Transportation
Airlines
The World Economic Forum (2011) ranked the United Kingdom’s air transportation quality twenty-fourth out of 142 countries. The U.K. has a total of 462 airports, placing the country nineteenth on the WEF list. Most of the U.K.’s air traffic is based in London, where three of the busiest airports are operated: London Heathrow, London Gatwick and London Stansted. Direct flights from the United States to the United Kingdom operate frequently from most major gateway cities in the U.S. Passengers have a wide selection of carriers to choose from including British Airways, American Airlines, Iberia, Lufthansa, US Airways, United Airlines, Delta, Virgin America, Air France, Air Canada, KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines, Air New Zealand, Kuwait Airways and many others. There are also a number of airlines that operate within the country, such as easyJet, Ryanair, Flybe, British Airways and Virgin Airlines.
Highways
Roads in the United Kingdom are in excellent condition and are ranked twenty-sixth in the world by the World Economic Forum (2011). However, you should be careful on narrow roads throughout the country. The other major driving difference in the U.K. is that traffic moves on the left, not right, like the U.S. The maximum speed limit on highways is 70 miles per hour. Like some state laws in the U.S., it is illegal to operate a hand-held device while driving. Also, operating a vehicle in metropolitan areas can be quite expensive, with parking meter fees costing nearly US$2.00 per hour and a “congestion charge” of US$15 levied for driving into central London.
Buses
Buses serve as a cheaper mode of transportation for many in the U.K. According to the National Travel Survey (2010) conducted by the Department of Transport, 85 percent of households in the U.K. are within a six-minute walk to a bus stop, indicating that buses are plentiful and bus lines are extensive. Although traveling by bus is arguably slower than traveling by rail, the cost of bus fare is much lower, an average of US$3.60 for one fare.
Take for example, London’s iconic bus system. With more than 7,500 red buses serving over 6 million people everyday, bus travel has become a vital part of the city. The system is managed by the government-owned Transport for London, which oversees all manner of public transportation in the city. To view an interactive map of the bus lines, visit the TFL website.
Trains
Rail transport is another popular method of public transportation. In the National Travel Survey (2010), 87 percent of respondents reported using the local railway travel system on a regular basis. The same percentage of people felt that the system was safe and reliable. City-to-city trains are usually operated by privately-owned companies, many of which are members of the Association of Train Operating Companies. You can find a full list of these members on the ATOC website. The ATOC utilizes the National Rail Enquiries website to sell tickets and list travel schedules for all of the member train companies. Ticket prices will vary depending on the distance of the trip. For example, the cost to take the train from London to Edinburgh, a four and a half hour trip, costs around US$75.
Most major cities have a system of railways and trains to serve residents. London has an extensive over-ground rail network, as well as a subway. The subway system, called the London Underground or the “Tube,” is perhaps the city’s most used mode of transportation. The Tube has 11 lines with 270 stations throughout the area. You can find a map of the system on the TFL website. The typical Tube fare will cost around US$5.30. There are various ways to receive discounts such as buying season tickets or using “Oyster Cards,” smartcards that passengers can load with credit.
Apart from intercity and urban trains, the U.K. also has an undersea rail tunnel called the Channel Tunnel, or Chunnel, which connects Folkestone, Kent in the United Kingdom to Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais in France. The Eurostar train company is the only one that travels through the Chunnel. Ticket fares from the U.K. to France cost around US$172.
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