Air
Heathrow International Airport
ocated 24km or 15 miles west of central London. Airport information:
telephone: (0870) 000 0123
Website:www.baa.com/main/airports/heathrow
The airport has three terminals grouped together in the airport’s
central area. The fourth terminal is a short distance from the main
complex. Terminal five is under construction.
Major
airlines
Direct scheduled flights are provided by the national carrier, British
Airways (telephone: (0845) 773 377 or (0845) 779 9977; website:
www.british-airways.com).
British Airways operates shuttle services to Belfast, Edinburgh,
Glasgow and Manchester amongst other cities. Other internal flight
operators include: Aer Lingus (EI), bmi british midland (BD), British
European (JY), EasyJet (U2), KLM UK (UK) and Ryanair (FR).
Airport facilities
Banks and currency exchange in all terminals. ATMs
in all terminals; left luggage in all terminals; post office; restaurants,
bars, cafes and other eating places in all terminals; babycare rooms
in all terminals; St George’s Chapel, opposite entrance to
T2 car park (telephone: (020) 8745 4261); duty-free in all terminals;
gift/general shops in all terminals; Travel Care Unit in Queen’s
Building (telephone: (020) 8745 7495, open Mon-Sat 09:30-16:30).
The Business Centre Heathrow (telephone: (020) 8759 2434, next to
T2 emergency medical service); hotel reservation service in all
terminals; facilities for the disabled include wheelchairs, telephones,
toilets, special parking bays in short-term car park and coach link
to long-term car park.
Business
facilities
The Business Centre Heathrow (telephone: (020) 8759 2434, next to
T2 emergency medical service).
Arrival/departure tax>: is included
in the airline ticket.
Underground
The airport is connected to the entire Greater London area by the
underground railway network. Stations for Heathrow Terminals 1,
2, 3 and 4 are on the Piccadilly Line. Travel time to the West End
is 47 minutes, and to the mainline stations King’s Cross and
St Pancras 55 minutes. All other mainline stations can be reached
with one change of train in central London. Services run Monday-Saturday
05:11-23:49, and Sundays 05:57-23:30. 24-hour information on the
London Regional Transport network telephone (020) 7222 1234.
Train
The Heathrow
Express (telephone: (0845) 600 1515) is a fast service from
London Paddington to Heathrow. Trains depart every 15 minutes (travel
time is 15 minutes). There is a Railair (telephone: (08705) 747
777) coach, with express services connecting Heathrow with trains
at Reading and Woking stations. Details are available in each terminal.
Transport to the city
Coach
London Transport runs Airbuses, an express service between Heathrow
and central London. Airbuses call at all terminals and have space
for passengers and baggage. There are also wheelchair facilities.
Speedlink Airport Services’ Jetlink rus every 30 minutes (almost
24 hours a day) to Gatwick (travel time about 1 hour 10 minutes).
The service now runs to Stansted airport twice every 2 hours (travel
time about 1 hour 25 minutes).
London Transport’s 726 bus runs to Kingston, Sutton, Croydon
and Bromley. For information, dial (08705) 747 777. National Express
(telephone: (08705) 808 080) has direct Rapide coach services from
Heathrow to most parts of the UK. Speedlink luxury coaches connect
Heathrow with Gatwick (travel time about 1 hour). Coaches depart
every 30 minutes, operating 04:40-00:40. For information on schedules,
online booking and fares for Airbus, Speedlink, Jetlink and National
Express services, visit GoByCoach.
Local bus
London
Transport (telephone: (020) 7941 4500) services 81, 105, 111,
140, 222, 285, 555, 556, 557, 726, A10, H30, N105, N140, N285, U3,
and its night bus N9 runs from Heathrow Central bus station to various
parts of London. The Oxford Bus Company (telephone: (01865) 785
410) runs the Oxford Express service between Heathrow and Oxford
at half-hourly intervals during the day and 2-hourly intervals throughout
the night.
Note
London Transport Travelcheck (telephone: (020) 7222 1234) has
up-to-the-minute information on how London services are running.
Taxi
For hire outside each airport terminal. Each terminal has its
own taxi rank and the information desk can provide an indication
of fares.
Car hire
Europcar, Avis, Hertz and National self-drive and chauffeur-driven
cars can be hired from desks in each airport terminal. To central
London drive time can take 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Private car
Heathrow, 38km or 24 miles from central London, can be reached
either through the tunnel of the M4 motorway spur or from the
A4 (Bath) road. It is also close to the M25 orbital motorway,
making trips to virtually all parts of the country relatively
simple.
Gatwick (LGW) Airport
Located 46km or 28 miles south of central London. Airport information:
telephone: (0870) 000 2468;
website: www.baa.com/main/airports/gatwick.
Facilities
Banks/ currency exchange, ATMs, restaurants, shops, left luggage,
duty-free shops, chapel, babycare rooms, medical room and facilities
for the disabled; all facilities are available 24 hours. There
is an executive lounge in the South Terminal, open daily 06:00-21:00
(telephone: (01293) 502 400).
Train
Gatwick
Express (telephone: (08705) 301 530) runs a nonstop service
from Victoria Station at 15-minute intervals from 04:30-00:30
and at hourly intervals daily 01:35-04:35 (travel time is 30 minutes).
Passengers travelling on American Airlines, British Airways and
GB Airways can check in at Victoria Station. There are also services
to Gatwick from London Bridge Station (travel time – 30
minutes).
Coach
Flightline to Victoria Coach Station and Stansted Airport runs
hourly 04:15-22:40 (travel time to Victoria about 1 hour 25 minutes).
Jetlink (telephone: (08705) 747 777) to Heathrow runs every 30
minutes during most of the day and night (travel time about 1
hour 10 minutes), with extensions to Luton Airport every hour
and to Stansted Airport every 2 hours. The service to Heathrow
runs every hour until 00:05. Contact GoByCoach
for information on schedules, online bookings and and fares for
Flightlink, Jetlink and National Express services.
Taxi
Outside the terminal (travel time to central London is about 1
hour; telephone: (01293) 502 808; fax: (01293) 569 790).
Car hire
Europcar, Avis, Hertz and National self-drive and chauffeur-driven
cars can be hired from desks in the arrivals hall.
Private car
Gatwick can be reached from London on the A23/M23. It is also
near the M25 orbital motorway, linking all main routes from London.
There are plenty of parking facilities for short and long stays.
London City Airport (LCY)
Located 10km or 6 miles east of the City of London. Airport information:
telephone: (020) 7646 0088; web site: www.londoncityairport.com.
This airport is locate at the Royal Docks in the London Borough
of Newham.
London City Airport provides frequent scheduled air services.
Scheduled airlines include Air France, Aer Lingus, British European,
KLM UK, Lufthansa, Luxair, Swiss and VLM. Check-in time is usually
about 10 minutes.
Facilities
Duty-free shops, bank, car hire, bureaux de change and ATMs, left
luggage, information desk, restaurant and bars, newsagent and
bookstore, and business centre with meeting rooms and conference
facilities for up to 80 persons.
Train/Underground
Silvertown Station, on the Silverlink Metro line, is 328m or 300
yards from the airport.
Coach/Bus
A shuttle bus runs every 10 minutes from the terminal to Canary
Wharf (Docklands Light Railway); Canning Town (London Underground,
Docklands Light Railway and the Silverlink Metro) and Liverpool
Street Station (London Underground and mainline trains to the
east of England).
Taxi
Available; may be booked in-flight.
Car hire
Avis, Europcar (telephone: (08456) 005 000) and Hertz.
Private car
The airport can be reached from the City via Commercial Road/East
India Dock Road (A13) over the Canning Town Flyover, turning right
into Prince Regent Lane, or via Tower Hill along The Highway (A1203)
and Silvertown Way (travel time is about 30 minutes); from the
M25 via the M11 and North Circular (A406) or the A13.
Stansted (STN) Airport
Located 48km or 30 miles northeast of central London. Airport information:
telephone: (08700) 000 303;
Facilities
Information desk, lounge, lost property, bureaux de change, ATMs,
restaurants and cafes/bars, nursing mothers’ room, emergency
medical service, duty-free shops, fax and photocopying facilities,
wheelchairs and toilets for the disabled.
Train
The Stansted
Express runs throughout the day (04:30-00:30) from London
Liverpool Street to Stansted (telephone: (01223) 453 606). Services
run every 15 minutes (08:00-15:45) and every 30 minutes, evenings
and Saturdays (travel time is about 41 minutes).
Coach
Colchester Coach Link (telephone: (08457) 484 950) runs services
to Stansted from Dunmow, Bradwell and Colchester, daily 05:25-20:10.
Airbus (telephone: (08705) 747 777) connects Stansted with London
Victoria Coach Station. Jetlink (telephone: (08705) 747 777) runs
services every 2 hours, between Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton and Stansted.
Jetlink also provides services to Braintree, Cambridge, Ipswich,
Milton Keynes, Norwich and Oxford, amongst others. Flightlink
coaches operate to Gatwick Airport via Victoria Coach Station
in London. Taxi: To central London takes about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Car hire
Hired from desks in the terminal building. For details, contact
Avis, Europcar, Hertz (telephone: (01279) 680 154) or National.
For air taxis/business aviation services, contact Artac Air Chartering
Service (telephone: (01376) 566 000).
Private car
The airport is easily accessible by road on M25/M11 from London.
The Midlands and the North are reached via the A1, A604 and M11.
Long - and short-term parking space is available.
Luton (LTN)
Located 51km or 32 miles northwest of London. Airport information:
telephone: (01582) 405 100; web site: www.london-luton.com.
Facilities
Bureaux de change, ATMs, shops, restaurants and bar/cafes, nursing
mothers’ room, free play area (2 to 8 years) in departure
lounge, duty-free shop, chapel, medical services and facilities
for the disabled – wheelchairs, toilets and ambulift.
Train
Access to Luton Airport is via Luton Airport Parkway station.
A courtesy shuttle service runs between the station and airport
terminal. Luton is on the Thameslink line which goes from Bedford
via London (stopping at King’s Cross and London Bridge stations)
and Gatwick Airport to Brighton.
Coach
National Express (telephone: (08705) 808 080) with daily services
to Birmingham and Manchester. Services also run to most other
parts of the UK. Jetlink is a direct (limited stops) service connecting
Stansted Airport with Luton, Heathrow and Gatwick, operates hourly
from Luton.
Local bus
Buses (telephone: (08706) 082 608) from the airport to Luton bus
and rail stations, with services during the day, and hourly evening
services (Monday-Saturday).
Taxi
From the rank immediately outside the terminal building.
Car hire
Budget, Avis, Europcar, Hertz and National Car Rental have desks
at the airport.
Private car
The airport is reached on the M1 exiting at Junction 10. Access
to the airport from the east is via the A505 dual carriageway
from Hitchin. The M25 connects all motorways and the airport can
be accessed from the East, South and West via M25, M4, M11 and
M23.
Birmingham (BHX) Airport
Located 13km or 8 miles southeast of the city centre. Airport
information: telephone: (0870) 733 5511; web site: www.bhx.co.uk.
Facilities
Bank and exchange services, ATMs, cafes and restaurants, duty-free
shops, facilities for the disabled, medical centre, nursing mothers’
room, shops, viewing gallery and left-luggage office.
Train
The terminal is linked to Birmingham International Station and
the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) by the Air Rail Link courtesy
bus service. Birmingham International is linked to the Intercity
network and regional lines and has a fast service to London Euston
every 30 minutes (travel time is about 1 hour 20 minutes).
Coach/Bus
Travel West Midlands runs local services into the suburbs. An
Airbus service from the airport to the NEC and various locations
around the city centre, operates every 30 minutes (05:00-21:00).
Local bus
Service 900 runs to the city centre Monday to Sunday every 20
minutes from 03:22-00:31.
Taxi
Outside the Eurohub Terminal (travel time to city centre is about
25 minutes).
Car hire
Budget, Avis, Europcar, Hertz and National Car Rental have offices
at the airport.
Private car
M1, M5, M6, M40 and M42 are the main routes to Birmingham. The
airport is signposted from the city. There is open-air parking
(over 8000 spaces) at the airport.
Manchester (MAN) Airport
Located 16km or 10 miles southwest of the city centre. Airport
information: telephone : (0161) 489 3000;
web site: www.manchesterairport.co.uk.
Facilities
Restaurants/cafes, duty-free shops, baby care and play area, shops,
banking, bureaux de change, ATMs, medical centre, post office,
conference and banqueting facilities for up to 400 people and
full facilities for the disabled.
Train
Manchester Airport station connects the airport to Manchester
city centre, with trains departing Monday-Saturday every 15 minutes
and every 20 minutes on Sunday (travel time is about 20 minutes).
Coach/Bus
National Express (telephone: (08705) 808 080) with daily services
to most parts of the UK including Scotland. Skyline buses 43A
and 105 operate throughout the week from villages to Piccadilly
rail station and the city centre.
Taxi
Situated outside or adjacent to Terminals 1, 2 and 3 (travel time
to the city centre is about 25 minutes).
Car hire
Budget, Avis, Europcar, Hertz, National Car Rental and Sixt have
booking offices in Terminals 1, 2 and 3.
Private car
The airport is at the heart of the country’s motorway network
and a constructed spur from the M56 runs directly into the terminal
building. Road connections serve Greater Manchester, Merseyside,
Lancashire, Cheshire, the Midlands and West and South Yorkshire.
There is car parking space within the airport.
Newcastle (NCL) Airport
Located 8km or 5 miles northwest of the city centre. Airport
information: telephone: (0191) 286 0966; web site: www.newcastleairport.com.
Facilities
Bureaux de change, bank, ATMs, restaurant, bars, shops, duty-free
shop, left luggage, baby care and play area, emergency medical
services and facilities for the disabled.
Metro
The Tyneside Metro Rapid Transport system links the whole of the
Newcastle area with the airport. It runs to Newcastle city centre,
across the River Tyne to Gateshead and South Shields and to Tynemouth
and the coast. For information, call Traveline (Public Transport
Information; telephone: (0870) 608 2608).
Train
The nearest railway station is Newcastle Central, 11km or 7 miles
from the airport, linked by buses operated by Busways, which run
Monday through Saturday every 30 minutes, and every hour on Sunday.
For further information, contact National Rail Enquiries (telephone:
(08457) 484 950).
Coach
National Express and Scottish Citylink has services to the airport
from most major cities in Scotland and the North of England and
Midlands.
Local bus
Services 76, 76A, 77, 77A, 78, 78E, 79 and 79A operate from Eldon
Square bus concourse, in the centre of Newcastle. These stop on
the main road at the airport entrance (travel time is about 20
minutes). Public Transport Information (telephone: (0870) 608
2608).
Taxi
A taxi rank is outside the railway station, and at the Haymarket
near the Eldon Square bus concourse in Newcastle city centre (travel
time to city centre – 15 to 20 minutes). Only licensed taxi
cabs are allowed to pick up at the airport.
Car hire
Avis (telephone: (0191) 214 0116), Europcar (telephone: (0191)
286 5070), Hertz (telephone: (0191) 286 6748) and National (telephone:
(0191) 214 5222) self-drive agents are located at the airport.
Private car
The airport is reached from the south by the A1(M) north, then
the A696 Jedburgh trunk road, and from the north by the A1 south,
then the A696 Jedburgh trunk road. Long- and short-term parking
facilities are available (advance booking recommended during busy
periods).
Sea
There are many ports with ferry connections between England and
mainland Europe, Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Wight,
the Channel Isles and the Isle of Man.
Rail
The UK is served by an excellent network of railways (16,500km
or 10,250 miles in total). Intercity lines has fast services between
London and major cities, and there are services to the southeast
and to major cities in the Midlands, the north and south Wales
and between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Rail passes
There are many fares, and visitors using trains may like to consider
one of the all-line Britrail range of passes with unlimited travel.
This is available to visitors from overseas and is not available
in the UK; tickets must be purchased in their home country, although
tickets can be collected in the UK. Further details from Network
Rail Group. For more information about UK train services and
fares, contact National
Rail Enquiries (telephone: (08457) 484 950). InterRail cards
are valid; holders may be entitled to discounts on ferry fares.
Road
England is served by a good network of motorways and trunk roads
connecting all the main cities and towns.
The main motorways are:
M1: London, Luton, Leicester, Sheffield, Leeds. M2/A2: London
to Dover. M3: London to Winchester. M4: London, Reading, Bristol,
Newport, Cardiff, Swansea. M5: Birmingham, Gloucester, Bristol,
Exeter. M6: Coventry, Birmingham, Stoke, Warrington (connecting
with the M62 for Liverpool and Manchester), Preston (connecting
with the M55 for Blackpool), Morecambe, Carlisle. M11: London
to Cambridge. M20/A20: London to Folkestone. M25: London orbital.
M40: London to Birmingham. M62: Liverpool, Warrington, Manchester,
Huddersfield, Leeds, Hull. The main trunk roads are: A1/A1(M)
(motorway in parts): London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Darlington,
Newcastle, Edinburgh. A3: London, Guildford, Portsmouth. A5: London,
St Albans, Nuneaton, Birmingham area, Shrewsbury, across inland
north Wales to Holyhead. A6: London, Bedford, Leicester, Manchester.
A11: London to Norwich. A12: London, Ipswich, Great Yarmouth.
A23: London to Brighton. A30: London, Basingstoke, Yeovil, Exeter,
Penzance. A40: London, Oxford (M40), Gloucester, Cheltenham, across
inland south Wales to Fishguard.
Distances from London (by road)
• Birmingham 169km or 105 miles
• Manchester 299km or 186 miles
• Liverpool 325km or 202 miles
• Exeter 278km or 173 miles
• Penzance 452km or 281 miles
• Bristol 185km or 115 miles
• Carlisle 484km or 301 miles
• Newcastle 441km or 274 miles
• Sheffield 257km or 160 miles
• York 311km or 193 miles
• Cambridge 89km or 55 miles
• Southampton 124km or 77 miles
• Dover 114km or 71 miles
• Oxford 92km or 57 miles
• Norwich 182km or 113 miles
• Portsmouth 113km or 70 miles
• Harwich 122km or 76 miles
Coach
Many companies offer express and stopping services throughout
England and the rest of the UK. National
Express (telephone: (08705) 808 080) provides nationwide coach
information. The head office is at 4 Vicarage Road, Edgbaston,
Birmingham B15 3ES (telephone: (08705) 808080; fax: (0121) 456
1397).
Bicycle hire
Ask for a Tourist Board leaflet.
Traffic regulations
Traffic drives on the left. Speed limits are 30mph or 48kph in
urban areas, 70mph or 113kph on motorways and dual carriageways,
elsewhere 50mph or 80kph or 60mph/97kph as marked. Petrol is graded
in a star system: 2-star (90 octane) and 4-star (97 octane). Unleaded
petrol is also available at all petrol stations and is lower in
price than leaded petrol. Seatbelts must be worn by the driver
and front seat passenger. Where rear seat belts have been fitted
they must also be used.
Documentation
National driving licences are valid for 1 year. Drivers need Third
Party insurance and vehicle registration documents.
Automobile associations
The AA and RAC can provide a full range of services to UK members
touring the UK. These organisations can also help people who are
travelling from abroad with maps, tourist information and specially
marked routes to major events or places of interest.
Urban transport in London
The Underground - The Tube
London has a comprehensive metro service known as the ‘Underground’
or the ‘tube’. The tube is the oldest and one of the
most extensive underground networks in the world. There are 13
lines, including the Docklands Light Railway, and the Central
and the Metropolitan – extend well into the surrounding
suburbs. Each line has its own colour on the network map. Some
operate certain sections during peak hours and some stations close
altogether in the evenings or at weekends.
All of the railway terminus stations connect with at least one
Underground line, with the exception of Fenchurch Street. Travel
discounts are available. The 1-day, weekend or weekly Travelcard
offers unlimited travel on bus, Underground and overground rail
services in one or more zones; it is one of the best methods for
visitors to travel throughout London. Monthly and annual Travelcards
require a passport-size photograph. For 24-hour enquiries on bus
and underground travel, contact London
Transport (telephone: (020) 7222 1234). For enquiries about
rail services, contact National Rail Enquiries (telephone: (08457)
484 950).
Bus
London is served by an excellent network of buses of about 300
routes, although recent policy has been to cut some of the lesser-used
services. Some operate only partial routes at specific times or
may discontinue service in the evenings or at weekends.
Taxi/Car hire
Black cabs can be hailed in the street or hired by phone. Fares
are metered but surcharges are levied for extra passengers, large
amounts of luggage, travelling at night, and on Sundays or public
holidays. Over 3000 new black cabs have facilities for wheelchair
passengers. Mini-cabs and cars for hire are also available; numbers
are listed in the Yellow Pages telephone directory.
River transport
Leisure and commuter services on the River Thames are run by a
variety of private companies. Collins River Enterprises (telephone:
020 7977 6892), operates a commuter service between Canary Wharf
and Savoy Pier, and Thames
Clippers. The main commuter service is between Chelsea Harbour
and Embankment. At weekends, there are many cruises and pleasure
trips. For further information, contact London
Travel Information (telephone: (020) 7941 4500). |
