Travel in the UK

It is easy to travel around the UK, with plenty of options for exploring by plane, train, car or cycling. You can easily reach any part of the country within a few hours and there are plenty of discounts available for international students.

Traveling by train

The price of a rail ticket depends on the type you buy but the general advice is to buy in advance, as it is possible to get significant discounts on occasion by doing so.

Important! If you’re aged 16 to 25 (or a mature full-time student of any age) you can save even more with a 16-25 Railcard. This costs around £30 per year and gives you a third off the price of most UK rail fares. If you are going to travel frequently, this can soon make a big saving.

Traveling by bus and coach

One of the cheapest options for student travel is by bus. You buy tickets from the driver when you board the bus. In London, tickets are purchased from ticket machines situated on the buses. For regular travel around town or your place of study, you can buy a weekly or monthly pass and save even more money. Coach travel is usually the cheapest but slowest form of intercity travel. If you’re aged 16-26 and a full-time student, you can buy a Coach card from National Express, the main coach company in the UK. This costs £10 per year and will save you up to 30% on all National Express coach journeys.

Traveling by Taxi or Car

Taxis are easy to find in all major cities and are often a convenient option for travel in the UK. Most taxis are metered but you will pay a lot more than for a similar journey by train or bus.

You can drive a car in the UK if you’re aged 17 or over and have a valid license. However be aware that UK fuel prices are very high and if you’re under 25, insurance is expensive.