By Air
International flights land in several cities, including Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, but London is by far the biggest gateway for air travelers. British Airways links London to 164 cities in 76 countries. The supersonic Concorde zips over the Atlantic with twice-daily flights in each direction between London and New York, plus three calls a week to Washington. Greater London is served by five airports, but Heathrow and Gatwick receive most overseas scheduled flights. Gatwick Airport is served by the high-speed Gatwick Express rail service to Victoria Station, while London (Heathrow) Airport sits at the terminus of the Piccadilly Line of the London Underground. Buses link both airports with the capital. Tere are plenty of opportunities to find cheap flights.
By Train
Britain has an impressive rail network which includes a couple of beautiful lines through sparsely populated country. Fast intercity trains make air travel unnecessary unless you're in a real hurry. Two services operate through the Channel Tunnel: Euro star is a high-speed passenger service between London, Paris and Brussels; Euro tunnel has a shuttle service for cars, motorbikes and buses between the English port of Folkestone and the French port of Calais. It passes beneath the English Channel at its narrowest point, between Folkestone (Kent) and Coquilles (near Calais), a distance of 38 kilometers (24 miles).
By Ferry
Many ferries ply between Britain and other European countries. Passengers and vehicular traffic can choose between links from Dover, Ramsgate, and Folkestone to France and Belgium; from Harwich and Newcastle to Scandinavia; from Plymouth to Spain; from Harwich and Felixstowe to Holland and Germany; and from several western ports, including Holyhead, Liverpool, and Swansea, to Ireland and Northern Ireland.
By Boat / Road
The boat trip on the shortest routes (from Dover or Folkestone to Calais or Boulogne) takes about 90 minutes; the hovercraft takes about 35 minutes. Ferries go to France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Scandinavia from a number of southern and eastern British ports; to Spain from Portsmouth; and to Ireland from a handful of western English ports.
Public transport in Britain is generally of a high standard, but can be expensive. Buses or coaches are the cheapest but slowest way to get around. On longer journeys they are also the least scenic way to travel. Car hire is worth considering if you want to explore some of the remoter towns and villages at your own pace. Taxis are plentiful in London, but less conspicuous in regional centers.
