Category: England

England Travel Guide and Why Go

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England Planning a Trip travel guide

Getting from Oxford to Birmingham

Oxford is the oldest University city in the UK and is located close to the capital city of London. Aside from being the heart of university schooling in the UK , Oxford also boasts superb medieval churches which rival in beauty only with the colleges.

The closest airport to Oxford is Birmingham Airport (BHX), but it’s not as well served as London’s airports.

>>read more about Getting from London to Oxford

Quick summary

To get from Oxford to Birmingham – or return – the cheapest way is by bus. The train has similar travel times but the fare is about double than the bus fare.

Trains from Oxford to Birmingham

Nation Rail operates direct trains between Oxford and Birmingham. Trains leave every 30 min, daily. The travel time is about 1h 10 min and the single fare starts at £15.00 but depends on the time of departure.

>>read more about Train Travel in England

Buses from Oxford to Birmingham

National Express operates direct buses between Oxford and Birmingham , with quite a lot of departures daily. The fastest travel time is 1 h 45 min and the single fare starts at £8.50.

>>read more about Bus Travel in England

Driving from Oxford to Birmingham

You can rent a car in Oxford and drive the 70 miles to Birmingham – or the other way around. There are two routes and both take about the same (1 ½ h), but you do need to consider the traffic.

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England Planning a Trip travel guide

Getting from London to York

Located in Yorkshire, York is an ancient cathedral city. Its history dates back to pre-Roman times and the city is filled with excellent preserved historical buildings. In Roman times , York was one of the most important cities in Britain and is directly linked to Constantine the Great, who was proclaimed emperor here. Later it was a major Viking settlement.

The closest airport to York is Leeds-Bradford International Airport (LBA) but it’s the least convenient and most expensive in the area. Further away is Manchester Airport (MAN) which has quite good connections to the rest of Britain and Europe. But the majority of visitors arrive through one of London’s airports.

>>read more about Getting from London to Manchester

Quick summary

The fastest and easiest way to get from London to York is by train. But there are also buses if you want to save money and don’t mind 5 hours of traveling.

Trains from London to York

Nation Rail operates trains between London’s Kings Cross and York. The travel time is about 2 h and the single fare starts at £47.00, but depends on the time of departure. There are departures about every 30 min to 1 hour.

Grand Central Rail also operates trains between London Kings Cross and York. There are departures about every 30 min to 1 hour, every day. The travel time is also about 2h and the off peak single fare is £93.10.

>>read more about Train Travel in England

Buses from London to York

National Express operates direct buses between London and York. Connection buses are also available and there are departures about every 30 min to 1 h , daily. The fastest travel time is 4h 50 min and the single fare starts at £16.50 but depends on the time of departure.

>>read more about Bus Travel in England

Driving from London to York

You can rent a car and drive the 200 miles between London and York. The travel time is about 4 h, but it does depend on the traffic.

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Edinburgh England Planning a Trip travel guide

Getting from Liverpool to Edinburgh

Liverpool is very well known for being the home town of the Beatles. It also has a long football history and the nightlife is lively.

Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. It is a very popular city among travelers of all ages thanks to the interesting sights, lively festivals and cuisine.

Quick summary

There isn’t a direct connection between the two cities. Buses remain the cheapest option although the travel time is about 9 hours. A faster option is the train but the fare is about double the bus fare.

Flights from Liverpool (airport code: LPL) to Edinburgh

Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) is located about 12 km from the city center and handles domestic flights, as well as flights to other cities in Europe, North Africa and Middle East.

Edinburgh International Airport (EDI) is the busiest airport in Scotland and the sixth busiest in the UK. The airport is located about 10 km from the city center. The airport is not a hub for any airline. It handles flights within the UK, Europe and to North America and Africa.

Unfortunately there are no direct flights between the two cities. Flybe offers a flight via the Island of Man , with a total travel time of 6 h and single fares from £92 in mid-May 2012.

Read more about:
>>Cheap flights to Edinburgh
>>Cheap flights to Liverpool

Trains from Liverpool to Edinburgh

National Rail offers trains between Liverpool and Edinburgh but all require at least one connection. Trains depart Liverpool Lime Street station every hour. The connection is through Wigan North Western and the total travel time is 3 ½ h. The single fare is £62.50.

Buses from Liverpool to Edinburgh

Another overland option between Liverpool and Edinburgh is the bus.

National Express offers three departures per day from Liverpool, at 7:15 a.m., 11 a.m. and 10:15 p.m. But all require at least a change. If you choose the latest departure, the change is in Manchester and the travel time is 9 h 15 min. The single fare is £35.30. The price is the same for all three departures.

Driving from Liverpool to Edinburgh

You can rent a car in Liverpool and drive the 220 miles to Edinburgh on M6. The travel time is 4 hours but does depend on the traffic.

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England Planning a Trip travel guide

Getting from Bristol to Dublin

Bristol is located in South West England and is the 6th largest city in England. It is one of the warmest and sunniest cities in the UK , which makes it a pleasure to explore the city any time of the year.

Dublin is the capital of Ireland and also the most important entry-point for the foreign visitors. It is known for nightlife and sights. Being easy to get to and well connected to the rest of Europe , Dublin is a pleasure to visit.

Quick summary

The cheapest option for traveling between Bristol and Dublin is the bus. The fare includes the ferry crossing but you need to change buses one time along the way. The fast option is the flight but you have to be careful when you make the reservation and consider the additional fees.

Flights from Bristol (airport code: BRS) to Dublin

Bristol Airport (BRS) is the ninth busiest airport in the UK and is not hub for any airline. It handles domestic flights, as well as flights to other European cities and Africa.

Dublin Airport (DUB) is the busiest airport in Ireland . It is located about 10 km from the city center, to which is connected by buses. The airport is hub for Aer Lingus, Air Contractors, CityJet, Orbest Orizonia Airlines , Ryanair and Thomson Airways. It handles domestic flights, flights to other European cities, Middle East and North America.

Flights between Bristol and Dublin are operated by Aer Lingus and Ryanair. The flight time is an hour. In mid-May 2012, expect to pay from £20 one way on Ryanair. Slightly higher fares – from £36 one way – are available in mid-July 2012.

Do remember that when you book a ticket via low-cost carries, you’ll also pay booking fees. And pay attention to the carry on size because if it doesn’t fit the measurement cage at the airport, you’ll be forced to pay the checked baggage fee. Also, good fares can be found if you book 4 to 8 weeks in advance.

>>read more about Flights to Dublin Airport

Trains and ferry from Bristol to Dublin

It is possible to travel overland between Bristol and Dublin. National Rail offers an easy option for this route:

  • Bristol Parkway to Parkway by train
  • Parkway to Holyhead by train
  • Holyhead to Dublin Port – Stena by ferry
  • Dublin Port – Stena to Dublin Connolly by train

The total travel time is 11 h 18 and the train leaves Bristol daily at 7:07 p.m. The single fare – for the route, excluding ferry and train in Ireland – is £35.00. The ferry route is operated by Stena Line and a single fare is £28.00.

Buses and ferry from Bristol to Dublin

Another overland option is to travel by bus between Bristol and Dublin. This also includes the ferry crossing, but you won’t need to get off the bus and the fare includes the ferry ticket, too.

National Express offers two departures per day from Bristol: 5:10 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. The first one requires a change in Birmingham , while the second require a change in Rosslare, Ireland. The single fare is £48 for either departure. The travel time is 11 h.

Driving from Bristol to Dublin

You can rent a car in Bristol and drive to Dublin. But do remember that you’ll be crossing a border and need to use a ferry, too.

The ferry crossing is via the Holyhead – Dublin route. Ideally, you should spend about 7 hours traveling (including the ferry crossing) but you need to time your arrival at the port with the next ferry departure. The shortest route is via A5.

The ferries are operated by Stena Line and the fares for an adult and a compact car start at £129.00, one way.

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England Planning a Trip travel guide

Getting from Manchester to Dublin

Dublin , the capital of Ireland, is the most important entry-point for the foreign visitors. The city is known for its nightlife and tourist attractions. With a center small enough to be tackled on foot, Dublin has made it to the traveler’s destinations list a long time ago.

The second largest city in the UK, Manchester is well connected to the rest of the country and the near-by European countries. Home to a large airport, the city has been quite popular among travelers for a long time.

Quick summary

The cheapest option to travel between Manchester and Dublin is by bus (you won’t even need to get off the bus for the ferry crossing). Other good option is the train and ferry, but the price is higher. For a fast option, choose to fly but pay attention to when you book the flight (about 4 to 8 weeks prior to departure is ideal).

Flights from Manchester to Dublin

Manchester Airport (MAN) is the third busiest airport in the United Kingdom and is the largest airport outside of London. Hub for Flybe, the airport handles flights within the UK, to other European cities, to Africa, Middle East, Caribbean and North America.

Dublin Airport (DUB) is the busiest airport in Ireland and is located about 10 km from the city center. Hub for Aer Lingus, Air Contractors, CityJet, Orbest Orizonia Airlines , Ryanair and Thomson Airways, the airport handles domestic flights, flights to other European cities, to Middle East and North America.

Flights between Manchester and Dublin are operated by: Aer Lingus and Ryanair. The flight time is an hour. In mid-May 2012, expect to pay from £20 one way on Ryanair. Slightly higher fares – from £32 one way – are available in mid-July 2012.

However, do remember that you need to consider the carry on limitations (and fees if the bag ends up as checked baggage), the booking fees and the fact that you need to book in advance in order to get a good deal.

Read more about:

>>Flights to Dublin Airport
>>Cheap flights to Manchester

rains and ferry from Manchester to Dublin

It is possible to travel overland between Manchester and Dublin, by using a combination of trains and ferry. National Rail offers an easy option for this route:

  • Manchester Piccadilly to Crewe by train
  • Crewe to Holyhead by train
  • Holyhead to Dublin Port – Stena by ferry
  • Dublin Port – Stena to Dublin Connolly by train

The total travel time is about 8 ½ h and there are two departures per day from Manchester, at 9:55 a.m. and 9:50 p.m. The single fare is £37.00 for the morning departure and £32.00 for the evening departure. The price includes the trains only, for the UK section. A one way ferry ticket is £28.00.

Another option is to travel through London. First, take the train to London and then travel by train and ferry all the way to Dublin. It’s a more expensive and longer route, though.

>>read more about Getting from London to Dublin

Buses and ferry from Manchester to Dublin

There is also the possibility to take a direct bus from Manchester to Dublin. Of course, it involves the ferry crossing, but you don’t actually need to get off the bus.

National Express offers two departures per day. The 7:45 p.m departure from Manchester is direct and arrives the next day at 6:30 a.m. in Dublin. The single fare is £42. The second departure, at 8:15 p.m. , requires a change in Liverpool , but you’ll arrive at the same time in Dublin and the fare is also the same.

Driving from Manchester to Dublin

You can rent a car in Manchester and drive to Dublin. But you need to ask whether you are allowed to take it over the border and need to consider the ferry crossing fees.

The ferry crossing is via the Holyhead – Dublin route. Ideally, you should spend 5 hours traveling (including the ferry crossing) but you need to time your arrival at the port with the next ferry departure. The ferries are operated by Stena Line and the fares for an adult and a compact car start at £129.00, one way.

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Edinburgh England Planning a Trip travel guide

Getting from Manchester to Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and a very popular city among travelers of all ages. Whether you want to attend interesting festivals, enjoy the history and the sites or taste the “weird”-ish local cuisine, Edinburgh is the place to be.

Manchester is one of the major cities in England, with good connections to the rest of the country of continent. If you need to travel between Manchester and Edinburgh, there are plenty of options: plane, bus, train and car.

Quick summary

The cheapest option to get between Manchester and Edinburgh is the bus (fares from £11 one way). The fastest option is the plane but, of course, the fares are higher (but not higher than train fares).

Flights from Manchester (airport code: MAN) to Edinburgh

Manchester Airport (MAN) is the third busiest airport in the UK and the largest outside of London. It is hub for Flybe and handles flights within the UK, Europe, North America, Africa and the Middle East.

Edinburgh International Airport (EDI) is the busiest airport in Scotland and the sixth busiest in the UK. It is located about 10 km from the city center. While not a hub for any airline, the airport handles flights within the UK, Europe and to North America and Africa.

Flights between Manchester and Edinburgh are operated by BMI and Flybe. The flight time is an hour. In late May 2012, expect to pay from £45 one way on BMI. Slightly higher fares are available from Flybe. Similar prices are available for flights in mid-July 2012 (from £49 one way on the same carrier).

Read more about:
>>Cheap flights to Edinburgh
>>Cheap flights to Manchester

Trains from Manchester to Edinburgh

Direct trains connect Manchester Piccadilly station to Edinburgh’s station. The travel time is about 3 ½ h . There are departures every 2 to 3 hours daily. Single fares start at £59.90. You can also choose to change trains in York but the fare can be higher in some cases (and the travel time increases).

Details, schedules and prices can be found here .

Buses from Manchester to Edinburgh

Chorlton Street Coach Station serves Manchester and is located close to the city center. There are two companies to choose from when planning to travel between Manchester and Edinburgh:

  • National Express : there are several buses per day, the fastest one taking 6 h 20 min to get between the two cities. Single fares start at £31.40.


  • Megabus : offers two buses per day , leaving Manchester at 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. The travel time is about 5 ½ h and the single fare is £11.00.

Driving from Manchester to Edinburgh

You can rent a car in Manchester and drive the 216 miles to Edinburgh via M6. The travel time (estimated) is about 4 hours but does depend on the traffic.

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England Planning a Trip travel guide

Getting from Liverpool to Manchester

Liverpool and Manchester are located just 35 miles from each other, making traveling between the two cities easy and cheap. If you arrive from Europe, you can fly into either city as both are served by airports. Of course, choose the most convenient flight. If you arrive from any other continent, you’ll have to connect through London.

Quick summary

The train and bus fares are similar for traveling between Liverpool and Manchester, so it’s basically a matter of choosing how fast you need to travel and whether you prefer the bus or the train.

Trains from Liverpool to Manchester

Trains connect Liverpool Lime Street station to Manchester Piccadilly station. There are departures every 10 to 30 minutes daily. The travel time is about an hour. Single fares start at £4.00 but they do depend on the time of departure.

Details, schedules and prices can be found here .

>>read more about Train Travel in England

Buses from Liverpool to Manchester

The central station in Manchester is Chorlton Street Coach Station and is located close to the city center. There are two companies to choose from when planning to travel between Liverpool and Manchester:

  • National Express : offers departures every 15 min, daily. The travel time is between 1h 20 min and 1h 45 min. Single fares start at £3.50 but depend on the time of departure.


  • Megabus : offers only two departures per day (leaving Liverpool at 6:35 a.m and 3:50 p.m.) ; the travel time is about 1h 25 min and the single fare is £4.00.

>>read more about Bus Travel in England

Driving from Liverpool to Manchester

You can rent a car in Liverpool and drive the 35 miles to Manchester. The easiest route is via M62. It should take about 45 min but it does depend on the traffic.

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England Planning a Trip travel guide

England in April

April is the month when the flowers are in bloom, so visiting the parks and botanical gardens is a pleasure. It is also the month when Easter falls (usually). Tourists are starting to buzz by now but it’s not as crowded as during summer.

Weather

As you probably know by now, England’s weather is never predictable. And spring is one of those times of the year when the weather isn’t predictable anywhere. But April is the perfect month to see the flowers in bloom. Even if you might find perfect weather when you arrive, don’t forget the umbrella and the sweater. Chances are you’ll need both.

Sample temperatures

Bath avg high 13C / avg low 3C
Birmingham avg high 11C / avg low 3C
Bristol avg high 12C /avg low 5C
Leeds avg high 11C / avg low 5C
Liverpool avg high 11C / avg low 4C
London avg high 12C / avg low 3C
Manchester avg high 11C / avg low 4C
York avg high 12C /avg low 2C

>>read more about Weather in England

Flights and Accommodation

April falls during the shoulder season and , unless you plan to visit the country around Easter, the prices are lower than during the summer. However, do plan your flight in advance – 4 to 8 weeks is typically enough to find good prices.

As for accommodation, the large cities don’t exactly have “seasons” when it comes to room prices but you can find discounts online. And if hotels are too expensive, there are always the hostels to relay on.

What to do

April begins with a day of jokes and…fun. April Fool’s Day (April 1) is one of those days which are well known by everyone but when you look for its roots, no one seems to know where and why it began. It is known though that the day became popular in England in the 1700s and by tradition, you can only play jokes by midday. So, enjoy the day but try not to be one fooled.

April marks the arrival of the cuckoo, which by tradition means the spring is really here. So there are fairs to mark the event. More precisely, the Marsden Cuckoo Day in West Yorkshire, which is a festival to mark the beginning of the spring.

In most years, Easter falls in April so be prepared for a time of celebration. Head to the countryside to witness the traditional ways to celebrate Easter and the Holy Week.

April 23, St. George’s Day is also England’s National Day as St. George is the Patron of England. The legend says that St. George saved a village from a fierce dragon. In fact, St. George was a Roman soldier who protested against Roman’s torture of Christians, and just like others who did the same, he died for his beliefs. Don’t expect fireworks or parades on the National Day, though.

But April is a lovely month to explore the city. There isn’t such thing as shoulder season in London, for example, so do expect enough crowds to be hard to take good photos at the main sights, but it’s still relaxed and you can soak up the city’s atmosphere. However, smaller cities are even best to explore now as they don’t tend to get many visitors until late April.

>>read more about the Things to do in Manchester

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England Planning a Trip travel guide

Getting from London to Birmingham

London is a major European transportation hub and , especially if you fly from other continents than Europe, your first encounter with the UK will be London’s Heathrow airport. And even if you fly from Europe, you might find better deals for flights into one of London’s airport rather than flying directly into Birmingham . So, chances are you’ll need to travel between the two cities.

London and Birmingham are just 118 miles away, so there is no reason to fly between the two cities. So, you are left with traveling overland: by train, bus or car.

Quick summary

Prices are similar whether you choose the bus or the train. However, the trains travel faster than buses. Most trains run between London Euston station and Birmingham New Street Station.

Trains from London to Birmingham

Birmingham’s main station is New Street, which offer direct connections to London Euston station. Service is also available between London Marylebone station and Birmingham Moor Street station.

There are trains departing every 15 to 30 min between the two cities, with most departures from London Euston station. You can purchase the ticket online and pay as little as £6 per person, one way. The travel time is between 1 ½ h and 2 h, depending on the train.

Details , schedules and prices can be found here .

>>read more about Train Travel in England

Buses from London to Birmingham

All intercity buses arrive at Birmingham Coach Station, which is located close to the city center. Serving to London is very frequent and you can choose between two companies:

  • Megabus : offers 7 departures per day and the travel time is about 3 h. Fares range from £5 to £8 per person, one way and depends on the time of departure.


  • National Express : offers departures about every hour and connects Birmingham to London’s Victoria Coach Station. The travel time is 2 ½ h to 3 h. Fares range from £6.50 to £12 per person, one way and depends on the time of departure.

>>read more about Bus Travel in England

Driving from London to Birmingham

You can rent a car in London and drive the 118 miles to Birmingham via M1 and M6. It should take about 2 hours, but it does depend on the traffic.

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England

Cheap Hotels in Birmingham

Birmingham is located in the West Midlands and according to local authorities it’s the second largest city in England after London. A former industrial and commercial city, Birmingham is getting a new life lately, offering great shopping and excellent cultural experiences.

Accommodation in Birmingham ranges from hostel, guesthouses to fancy hotels. Regardless of what style you prefer, it’s a good idea to stay close to the city center, or at least within walking distance of public transportation.

Price-wise, expect to pay from £47 per night in a double room in a 3-star hotel , close to the Birmingham New Street Rail Station, in early summer. But, if you look carefully, you’ll be able to find better deals , especially if you book ahead of time. Don’t check only the booking websites, take a look at the hotel’s website , too (if they have one).

Search this map to find cheap hotels in Birmingham, or find even more hotel options by searching with the widget above.