Advantages of traveling by train and bus in England

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Oliver Thansan
Oliver Thansan
25 October 2023 Wednesday 10:36
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Advantages of traveling by train and bus in England

* The author is part of the community of readers of La Vanguardia

Traveling with a good bus and train network in the United Kingdom makes getting around much easier. The most economical means of transportation is the bus. Several private companies provide frequent and convenient service.

Rates normally depend on the city and the distance traveled. During a recent trip through Nottinghamshire, for example, I found a flat rate of two pounds regardless of where we traveled within this county.

We got the tickets on board, although I had read that they could also be purchased at the bus station. We have moved around the city of Nottingham with a card called Easyrider valid for one week.

Every day you can buy an eight-pound voucher that is good for two elderly people and up to three children to make an unlimited number of trips. We controlled the schedules of the transport we took through the Internet and, when we arrived at the respective stops, the arrival time of the bus, as well as the time it was at that moment, could be seen on the screens on each of them. .

In 20 days of travel, I don't remember any in which there was a long delay in departure. Punctuality is a characteristic of this type of transportation, which is very efficient, so much so that if you want to travel and tour the entire county there is nothing that will make it difficult.

The United Kingdom also has a long history of connecting different regions and promoting population mobility through the railway network.

The first steam locomotive was invented in Britain in the early 19th century, and many innovations have occurred since then. The train system may not have the reputation of being the cheapest, but with a little advance planning and navigation through the rail system it is not too difficult to purchase tickets for the cheapest price.

For example, mid-afternoon tickets on a weekday are cheaper than those available during peak hours. Also, if they are booked a month in advance it is better than waiting for the day of the trip, since they are more expensive as the time to travel approaches. In the same way, you can see if you save money by buying two single tickets instead of taking one round trip.

Depending on the company, if the train is more than an hour late upon arrival, most service providers will reimburse you for a percentage of the costs.

Thanks to this means of transport, we traveled to three cities that we wanted to visit: Birmingham, Stratford-upon-Avon and Lincoln.

Birmingham is considered the second largest city in England in number of inhabitants. In the center you can see buildings with history, created from the 18th century to the early 20th century. A feast of Georgian sumptuousness and other styles such as Victorian, Edwardian, Neo-Gothic and even Art Deco. The controversial building of the Central Library also caught our attention, a very modern and large construction. Birmingham surprised us favorably; Our expectations were to find a grayer and more industrial city.

Stratford-upon-Avon is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United Kingdom. It is located in the county of Warwickshire, on the banks of the River Avon, in the Southwest of England.

As well as being the birthplace of William Shakespeare, this captivating medieval town has historic houses, a famous theatre, a street market and excellent shops and restaurants.

Lincoln was our latest discovery. The main attraction of this city is, without a doubt, the magnificent cathedral that dates back to the 11th century and was completed in the 14th century. It is one of the largest in England. The curious thing is that you have to go up a cobblestone street, very steep and with a very practical handrail. During the climb, we enjoyed seeing the beautiful red brick and half-timbered houses that house art galleries, tea rooms and glamorous boutiques.

Traveling around England is comfortable with a developed and diverse transport network, allowing you to access a multitude of places during your stay, such as these 20 days in Nottingham. You have the possibility of discovering other cultures and traditions and getting closer to them.