NATIONAL TRAVEL
The most popular means of transport nationwide is by train although this can also be done by coach (bus), car rental or even by air particularly if you are travelling from the south of England to Scotland or vice-versa.
Select an option below for details:
TRAIN
Before booking a trip, we recommend signing-up for a 16-25 Railcard which costs only £30 per year but saves you 1/3 off every train fare. If you are older than 25, you can apply for a Mature Student Railcard and if you are staying for up to 3 years, you can apply for a 3-year Railcard at the discounted rate of £80.
I HAVE PURCHASED MY RAILCARD. WHERE CAN I NOW BUY TRAIN TICKETS?
We have compiled a list of sites from where you can get the cheapest available tickets:
COACH
There are two main operators that dominate inter-city travel:
CAR RENTAL
CAN I DRIVE IN THE UK WITH A NON-UK DRIVER’S LICENSE?
In theory, yes. Once in the UK, you can drive with your international driver’s license for up to 12 months after your arrival.
WHAT IF I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE DRIVING AFTER 12 MONTHS?
Beyond 12 months, you would need to either convert your international driver’s license into a UK one or apply for a fresh UK license.
- EU or EEA license holders – If you are in possession of a license from a country that is a member of the European Union or the European Economic Area, you can drive in the UK for as long as your license if valid.
- Converting – If you are in possession of a license from a ‘designated country’, you may exchange it for a UK license for up to 5 years after becoming a resident. The designated countries are: Andorra, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, UAE and Zimbabwe.
- Applying – If you are in possession of a license from a non-designated country (meaning your country is neither a member of the EU nor listed above) you will need to apply for a provisional UK license before taking the driving test and acquiring for a full UK license.
RENTING A CAR
You have the right driver’s license and are ready to rent a car. Here are some general facts to know about car rentals:
- You need to be pre-insured to rent a car in the UK. Rental companies will offer a range of insurance options for you to choose from which will be added to your bill. They usually consist of basic insurance and the added option of reducing your excesses should the car suffer any damage whilst in your care.
- If you are under the age of 25, expect to pay a surplus insurance. Rental companies attribute this to the general lack of experience of drivers under the age of 25.
- Be careful with speed fines, parking tickets or any type of contravening penalty you may receive whilst in possession of the car. Most rental companies will charge you an administrative fee in addition to the fine you are meant to pay.
- Get familiar with the general laws of driving before renting. Using your handset or going above the speed limit – to name just these two – are considered criminal offences for which you can be fined or jailed. In some cases, you may be offered a driver’s awareness course especially if it is your first driving offence but this is by no means guaranteed. Fines are usually accompanied by points on your license (usually three points per offence). Your license can be fined a maximum of twelve points after which you will be suspended from driving for at least a year.
CAR RENTAL OPERATORS
AIR
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