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Public transport in England 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. England 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. 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 centres.
In England, long-distance express
buses are usually called coaches, and in towns
there are separate bus and coach stations. Where
coaches and buses run on the same route, coaches
are more expensive (though quicker) than buses.
There are many smaller regional operators across
the country, several forming part of the Stagecoach
or First networks.
Away from cities, bus timetables
often seem strangely random and complex - this
is because they are designed to serve schools
and industry, and there may be few midday and
weekend services. The best thing to do is to phone
Traveline or double-check at a Tourist Information
Centre (TIC) before planning your day's activities
around a bus that you later find out only runs
on Thursday after the full moon.
Drivers of EU-registered vehicles
will find bringing a car into England fairly straightforward.
The car must have registration papers and a nationality
plate, and the driver must have insurance.
If you're going to drive yourself, you're in
for a parking nightmare - it's almost impossible
to get a park in the city centre, and the punishments
for parking illegally are cruel and unusual indeed.
Underground
Known as "the Tube" the trains travel
underground in Central London, but often "overground"
on the outskirts. Very busy in the morning and
afternoon rush hours, and not always reliable,
with constant engineering works. However, generally
it is fast and efficient for getting around.
Buses
The famous London Routemasters are still used
but more often modern one-man operated buses are
operated. Travelling all over London and into
the distant suburbs they are an economical way
to get around. Even with the "bus lanes"
on the roads they can grind to a halt in the busy
London streets.
River Boats
Often overlooked, even by Londoners, these boats
use the Thames as the highway, departing from
piers, and you get a great view of London as well.
Train
England has a large rail network, connecting the
suburbs and the countryside to central London.
Taxi
London's famous black cabs are excellent but expensive.
Minicabs are cheaper competitors, with freelance
drivers, but you can't flag these down on the
street. Outside London and other big cities, taxis
are usually reasonably priced.
Tourist Buses
These are pay once use many times in a day buses
that go between the famous sights. Jump on and
off the bus along the route. Expensive may be
but they provide one of the best ways to see the
sights if you really don't know where you are
going and don't have much time.
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