How to Save Money When Traveling in Great Britain: 5 Transportation Passes
From London and Manchester to York and Edinburgh, you’ll find many ways to get from one destination to another. Great Britain is a perfect country for road trips, that is if you don’t mind driving on the ‘wrong side’ of the road - on the left. For those who prefer letting others do the driving, there are always trains to ride and the buses to take.
Getting around Great Britain is easy. If you have a well-planned itinerary and mode of transportation, you can even save some money in the process. To help you do that, here are 5 transportation passes you can use when traveling in Great Britain:
1. Britrail
The Britrail Pass allows you to travel the entire National Rail network in England, Wales and Scotland. Some of the benefits of the Britrail Pass include:
A free pass for a child per full paying adult or senior pass holder
Unlimited travel on the entire National Rail network
Can be used on trains from three London major airports - Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express, and Stansted Express
A choice of first class or standard class passes
Flexible or consecutive durations available depending on needs
Valid on sleepers (check with Britrail for more information)
Includes peak hours
The other popular Britrail passes are:
Britrail England Pass
Britrail London Plus Pass
Britrail Freedom of Scotland Pass
Britrail Central Scotland Pass
Britrail Scottish Highlands Pass
Britrail South West Pass
More information on prices and types of Britrail Passes: Britrail
For a detailed map of Britrail destinations visit this page.
2. Brit Explorer Pass
The Brit Explorer Pass gives you unlimited travel to over 100 destinations including airports throughout Great Britain on National Express buses (or coaches, long-distance buses) at a fixed price.
A regular ticket for a trip from Birmingham Airport to Poole Dorset costs around £26.40 each way. You’ll make two stops, one in Birmingham Station and another in London. The 167-mile journey takes about seven hours 25 minutes if you depart in the evening. You’ll pay less and travel more with a Brit Explorer Pass. A 7-day pass starts at £79.
7-day, 14-day, and 28-day passes are available with Brit Explorer Pass.
The Interrail Great Britain Pass is only available to Europeans. Citizens from other countries including the United States can purchase the Eurail Pass. The Eurail Pass best if you are combining your travel in Great Britain with other European countries.
Fare choices include special youth (25 years and below), family and kids prices. Travelers have the option of first or second class seats.
Instead of the Interrail or Eurail passes, travelers have the option to travel on long distance coaches using the Eurolines Pass. The Eurolines Pass is best for those who want to combine a tour of London with tours of other major cities in Europe.
The Eurolines Pass allows unlimited coach travel between 53 destinations in 22 countries starting at €225 per adult for 15 days during low season. The Eurolines is the cheapest mode of transportation from Great Britain to other European cities. It is also available for round trip travels from London to Edinburgh.
Save time and money in London by getting the Visitor Oyster Card. This card never expires and can be used the next time you visit London or even you pass it on to a friend. A Visitor Oyster card is a pay-as-you-go smart card for the Tube (metro), DLR (Docklands Light Railway), London Overground, TfL Rail and most National Rail services in London.
