GETTING AROUND UNITED KINGDOM
British Airways (BA) www.britishairways.com operates a shuttle service from London to Edinburgh,
Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle amongst other cities. Other internal
operators include BMI (BD) www.flybmi.com, fly be (BE) www.flybe.com, easy Jet (EZY) www.easyjet.com and Ryan air (FR) www.ryanair.com.
From London to Aberdeen is 1 hour 30 minutes;
to Belfast is 1 hour 15 minutes; to Edinburgh is 1 hour 20 minutes; to Glasgow
is 1 hour 20 minutes; to Jersey is 1 hour; to Manchester is 55 minutes; and to
Newcastle is 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Left
Distances are measured in miles. There are
trunk roads ('A' roads) linking all major towns and cities in the UK.
Roads in rural areas ('B' roads) can be slow and winding, and in upland areas may become impassable in winter.
Motorways radiate from London and there is also a good east-west and north-south network in the north and the Midlands.
The M25 motorway circles London and connects at various junctions with the M1, M3, M4, M10, M11 and M40.
The only motorway that leaves England is the M4 from London to South Wales.
Access to Scotland is by the A1/A1 (M) or the A68 to Edinburgh, or the M6 to Carlisle followed by the A74 to Glasgow.
Within Scotland, motorways link Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth.
In Northern Ireland, motorways run from Belfast to Duncannon and from Belfast to Antrim.
Roads in rural areas ('B' roads) can be slow and winding, and in upland areas may become impassable in winter.
Motorways radiate from London and there is also a good east-west and north-south network in the north and the Midlands.
The M25 motorway circles London and connects at various junctions with the M1, M3, M4, M10, M11 and M40.
The only motorway that leaves England is the M4 from London to South Wales.
Access to Scotland is by the A1/A1 (M) or the A68 to Edinburgh, or the M6 to Carlisle followed by the A74 to Glasgow.
Within Scotland, motorways link Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth.
In Northern Ireland, motorways run from Belfast to Duncannon and from Belfast to Antrim.
Speed limits are 48 kph (30 mph) in urban areas,
113 kph (70 mph) on motorways and dual carriageways, elsewhere 80kph (50mph) or
97 kph (60 mph) as marked. Seat belts must be worn by the driver and front seat
passenger. Where rear seat belts have been fitted, they must also be worn. It
is illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving. The minimum driving
age is 17.
The AA www.theaa.com and RAC www.rac.co.uk are able to provide a full range of services
to UK members touring the UK. These organizations can also assist people who
are travelling from abroad with maps, tourist information and specially marked
routes to major events or places of interest.
National driving licenses are valid for one
year. Drivers must have Third Party insurance and vehicle registration
documents.
All cities and towns have bus services of
varying efficiency and cost. Glasgow, Liverpool, London and Newcastle have
underground railways. The urban areas of Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow,
Liverpool and Manchester are also well served by local railway trains.
Manchester has a tram service.
Taxis: Licensed taxi operators are generally
metered; small supplements may be charged for weekends, bank holidays, excess
baggage and late-night travel. In the larger cities, unlicensed operators offer
a cheaper (but less efficient and knowledgeable) unmetered service with fares
based loosely on elapsed clock mileage; these taxis are called mini-cabs and
can be booked by telephone.
There is a good coach network linking the major towns and cities
across England. National Express (Tel: 0871 781 8178; www.nationalexpress.com and Mega bus (Tel: 0900 1600 900; http://uk.megabus.com are two popular services.
Regulations:
The speed limit for cars is 112 kph (70 mph) for motorways and
dual carriageways, 96 kph (60 mph) for single carriageways, and 48 kph (30 mph) in
built up areas. Seatbelts are compulsory, and it is illegal to use a mobile
phone or similar device when driving. The blood alcohol limit for drivers is
0.08%.
Breakdown
service:
If you breakdown, pull over to side of the road (or the hard
shoulder if on the motorway) and put on hazard warning lights. If on the
motorway you can call the Highways Agency from the emergency roadside phones
that are spaced at intervals of 1.6km (1 mile). Alternatively, do call your car
hire provider; many will have 24 hour breakdown cover. The AA (Tel: 08457 887
766; www.theaa.com and RAC (Tel: 0800 828 282; www.rac.co.uk are two well-known providers of breakdown cover.
Documentation:
Drivers over 17 years, with a full and valid license are free to
drive in the UK for 12 months from the time of last entry into the UK.
The UK is served by an excellent network of
railways. Intercity lines provide fast services between London and major
cities, and there are services to the southeast and to major cities in the
Midlands, the north and south Wales and between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Some
rural areas are less well served (e.g. the north coast of the west country,
parts of East Anglia, Northern Ireland, Northumberland and North Yorkshire,
parts of inland Wales, and southern and northern Scotland), although local rail
services are generally fairly comprehensive.
For information about UK train services and
fares, contact National Rail Enquiries (Tel: 0845 748 4950, in the UK
only; www.nationalrail.co.uk,
BritRail: offers a range of passes giving unlimited
travel. This is available to visitors from overseas and is not available in the
UK; tickets must be purchased in the visitor's home country, although tickets
can be collected in the UK. Further details can be obtained from BritRail www.britrail.com.
InterRail's One-Country Pass: offers travel for three, four, six or
eight days in one month within the UK. Travel is not allowed in the passenger's
country of residence. Travelers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children's
tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed
services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar
and some ferry routes. Available from Rail Europe www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail.
Rail cards: discount cards available to young people (aged 16 to 25),
senior travelers (aged 60 and over), families (up to four adults and four
children) and disabled travelers, offering a third off rail fares. Valid for
one year www.railcard.co.uk.
Information on travel to the Channel Islands,
Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Scottish islands are given in the
relevant Getting Around/There sections for those countries.
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