The UK has an extensive and well maintained road and motorway network. There are no cows or stray dogs to avoid, and roads within towns and cities are well lit at night and are lined by many signposts. Unless otherwise indicated, speed limits on UK roads are 30 miles per hour (48 kph) in built up areas, 60 miles per hour (97kph) on single carriage ways and 70 miles per hour (113kph) on dual carriage ways and motorways.

Holders of an international driving license are allowed to drive in the UK for up to 12 months from the date of arrival, thereafter you would need to obtain a UK driving license. Full time students can avail of discounted bus tickets.

Taxis are widely available in the UK and they can be identified easily due to the illuminated taxi sign on their roof. Taxi ranks are located just outside train, bus and airport terminals and all of them will put on their meter without you having to ask. Taxis will give you a receipt if you request one. Minicabs are also available in some of the larger cities.

"Minicabs" are taxis which will not necessarily carry a taxi sign on the roof - although they should still have a registration plate on the rear. You are not legally allowed to flag down a mini-cab on the street so in order to get one, you should phone ahead to your local mini-cab company. They are cheaper than a regular taxi - especially if going to an airport. You are advised not to accept offers of a ride (without prior booking) from mini cab drivers who are touting for business in the street - it is very unlikely that these drivers are licensed and taking a journey with them might put you in danger.

There are many rail networks in the UK connecting suburbs to city centres and as well as providing inter city travel routes. High-speed Euro star trains leave London every day and get you into the city centre or Paris within 3 hours. You can avail of discounted tickets if you book early or have a student ID card/young person’s rail card.

London’s transport system is divided into 6 zones starting with zone 1 in the city centre. The number of zones you travel through will determine the cost of your train ticket. If you are doing a lot of travelling around London it would be best to consider purchasing a “one day travel card”, a “weekend travel card” for a weekend journey or weekly or monthly travel card for a longer duration. The staff at the underground station will answer your queries regarding tickets.

There is a map of the London Underground in each of our offices, showing the different zones and train networks across London. Ask your Study Overseas Ltd (UK) counsellor to explain this to you if you have any doubts.

The 3 main domestic carriers in the UK: British Airways; British Midland, Ryan Air and Easyjet, all offer discounted tickets if you book your ticket well in advance. Please consult their websites for further information on advance ticket purchasing. Do also remember that airports can sometimes be located 30-60 minutes outside of the city centre, therefore shorter distances are often better covered by bus or train.

The first thing you must do is check whether the University or College you are going to study at offers a “meet and greet” service i.e. will they collect you from the Airport. If they do, then you should avail of this service as it is the easiest way to get from the airport to University/College accommodation. You should note that some institutions can only offer this service if you advise them 3-4 days in advance or if you arrive on certain dates. Please check with your nearest Study Overseas Ltd (UK) office to find out if your institution offers a meet and greet service. If there is no meet and greet service available at your institution then you must travel by bus, taxi or train to your institution. There will be an “Information Desk” at your port of arrival (i.e. the first UK airport that you land in) which will be able to guide you further. Additional information on how to get to your accommodation will be provided in either your institution prospectus, the international student guide book (if your institution provides one) or by going on the internet to look up any of the travel websites for buses and trains.

Very few institutions in and around London offer a meet and greet service hence it is likely that you will have to get to your accommodation on your own. The most cost effective option would be to take the underground train which takes around 45 minutes to reach central London. However you will be responsible for carrying your luggage, with no trolleys or porters available to assist you and you may have to take escalators, lifts or walk up stairs. Hence you are advised instead to take the Heathrow Express from Heathrow airport to Paddington Station at a cost of around £15. At Paddington Train station you will be able to use the trolley facility as well find a taxi to take you to your final destination.

There are regular coaches leaving Heathrow airport and going to cities and towns throughout the South of England. Please check your university/college brochure or international student handbook for further details. Some universities have special arrangements with taxi companies which will pick you up at the airport and take you to your accommodation for a fixed price.