Getting to your university or college
After a long and tiring flight, you won't want to be inconvenienced by scrutinising timetables and planning your onward journey. Fortunately, whether you plan to continue your journey by rail or coach, the Internet will allow you to check travel timetables and fares well in advance of your trip. Both coach and rail services are well served by fast and easy to use websites.
Travel in the UK
The UK is truly a hub of the global community, with many air, sea, road and rail links connecting it to every other part of the world. Flights from all the major cities in the world arrive at one or more UK airports every day. A local airport serves every major UK city, so it's easy to make connections to destinations anywhere in the country.
Frequent and efficient air services also connect the major UK cities with many other European cities. For instance, you can fly from Manchester to Amsterdam, London to Paris, Gatwick to Berlin - and all in an hour or so. The peaceful Greek islands, the historic sites of the Middle East or the exciting cities of Eastern Europe are only three or four hours away by air.
Thanks to the Channel Tunnel, Paris and Brussels can be reached by train. And all the major towns and cities in the UK are linked by a wide-ranging system of motorways, allowing easy travel by car, motorbike or coach to all parts of the country.
Air travel
There are four major airports near London: Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Stansted. Other major international airports are located at Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, Manchester, Birmingham and Aberdeen. All these airports link with cities throughout the world, as well as with each other.
Rail and coach travel
Cities in the UK are connected by a fast and efficient railway network, and by frequent coach services. Various travel passes are available, providing unlimited travel over specified periods and distances. This approach can make it easy to get around and see everything you want to.
Many UK travel organisations offer special discounted fares for students. If you buy a Young Person's Railcard or a Student Coach Card, for example, you'll get reduced fares on most journeys. For details, ask at your students' union office or any main railway or coach station, or try one of the specialist student travel agencies which can be found near many campuses.
Road travel
An extensive motorway network links all major towns and cities. If you want to drive a car or motorcycle in the UK, you must have a valid
license and you must be at least seventeen years old (sixteen years old to drive a moped). For further details about the licensing requirements, contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
(DVLA).
Be aware that distances in the UK are given in miles. To convert to kilometres, divide by five and then multiply by eight. For example, fifty miles is approximately eighty
kilometres.
Bicycles
If you want to use a bicycle while you are in the UK, it's a good idea to take a 'familiarisation' course if possible. These courses are sometimes offered by the local police or the local authority and they can teach you how to ride a bicycle safely while you're here. To find out about bicycle familiarisation courses in your area, ask at your students' union.
Useful Websites
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA): www.dvla.gov.uk
Inter-Rail: www.inter-rail.co.uk
National Express: www.gobycoach.com
Rail track (rail service information): www.railtrack.co.uk
British Airports Authority - provides detailed information on the UK's major airports:
www.baa.co.uk
British Tourist Authority: www.visitbritain.com
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