Travelling Tips: Easy And Economic Ways To Travel In UK As A Tourist?

Despite the wide range of attractions, the UK isn’t that big a country. If you want to move around the UK, there are a few options. You can either opt for a private car to explore the country or take the help of the public transport system of the country. As a tourist, you can rent a car and it will most likely be the best use of your time. Since you can reach even remote places without having to worry about public transport. However, the cost of rentals has gone up significantly, and so have the fuel costs in recent times. It can make your travel much more expensive. And not to forget, you will have to deal with traffic and delays caused by it.

Public transport is the other reliable option to travel in the UK as a tourist. Public transport includes trains and busses or also known as coaches. A combination of coaches and trains will help you move around the UK efficiently and without spending a lot of money as well.

Long distance travel

One of the fastest ways to travel long distances in the UK is via trains. Trains can not only help you reach the destination faster but in a more comfortable manner as well. The British trains are on time 85% of the time and the journey is made even more comfortable thanks to a friendly staff and good amenities in most of the major stations.

However, there is one drawback of choosing trains for your travel, they can get expensive. It is essential that you book your train tickets well in advance to enjoy a comfortable ride that does not hurt your budget. Leaving it till the very end will result in ticket prices that can feel a bit difficult to comprehend at times. Also, at times it is more economical to buy two single tickets instead of buying a return ticket.

There are about 20 companies that operate trains in the UK. Though it can feel a bit confusing for the very first time, the process of buying tickets is centralised, which makes it easier.

Budget travel

Even though they are fast and comfortable, trains can get a bit expensive. And if you are on a tight budget, you can always travel in coaches. Coaches or buses run between most of the major cities and towns and are one of the most affordable mediums of transport. Though you must keep in mind, that they can be a bit slow at times.

If your travel period coincides with the non-peak periods or you book the tickets well in advance, coaches can be surprisingly affordable. A word of caution, towns usually have different bus stations for long-distance buses and local buses. Ensure that you inquire and reach the right station.

Remote locations

For the explorer in you, hiring a car can be one of the most efficient ways of moving around the UK. Having a car at your disposal gives you immense flexibility and the ability to reach even remote locations and explore at your pace. There are several rental services in the country that can offer excellent vehicles for the price that you pay.

However, there is a downside to hiring a rental car in the UK. Compared to a few other countries, rentals are expensive. Not to forget that you will end up being stuck in traffic congestions, end up paying parking fees of cities and the cost of insurance. You can get a rental car at an affordable price tag, but you will need to explore smaller rental companies near you.

Cycling for short outdoor trips

If you are a cycling enthusiast, hiring a bike can be a great option to explore the country. You can either use a cycle to travel for a short distance within a town or a city or take it out to explore the outdoors. With great weather and road conditions, cycling can be quite liberating.

You can either use bike-sharing platforms for short rides or rentals for longer-duration trips. The downsides of cycling are, that it can be quite physically demanding and not all cities and towns are cycling-friendly.

For travellers, who have a bit of time at hand, using a combination of train, bus, taxi and at times hiring a bike can be an affordable and quick way to explore the country.