Is it possible to get to London by train. How to get to the UK. Intercity buses in England

As you would expect from such a small and densely populated country, almost anywhere in England can be reached by train or bus. However, road costs are the highest in Europe. London passengers on seasonal or concessionary passes spend more money on commuting than any other country in Europe. Moving from one part of the country to another can eat up the lion's share of your budget. Prudently think over all routes in advance, collecting all information about discounts and special offers- please note that some of them can only be obtained outside of England, which means before departure.

It is often cheaper to travel around England by car (of course, if you have someone to share the costs with), although the prices for gasoline and car rental are the highest in Europe. Around major cities huge congestion is formed, and even on motorways (the infamous M-25, London ring road), there are often "traffic jams", especially in holidays when it seems that almost the whole city is on the road. Given the congested roads, cycling may not seem like the safest (and safest) way to get around, but many tourists do bring their bikes with them or rent them upon arrival. There is a whole network of bicycle roads in the country that are free from other types of transport.

British network railways went through a reckless privatization that led to a sharp decline in service levels. Continuous rolling stock repairs and speed limits are still taking their toll on official timetables, and you can read endless stories of delays in the newspapers.

However, in fairness, it must be said that there are few large cities in England that cannot be reached by train, and on the main routes they run high-speed trains- for example, from London to York or you can get there in 2 hours. On the other hand, travel across the country can be very long and often involves several connections.

At any rate, the most important information on train timetables and routes throughout England can be obtained from the National Rail Information Service. Credit card bookings can be made through the companies themselves (the NRN can provide you with a specific name and number) or online.

Given the huge variety of options, it is almost impossible to provide clear advice on ticket types and prices. We can only say that the earlier you book a ticket, the cheaper it will be. The most expensive trip will be on Friday or when buying a ticket at the station right before the trip. Different train companies have different names for different tickets - all with certain restrictions and regulations (for example, it is often cheaper to travel from the northern part of the country to than vice versa).

The most cheap tickets must be ordered in advance, 14 or 7 days in advance, and since they are limited in quantity, they sell out very quickly. Usually, a seat reservation is included in the ticket price, but always check, because otherwise you risk being in the corridor next to the toilet.

To give an idea of ​​the difference in price, take a London flight as an example: an "open" ticket (that is, unlimited in terms of travel) round trip can cost from £ 175 and more. If you are traveling outside rush hour and observe some restrictions, then the ticket price will drop to about £ 50, and if you order it two weeks in advance (without the right to exchange and return), you can reduce the price to £ 20.

Children from 5 to 15 years old, inclusive, in most cases pay 50% of the price of an adult ticket, but usually they are not given discounts for pre-sale. For children under 5 years old travel is free, but they are not entitled to a separate seat. On weekends and holidays, many long-haul flights will offer you a first-class ticket for an additional £ 5-15 - which is quite reasonable considering the prospect of a five-hour journey on a crowded train. If the ticket office is closed at the station or there is no ticket machine, you can buy a ticket on the train. Otherwise, you will have to pay the full fare to your destination.

• Rail passes in England

Foreigners planning to commit big Adventure within England, you must buy a rail pass. It can be BritRail or Eurail, but in any case, the ticket must be purchased before entering the country. You will be provided with up-to-date information in any good travel agency, or look on the Internet.

The BritRail Classic Unlimited Travel Pass throughout England, Scotland and Wales is available in 1st and 2nd class and is valid 4 days ($ 285/189), 8 days ($ 4 05/269), 15 days ($ 609/405 ), 22 days ($ 769/515) or 1 month ($ 915/609). There is also a youth pass (2nd class only) and a senior pass (1st class only), which cost 30-50% less than classic train passes.

In addition, you can purchase a range of other UK passes, including the Flexi-Pass (for specific travel dates), Family Pass (for families), Party Pass (for a group of three to four adults), and Pass'n ' Drive (travel by train plus car rental). For guests of London, the London Visitor Travelcard ($ 32 for 3 days, $ 43 for 4 days, $ 64 for a week) is especially convenient, which gives the right to unlimited travel by bus and metro in the capital, including travel from Heathrow Airport. See below for which passes you can buy locally in the UK.

If you intend to travel a lot by train on the train, it makes sense to buy an Eurail ticket, which allows unlimited travel in the UK and sixteen other countries, but it will not pay off if you limit yourself to England. Eurail Youthpass (for young people up to 26 years old) costs $ 414 for 15 days, $ 534 for 21 days or $ 664 for a month.

If you are already 26 years old, you can buy a first class Eurail ticket, which comes in three types: 15 days ($ 588), 21 days ($ 762) and one month ($ 946). There are also tickets for two and three months. Perhaps a more economical option would be the Eurail Flexipass, which is valid for a specified number of days in a two-month period. This ticket is also of two types - for young people up to 26 years old and first class: for 10 days it costs $ 488/694, respectively, for 15 days - $ 642/914.

• Rail passes in the UK

Some passes can only be purchased directly within the UK. These include the Young Person's Railcard (£ 20) for full-time students and those aged 16 to 25, and the Senior Citizens' Rail Card for people over 60 (£ 20). Both of these tickets offer a discount of up to a third of the full fare.

Families can use the £ 20 Family Railcard, which is valid for four adults and four children and qualifies for a 33% discount for adults and 60% for children. Tickets can be bought at train stations - take with you two passport-size photographs and a certificate of age or status.

Intercity buses in England

Buses long distance duplicate many railway routes and often cost half the price of a train. There is good bus service and the buses themselves are very comfortable. Long distance buses often offer drinks and sandwiches. The largest transport company is National Express, whose network of routes covers even the most remote corners of England.

For busy routes, as well as on weekends and holidays, it is recommended to book tickets in advance. Full-time students - British citizens, as well as persons under 25 and over 50 years old can buy a discount card (National Express Discount Coach Card; £ 10 for one year, £ 19 for three), which entitles them to a 30% discount.

Everyone else, including foreign tourists of any age, can buy a Tourist Trail Pass. It grants its owner unlimited travel on National Express buses for two days out of three (£ 49), five out of thirty (£ 85), eight out of thirty (£ 135), fifteen out of thirty (£ 190), or fifteen out of sixty ( £ 205).

At the same time, Discount Coach Card holders and those who bought a Tourist Trail Pass outside the UK enjoy a 20% discount. In England, passes can be purchased at major travel agencies, at Gatwick and Heathrow airports or at the National Express ticket offices. Outside the UK, contact either National Express or a specialized travel agency.

Local routes are served by many bus companies. In many cases, schedules and routes are well aligned. But more and more often it happens that private companies duplicate the busiest routes in an attempt to undermine competitors, as a result of which more remote areas are left uncovered.

For example, if you want to get from one end of a major English city to the other, then you will probably have a large selection of buses, but to get to the suburbs or to a neighboring village, you can wait a few hours. As a rule, the farther from the city, the less frequent the buses and the more expensive the tickets. But there are very few such areas where even private minibuses go.

In the summer, many National parks on weekends and holidays organize their own bus routes that transport visitors to scenic spots, villages, to the beginnings of hiking trails and other remote areas.

In addition, many rural areas not covered by other species public transport are served by the Postbus network, which includes minibuses carrying mail and up to eight passengers. They leave in the morning - usually around 8:00 from the main post office - and deliver mail to remote areas. It is a convenient and inexpensive way of getting around (£ 2-4 per trip) for those looking to get off the beaten path, although it is often extremely slow.

• England Bus Tours

Youth and thrifty tourists They often travel around England in Stray Travel minibuses, which can be hopped on (and off) at any point on the route. Thus, you get the opportunity to travel with like-minded people and see new places far from the beaten track. The bus travels through England (as well as Wales and Scotland), stopping at Windsor, Bath, the Lake District, and before heading back to the capital.

You can book accommodation yourself or ask Stray Travel to do it for you - in any case, you will have a pleasant and economical trip. For tourists with similar requests, Road Trip offers inexpensive Bus tours, although on their itineraries it is not possible to randomly join the excursion. If you want something more comfortable, look out for guided bus tours (mainly for the elderly): any central travel agency will offer you brochures and recommend routes.

By car in England

A valid driver's license is required to drive in England. If you bring your car into the country, you must have a registration certificate and a document of ownership with you. In addition, insurance is required. In England, left-hand traffic - this circumstance can cause a lot of trouble for foreign drivers in the first days after arrival. Highways - roads with the letter "M" - and main roads ("A") consist of 4-6 rows, but you can still expect traffic jams during rush hours and holidays. In rural areas ("B" and minor roads), transport sometimes moves only in one lane.

Therefore, you should drive carefully, especially considering that local drivers know this road well and are not prepared for surprises. Nor should the English weather be underestimated - snow, ice, fog and wind are devastating every year, and highway conditions, as in rural areas, can deteriorate in a matter of hours. Local radio stations and national Radio 5 provide constant traffic updates.

Speed ​​is limited to 50-65 kilometers per hour in built-up areas, 110 kilometers per hour on motorways and two-way highways (motorways), and 80 kilometers per hour on most other roads. As a rule, in all places with street lighting, the permitted speed is reduced to 50 kilometers per hour, unless otherwise indicated.

The British have long opposed the introduction of toll roads (with the exception of a couple of minor cases), but today in London and others large cities a tax is levied on entry to the central areas. Fuel is expensive: unleaded gasoline and diesel cost over £ 1 per liter. The most low prices- in suburban supermarkets, and the highest - at service stations on motorways.

AA (Automobile Association), RAC (Royal Automobile Club) and Green Flag offer 24-hour technical assistance to motorists, as well as other services (including a useful program for online route planning). Some tourists are entitled to free service, thanks to mutual agreements with foreign automotive organizations - check with your association before leaving. If you are not a member of these organizations, you can use their services, but then you will be asked to join urgently and they will take a hefty amount for it.

Parking in cities and popular tourist spots can seem like a nightmare and often cost a fortune. If you are going to be in the city for one day, look at the edge of the park-and-ride parking lot, where you can leave your car and take the bus to the center. Long-term or short-term parking in car parks will be cheaper than using street meters, which limit parking time to 2-3 hours. Typically than smaller city, the cheaper the parking.

In some cities there are free parking in the city center where you can park your car for a limited time. If indicated on road signs, then you need to buy a special cardboard disc at any local store and place it under the windshield. A yellow line along the side of the road means that parking restrictions are in effect: conditions are indicated on the nearest sign. A double yellow line means that parking is prohibited, but you can make a short stop (no longer than two minutes) to drop or board passengers or load things. But if the lines are red, then you can't stop here at all.

• Car rental in England

Compared to other countries, car rental in England is expensive. It may be cheaper to book a car from home, through an international rental office. If you rent a car in, it will cost you a minimum of £ 30 for one day, £ 50 for a weekend or from £ 150 per week. True, easyCar (offices in London, Manchester, Liverpool and) offers cars for about £ 10 a day, but for this you need to make an order well in advance of the trip, besides, be prepared for additional payment if the company considers that you have returned the car. in an unacceptable condition.

When booking a car through one of the international companies, expect about £ 35-40 per day; from a local firm, perhaps 10 pounds cheaper. Car rentals prefer credit card payments and require a deposit of £ 100 or more. There are very few automatic transmissions at the lower end of the price range, and if you need one, it's best to order ahead of time. A driver with less than one year of experience is unlikely to be given a car rental: most companies prefer customers aged 21 to 75.

For renting caravans, contact Just Go, which provides quality vehicles designed for 4-6 people and equipped with audio and video equipment, bathrooms and kitchen, as well as bike racks. Prices - from £ 450 to £ 850 per week, depending on the type of car and the season.

Taxi in England

Only wealthy tourists can afford to take a taxi all the time, especially in London, but sometimes you cannot do without a taxi, for example, when you are in a hurry to a neighboring city. It is advisable to take a taxi for several people - in this case, the trip is no more expensive than a bus.

In rural areas, taxis cost around £ 1.50 per mile. In cities, when traveling over short distances, prices are higher, although in different regions of England they differ noticeably: in Manchester or getting home by taxi is much less expensive than in London.

The famous "black cabs" are usually slightly more expensive than mini-taxis, but are usually more reliable (London taxi drivers must know the location of all the streets in the capital, otherwise they will not be hired). The black cab can be stopped on the street, but mini-taxis can only be ordered by phone.

In contact with

From Russia and Ukraine, the CIS countries, other countries of Europe and the world, you can use various types of transport, including: plane, train, bus, car, ferry. Below detailed information for each mode of transport, which will help you get to England on your own.

Airplane

England is popular destination among tourists, therefore direct flights from most countries of the world are carried out here. Most of the international flights are served by 4 airports related to London: Heathrow - 25 km west of London, Gatwick - 45 km south of London, Stansted - 50 km northeast of London, and Luton - 50 km north of London.

In addition to London, major international airports are located at - Manchester International Airport - 14 km south-west of the city center, in Birmingham - Birmingham International Airport - 10 km from the city center, in Liverpool - Liverpool International Airport - 12 km south-east of city ​​center, in Leeds - Leeds Bradford International Airport - 11 km northwest of the city center, in Newcastle upon Tyne - Newcastle International Airport - 11 km northwest of the city center.

Direct flights from Moscow to London are operated by British Airways, Aeroflot, S7, travel time - 4 hours, with a ticket price of 180 GBP. British Airways flies from St. Petersburg to London, travel time - 3 hours 30 minutes, with a ticket price of 130 GBP. British Airways, UIA, Wizz Air fly from Kiev to London, the flight duration is 3 hours 30 minutes, with a ticket price of 63 GBP. "Belavia" flies from Minsk to London, on the way - 3 hours 10 minutes, with a ticket price of 103 GBP. Air Moldova flies from Chisinau to London (the flight lasts 3 hours and 20 minutes, and the ticket costs from 97 GBP). "Air Astana" flies from Astana to London, the flight is 7 hours, with a ticket price of 350 GBP. Uzbekistan Airways flies from Tashkent to London, the flight duration is 7 hours 40 minutes, with a ticket price of 312 GBP.

Cheaper flights are available with connections in Riga (Air Baltic), Prague (CSA Czech Airlines and Smart Wings), Brussels (Brussels Airlines), Helsinki (Finnair), Istanbul ( Turkish Airlines"And" Pegasus Airlines "), Vilnius (" Wizz Air ") - from 60 GBP.

From the airport of any city in England, you can cheaply get on the specialized shuttle-buses of the Terravision company.

A train

A trip from Paris (France) to London takes from 7 hours, with a ticket price of 15 GBP. You can get from Brussels (Belgium) to London in 6-7 hours, paying for a ticket from 10 GBP. From Amsterdam (Netherlands) to London, the journey takes 10 hours, and the ticket costs from 20 GBP. From Edinburgh (Scotland) to London can be reached in 8-9 hours, with a ticket price of 14 GBP. From Cardiff (Wales) to London, the bus takes 4 hours, and the ticket costs from 5 GBP.

There are no direct bus routes from Russia to England, but if you want to go by bus, you should expect to spend more than two days on wheels and make at least three transfers in European cities(Riga, Warsaw, Paris), and such a trip will cost about 150 GBP. From Kiev (via Zhitomir, Rovno, Lviv), some carriers operate flights to London in transit through Poland, Germany and France - such a trip lasts more than two days, with a ticket price of 80-100 GBP.

Automobile

Getting to England by car is convenient from neighboring Scotland and Wales, as well as through the English Channel via the Eurotunnel or by ferry from mainland Europe. A trip to England by car from Moscow takes about 30-35 hours (3000 km), in transit through Belarus, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France. To travel by car, you need to have an international driver's license and insurance with you, which will also be needed to rent a car.

To plan road route to England on European roads, visit the Via Micheline website.

Water transport

You can get to England by ferry via the English Channel or the North Sea. The main seaports serving passengers are located in the cities: Portsmouth, Dover (Dover) , Plymouth, Hull (Hull) , Liverpool, Newcastle upon Tyne, Southampton, Poole (Poole). One of the most popular is the flight across the English Channel from France: Calais (Calais) - Dover, lasting 30 minutes, starting at 20 GBP. In addition to France, you can travel to England by ferry from Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and other islands. Major carriers: P&O Ferries, DFDS, Stena Line, Brittany Ferries, Irish Ferries.

You can find the required flight and see the schedule on the website

The fastest and cheapest way to get to England is by plane. Direct regular flights to London there are from Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg. Most of the options are from the capital, from where 3 airlines fly to London: Aeroflot, Transaero and British Airways. Lufthansa, Air France and Swissair offer connecting flights in Frankfurt, Paris and Zurich. Aeroflot and British Airways fly from Sheremetyevo to Heathrow several times a day, Transaero flies from Domodedovo to Gatwick, but not every day. You will have to spend 3.5-4 hours in the air. British Airways (to Heathrow) fly from St. Petersburg to London 5 times a week and Pulkovo Airlines (to Heathrow or Gatwick, depending on the day of the week). British Airways flies from Ekaterinburg to London 3 times a week. Even if there are direct flights to London, you can also fly there by planes of other airlines, but with a transfer - in Warsaw, Budapest, Prague, etc. Such flights extend the travel time, but tickets are sometimes cheaper.

London is one of the most expensive cities the world. Every year the capital of Great Britain is visited by many tourists from different parts. the globe... Information on how to get inexpensively to London from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Minsk, Kiev and other cities of the former CIS is of interest to many, and options do exist.

From the capital of Russia

The cheapest way to get from Moscow to London is to buy tickets from EasyJet. A low-cost airline company working in this direction. Price travel document, for those wishing to fly a direct flight starts from 3.0 thousand rubles. - in both directions. For example, if we compare prices for similar flights in other airlines, the difference is on average 250-300%.

In particular:

• "AirFrance" cost starts at 9.5 thousand rubles;
• Transaero - 9.0 thousand rubles and more;
• AirBaltic - from 8.0 thousand.

Other carriers have even higher prices.

An important point - with EasyJet you can buy cheap tickets before the Christmas and New Year holidays.

From St. Petersburg

Considering that EasyJet does not operate flights to the Northern capital of the Russian Federation, Petersburgers have to look for other options on how to get to London at a minimum cost.

There are several ways:

1. This can help famous airlines Austrian, KLM, AirBaltic, AirFrance, where prices start from 10.0-11.0 thousand rubles.
2. Get through the nearest countries that can be reached by car or train - Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland.

To England from regions

Unfortunately, the cost of tickets in the regions is much higher today. For example, from Novosibirsk Best offer will cost no less than 14.0 thousand rubles. - S7 airline, others will be even more expensive - Aeroflot - at least 21.0 thousand rubles, Transaero - from 20.0 thousand rubles. Therefore, for those who are interested in how to get to London cheaper, it is worth considering this option - by train or car to get to Moscow or Riga, and from there continue the journey.

How to get to the capital of Great Britain from other countries of the former CIS

Considering various options for how to get to London, the most optimal solution would be to contact low-cost airlines that fly in a particular region. In particular, in order to fly from Minsk, Riga or Kaunas, you need to look for air carriers that make regular flights in these directions.

For those who do not know how to get to the capital of Great Britain from Kiev inexpensively, you should pay attention to the transfer in Poland. Where the average cost of a ticket today is about 12-15 euros one way.

The airline Wizz Air offers tickets to the English capital and back from Riga and Kaunas for only 55-56 euros. And for members of the WIZZ Discount Club, the price will be even lower - only 35 euros. It should be borne in mind that low-cost companies regularly hold promotions and offer pretty decent discounts.

Now on the Internet, there are special sites that allow you to find the most affordable way of how to arrive in London at the lowest cost and from different countries the world.

If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.

Trains run, and planes fly, and buses travel, you can either by car either through the tunnel or by ferry overhead. What is better - you have to look at prices, dates and personal preferences.

By trains... The direct Eurostar express from Paris takes 2.5 hours. There are other trains passing through, or, for example, with a transfer through. The cost at Eurostar - round trip (return ticket) - from 41.5 pounds one way (with conversions in euros with a coefficient of 1.2 we get from 100 euros round trip). He walks many times a day at intervals from half an hour during peak hours to 2 hours in the afternoon. On the eurostar.com website, check the "flexible dates" option and see the days when it is more profitable for you.

Aircraft there are also a lot of flies, for them, basically, the trip is cheaper, within 100 euros round trip (in the minimum version, you can fly in 2 directions for 66 euros on Transavia). Google. Flights and Skyscanner will help you.

On the car you can drive too. The car crosses the tunnel on the Eurotunnel train. Accordingly, the cost of the trip for you will be renting a car (but, perhaps, you already planned to rent it in France). The fare for the Eurotunnel is 23 pounds one way, a total of 47 pounds plus fuel for 900 km (450 km one way excluding train travel through the tunnel), let's say 7.5 l / 100 km l for 1.4 euros, that's about 100 euros. But with the tunnel it will be 160 euros.

Buses... This is probably the most economical option. There are several carriers, tickets from 20 pounds one way, the standard is 25 pounds (total 60 euros in two directions). Cons - travel time is about 7 hours. Pluses - departure and arrival almost to the center. So if there are no prejudices, then you can take it and go at night, save on housing, which is not very cheap in London. Look at the options on the sites megabus.com and flixbus.ru.

Total conclusions: the cheapest option is a bus (from 60 euros), then an airplane (66 euros), then a train (100 euros), and only then a car. Trains and buses are convenient because the departure and arrival at the stations is practically in the center, less time and money spent on transfers. The train travels very quickly, taking into account the loss of time for the transfer to the airport and registration, it turns out to be comparable to the plane), the bus takes a long time, but if you go at night, you can save a little on accommodation. The convenience of a car is understandable - it is freedom of movement on the spot, if you have ideas not only about London, but to see something else in the vicinity. But if the trip is for 2 days, then London is enough for you, and you can get to Lego Land or Universal Studio Park with Harry Potter cheaper by public transport.

PS. I hope you are aware that it is not in Schengen and to visit England / you need a separate visa. The minimum cost / duration of a visa to the UK is 87 pounds for six months (gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa), there are no special problems with obtaining visas, filling out the application form and registering in electronic form, everything is quite clear.