Despite its myriad attractions, England is a fairly compact country with decent roads and a wide rail network so getting around isn't difficult, no matter what the season.
The first big decision when visiting England is whether to travel by private car or use the extensive public transportation system. Having your own car means you can make the best use of time and reach remote places, but rental, fuel costs, tolls and charges can be expensive, and there are always traffic delays to contend with. Public transportation, which includes a somewhat reliable system of trains and coaches (buses), is often the better choice for getting around in the UK. Aside from London, England’s city centers are very walkable too.
From the cheapest travel passes to the best forms of transportation to get you where you're headed, here's our guide to getting around England.
For long-distance travel around England, trains are generally faster and more comfortable than buses, but are usually much more expensive. The English like to moan about their trains, but around 85% run on time (and the 15% that see delays mostly impact commuters) and major stations are well-equipped, with helpful staff, a range of food outlets and decent amenities.
The main headache for train enthusiasts these days is the cost. If you leave booking your ticket to the last minute, fares can be extortionately high, so it's always worth booking as far in advance as you can – tickets tend to come available 12 weeks in advance of travel. Sometimes buying two single tickets can be cheaper than buying a return.
About 20 different companies operate train services in England, while Network Rail operates tracks and stations. For some passengers, the range of different train operators can be confusing at first, but information and ticket-buying services are mostly centralized.
If you have to change trains, or use two or more train operators, you can still buy one ticket, valid for the whole journey. The main railcards and passes are also accepted by all train operators – and can offer good savings.
Your first stop for planning journeys should be National Rail Enquiries, the country's nationwide timetable and fare information service. The website advertises special offers and has real-time links to station departure boards and downloadable maps of the rail network.
You can also buy tickets from the rail companies directly, or through other ticket retailers, who often have easy-to-navigate websites and apps; options include Rail Easy and The Trainline. The ticket-splitting service Tickety Split is a great way of saving money on fares, particularly on one-way journeys.
Long-distance buses are known as coaches in the UK, and services run between most major towns and cities. If
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