Flying in
London has five airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City. Other main gateways are Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Newcastle, Belfast and Cardiff. Each hotel page shows the nearest airports in our data, with the straight-line distance.
By train
- Great Britain has an extensive rail network, and intercity trains link London with Edinburgh, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Bristol and Cardiff in a few hours.
- Tickets bought in advance for a fixed train are usually cheaper than flexible ones; railcards give discounts on many fares.
- Strikes and engineering works happen; check the day before you travel.
- In Northern Ireland, trains run between Belfast, Derry~Londonderry and Dublin.
By coach and local bus
Long-distance coaches are slower than trains but often cheaper. In cities, buses, trams and the London Underground and Overground accept contactless bank cards. Rural bus services can be infrequent, especially on Sundays.
Driving
- Traffic drives on the left. Roads are narrower than many visitors expect, and country lanes often have passing places.
- Central London has a congestion charge, and London and a growing number of other cities have low emission zones; check your vehicle and any charge before you drive in.
- Many city-centre hotels have no parking. If you drive, ask whether parking is on site, nearby or booked in advance.
- Petrol is sold by the litre, and fuel stations are less frequent in the Highlands and on the Welsh coast.
Walking and cycling
The UK has thousands of miles of public footpaths and National Trails. Hadrian's Wall Path is one of the best known; see the Hadrian's Wall guide for how to link stages with a hotel.
Timetables, fares and rules change. Always check the operator or official source before travelling.