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Cars 4 Rental Guide To Travel In  United Kingdom

Air Travel The principal national airline is British Airways (BA) (tel: (0870) 850 4850; website: www.britishairways.com). Approximate flight times: From Birmingham to Amsterdam is 1 hour 15 minutes; to Dublin is 1 hour 5 minutes; to Dsseldorf is 1 hour 20 minutes; to Frankfurt/M is 1 hour 40 minutes; and to Paris is 1 hour 10 minutes. From Glasgow to Paris is 2 hours 50 minutes via Birmingham. From Manchester to Amsterdam is 1 hour 25 minutes; to Brussels is 1 hour 35 minutes; to Dublin is 1 hour; to Dsseldorf is 1 hour 25 minutes; to Frankfurt/M is 1 hour 50 minutes; to Milan is 2 hours 25 minutes; to Nice is 2 hours 20 minutes; to Paris is 1 hour 30 minutes; and to Rome is 2 hours 55 minutes. F or approximate durations of international flights from London, see the Travel – International section of the destination country. International airports: See Travel – International in the relevant country sections for information on UK airports. Departure tax: None. British Airways operates a shuttle service to Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester amongst other cities. Other internal operators include: Aer Lingus (EI), bmi british midland (BD), British European (JY), EasyJet (U2), KLM UK (UK) and Ryanair (FR). Approximate flight times: From London to Aberdeen is 1 hour 25 minutes; to Belfast is 1 hour 20 minutes; to Edinburgh is 1 hour 25 minutes; to Glasgow is 1 hour 20 minutes; to Jersey is 1 hour; to Manchester is 55 minutes; and to Newcastle is 1 hour and 10 minutes. From Aberdeen to Birmingham is 1 hour 40 minutes; to Glasgow is 55 minutes; to London is 1 hour 25 minutes; to Manchester is 1 hour 5 minutes; to Orkney is 45 minutes; and to Shetland is 1 hour 5 minutes. From Belfast to Birmingham is 1 hour; to Glasgow is 50 minutes; to London is 1 hour 20 minutes; and to Manchester is 1 hour. From Birmingham to Aberdeen is 1 hour 40 minutes; to Belfast is 1 hour; to Edinburgh is 1 hour; to Glasgow is 1 hour. From Edinburgh to Birmingham is 1 hour and to London is 1 hour 25 minutes. From Glasgow to Aberdeen is 55 minutes; to Belfast is 50 minutes; to Birmingham is 1 hour; to Inverness is 50 minutes; to London is 1 hour 20 minutes; to Manchester is 1 hour 5 minutes; and to Stornoway is 1 hour 5 minutes. From Manchester to Aberdeen is 1 hour 5 minutes; to Belfast is 1 hour; to Glasgow is 1 hour 5 minutes; to Jersey is 1 hour 35 minutes; and to London is 55 minutes. Back to Top Travel By Water There are many ports offering ferry connections between the UK and mainland Europe, Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Wight, the Scilly Isles and the Isle of Man. UK ferry operators include: Brittany Ferries (tel: (08703) 665 333; website: www.brittany-ferries.com); Caledonian Macbrayne (tel: (01475) 650 100; website: www.calmac.co.uk); Condor Ferries (tel: (0845) 345 2000; website: www.condorferries.co.uk); DFDS Seaways (tel: (08705) 333 000; website: www.dfdsseaways.co.uk); Fjord Line (tel: (0191) 296 1313; website: www.fjordline.com); Hoverspeed (tel: (0870) 240 8070; website: www.hoverspeed.co.uk); Irish Ferries (tel: (08705) 171 717; website: www.irishferries.com); Isle of Man Steam Packet Co (tel: (01624) 661 661; website: www.steam-packet.com); Isles of Scilly Travel (tel: (08457) 105 555; website: www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk); Norse Irish Ferries (tel: (0151) 944 1010; website: www.norsemerchant.com); P&O European Ferries (tel: (0870) 242 4999; website: www.poportsmouth.com); P&O Ferries (tel: (08705) 202 020; website: www.poferries.com); P&O North Sea Ferries (tel: (08701) 296 002; website: www.ponsf.com); P&O Scottish Ferries (website: www.poscottishferries.com); Red Funnel (tel: (0870) 444 8898; website: www.redfunnel.co.uk); Stena Line (tel: (08705) 707 070; website: www.stenaline.com); Swansea–Cork Ferries (tel: (01792) 456 116); and Wightlink (tel: (08705) 827 744; website: www.wightlink.co.uk). Back to Top Rail The UK is served by an excellent network of railways (16,500km/10,250 miles in total). Intercity lines provide fast services between London and major cities, and there are services to the southeast and to major cities in the Midlands, the north and south Wales and between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Some rural areas are less well served (eg the north coast of the west country, parts of East Anglia, Northern Ireland, Northumberland and North Yorkshire, parts of inland Wales, and southern and northern Scotland), although local rail services are generally fairly comprehensive. Rail passes: There are many discretionary fares, and visitors using trains may like to consider one of the all-line Britrail range of passes giving unlimited travel. This is available to visitors from overseas and is not available in the UK; tickets must be purchased in their home country, although tickets can be collected in the UK. Further details can be obtained from Network Rail Group (website: www.networkrail.com). In 2002, the Network Rail Group completed the acquisition of Railtrack Plc. For information about UK train services and fares, contact National Rail Enquiries (tel: (08457) 484 950; website: www.nationalrail.co.uk). It can be much cheaper to purchase rail tickets in advance. Disabled travellers are also entitled to discounted train fares; see the Disabled Traveller appendix. InterRail cards are valid; holders may be entitled to discounts on ferry fares. Trains meet connecting ferries at Dover, Folkestone, Newhaven, Portsmouth and Weymouth, sailing for Belgium, France, Germany and Spain (board at Victoria Station in London); and at Harwich, sailing for Germany, The Netherlands and Scandinavia (board at Liverpool Street). See also the Channel Tunnel and Eurostar sections below. Eurotunnel or the Channel Tunnel: All road vehicles are carried through the tunnel in Eurotunnel shuttles running between the two terminals, one near Folkestone in Kent, with direct road access from the M20, and one just outside Calais, with links to the A16/A26 motorway (Exit 13). Each shuttle is made up of 12 single- and 12 double-deck carriages, and vehicles are directed to single-deck or double-deck carriages depending on their height. There are facilities for cars and motorcycles, coaches, minibuses, caravans, campervans and other vehicles over 1.85m (6.07ft). Bicycles are provided for. Passengers generally travel with their vehicles. Heavy goods vehicles are carried on special shuttles and drivers travel in a separate carriage. Terminals and shuttles are well equipped for disabled passengers, and Passenger Terminal buildings contain a variety of shops, restaurants, bureaux de change and other amenities. The journey takes about 35 minutes from platform to platform and about 1 hour from motorway to motorway. Services run every day of the year, and there are between two and five an hour, depending on the time of day. There is a reservation system and a turn-up-and-go service. Motorists pass through customs and immigration before they board the shuttle without further checks on arrival. Fares vary according to length of stay, time of day and time of year and whether you have a reservation or not. The price applies to the car, regardless of the number of passengers or size of the car. The fare may be paid in cash, by cheque or by credit card. There are savings of up to £6 when booking online. For further information, contact Eurotunnel Customer Services UK (tel: (08705) 353 535; fax: (01303) 288 786; e-mail: callcentre@eurotunnel.com; website: www.eurotunnel.com). The Eurostar: The direct Eurostar train runs through the Channel Tunnel between London and Brussels, Lille or Paris. Eurostar is a service provided by the railways of Belgium, France and the United Kingdom, operating direct high-speed trains from London (Waterloo International) to Paris (Gare du Nord) and to Brussels (Midi/Zuid). Due to the opening of Stage 1 of a new high-speed rail line in September 2003, it currently takes 2 hours 35 minutes from London to Paris and 2 hours 20 minutes from London to Brussels. Trains depart up to 18 times a day from Waterloo to Paris, and up to 9 times a day from Waterloo to Brussels. Work on the UK section of the high-speed rail line is being done in two stages. Stage 1 (from the Channel Tunnel through Kent to the outskirts of London) has been completed. Stage 2, to be completed in January 2007, will take the route to a new terminal at St Pancras. When it is completed, the transit times between London St Pancras and Brussels will be just 2 hours and between London St Pancras and Paris just 2 hours 15 minutes. The Eurostar trains are equipped with standard-class and first-class seating, buffet and bar, and are staffed by multi-lingual, highly trained personnel. Pricing is competitive with the airlines, and there is a large range of different tickets and prices. Children aged between 4 and 11 years benefit from a special fare in all classes. Children under 4 years old travel free but cannot be guaranteed a seat. Wheelchair users and blind passengers together with one companion get a special fare. For further information and reservations, contact Eurostar (tel: (0870) 6000 792 (travel agents) or (08705) 186 186 (public; within the UK) or (1233) 617 575 (public; outside the UK only); website: www.eurostar.com) or Rail Europe (tel: (08705) 848 848). Travel agents can obtain refunds for unused tickets from Eurostar Trade Refunds, 2nd Floor, Kent House, 81 Station Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 1PD. Complaints and comments may be sent to Eurostar Customer Relations, Eurostar House, Waterloo Station, London SE1 8SE (tel: (020) 7928 5163). General enquiries and information requests must be made by telephone. Enquiries in France should be made to Eurostar in Paris (tel: (8) 3635 3539; only available from within France). Information about package deals, inclusive of accommodation and travel on Eurostar can be obtained from Eurostar Holidays Direct (tel: (0870) 167 6767; fax: (0870) 010 0284). Back to Top Travel By Road There are trunk roads (‘A’ roads) linking all major towns and cities in the UK. Roads in rural areas (‘B’ roads) can be slow and winding, and in upland areas may become impassable in winter. Motorways radiate from London and there is also a good east–west and north–south network in the north and the Midlands. The M25 motorway circles London and connects at various junctions with the M1, M3, M4, M10, M11 and M40. The only motorway that leaves England is the M4 from London to south Wales. Access to Scotland is by the A1/A1(M) or the A68 to Edinburgh, or the M6 to Carlisle followed by the A74 to Glasgow. Within Scotland, motorways link Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth. In Northern Ireland, motorways run from Belfast to Dungannon and from Belfast to Antrim. For further information on roads within each country, see the respective Travel sections. Coach: Every major city has a coach terminus, in London it is Victoria Coach station, about 1km (0.7 miles) from the train station. There are coach services to all parts of the country. Many coaches have on-board toilets and refreshments. Private coaches may be hired by groups wishing to tour the UK; these can be booked in advance and will visit most major tourist attractions. Many of these destinations now have coach parks nearby. The main carrier is National Express. Traffic regulations: Traffic drives on the left. Speed limits are 30mph (48kph) in urban areas, 70mph (113kph) on motorways and dual carriageways, elsewhere 50mph (80kph) or 60mph (97kph) as marked. Petrol is graded in a star system: 2-star (90 octane) and 4-star (97 octane). Unleaded petrol is also available at all petrol stations and is sold at a lower price than leaded petrol. Seatbelts must be worn by the driver and front seat passenger. Where rear seat belts have been fitted they must also be worn. Documentation: National driving licences are valid for 1 year. Drivers must have Third Party insurance and vehicle registration documents. Automobile associations: The AA and RAC are able to provide a full range of services to UK members touring the UK. These organisations can also assist people who are travelling from abroad with maps, tourist information and specially marked routes to major events or places of interest. URBAN: All cities and towns have bus services of varying efficiency and cost. Glasgow, Liverpool, London and Newcastle have underground railways, London and Glasgow’s being very old and Newcastle’s very new. The urban areas of Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester are also well served by local railway trains. Manchester has an efficient modern tram service. Licensed taxi operators are generally metered; small supplements may be charged for weekends, bank holidays, excess baggage and late-night travel. In the larger cities, unlicensed operators offer a cheaper (but less efficient and knowledgeable) unmetered service with fares based loosely on elapsed clock mileage; these taxis are called mini-cabs and can be summoned by telephone. Back to Top

Car Hire United Kingdom

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Whether you need a car for business or for pleasure Cars 4 Rental will be able to provide a car to meet your needs. Our hire cars can be equipped with many optional extras including child seats so that your car rental is ideally suited to your needs.

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