- Important points
- Choosing wings
- Hotel or apartment
- Transport subtleties
- Nightingales are not fed with fables
- Useful details
- The perfect trip to the UK
The stronghold of the oldest monarchy in the Old World, Great Britain receives millions of tourists every year from all over the world. Why do people go to the homeland of Shakespeare and the Beatles? First, look at the famous architectural sights and immerse yourself in the majestic landscapes of the mountain-lakeside Scotland. Secondly, wander under the medieval vaults of Welsh castles and taste real Irish ale. And also - to record on video how Big Band beats off every passing hour, taste real English tea and hear how the language spoken by half the world sounds in the original. Everyone decides for himself how to draw up a travel itinerary to the UK, but in the vast majority of cases, guests of Foggy Albion arrive in the capital first.
Important points
- To travel to England, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales, a Russian tourist will have to apply for a British visa. The fee is 85 British pounds, and the package of required documents is quite extensive. The papers presented in it should convince officials that the applicant has no immigration intentions, and therefore any evidence of the solvency and stability of a potential tourist will do.
- Car traffic in the UK is left-hand, which means that driving a rented car will require special care.
Choosing wings
Aeroflot and British Airways fly from Moscow to London every day. With transfers to the UK, you can also get on the wings of European carriers:
- The cost of tickets on board Aeroflot is about 220 euros. You will have to spend a little more than 3.5 hours in the sky.
- A connecting flight via Zurich, Paris or Amsterdam will cost a little less. Carriers Swiss International Air Lines, Air France and KLM will deliver passengers from Moscow to London for 190 euros and approximately 5-6 hours excluding transfers.
- Low-cost airlines like Pobeda and Ryanair with connections, for example, in Cologne, offer tickets to London at a price of 180 euros.
The fare from London Heathrow and Gatwick airports to the city center by taxi is about 60 euros. The parking lot is located at the exit from the terminal. On express trains, such a trip will cost 20 euros. Trains arrive at Paddington Railway Station. There are also A1 and A2 buses from Heathrow to Victoria and Euston stations, respectively. Tickets are purchased at the airport or bus, the schedule is every 20 minutes during the day.
Hotel or apartment
Hotels in the UK have a "star" classification and the coolest hotels are designated in the local system as 4 * Luxe. Breakfast, even in expensive hotels, is not always included in the price, as are taxes and local taxes. So when booking a hotel in London, Manchester or Edinburgh, be prepared to fork out for "porridge, sir!" and other expenses additionally.
London "fives" invite wealthy tourists to appreciate the English service and comfort, paying at least 180 euros per night. These hotels are located close to major attractions and boast comfortable furnishings, themed décor and natural materials.
More budget hotels in the capital with three stars on the front are available for 50 euros per day and guarantee free wireless internet and fairly spartan living conditions. You will not have to sleep in the same room with strangers, but the bathroom will most likely be shared.
In hostels, a bed in a dormitory room can be booked for 20-30 euros. Moreover, even breakfast, unlike more expensive options, is likely to be included in the price.
In the capital of Scotland, you can spend the night in a B&B for 40-50 euros. There are quite a few guesthouses in Edinburgh, but in the "high" season it is worth booking hotels in advance, especially if you are looking for a bed in a dormitory room for no more than 25-30 euros per day.
Residents of Great Britain willingly lease their own square meters to tourists, and this is done by both the capital's residents and the inhabitants of the English hinterland. In the villages, there are often home-style guesthouses, where bed and breakfast are waiting for guests for 30-35 euros per day, and the cost of renting a room in an apartment with an owner in the old part of London is from 25 euros.
Transport subtleties
Public transport in the UK capital operates from 4 am to 1 am. Its most popular type is the metro, where it is most profitable to pay for travel with a transport card. Its cost depends on the selected zones and a weekly card will cost from 30 to 60 euros.
The most expensive is the first zone or central London. A single trip on it is about 3.3 euros. The fare is cheaper with an Oyster smart card. You can buy it at ticket offices at public transport stops and use it not only on the metro, but also on buses, trams and trains. The fare on this card is two times lower than when buying one-time tickets, and it is convenient to replenish it in special machines at stations or via the Internet.
Between the cities of the kingdom, in every sense, it is profitable to travel by plane, because there is an airport in every more or less large settlement. Local airlines do not "rip off" passengers too much and you can get from the capital of England to Edinburgh and back for 40 euros, and then fly from there to Cardiff - no more than 70 euros.
Railways are a great way to make the move and combine it with a sightseeing tour of the country. It is important to book tickets in advance in order to be guaranteed to leave and save up to 50% of the cost. Check the offers of all rail carriers before planning your trip. The price of a ticket in the same direction for different companies may differ 5 times! You should also inquire about group prices when buying tickets. This will significantly reduce the fare if you are traveling with at least 4 people.
Nightingales are not fed with fables
Not cheap in all respects, Great Britain and in terms of catering does not deviate from its royal traditions. The most budgetary way to refresh yourself and stay within the budget is to have a snack at the food court of a shopping center in Thai, Chinese, Arab or Indian cafes. The cost of a large portion of fried noodles with chicken, falafel or curry with rice will cost 8-10 euros. At street stalls, fast food costs about the same and is a great way to support the body without interrupting for a long time from sightseeing.
Prices for a good steak in an English restaurant start at 50 euros, for a portion of Guinness in an Irish pub - from 4 euros, but in less pretentious cafes you can get a piece of juicy beef of your interest in half the price. It is enough just to move away from popular tourist routes and do not be lazy to study reviews of cafes located nearby.
Useful details
- The standard Channel Tunnel fare is £ 79.
- On weekdays from 7:00 to 18:00, there is a charge of £ 11.5 to enter central London by car.
- Ticket prices and timetables for London's largest train station, Waterloo, can be found at www.networkrail.co.uk.
- For free travel on the London Underground, you are guaranteed a fine of 22 euros.
- London's famous black cabs are not cheap as taxis. Only landing will cost you 2 euros, and for each kilometer the counter will add another 0.8 euros.
- BritRail UK intercity and commuter passes are sold at www.britrail.com.
The perfect trip to the UK
The temperate oceanic climate in the kingdom is the cause of frequent rainfall, fog and generally unstable weather. The air temperature, due to the proximity of the Gulf Stream, rarely drops below -5 ° C, even in the midst of winter. In summer, mercury columns do not tend to exceed + 25 ° C, which makes rest in England quite comfortable even for golden-age tourists.
Precipitation most often falls in the west, but the eastern part of the country can hardly be called Foggy Albion.
Sticking to their own calendar, holiday and festival fans prefer to fly to the United Kingdom on March 17 for St. Patrick's Day in Ireland, the second Saturday in June in honor of the Monarch's birthday, the last Sunday of summer for the Notting Hill carnival, and November 5 for Guy Fawkes Night.
Signs of Christmas in the UK, as elsewhere in the world, are not only hundreds of trees and festive illumination in squares and streets, but also solid discounts in department stores, and therefore winter shopping in London is another reason to visit the United Kingdom.
