Travel and transportation How easy is it to travel around your country?

Eurostar

With Eurostar's high-speed train services running frequently between the UK and Paris, Lille, Calais, Brussels and Amsterdam, you can travel from London to the continent in just over two hours, every day of the week.

Buses

Most UK towns and cities offer regular bus services. You can buy a ticket from the driver when you board, use a travel card or Oyster card or use a debit or credit card in some cases. For regular journeys, it’s worth considering a season ticket to save money.

CoachesYou can travel by coach (a bus that travels longer distances than local buses) to hundreds of UK towns, cities and airports. If you are aged 16–26 and a full-time student you can buy a Coachcard from National Express to save up to 30 per cent.

Citylink is the main coach service provider in Scotland and Translink in Northern Ireland. If you want to go further afield, Eurolines, Flix Bus and National Express are usually a cheap and easy way to get anywhere in mainland Europe.

Flights

With 24 international airports in the UK and a variety of cheap flights on offer, it’s easy to travel between UK cities and beyond. Fly from London to Manchester in one hour, or from the UK to more than 10 European capitals in under two.

Cars and taxis

Taxis are easy to find in all major cities and towns. As in all countries, make sure the taxi you use is safe. Consider booking a cab from a company recommended by your university or college. 

It is also becoming more common, and often better value, to book a ride through an app such as Uber or Bolt, depending on where in the UK you live. 

If you are considering driving a car in the UK, you’ll need a valid driving licence and insurance. The car must also be registered and taxed. If your car is over three years old, you must get it tested annually with an MOT test to check it is road-worthy.