Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
or via a connection, most run by National Express ( &   0871/781-8181; www.
nationalexpress.com), which uses coaches equipped with reclining seats and toilets.
A good alternative is super-budget MegaBus ( &   0871/266-3333; www.megabus.
com), with tickets costing as little as £1, plus £1 booking fee. Most buses terminate
at Victoria Coach Station, 164 Buckingham Palace Rd. ( &   020/7730-3466 ),
although many offer intermediate stops in the capital.
In Wales, Arriva Buses Wales ( &   0844/800-4411; www.arrivabus.co.uk) is
one of the main operators, with local buses in the north and faster services down to
the south. The area around Cardiff is covered by Cardiff Bus ( &   029/2066-6444;
www.cardiffbus.com). For a full list of bus companies, and other travel information,
see www.traveline-cymru.info.
By Plane
British Airways ( &   800/AIRWAYS [247-9297]; www.ba.com) flies to more than
20 cities outside London, including Manchester. To get to the heart of England
quickly, many visitors fly BA to Manchester, which is served by a dozen flights per day
from London's Heathrow, and seven flights per day from London's Gatwick. Other
airlines such as Flybe, BMI, and easyJet also have internal services to Manchester,
Newcastle, and other cities. Air Southwest ( &   0870/241-8202; www.air
southwest.com) has a number of flights each week between London Gatwick and
Newquay in Cornwall and Plymouth, Devon, which can be handy for cutting out the
long overland journey to the West Country.
By Car
This is the way to see the country at its best. Motorways, with a maximum speed of
70 mph, allow you to get from area to area swiftly and simply, then lesser roads and
eventually country lanes let you meander through villages, reach distant beaches,
experience glorious views, and generally see everything that's wonderful about
Britain.
Visitors from overseas should be aware that in Britain traffic travels on the left side
of the road, so steering wheels are on the “wrong” side. And most rental cars are
manual, so the gear shift will be on your left. Aside from motorways, other roads
outside urban areas have a 60 mph speed limit unless otherwise signposted, and 70
mph on a dual carriageway. The limit decreases depending on size of road, conditions,
and locality. Built-up areas generally have a 30 mph limit, although a number of towns
are now introducing a 20 mph limit in main streets. Road signs are clear and use
international symbols. The Highway Code gives full details of signs and driving
requirements. It is available from most service stations, many newsstands and book-
stores, and can be read online at www.direct.gov.uk. See also “Car Rental” in “Fast
Facts,” p. 754.
GETTING THE BEST DEAL ON YOUR RENTAL CAR The British car-
rental market is among the most competitive in Europe. Nevertheless, rentals are
expensive, although there are frequent promotional deals, often linked to airlines, and
mostly in the off season. It's always cheaper to arrange a car in advance through a
chain such as Hertz or Avis. You might also look into a fly/drive deal.
Car-rental rates vary even more than airline fares. What you pay depends not only
on the size of the car, but also where and when you pick it up and drop it off, length
of the rental period, where and how far you drive it, whether you get insurance, and
a host of other factors.
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