For a relatively small island nation, England has heaps of incredibly beautiful places to visit and stunning sights to see. For instance, you’ve got beautiful national parks like the Lake District, vibrant cities like Cambridge, and the Roman city of Bath. Honestly, there is so much to see and do in England that you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Regardless of where you visit, you will need to plan how to travel around England. This is especially true if you want to make the most of your time in England. Now, what I would say is that it’s essential to consider which option is right for you. You might want to consider an English road trip if you’re a driver.
However, if you’re staying in London the whole time, you might want to consider day trips from London by public transport. Whatever the case, ensure you plan and know the best ways to travel around England before arriving. So, to help your trip around England go swimmingly, I want to share the best ways you can travel around England without hassle or stress to plan once you arrive.
Train travel Around England
The English train network is pretty vast and connected and works very well, especially when travelling from urban hubs like London, Manchester, and other regional cities. Yes, it’s true that we Brits love to complain about the trains, their delays, and the cost, but the network is safe, reliable (for the vast majority of the time), and convenient.
Now, one thing to note about trains is that they can be expensive, especially if you don’t plan your trip in advance. Tickets in First Class on the day, travelling at peak times, will always be the highest price. Typically, these can cost more than flying! However, don’t fret—there’s never a need to pay astronomical prices for train travel in England.
So, how do you get cheaper train tickets in England? Well, first off, plan. The earlier, the better, and booking 10-12 weeks before your intended travel will ensure you can buy ‘advance’ tickets for specific services. This means, you must travel on the train and time specified. If you don’t, you will need to buy a new ticket.
You can book train tickets here. Alternatively, head to TrainLine, which has all train journeys across England. Make sure to look for advance tickets and book those.
Also, don’t forget about buying this Railcard. These are discount yearly ‘memberships’ where you can get 1/3 off your train fares. Annual membership costs around £30-40, and you can choose the right card. This is an excellent option if you plan to travel on multiple trains around England (or you have numerous trips around the UK).
Now, the cons of rail travel are that booking the cheapest tickets can feel convoluted and unnecessarily arduous. I have no idea why England hasn’t simplified their ticketing system around pricing structures, but hey, what can we do?
Car travel Around England
Driving in England isn’t as scary as it sounds—unless you’re used to driving on the other side of the road and don’t use roundabouts.
Whatever the case, a road trip around England is fun, totally delightful, and opens up a whole heap of destinations that aren’t quite as accessible by train in England. This is especially true for more rural areas or places with many small villages and hamlets.
A good example is the Cotswolds, an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty around 80 miles (as the crow flies) from Central London. This area has a few train station stops, but very few, and the whole area lends itself to car travel.
Also, always be familiar with the road signs. If unsure, look at this official Government PDF that tells you what each sign means. You will get a fine/ticket if you fail to adhere to these (and if you get caught by the police or a traffic camera).
Oh, and always monitor your alcohol intake if you intend to drive. Drink driving is a very serious offence in England (and the whole of the UK), and you will be arrested if you are found to be over the legal limit. For safety, I would suggest not drinking if you intend to drive.
You’ll find ‘Motorways’ (like Highways in the US) for the main roads between cities. These are always labelled with an ‘M’ at the start of the road. Their road signs are also in blue, which makes them easy to identify. Then, you have ‘A‘ roads; these are significant roads with one or two lanes and tend to have variable speed limits. You may also drive down ‘B‘ roads – these are smaller, sometimes narrow lanes in more rural areas and require you to drive slower.
Bus Travel Around England
There is a range of Government-Subsidised private operators for bus travel in more rural areas and Metropolitan networks in all cities across the UK. The former are typically to help local communities connect to larger urban centres or public services. The latter is a city-wide network of buses that cross the city you’re visiting in England.
A good example is in London, where TfL (Transport for London) operates buses 24 hours a day. These are frequent, reliable and generally safe options when visiting London. Plus, they’re a great way to see London from the top deck on a double-decker bus. There’s no need for advance tickets; you can pay with your contactless debit or credit card when you board. Alternatively, you can grab an Oyster Card, but it’s not necessary if you’re only visiting the city.
Also, there are private companies like National Express where you can book bus journeys from key cities in England. These are also reliable options but tend to take longer to travel than the trains.
Tube and Tram Travel In England
Specific to cities like London, Manchester and a few other larger cities in England, the underground network or trains (like a Subway) is commonly called the ‘Tube‘. Just like buses in London, these are typically safe and reliable, and every Londoner uses them. Plus, you can pay with your contactless debit or credit card.
This is the same for trams in London and Manchester, and tickets can easily be bought as you board.
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