Getting Around the United Kingdom: Trains, the Tube, Buses and Driving

The UK is compact and well connected, and most visitors never need a car. Trains link the major cities, London's Underground is the oldest underground railway in the world, and buses and trams fill in the gaps. Here is how it all fits together.

From the airport into town

• Heathrow: the Elizabeth line and the Piccadilly line run into central London, while the Heathrow Express is the fastest non-stop link to Paddington.
• Gatwick: frequent trains run to London Victoria, London Bridge and beyond, including the Gatwick Express and Thameslink services.
• Stansted and Luton: the Stansted Express runs to Liverpool Street, and at Luton a short shuttle links the terminal with Luton Airport Parkway station for trains into London.
• Regional airports: Manchester Airport has its own railway station and tram stop, and Edinburgh Airport is linked to the city centre by tram and express bus.

Licensed black cabs wait at most terminals, but for central London they cost far more than the train.

The Tube, buses and contactless in London

You do not need a paper ticket in London. Tap a contactless bank card or your phone's wallet on the yellow readers when you enter and leave the Tube, Elizabeth line, Overground and DLR, and when you board a bus. Fares are capped daily and weekly, so heavy days of travel never cost more than a set amount for the zones you use. Use the same card or device every time, because each one is charged separately. London buses do not take cash, and an Oyster card is a good alternative if your bank charges fees on foreign card payments.

Trains between cities

The National Rail network connects every major city, with fast routes from London to Birmingham, Manchester, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Bristol and Cardiff. Fares vary widely by ticket type:

• Advance tickets go on sale weeks ahead and are tied to a specific train; they are usually the lowest fares.
• Off-Peak tickets are flexible but limited to quieter times of day.
• Anytime tickets are fully flexible and the most expensive.

Railcards, such as the 16-25, Two Together and Family & Friends cards, can reduce eligible fares by around a third and can be bought by visitors too. For longer journeys, overnight sleeper trains run from London to Scotland, including the Highlands.

Trams, metros and taxis in other cities

Manchester's Metrolink trams, Edinburgh's trams, the Glasgow Subway, the Tyne and Wear Metro around Newcastle and Merseyrail in Liverpool all make city travel straightforward, and many local buses now accept contactless payment. Uber operates in London and many other cities, and Bolt is available in a growing number of them. Black cabs can be hailed in the street when their yellow taxi sign is lit, but minicabs must be booked in advance by phone or app.

Driving and car rental

A car comes into its own in the Scottish Highlands, the Lake District, Cornwall and rural Wales, where public transport is sparse. Keep these points in mind:

• Traffic drives on the left, and at roundabouts you give way to vehicles coming from the right.
• Speed limits and distances are shown in miles per hour and miles.
• Rental cars are usually manual, so book early if you need an automatic.
• On Highland single-track roads, pull into passing places to let oncoming or faster vehicles through.
• Driving into central London can mean daily congestion and emissions charges, and parking is scarce, so leave the car outside the capital.

Check licence requirements with your rental company before you travel.

Intercity tips

• Long-distance coaches are slower than trains but a budget-friendly way to travel between most cities and airports.
• Domestic flights link London with Scotland and Northern Ireland, though the train to Edinburgh is competitive city centre to city centre.
• Ferries connect Scotland's west-coast islands with the mainland and link Northern Ireland with Scotland and north-west England; book car spaces early in summer.
• Look out for planned engineering works, which often close or divert rail lines at weekends and on bank holidays.

Stay connected in the United Kingdom

Getting around the UK leans heavily on your phone: live departure boards, platform changes, digital train tickets, bus directions in Citymapper or Google Maps and ride apps all need a data connection. A HelloSIM eSIM gives you data-only service that you install before your trip and that connects when you arrive, so you can book a ride or check the next train before leaving the arrivals hall. Crossing to Ireland or the Continent next? A Europe regional plan lets you keep the same eSIM.