What you need to travel to England. Traveling to the UK for the budget conscious: advice from experienced travelers. Connect mobile Internet

A trip to the UK promises a lot vivid impressions and emotions. But it also comes with substantial costs. Therefore, for many travelers, the question remains, what can be used save money while traveling in Foggy Albion.

Travel preparation: visas, travel documents, hotel

First of all, let's name the things that cannot be saved on. This includes. Getting a visa is not as easy as we would like, but the trip will not take place without it.

Let's not exaggerate by arguing that it is impossible to apply for a visa on your own. However, every tourist will have to thoroughly run around the authorities, collecting documents. Him it will not be possible to reject any requirements of the consulate, which will meticulously check every piece of paper and the accuracy of the information.

Concerning travel documents, then you can save a lot on this. We recommend that you take care of buying tickets in advance. The sooner you start solving this issue, the lower the costs will be. You need to know that the tourist will have to pay extra for the baggage. Therefore, for the sake of economy, you can limit yourself to hand luggage.

To make sure your stay in the UK does not hit your budget, we recommend booking your hotel well in advance. It is worth noting that when choosing cheap options, you need to tune in to certain conditions. Usually in such establishments the rooms are tiny, and the toilet is in the hallway. A room may have a shower and a sink, and sometimes only a washbasin.

But cheap hotels can be found in almost any area... For example, travelers are looking for them even in the center of the British capital.

Food, transport and entertainment: savings are welcome

No matter how much we would like to save money, we cannot refuse food. Although food is relatively inexpensive by British standards, for a Russian, this expense will be significant. The real savings will come if the tourist decides to cook their own meals. Then the daily expenses would be only a few pounds a day.

Transportation costs can be quite different depending on how fortunate the hotel's location is. If you have to drive several times through the city every day, then the cost will be about 50 feet per day. In order to save money, we recommend choosing a hotel in a convenient location and using passes, which are sold for one or several days. different types transport.

What can be a trip to Britain without seeing its sights? And in this regard, Foggy Albion is quite generous with free options. For example, you can be satisfied with a walk in London, which hides a lot of attractions. Lost among its modern quarters are numerous historic buildings reminiscent of bygone eras.

By the way, many London museums are open to visitors free of charge. For example, you don't have to pay for a ticket when visiting:

• The British Museum;
• The National Portrait Gallery;
• Of the National maritime museum;
• National Gallery;
• The Victoria and Albert Museum;
• Tate Britain,
• The Museum of London;
• Tate Modern;
• Royal Air Force Museum.

Experienced tourists emphasize that the true spirit of England and Great Britain can be felt in its markets. They can be found in any city in the country, and anything is sold on them. For example, there are flower and food markets, antique and clothing markets. By the way, the cost of goods here is lower than in other retail outlets. Therefore, the walk will become not only a fascinating acquaintance with the customs of the British, but also an excellent reason for bargaining.

Game designer from Mogilev Yulia Pepler decided to arrange super-saturated May events for herself, and with a team of friends set off on a trip to England and Scotland. Stonehenge, Loch Ness, castles from Harry Potter and the Isle of Skye - how to fit it all in one trip - in a first-person story.

Julia Pepler

Preparing for the trip

We went on a journey as our student fraternity - almost all the participants in our trip were graduates of one of the Mogilev lyceums. We spend every May in a new place and traditionally call it a “hike”. This year, the choice fell on Scotland, and I could not stand aside.

When we started planning the route, it became clear that the trip would consist of two conventional parts: England and Scotland. According to the plan, we were going to fly from Vilnius to Luton (the airport is located 48 km from London), then rent a minibus and move towards Edinburgh, from where we had planned a flight to Kaunas. This time they decided not to waste time on London itself - everyone has six-month visas, so you can see the capital another time.

It is better to find out everything related to car rental in advance - the conditions are different for all companies, not to mention local laws. For example, it is important that the card with which you will pay the rent is at least Visa classic. Initially, 14 people were going to go on our trip, and we wanted to take big bus... But it turned out that despite the fact that one of us has international rights and category D, in the UK only a resident of the European Union or the United Kingdom itself with a driving experience of 2 years or more can carry more than 8 people. I had to book 2 minibuses. So we became 16. By the way, renting one 16-seater bus would cost us £ 1100, for one 9-seater we paid about £ 1200. You also need to be careful with insurance - weigh the pros and cons. We chose a slightly more expensive option, and in the end it paid off (we smashed the headlight in the parking lot on the trolley fence).

Our team included the inspirer and organizer of the "hike" - Alexander Machekin, who developed the route. We chose the places that guidebooks and other travelers advised to visit, put everything on a map and laid an approximate route. Initially, it was clear that our route was "with a margin": about 30% of the points that we had outlined for ourselves had to be sorted on the spot.

Before starting the trip, we all stocked up with waterproof and windproof jackets. It is also advisable to have waterproof pants and trekking boots, although you can do without them - it's just a matter of your comfort. We also had sleeping bags and several tents with us. We have never used the latter. They also took food with us (porridge, tea, kozinaki, noodles and homemade granola) - it helped us out if we did not have time to stop by the store. Most often, we bought in supermarkets (Tesco extra deserved our special love).

Flew

We flew to England on a Wizzair low-cost airline. At the airport, a free shuttle bus picked us up at a special stop to the right of the exit and took us directly to the car rental location. We got two brand new minibuses of the simplest configuration. They had a significant disadvantage - on the road, those who were driving in the rear seats were thrown around the cabin, like on an attraction. We knew that if you rent a car, you must inspect it together with a company employee and ask about everything in detail. Our driver drew attention to the AdBlue level (this is a reagent that is needed for cars running on a diesel engine). An employee of the company told us not to worry - everything is in order with the reagent. But, as you understand, this story will still have a sequel.

We bought several SIM cards at the gas station. For £ 10 we got 2 GB of internet and a few dozen included minutes. After activating the SIM card, Sasha immediately climbed to book accommodation. Everything was done promptly through booking.com, because on airbnb.com you still need to wait for confirmation from the hosts. We booked on the go: we just looked how much more we want to travel until the end of the day - and looked for a hostel or a house nearby. Cards were accepted almost everywhere, cash was needed only for toll roads and markets.

The fabulous cities of middle England

The first stop was Cambridge, where we stayed for a very short time. It is interesting to take a walk here, eat at the street market in the center, or stick in a bookstore. The most popular transport for the locals is a bicycle.

And then there is Windsor: pleasant streets, flowering trees and cafes that have probably been here for centuries. Right on the road in front of the current residence of the British monarchs there is a statue of Queen Victoria, and in a small neat park - already Queen Elizabeth II with corgi frolicking around. I don’t know how it happened, but we were always close to our "second minibus", although at times we had to go in two cars and separate on the way. You walk, you come to some interesting bar - and Masya gets out of it from our second bus and smiles. The old bar, which is located exactly on the royal alley, has a wonderful bar counter, many tables, books and visitors with dogs. It seems that there are dogs everywhere, and all the establishments are dog-friendly. From the window of the second floor of the bar, cardboard Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are waving to you (the wedding of the century was then on the nose). Behind the bar is an incredibly long and photogenic alley. We took a selfie here, and after a couple of weeks I watched in the chronicles how a wedding team with the same royal wedding carriage was riding along this very path. We did not get to Windsor Castle, because everything in Great Britain closes after 17.00. After 18.00 at best.

Our first overnight stay was in Oxford. We rented a two-story house: it was designed for fewer people, but we initially agreed that the “hike” format meant that someone would sleep in sleeping bags where they could comfortably nestle.

Strawberry cromlech

Of course, we could not pass Stonehenge. In advance, we together decided not to waste time on a paid excursion, since we have such a tight schedule. But you better not do as we do. Get to tourist center, buy a ticket (£ 18) and go to free bus to the cromlech. With a ticket, you will be able to get much closer to the stones, but all the same, they are not allowed to enter the center - they take care.

We stood a little further, but this did not upset us. Tears came to my eyes from an overabundance of emotions. We got out the champagne and strawberries we bought the day before in the supermarket and celebrated this important point of our trip.

The locals know better

Without slowing down, we moved to the village of Baiburi, which every guidebook referred to as “the most picturesque village England ". All houses here are built of a special stone - shell rock or oolite. Around - a surprisingly harmonious combination of grooming and neglect, which can be said about the whole island. It seems that the locals have some kind of methodological manual, which indicates which bushes should be cut out of intricate figures, and which ones should be left to overgrow. By the way, we asked a local woman how the name of the village was pronounced correctly, and she insisted on “Bayburi”. But if you look for it on Russian-language resources - write "Biburi" - so you will find more information.

You can get around the village very quickly. A local attraction here is a trout farm. There is also a souvenir and a cafe where trout is a signature dish. We ordered a mix of fish (£ 7.9) cooked by three different ways: baked with a creamy sauce, smoked and the third, which we called "herring under a fur coat" - in some kind of salad with beets. And the ordered tea was brought to us without demand with milk (£ 1.5).

Looking into native city William Shakespeare, where, according to legend, his father's house was preserved, we moved to the last stop of the day - in Birmingham.

Watch your back

Birmingham, sorry for the philosophical reasoning, was intended to balance all this beauty that we experienced during the day. Surely, walking around the city center on a sunny day, we would get a different impression of it. But then, at dusk, we saw continuous industrial buildings, and many, many young people walking. We checked into an anthill hostel with an intricate system of moves, part of the team went to the bar, the second part passed out on clean sheets. In the morning, pulling things out in the lobby, I turned around to the shout of Polina from our team - she ran from the street and stamped her feet yelling “Stole! Stole! They've stolen everything! " At night, our car was opened, and a forgotten purse disappeared from the glove compartment by an evil accident. “I’m being deported! I won't be able to come back here anymore! " She continued. We rushed to inspect the neighborhood in search of an abandoned passport, asked at the reception where the nearest police station is. Polina, gradually coming to her senses, checked her bag - and lo and behold! - She shifted the passport and card. So only cash was stolen. Polina was even somehow delighted (the biggest nightmare - not to get to the UK anymore - was over), said that it was just money and there weren't very many of them. It was decided not to write a statement to the police - all the same, the money could not be returned.

"Around - a surprisingly harmonious combination of grooming and neglect, which can be said about the whole island"

Manchester

Here our division into two minibuses played into our hands - we divided into those who are interested in the Old Trafford stadium, where the Manchester United team trains, and those who care.

Those who did not go to the stadium were sent for a walk around the city. Manchester turned out to be very beautiful, lively and modern city... It was lunchtime, so everywhere we met the British in luxurious business suits, with street food in one hand and a leather briefcase in the other. It's amazing how in this cold everything was already in bloom, because when we left, the leaves were still trying to bloom in Belarus, although the temperature was much higher.

Another bus with a full complement visited the museum at the stadium (£ 18) and spent a lot of money on souvenirs: T-shirts, scarves, mugs and caps, and even bed linen with the symbols of your favorite club.

Pudding that isn't pudding

We went to York to spend the night. If you want to see the largest medieval stained glass window in the world, be sure to check out York Minster (£ 10), but remember - after 6 pm it will turn into "Closed".

We rented a two-story house again. Not pleased with the one bathroom at all, and even combined with a toilet. Only the cookies, carefully left by the owners, lifted the mood. These are the famous Scottish Shortbread - shortbread cookies with a pleasant creamy taste. In York we really wanted to taste the famous Yorkshire pudding. Of course, we had a certain idea of ​​pudding in our heads, and it was strikingly different from what we found in York. Yorkshire pudding is a baked batter mold filled with various sauces and fillings.

Another incident happened in York. When we were unpacking our things, one of the sleeping bags fell out and rolled under the stairs. We discovered this already in another parking lot, when his mistress needed a sleeping bag. Later we contacted the owners and they kindly agreed to send a sleeping bag to Belarus. For their hassle with the mail, the Yorkers asked for another £ 10.

When the ruins shake as much as the preserved castle

In North Yorkshire, on a consolation by the North Sea, we were greeted by the Abbey of Whitby, or rather what was left of it. They say that this is the most a large number of ghosts in England. After paying £ 6 for entrance and audio guides, we headed towards the abbey. It rained constantly, as if by order, creating a suitable atmosphere. After passing a small pond, we approached the well-preserved ruins, and the audio guide in excellent English said that the first abbess here was Hilda, and she also turned all the snakes that pestered local residents, into the stones. The abbey was destroyed twice: the first time by the Vikings, and the second by German cruisers during the First World War. Through incredibly beautiful arches you can see the sea here. From the ruins one can only guess about the former greatness of the temple. No wonder he impressed Bram Stoker so much. In his book, it is in Whitby that Count Dracula leaves the ship in the form of a creature resembling a dog and runs to the abbey and the adjacent cemetery.

Even magic won't help with the operating mode

Since the journey turned out to be so cinematic, it would be wrong not to stop by Alnwick Castle, which became the prototype of the Hogwarts School of Wizardry. We hurried here to be in time before closing time, checked the schedule - everything is fine, we still have 1.5 hours. But this is what the guidebooks do not report: the castle is open until 17.30, and the ticket office is closed at 15.45. At 16.00 we could no longer buy a ticket, so we walked around the castle from the other side and admired it from afar. On the way, we found a narrow bridge with the figure of a lion. Apparently, the lion is another local landmark - its image with its tail sticking out with an arrow is here on every guidebook or postcard.

A little distressed, we moved on to Bumboro Castle, which we obstinately read as Bamburgh. Huge, in the sunset rays, he seemed no less beautiful than Alnick. We went up to it and heard the sound of the sea. Even though the northern one was cold, we ran to him as to an old friend. We spent here, perhaps, even more time than in Alnike. Someone took off their shoes and ran into the water to go at least ankle-deep, someone began to walk with delight, and everyone was photographing the rainbow in front.

"Before, the Scots believed in unicorns (the maid said in a whisper that there is no" before "- everyone still believes)"

Scotland and the Scots

And although officially this is one state, the difference between England and Scotland is very felt. The fences seem to have become taller, and the people are friendlier. Instead of plains, mountains were visible, sheep in the fields often came across with black muzzles, and besides cows, we also met musk oxen. Funny cartoon, with long red hair and bangs that obscure the eyes - this is a local pride.

The Scottish friendliness amazed us. In the first store, an elderly woman salesman spoke to us. She asked where we were from and what places we intend to visit. After reviewing the route, she nodded approvingly, wished have a good travel and certainly good weather. After the British, who never gave us even a mean smile, the Scots seemed like angels descended from heaven. We, of course, immediately informed her about this. She smiled and said that yes, the Scots are like that. “We also drink a lot!” - she laughed at last.

Do you believe in unicorns?

In the most important Scottish castle - Stirling - we were offered to buy an Explorer pass (£ 30), which gives us the right to visit 77 attractions for free. Of the 5 days that it is valid, you can use free admission only 3 days, but in one day you can visit as many castles as you like. The subscription pays off with interest. We calculated that entrance to Stirling alone costs £ 15, and in Edinburgh castle- £ 18.

In the castle, a cute tour guide maid answered the most burning question at the time: why are unicorns so cool here? It turned out that the unicorn is the official symbol of Scotland! Previously, the Scots believed in unicorns (the maid said in a whisper that there is no "before" - everyone still believes). And it was not for nothing that he was depicted on the coat of arms of Scotland along with three lions (a lion is a symbol of royal power), because only three lions can kill one unicorn

Finding Nessie and the most atmospheric overnight stay

Of course, besides Stonehenge in terms of must-see places, there was Loch Ness. Now I understand why people so want to see "something" in this troubled water. The wind raises such waves that something supernatural can be seen in each black ridge. The view from the coast is picturesque: the lake is divided by two mountains covered with fog.

There is a hotel by the road, on the territory of which the "statue" of Nessie is industriously placed. The hotel room is expensive, but here is a photo of the green-skinned beauty - free (and priceless). The terrain here became completely mountainous, and we moved up the serpentine road to the next overnight stay at Camping Pod Heaven. Four-bed barrel houses were waiting for us, with inflatable mattresses, sockets and lamps inside. On the territory there is a convenient toilet and shower, an open sink with hot water, a long common table. There is no kitchen, but there are several barbecues. A small electric kettle can be rented for £ 1. A small group of Poles shared a coal with us - a little drunk, they themselves approached and invited to the grill, and we thanked us in return.

The next day we went to inspect the local species - there is no way to describe them. I don't know what could be more beautiful than mountains and the sea.

Another setback: home stretch

It is very difficult to divide the Scottish part of the trip into any "blocks", because it is sheer ecstasy. It is impossible to detach from the car window, there is no strength to stop taking these blurry photos with a smartphone. It seems that the air will now rupture the lungs, and the current runs through the body after each turn. Overhanging rocks, overgrown with gorse, give way to pastures and mirror lakes.

We arrived at Eilen Donan Castle, who, like many points on our journey, is also a movie hero. The Highlander was filmed here. Purring that very song of the Queen group, we filmed it already for our video report. We returned to the minibus, started moving, and realized that the gears had stopped shifting. Looking sideways at the AdBlue meter, we called the number indicated on the car rental documents. They described the problem, decided on the cause (the ill-fated blue liquid is over!). We were redirected to the technical assistance department. To the technical assistance department, which is closed on weekends! We split up with the second minibus, and the guys didn't have to arrive soon. Two volunteers from us decided to hitchhike to the nearest gas station and buy a reagent. The guys turned around very quickly, and already in the car they said that Chichvarkin had thrown them in a red Audi before refueling. They spoke to him first in English and then in Russian. They were ashamed to take a picture. Is it a joke? We still didn't get it, but the guys still don't admit it. There is no evidence, only their true eyes.

AdBlue worked, we moved to the Isle of Skye.

Get to another planet without leaving your car

Previously, Skye could only be reached by ferry, but in 1995 a road bridge was opened. We settled down to a snake of cars crawling towards the island. Sky is like another planet. On the left, green grass lines the valley, which suddenly bends and rips apart with piercing black rocks that go into the clouds. On the right is a cliff, the road wobbles around the rocks, and you can see ahead of a mountain stream that flows to the edge of the island and breaks down. And so 40 minutes of the trip. Mountain landscapes give way to futuristic stone valleys. We drove into the interior of the island, periodically stopping and going out to look at the natural surroundings. The further we drove, the more it rained, and everything around was enveloped in fog. There are 2 hiking trails: 3 and 6 kilometers. Be sure to go through one of them. We were afraid of slippery ground and endless rain, and now we regret it.

This day finished us off with the next two stops. Remember the second Harry Potter movie and the Weasley flying car? The scene with the catching train was filmed here on the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Many tourists climb observation deck on the right, but you come on the left. Here you can go upstairs, to the very railroad and even higher. It is interesting that if you try in reality to follow the route described by J.K. Rowling, it is here, not far from the viaduct, that the Hogwarts School of Wizardry should hide from people.

And the control shot - the Glencoe Valley, where we were advised to visit by all the Scots we talked to. Here, my artistic skills are not enough to try to convey at least an approximate atmosphere of this place. The mountains, of course, are not as high as in the Himalayas, but no less beautiful.

Biggest "failure"

We spent the last day of the trip in Edinburgh. After the deserted mountain roads, the city, overcrowded with tourists, was a little frightening and crushing. Be sure to try the Scottish breakfast here (£ 5 average). On the plate there will be scrambled eggs, and potato pancakes, and sausage, and beans in tomato sauce and, of course, haggis (twisted spicy offal). This a good option to try it, because if you don't like it, you will still leave full.

"We managed to check the visas, but we literally didn't have enough 5 minutes to return."

We arrived at the airport 5 hours before departure. The rented cars were left in the parking lot nearby, the keys were put into a special box. We repacked our things, weighed everything, checked in our luggage. Passed the control, became at the beginning of the boarding queue. And they did not fly away. The ticket checker said that he could not let us on board without a visa check, this is an internal Ryanair rule. And where did it have to be done? Downstairs, at the very beginning of the airport. In the next few seconds, we made a big mistake. It was necessary to stop and calmly discuss what to do. But we didn't stop, we ran. Through the entire airport, with things, not knowing exactly where we need to. At such moments, probably, some possibilities and forces of the organism are activated. We managed to check the visas, but literally 5 minutes were not enough for us to return. Later, rewinding this situation over and over again, we found many solutions. Moreover, at other airports it was of fundamental importance for us to ask what should be done. We learned that the visa-check could have been hand-delivered to us by the same employee who checked the tickets. We could drop things and run without them. The flight could have been delayed, but they did not. Even for the sake of 16 people. Of course, we were upset, confused, tired and devastated. But no one went into hysterics. At the airport, at the same visa-check counter, thirteen of us changed tickets for London - Warsaw (goodbye, ordered and paid minibus in Kaunas). At our own expense, we had to buy a ticket to London and find a way to get to Minsk. Miraculously, the right bus route was found directly from Warsaw airport. The money spent on the trip was added another $ 110. The remaining two people flew through Dusseldorf, and one - through Vilnius. We were lucky that there was only one day off left - May 9th. We spent the next day on the road. We haven't slept for about 35 hours and haven't eaten for a long time. But we were happy that we were moving home.

Photo: Julia Pepler, Christophe Vrankenne, Andrew Ridley, Stijn Hoekstra, Daniel Quarg

An increasing number of tourists are choosing to plan their trips on their own, without relying on travel agencies. The beauty of such trips is that the route is independently developed, transport, cities to visit, museums, galleries, castles, hotels or hostels are chosen, rather than a ready-made option.

So you can save a lot, and even not pay for the services of intermediaries. One of the most popular routes now is considered to travel across England, attractions and interesting places which will delight absolutely versatile travelers.

Moving away from the most traditional destination in England - London, although there are many interesting things, you can visit small towns, which will just allow you to learn more about the history of the country, delve into the real life of the British, and not shown to tourists, and see attractions no less interesting than in the capital.

In addition, it should be noted that travel to small cities will be much cheaper than excursions in London.

When you design your own trip to England, you will have to put in a little more effort than when you arrange a tour in a travel agency. You will have to deal with the issues of obtaining a visa, insurance, buying tickets and booking accommodation yourself. With sufficient knowledge of English, this is quite easy.

People visit England for a wide variety of purposes:

An overview of the whole country when traveling in a rented car or even a boat,

Shopping, visiting large shopping centers,

Ecotourism (cycling and overnight in tents),

Visit certain places(For example, royal residences, castles of England, abbeys, Shakespeare's theater, shooting locations of the adventures of Harry Potter, etc.),

Attending traditional regional festivals and various international sporting events.

Accordingly, the choice of transport and the route of travel in England should be based on your own travel goals. It is convenient to use in England by public transport(underground in London, trains to almost every region, comfortable regular buses), own or rented car, bicycle or even practice traveling on foot (hiking).

Traveling in England by coach can be great vacation fun and is considered an economical option. There are many advantages to such a trip:

Routes connect almost all important points in England,

Buses run on schedule, you can plan your trip in minutes,

Travel in buses is very comfortable (they are equipped with a toilet, sockets, for which, however, an adapter is needed, free wi-fi on board),

In regular buses, you can get acquainted with the English mentality, since a lot of Englishmen travel in them.

Those who can hardly tolerate long-distance travel may face the problem of motion sickness. Quite long journeys are best done by train.

The main bus carrier in England is National Express. On its website you can find timetables, prices and routes, as well as book tickets. There are also services "Megabus" and "Megatrain", where you can buy cheap bus or train tickets. You can significantly save money if you immediately purchase round-trip tickets.

When planning a trip by public transport, think in advance about the hotels in which you will have to stay while moving along the chosen route. This will have to be taken care of even at the stage of obtaining a visa, but then you may face a situation when a bus or train arrives in the city quite late.

We'll have to navigate the terrain almost in the dark. Better to print maps in advance or contact a hotel representative.

Features of a car trip across England

If, traveling by train or bus, you can stop only at certain points of arrival, then the car will allow you to call in where it was not planned to go in advance. Paying attention to beautiful view or interesting castle, you can easily turn and look at the wonders of England up close.

If you are planning to travel by your own car, it is worth bringing the car into perfect condition and issuing all the necessary documents allowing crossing the borders. It is better that the car is of European assembly.: In the event of a breakdown, it can be easily repaired at your local car service.

If you plan to rent a car, you need to look through specialized sites in advance, for example, the companies "Enterprise Rent-A-Car", "Alamo Rent-A-Car", "Hertz", Avis Rent-A-Car, OneTwoTrip. The time of arrival, airport, rental period and other data are specified there.

Then the company representative will tell you which stop to arrive from the airport (the terminals of the companies providing the cars are not located directly in the airport building) and explain the rules for using the car. One of them is a fully filled tank when the car is returned to the office.

Car insurance issues need to be decided in advance, but do not forget that in England traffic is left-hand, and you still need to get used to it, so it is better to pay for full insurance.

Some tracks in England are toll, about which you need to find out in advance, otherwise the fines will be quite significant. In big cities, it is better not to try to get to the center, as parking lots are likely to be overcrowded, and fines for wrong parking very large. Fuel prices are also high, so car travel can hardly be classified as economical.

By the way, those who want to get to Europe by car from England, overcoming the English Channel along the Eurotunnel, should also take care of obtaining a Schengen visa. Also, the car rental company must obtain permission to leave England.

Together with the car, you can load into a special wagon passenger train... But if in Europe they practically do not check who comes to them from England, then on the way back they will have to go through careful control.

If you can travel by car almost everywhere, but, of course, do not enter the smallest villages, then a bicycle can provide such an opportunity. It is easy to reach your destination with it and along country roads.

In addition, inland bike trails in England often run very scenic spots. The only problem with cycling in England is the weather.... If you are not embarrassed by frequent rains, changeable weather and dampness, you can safely go on a bike trip.

The whole country from south to north on a bicycle will be able to cover a month and a half or two. Some sections of the route can be crossed by train so that the journey does not drag out: movement with bicycles is allowed here and there are even special places in the carriages for their transportation.

It is better for ecotourism lovers to take care of obtaining a visa in advance., as camping can be complicated in terms of obtaining a visa. If you book hotels along the route along the chosen route by bicycles, there should be no problems with obtaining a visa. Although it is better to seek advice from those who deal with visa issues.

In order not to take a bicycle from home, although many are accustomed only to their iron horse, you can, like a car, rent it on the spot, having learned in advance all the conditions and cost of rent.

There are a lot of bike-worthy routes in England. They are different both in length and complexity. Even a service has been created showing popular cycling destinations in England.

One of the most popular routes is the direction along the Thames., where you can visit Oxford, Windsor, Richmond. You can take a walk around the Cornwall Peninsula. Nature lovers can see the "Lake District". A fairly short route is presented on the Isle of Wight, which will showcase excellent sea views.

Having chosen the purpose of your visit, you can easily choose one of the many types of travel in England. Each of the types of recreation has its own advantages and disadvantages, and therefore you need to carefully think over the route, stops, choose the type of transport and go on your own to get acquainted with the mysterious England.

10 most charming places in Britain:

Nowadays it is difficult to find a person who is not familiar with the good old film "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson" and few who watched this film would not want to personally meet the famous detective. If this is all about you, then you are a potential tourist to England, or to be more precise, to the very heart of England, to London.

Preparing for an independent trip

The main point of visiting any country is travel documents, London is no exception. There are options here - to obtain a visa to London on your own or entrust the solution of this issue to a specially trained person. It should be noted that England is one of the countries to obtain a visa to which, for citizens the former USSR very problematic, especially the first! It is good if you have experience of traveling to other European countries, then your chances will increase many times over.

What documents you need to travel to London can always be found on the official website of the British Embassy. Please note that all documents are carefully checked.

Usually, the first visa is issued for six months, with the possibility of multiple entry and exit. The second and subsequent trips to London and other cities of England, you can confidently organize yourself, but the first is a special conversation. The most likely to be successful in obtaining a first visa is to apply for it through some travel agency that has a high level of accreditation at the British Embassy.

You just choose the appropriate agency, the time of your trip convenient for you, any tour trip to London, pay for the tour from 1000 euros and wait for the results of the document check by the embassy. Then you check into a hotel according to the tour program in London, agree with your companion that you disconnect from the group and the place of the subsequent meeting for the return trip home and ... you are free in a free country!

However, there is a small "but" here - tolerable knowledge of English, at worst German language otherwise you will look like a deaf-mute down in London ...

Features of the trip

And now you are alone among the huge metropolis - London. For a better acquaintance with the city and its inhabitants, it is advisable to use public transport. Preference should be given to the metro, its network is well developed in London, and the metro stations are well signposted, and Londoners are friendly people and will always give you a hint. The main thing is not to run into gasterbayters, they often do not know not only London, but also English.

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When planning your trip, do not forget to decide in advance what you will buy as a gift for loved ones or colleagues. After all, this is also a kind of expense item. For purchases, you need to take money with a margin and not spend it for the time being. And we will guide you in terms of prices.

The Netherlands is the land of tulips. And all visitors want to visit the park of these flowers by all means. But there are other parks in the country that are definitely worthy of your attention. Find out as much as possible about them and it will be easy for you to navigate in the choice of parks to visit.

Photo: flickr.com by Anthony White

What to take with you to England, how to save money on a trip and why you don't need to take a first-aid kit - the ZagraNitsa portal offers a dozen useful tips to help plan perfect trip to Foggy Albion!

Take the most comfortable clothes

Perhaps, it is not worth talking about the fact that it is better to leave smart clothes and high-heeled shoes at home (unless, of course, you are going to attend social events). Comfortable things are appreciated in England: the local rhythm of life does not imply another. As for traveling across the English expanses, comfortable shoes and comfortable clothes that can be easily removed and put on will become your faithful companions: it is worth remembering that the weather is very changeable here. Choose jackets and windbreakers that won't take up much space in your suitcase or backpack. If you plan to set aside time for shopping in the capital, it is better to take things to a minimum at all, otherwise, in addition to the clothes you brought, you will have to look for a place for the purchased ones.

Don't take a huge first aid kit

Many travelers mistakenly believe that you need to take your entire first-aid kit with you to Foggy Albion. But why fill up your suitcase with something you can easily buy in England when needed? Yes, you will not find brilliant green here, but it can be replaced with any other antiseptic, which are abundant in pharmacies. In addition, there is any drug that you are used to in the CIS.

Diana Korotkova:

It is not necessary to take a first-aid kit to England. If necessary, the NHS will make you a temporary registration - just call 111. In addition, there is a physician in pharmacies: he can prescribe an antibiotic if necessary

Book online

Many of us are accustomed to buying tickets locally, whether for the bus or the theater. On the one hand, it seems more convenient: come and purchase a ticket at the box office, where, if necessary, you can consult with the cashier. But in reality, online booking has a ton of benefits. Not only will you not have to queue, you can also save a pound or two. Many art centers, museums and even shipping companies offer significant discounts on purchases advance tickets on the official sites.

Use helpful resources

Don't forget about tax free

Travelers who are planning to spend a significant amount of money on shopping should not forget about the system tax free... It provides for a refund of value added tax when a tourist leaves the country. Thus, you can save from 7 to 22% of the funds spent within three months from the date of purchase.

Diana Korotkova:

Many people go to England for shopping, so tax free is a handy thing. You can get back some of the money spent. And some tourists don't even know about it. It is a pity that it does not apply to restaurants and hotels

Travel by bus

If, while traveling through the cities of England, your priority is to quickly reach your destination, the best option is to buy a train ticket. But if you are planning to save an extra pound, it is worth choosing a bus: the journey will cost you significantly less. For example, if a train ticket from London to Liverpool will cost from £ 30, then a bus ticket will cost from £ 6.

Evgeny Vorobyov:

Traveling around England by bus is less expensive than traveling by train, so this is the best option for your travel if you want to save some money. And if you are traveling with a company, you can take a group train ticket - this will also be very profitable. But the main thing is that the number of people who sit on the train corresponds to that indicated on the ticket, otherwise you can get a fine. Well, to travel around London, of course, you need to purchase an Oyster card

Consider all housing options

It should be remembered that hotels are not always the best option for living. Sometimes hostels have to offer Better conditions than many hotels with two or three stars. In addition, almost all hostels offer accommodation in single or double rooms, so you don't have to share a room with unfamiliar neighbors. Moreover, you can find a completely free accommodation option if you use hospitality networks. Check out Bewelcome or CouchSurfing where you can find locals who are happy to offer accommodations.

Take only the essentials with you

Many will tell you: on a trip you should take a lot of necessary things with you. But in reality, it turns out that all this will just lie in your suitcase. If you are not riding uninhabited island, you can buy everything you need in any city. To save yourself the hassle, bring a 3-pin plug adapter with you. But even if you forget this seemingly important item, you can still purchase it already in England.

Alexander:

The umbrella can be purchased from Poundstretcher for £ 2.99. Raincoat at Primark - less than £ 10. The adapter can be found for £ 1 at Poundworld. The most important thing to take is money and a good mood!

Rent a car

During a short trip, a great option for getting around the city and beyond is renting a car. A day of rental in London will cost you from 35 pounds.

Alexander:

If I were to come to England for a few days, I would rent a car. It's cheaper, and you can see many sights. Parking near supermarkets is usually free for 1.5 to 3 hours, even in large cities... If I need to find parking, I use the JustPark and Parkopedia apps

Connect mobile Internet

Since you will not always be able to find free or even paid Wi-Fi, it is worth taking care of such a necessary thing as Mobile Internet... After all, you probably need to look at the route on the Web and add a photo to Instagram! You can choose the operator Giffgaff: for 10 pounds you get 2 gigabytes of Internet, 100 minutes for calls and free SMS messages.

We wish you successful travels!