Page 100 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

98  BRIT AIN AND IRELAND

Travel Information and Victoria stations respectively
at regular intervals. The journey
Since it is an international gateway for air and sea traffic, time is 15 minutes to Heathrow,
Britain poses few problems for those arriving by air. Visitors and 30 minutes to Gatwick.
have a large choice of carriers serving Australasia, Europe, and When traveling by bus, you
must purchase a ticket before
North America. Bus travel is an inexpensive form of trans­ boarding, or use Oyster or
portation from Europe, while traveling by train is also easy, Contactless. The sightseeing
thanks to the Channel Tunnel. Traveling within Britain itself is buses that drive past London’s
fairly easy. There is an extensive road network reaching all parts historic sights are often run by
of the country. The national rail road network is excellent and private companies and will not
services to the smaller towns are good. Bus travel is the least­ accept bus passes or Travelcards.
All-night bus services are
expensive option; buses serve most areas but can be slow. available in London from about
11pm until early morning. Night
buses carry the letter N before
Flying to Great Britain The British Airways shuttle the route number, and most
London’s Heathrow Airport is flights between London and pass through Trafalgar Square.
served by many of the world’s cities such as Glasgow, Taxis are available at major
leading airlines, with direct Edinburgh, and Manchester are train stations, as well as at
flights from most major cities. popular with business travelers. stands near hotels and all over
Other international airports At peak times, flights leave every central London. All licenced
include London Gatwick, hour, while at other times there is cabs must carry a “For Hire” sign,
London Stansted, Manchester, usually a flight every two hours. which is lit up whenever they
Birmingham, and Edinburgh. are free. The famous black cabs
British Airways has flights to Traveling in London are the safest taxis to use in
destinations across the world. London. Most cab drivers
Other British airlines include In London, daily, weekly, and expect a tip.
Virgin Atlantic, with routes to monthly tickets called Travel- Sometimes, the best way to see
the US and Far East, and cards are valid on all public trans- London is on foot, but however
Thomas Cook Airlines, which portation, as are pre-pay Oyster you choose to get around, try to
flies to the US, Africa, and cards, which you can credit avoid the rush hours from 8 to
throughout Europe. Several no- before your journey. You can 9:30am, and 4:30 to 6:30pm.
frills airlines, such as Ryanair and also use your contactless debit/
easyJet, offer low-cost flights to credit card. Buses no longer
destinations all over Europe. accept cash payment, so if you London Underground
American airlines offering are only using buses, buy a daily The underground in London,
services to Britain include Delta or weekly bus pass. Passes are known as the tube, is one of the
Air Lines, American Airlines, and avail able at most newsagents largest systems of its kind in the
United; from Canada, the main and train or underground world. London tube trains run
carrier is Air Canada. From stations. every day, except December 25,
Australasia, Qantas and Air New Most travel services in London from about 5:30am until after
Zealand vie for passengers with operate across six zones, with midnight. Fewer trains run on
Far Eastern rivals, such as Emirates. the tube, overground trains, and Sundays. The 11 tube lines are
National Rail also operating in color-coded and maps are
zones 7–9. There is a standard available at every station, while
Charters and charge for travel within each maps of the central section are
Package Deals
zone and between zones, displayed on each train.
Charter flights are cheaper but regard less of the distance
have less-flexible departure traveled. The area covered by Rail Travel
times than standard scheduled each zone varies slightly
flights. Packages are also worth between buses and trains. Britain’s privatized railroad
considering, as airlines and tour If you are in London for less network covers the whole of
operators can offer flexible deals than a week, buy a two-zone the country. It consists of several
to suit your needs. These can weekly Travelcard. Alternatively, regional services, such as Great
include car rental or rail travel. choose a Visitor Oyster card, North Eastern Railways and
which can be topped up with Great Western Railways. Virgin
credit at tube stations, Oyster Trains operates the main West
Domestic Flights Ticket Stops, and Travel Coast and East Coast routes. The
Britain’s size means that internal Information Centres. system is generally reliable. The
air travel only makes sense over London also has express-train main stations in London all
long distances, such as from services to Britain’s two busiest serve different areas of the
London to Scotland, or to one airports, Heathrow and Gatwick, country; Euston serves the
of the offshore islands. which leave from Paddington Midlands and northwest, King’s

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