United Kingdom
Travel Guides
Welcome to the UK, the home country of Gremlin Travels, formed of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. It is a nation filled with a diverse range of people, cultures, food and destinations. From the picturesque seaside landscapes of Cornwall, the alternative vibe of Bristol all the way to the buzzing capital city of London and the beauty of Scotland’s highlands, the UK travel scene has more to offer than one might first think.
While the history of the UK involves colonisation across the globe and some questionable activities, the result now is a country that embraces diversity. Across much of the country, Indian, Caribbean, Italian and Polish communities, to name a few, live alongside the British and have brought fantastic food, culture and people to the country. This, coupled with the British traditions that still remain, mean that visiting the UK doesn’t have to be all about fish and chips and the Queen. It is an exploration into a country that is constantly evolving and growing, while trying to hold on to its heritage.
UK Travel Guides - Where Do You Want To Go?
Top UK Travel Tips
How to get to the UK
Flights – The UK is made up of a series of islands and therefore, getting to the UK by air is the easiest and often, the only option. Thankfully, the UK is exceptionally well-connected to the rest of the world by air and you can grab a flight to almost any country in the world from London. London has many airports, London Heathrow being the most major. Scotland, Wales and Ireland also have their airports that operate many major flights and other major airports in England include Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol. However, if you’re looking to come in or out of the UK from a country, not in Europe, chances are you’ll likely have to connect in London Heathrow or Gatwick, as these operate the majority of international flights in the UK.
The national carrier for Britain is British Airways and Aer Lingus for Ireland. Combined, both airlines fly to a huge selection of countries but you can fly with many airlines from the UK including larger airlines which will get you to most destinations like such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, KLM and Etihad. There are also lots of budget airlines that operate in and out of the UK including Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizz Air and Norwegian. It’s worth noting though that most budget airlines do not operate from London Heathrow airport, only from other London and regional airports. We recommend using Skyscanner to check flights available in and out of the UK. The Skyscanner website shows practically every flight option available and you can benefit from useful tools such as the flight tracker, which allows you to track the price of a chosen flight and book it at its least expensive price.
Eurostar (train) – Being an island, there aren’t many international train routes into the UK, except for the Eurostar, which is a train line that runs under the channel and into France. The Eurostar departs and arrives from St Pancras International train station in London and offers customers direct trains to Paris, Lille and Lyon in France and Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Brussels (Belgium). The Eurostar is very comfortable and spacious and is a great way to travel. Journey times are longer than flights but once you take into account not having to get to the airport and all the extra admin that involves, it’s comparable in time. Plus, the journey is quite scenic. Ticket prices vary and it’s worth booking in advance as much as possible, you can check times and prices and book online at Eurostar
Useful tips for getting around the UK
The UK is small compared to most countries but with lots of towns, cities and beautiful countryside to see, you’re probably going to need to get between places quite a lot. So, we’ve put together this simple breakdown of the best ways to get around the UK:
Trains – Trains are a key way of getting around the country in the UK and form a large part of the public transport service. Trains range from local, slower trains, that make more stops, intercity trains and long-distance high-speed trains. Trains are generally quite comfortable in the UK, however, they aren’t always particularly reliable. There are often delays and cancellations, which can make travelling by train frustrating at times. Train prices vary massively from very reasonable prices for some journeys to high prices for a similar timed journey on another line, the pricing can seem quite sporadic at times. Several companies run various train networks across the UK generally dependent on areas. Book trains in advance where possible, to save money, particularly on longer journeys such as London to Manchester or London to Cardiff. The easiest way to save money on train travel in the UK is by booking trains with Trainline, who cover all trains and train companies in the UK, show the best prices, times and connection options, it’s super simple to use
Bus – Bus travel is another common way to get around in the UK, although not as popular as the train. Buses connect the majority of towns and cities in the UK, albeit with connections required to get you to your final destination. Bus journeys take a lot longer than trains generally but are usually less expensive, so if you’re looking to save money but not time, then bus travel could be a good option. National Express has one of the most comprehensive networks in the UK and covers many long distance and airport routes
Car – Getting around by car is common in the UK and the roads are of good standard across the country. Motorways connect most towns and cities alongside smaller A and B roads. You must wear a seatbelt by law in a car in the UK and it is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving. There are many car rental companies across the UK that you can use. Cars drive on the left-hand side of the road in the UK and speed limits and signs are in miles per hour. The speed limit on the motorway is 70 mph for a car, it is 70 mph on a dual carriageway, 60 on a single carriageway and 30 in built-up areas, unless signposted otherwise
Domestic flights – Domestic flights are common in the UK, primarily when getting between Scotland, Ireland and England, as it is the quickest way to get between them. British Airways operate the largest selection of domestic flights alongside EasyJet, Aer Lingus, Jet2 and a few others. Although domestic flights are a quick way to get around in the UK, prices can sometimes be high, particularly if you book last minute. The best way to check domestic flights times and prices is via Skyscanner, where you can also book flights
UK travel tips
– The UK is a safe country to travel and live in and is suitable for all travellers. Remember to keep an eye on your personal belongings, as you would anywhere in the world
– The UK uses the type G plug, with 3 rectangular pins which are in a triangular pattern
– Remember to take out travel health insurance for travel in the UK and anywhere in the world. We recommend using SafetyWing for travel health insurance, which offer great value insurance with optional extras
– The water is suitable to drink out of the taps in the UK
– Dial 999 or 112 in an emergency in the UK
– Bring a raincoat and an umbrella, it rains a lot!
– The currency in the UK is the Great British Pound (GBP, £)
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Our Latest UK Travel Articles
UK Walking Tour Videos
You can see all of our UK walking tour videos, and more destinations, on our Youtube Channel. Check out our destination specific travel guides to see maps that accompany our walking routes videos. You can also download the map to your phone and follow our route. We’ve highlighted any notable landmarks on the route too so you won’t miss a thing!
