Trains are Fast + Efficientfast. Modern trains will mostly reach their destinations faster than driving, as they are not affected by traffic congestion. For example, there are high-speed trains from London to Edinburgh that take under five hours.
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Every year, as train prices go up, car rental becomes a better option for budget travelers in Europe. While solo car travel is expensive, three or four people sharing a rented car will usually travel cheaper than the same group using rail passes.
The best way to travel around England for budget visitors is by coach, but journey times are often much longer than by train or car and the routes aren't always convenient. Bus travel is cheapest when booked direct: the two main operators are National Express and Megabus. Both offer competitive prices.
There are many fantastic train journeys to take across the UK and travelling by train is a popular choice for many visitors. If you are travelling from London to Scotland, and want to make the journey extra special, one possibility is to take the Caledonian Sleeper.
Some places are easier to handle than others. The British Isles are good for driving — reasonable rentals, no language barrier, exciting rural areas, and fine roads...and after one near head-on collision scares the bloody heck out of you, you'll have no trouble remembering which side of the road to drive on.
But statistically speaking, trains are actually a very safe way to travel -- much safer than driving. CNNMoney calculated how many people are killed for every one billion passenger miles traveled to compare the safety of different modes of transportation.
Why are UK trains so expensive? One of the main reasons the price of train tickets keeps rising is the privatisation of rail networks, with every private company striving to make a profit.
Direct high-speed trains run by LNER depart from Kings Cross station in London and take you to the Central station in Edinburgh in about 4.5 hours, reaching the maximum speed of 125 mph! There are over 50 daily departures (depending on the weekday), so planning a trip is as easy as ABC.
If you have time, using a mix of train, bus, taxi, walking and occasionally hiring a bike, you can get almost anywhere in England without having to drive.
Tuesday is by far the cheapest day to make the trip to London, so save on your flights while making a week of it and enjoy the lull before the storm that is England's capital on a Friday night.