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Travel

Plan your journey
Last modified: 22 January 2016
  • Check the information from your college or university for details about how to get there, including any transport arranged by your institution. Carry this information in your hand luggage.
  • The British government's tourist information service,Visit Britain (VisitBritain) may have an office in your country. Visit Britain can give you information and advice to help you plan your journey.
  • Some scholarship agencies (for example, the British Council) help their scholars with travel arrangements. If you are receiving a scholarship, check the information from your scholarship agency.
  • If you have arranged your international travel through a travel agent, ask the agent if they can help you arrange your onward journey in the UK.
  • Consult airport websites or information from your travel agent for details about services at airports If you have any problem on arrival, go to the Information Centre or Helpdesk at the airport or train station.
 
Arriving by air
Last modified: 07 January 2021
Most international flights to London arrive at Gatwick or Heathrow airport, but some flights, especially from continental Europe, may arrive at Luton or Stansted. Depending on your final destination, you may need to travel into central London for the next stage of your journey. There are several major train stations in London, so you should make sure you know which one you need before planning that stage of your journey.
  • Heathrow - Heathrow is one of the world’s busiest airports. There are coach connections, a Tube station (on the Piccadilly line, marked in dark blue on the Tube map) and the Heathrow Express train service to Paddington station in London.
  • Gatwick - There are coach connections, and a train service from Gatwick to central London (Victoria or Kings Cross stations, depending on which train you catch). There is also a Gatwick Express train service direct to Victoria station. The journey takes about 40 minutes.
  • Stansted - There are local connections and coach services and the Stansted Express train service to Liverpool Street station in London.
  • Luton - There is both a coach service and a train service into central London.
 
The journey into London is much cheaper on the tube and the slower local train services than on the airport express services.
 
Trains
Last modified: 18 November 2015
Many train services offer either ‘Standard’, or ‘First’ Class' tickets (and therefore seating). First Class is much more expensive than ‘Standard Class’, which most people find perfectly comfortable. It is advisable to book a seat in advance on long distance journeys, especially if you plan to travel on a Friday.
 
Long distance coach and train services usually have good luggage facilities. Larger train stations may also have a 'Left Luggage' service where you can leave your bags for a few hours if there is a long wait between connections.
 
Train services are operated by a variety of different companies. Some companies offer special deals, especially if booked in advance, on certain routes (usually longer distance routes). For timetables and fares, see the National Rail website.
 
Buses
Last modified: 18 November 2015
Long-distance bus services (coaches) are inexpensive and popular with students.
Local bus services generally cover shorter distances than coach services and are cheaper. In London, bus services are the cheapest form of public transport, but usually take longer than the Underground, due to the large amount of traffic on the roads. Many local bus services do not have much luggage space, although services from airports and train stations may have more.
Buses may be very busy at ‘rush hour’ on weekdays (Monday to Friday). ‘Rush hour’ is between approximately 8am and 9.30am and again between 5pm and 6.30pm. This is when most people are travelling to and from their place of work.
 
London Underground (the ‘Tube’)
Last modified: 18 November 2015
Many people use the Tube to get around London. There is a Tube station at Heathrow airport, but not at any other airports near London. The helpful  Transport for London website features a London Underground Journey Planner and a map of the London Underground system which details the different Tube lines in different colours, and shows at which stations you can transfer  from one line to another.If you are planning to use the Tube, remember that you may have to change trains to get to your destination. At some stations this can be difficult if you have a lot of luggage, as most stations do not have a lift (elevator); although most do have escalators.The Tube can be extremely crowded at ‘rush hour’ on weekdays (Monday to Friday), roughly 0700-0900 hours and 1630-1830 hours.
 
Taxis
Last modified: 04 September 2015
‘Public hire’ taxis or ‘cabs’ are taxis that are licensed to pick up passengers without advancer booking. In London, as in many UK cities, these are usually the familiar black cabs. If you need a cab you can signal to ('flag down') any that are passing and ask them to stop (Please note, howver, that if the ‘Taxi’ light on the roof is not lit, this means that they already have a passenger and so will not stop for you). Although very convenient, public hire taxis can be extremely expensive, especially in London, as the meter runs the whole time you are in the cab (including when you are stuck in traffic!).
 
‘Private hire’ taxis, or ‘minicabs’ are car services that must  be booked by telephone (that is, you cannot simply flag one down in the street as you can a black cab), and in many cases can be found directly outside places such as train stations, or at designated 'Taxi Ranks' . Minicabs often do not have a ‘Taxi’ sign, although should display a company name or other official taxi identification. Generally, they are cheaper than the 'black cabs', as the fare is calculated on the distance travelled.
 
The rules for minicab drivers vary from town to town, but generally the driver will have an identity card on display in their car. It is best to agree the price with the company when you phone or with the driver before starting the journey. Be particularly careful if you are approached by a ‘minicab’ driver that you have not booked in advance. Some minicab companies are unlicensed and may be operating illegally. Using an illegally operating minicab firm can be unsafe and expensive.Information desks at airports, train stations and other travel interchanges may have telephone numbers for local minicab companies.
 
Reference: UKCISA's website. For further details click here
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