan line, the Jubilee line). Each line is a different colour on the map of the Underground system.

You can find the map in the ticket hall at each Underground station, and usually on the platforms as well. Sections of the map are also displayed in the carriages of the Underground trains.

Buying a ticket

You can buy a ticket from one of the automatic machines or from the ticket office. Either way, you need to know the name of the station you are going to. You also need to know whether you want a 'single' ticket (valid just to get you to your destination) or a 'return' (to get you there and back again).

Fares are based on a zone system: the more zones you travel through, the more expensive your fare is. (Some of the Underground maps show, which stations are in which zones.)

Depending how far you are travelling and how many journeys you need to make, it may be cheaper to buy a one-day Travelcard, which gives you unlimited travel on all London Underground and bus services the day you buy it. A one-day Travelcard covering all six zones, after 9.30 a.m. on weekdays, and all day on Saturdays and Sundays, currently costs £5.10.

Entering the system

At most stations you must pass through an automatic gate. Put your ticket into the slot. When the gate opens, pass through. As you pass through, your ticket will pop up from another slot on the top. Pull your ticket out of the slot and take it with you; you need it at the end of your journey.

If you have baggage with you, you can go through a special gate where you can pass your baggage through more easily. Show your ticket to an attendant and ask him or her to let you through this gate.

Most stations have long escalators leading to and from the trains. Try to stand to the right-hand side, leaving space for people to walk past you on the left.

Changing trains

Get off at the station where the line you are on crosses the line you need. Follow the signs for the line you need, and the direction you want to go in.

Leaving the system

At most stations, you must pass through an automatic gate again to leave the station. Put your ticket in the slot as before. If you bought a return ticket or a Travelcard, your ticket will pop up for you to collect again, so that you can use it later. If you bought a single (or if you are on the return trip of your return ticket), your ticket will stay in the machine.

To find out more about the London Underground and about other transport options in London, visit the following websites:

http://www.thetube.com

http://www.tfl.gov.uk

Taxis

Door-to-door service you do not have to work out your own route, change trains or switch from one kind of transport to another.

If you have lots of luggage with you, loading it into a taxi once is easier than hauling it on and off trains, coaches, etc.

In London, black taxis or 'black cabs' are popular and are regulated by a government body.

Taking taxis can be expensive, especially if you have a long way to travel. For example: o a taxi from Heathrow to central London can cost at least £40-£50

If you are going to visit new office or someone's home for the first time, ask him or her the best way to get there. Sometimes taking a taxi can be simpler than trying to work out local bus routes. In smaller cities, typical taxi fares may be about £5-£10.

If you are out late at night after the buses and trains have stopped running, take a taxi home, do not walk.

Always remember: when taking a taxi, it is a good idea to ask the driver for a rough idea of what the fare will be before you start.

Bicycle

Bicycles are a flexible, convenient and economical form of transportation, and many students in the UK use bikes to get around their college or university and the surrounding area. In cycle shops around the UK, you can find everything from highly advanced racing bikes with dozens of gears to simple bikes with no gears at all.

Buying a used bicycle can be a good low-cost choice, see your Institution or library notice board for bicycle sale.

The Government wants to increase the use of bicycles (and decrease the use of cars), so steps are being taken to encourage people to cycle more and drive less. One major step is the development of a National Cycle Network: a web of cycle routes connecting all parts of the UK. The Network has 6,000 miles of continuous routes already, and it is planned to extend this to 10,000 miles by 2005.

Air

There is a good network of domestic air routes and there are a number of national air carriers and regional air companies that service all major towns and cities. British Airways operates a shuttle service between London, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester. Passengers on these flights need check in only ten minutes before departure. Other internal operators include: Aer Lingus, KLM UK, BMI British Midland, Easy Jet, British European and Ryan Air.
The cost of air travel is expensive although discounts are available if you book your tickets in advance or take advantage of the advertised special offers. Bookings can be made through the airline company or through websites. Student travel passes are sometimes available - checkout with the airline company.
Few websites to book air tickets
http://www.easyjet.com
http://www.ryanair.com
http://www.airlinenetwork.com
http://www.expedia.co.uk
http://www.ebookers.com
http://www.ba.com