Travelling through Great Britain - roads, airports, railway, bus transportation

The United Kingdom of Great Britain has the excellent transport infrastructure. Not only the huge tourist flow, but also the development of the country itself and, in particular, the business sphere contributed there. The total length of all roads is at least 399 thousand kilometers. At the same time, there are relatively few highways in the country. They make only about three and a half thousand kilometers. You can travel by car in any region of the country. Don’t forget that the UK has the left-hand traffic. In London, there is a metro or a tube that embraces 12 underground, land and mixed lines. It is worth noting that the lines are often split into separate small branches, so you should always follow the transport route.

There are also taxi services in the country. The most expensive vehicles are black cabs. They can be stopped simply on the street. Cars are always upscale, with a clean and comfortable interior. Drivers use a meter. The less expensive taxi should be called on the phone. In this case, you need to clarify the price, since there is no meter in the cabin. Large cities have trams. In London, you can even find two-story trams. However, buses are considered the most popular way of traveling around the city. They run from 4-5 am until 1 am. There are some night routes. As a rule, they only cruise around major cities and the most popular destinations. Tickets for public transport can be bought at roadside kiosks, at stops and railway stations, as well as directly from the driver.

Locals don’t move between cities by buses; they use trains instead. It will be much more comfortable, although the ticket price for trains is much higher. About 50 years ago, the railway line across the territory of the modern kingdom was in a very poor state. However, the authorities took action, and now the railway network in the UK is one of the best in Europe. The cost of the ticket depends on the class of the train and the length of the way. It is worth noting that you can get even to the most remote villages. Between the regions of the kingdom and between coastal cities, one can travel by means of water transport. In particular, you can use ferries. Special boats, water taxis, yachts and a variety of sightseeing small ships cruise the Thames.

Air transport is also decent in the UK. The country has a lot of domestic and international airports, so moving between the most remote points of the state will be quick and comfortable. In addition, the cost of air tickets is quite acceptable. It is possible to move around the city by bicycles. Authorities zealously support this trend, so they constantly expand the network of bicycle lanes. You can rent a two-wheeled vehicle in any town. This is especially true in larger cities, where the ancient streets are very narrow, and the traffic jams can be as long as several kilometers. You can also rent a car, but only with an international driver's license. Such an option will cost you at least $60 per day.

The air transport network in Great Britain is simply superb. In total, about 450 airports operate in the country. Some of them are used not only for passenger transportation but also for freight. The main airports serve domestic and international flights. Heathrow Airport is the largest air harbor in the country. It is located twenty kilometers from London. It has no equal on the territory of the kingdom. Heathrow holds a decent 4th place in the world. There are five terminals at the airport. Everything there is arranged for the comfortable rest of passengers, including bank offices, cafes and restaurants, various shops, lounges, business centers and baby care rooms. You can get to the city by bus or by train. You can also book a transfer and a taxi in advance, or rent a car. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Gatwick Airport is on a second place in the country. Although, it is the busiest airport in the world by its capacity. It has two terminals, between which a line of underground trains lies. An infrastructure of the air harbor is nice. Here, you can find souvenir shops and boutiques, nurseries and meeting rooms, restaurants and cafes. It should be noted that hotels are located right on the territory. This airport is situated 46 kilometers from London. On the opposite side, at the same distance from the capital, there is Stansted Airport. It is famous for its unusual architecture and high-quality service.

Manchester Airport is located near the city of the same name. Its scale is not very impressive if compared to the first three air harbors. Still, the quality of service is also great. There are a railway station and a bus station on the territory of the airport. Scottish Edinburgh Airport is just 12 kilometers from the city of the same name. This harbor has recently become international. This direction is very popular today. Gibraltar Airport serves not only civilian but military forces. The Bristol air gate is one of the ten busiest airports in the whole kingdom. There is only one international airport on the territory of Wales, Cardiff. It is located only 20 kilometers from the city. You can get there by bus or by train.

The UK is characterized by a rather developed transport infrastructure. It is comfortable to travel by any mean of transport. The state monitors the condition of the fleet, trains, planes, and sea transport. Therefore, the cost of a journey is quite comparable to the quality of service and comfortable roads. Very few travelers choose a car as the main mean of transportation around the country. The traffic is left-handed, and most tourists are simply not accustomed to this. It can be a problem to drive in the largest tourist cities by car because all the ancient streets are very narrow. That is especially true for London. Nevertheless, you can rent a car in every airport or in a large city. A bicycle can be an option. Almost all the cities of the country have branched bike lanes. Therefore, it will be possible not only to get to the desired destination quickly and inexpensively but also to admire the surrounding nature.

The most popular public transport in the country is a bus. Inside the city, buses run in different directions every 15-20 minutes. There are lines working from 4 am to 1 am. There are night buses on the most popular routes. On holidays, the amount of transport is significantly reduced. You can buy bus tickets at roadside kiosks, at bus stops or at train stations and directly from the driver. You can buy a one-time ticket or a travel card. In the second case, you can save a little. Long-distance buses, as a rule, depart from bus stations every hour. Much attention is paid to the comfort. Some companies offer their passengers drinks and light snacks.

Two-story red buses are the feature of the UK. However, few people have heard about red double-decker trams. Although they are quite common in London. Such mean pf transport appeared in the capital 50 years ago. Later it disappeared, and only a few years ago local authorities returned such transport to the city. It is worth noting that you can buy a travel card, which allows traveling by bus and by tram. Also, the metro is very popular in the capital. This one is among the oldest in the world. There are only 12 lines. Many of them are mixed and have land and underground sections. The branches themselves are rather confused, so when traveling, you should closely follow the route map. Please note that hitch-hiking is common in the UK. This type of transportation is safe and inexpensive.

The UK has a very long railway network. That’s one of the best in Europe. The most remote regions of the country can be reached by means of such transport. In order to save a little, it is worth buying tickets one or two weeks in advance. You can also get a reusable ticket. The speed of most of the trains in England reaches two hundred kilometers per hour. The cars are clean and comfortable. Trains run according to the schedule. The maximum delay time is 10-20 minutes. The cost depends on the duration of the trip, the point of departure and the class of a train or a car. To save time, many tourists travel between the most famous cities of the kingdom by air. There are about 450 air harbors in the country. Domestic flights are available at almost every airport. You can get there by buses, trains, transfers or by taxi. Since the United Kingdom is an island state, there is a well-developed sea transport. You can move between the mainland and coastal cities by ships and ferries. Moreover, the second type of transport is more popular among tourists. Firstly, its cost is low. Secondly, it is possible to transport any goods, and even cars or bicycles on ferries. In the midst of the tourist season, water taxis, yachts, and excursion boats run on Thames in London. You can also take a taxi. There are two main types of taxis - with meters and with a fixed tariff. In the first case, such a car can be taken on the street. The second type of taxi can be called only by phone. Don't forget to get the cost of the trip from the operator in advance.