Visiting the U.K., Without Renting a Car

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**This post was updated in April, 2019.

It is easy and (relatively) reasonably priced to see much of England and Scotland relying solely on public transit from the major cities. 

Many first-time tourists overspend on private day tours or rent expensive rental cars, mistakenly believing that is the only way to see disparate sites through England and Scotland. While private day tours may sound appealing, they allow for less freedom than you'd expect and, if you're anything like me, you may end up stuck with a guide providing more commentary than you'd actually enjoy.

Also, if the best part of a day trip is visiting the local pub (which it just clearly is), I'd rather do this without someone I don't know waiting in the car. Renting a car in foreign countries is also, of course, expensive, and driving with different rules of the road is complicated, to say the least.

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Travel gin and tonic

Money saving tip:

It is often significantly cheaper to buy your train tickets in advance.  Rail Europe is my usual choice. That said, sometimes the convenience of being able to change your plans or a desire to take a spur-of-the-moment trip, makes the extra expense worth it! Be sure to check into ticket prices for your awareness, so you don't have an unpleasant surprise at the station.

Restrooms on the trains:

There are WC on essentially all light-rail trains (not on the Tube) and they are the nicest of any I've been on. I've only been on one that had run out of paper (one - ever!!). The stations also generally have free WC, and more so recently in the large stations, though some of the more remote ones aren't monitored often. ​

Eating and drinking on trains:

What will likely be surprising for my American friends is that you can drink on trains in the U.K. (after 10 AM - don't be ridiculous). You can even bring your own booze onto the train (they sell small, safely packaged booze in the train station shop, for this purpose). Additionally, many of the trains will have a bar and food sales area, or a cart that comes through. But why risk it - bring supplies on board with you, just to be safe!

Starting your trip of right with the Heathrow Express:

When you start off your trip, don't forget that the Heathrow Express is undoubtedly the easiest way to get from Heathrow to central London. Buy your tickets, online, in advance (here), and hop on the direct train, which takes you straight to Paddington Station. From there, you can either hop on the tube, or just take a cab to your hotel. You'll save yourself so much hassle and stress - it's worth every penny.

Top 10 U.K. day trips accessible solely on public transit:​​

• London to Stamford, a lovely and prosperous town in Lincolnshire, far off the beaten tourist path (NOTE you even can walk/or very quickly bus to Burghley House from town. For more about visiting Stamford : here's the full blog post)

Burghley House, Stamford

• London to Windsor, home to Windsor Castle, which hosts the Queen every weekend and two royal weddings in 2018. Incredibly close to London, the pristine town could easily be visited only as a half-day from London. The tour of the Castle alone is worth the journey. If you want to spend a bit more time, Eton - the bastion of the English "public" school system, is walkable.

Windsor Castle

• Edinburgh to Inverness, the trip itself is worth the journey, gorgeous scenery, and the Highlands are incredible. If you're a fan of Outlander, Braveheart, or Outlaw King, you will not be disappointed! Check out the Full blog post for all the details!

Loch Ness

• London to Oxford, home to one of the greatest universities in the world, and a lovely town in its own right. Oxford is one of the cities that people most commonly visit via group tour from London - however, it's a direct train journey and easily walkable from the train station to the city and the school.

Radcliffe Camera, Oxford

• Edinburgh to St. Andrews - Not just for golfers, this historic city is home to yet another incredible university, alma mater of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with a number of incredible medieval ruins (NOTE: the train takes you to Leuchars Rail Station and you must take a bus or cab to St. Andrews. We did both and both are fine - it's not far, so a cab is not an extravagance. Check out the Full blog post).

St. Andrews Cathedral Ruins

• London to Bath, the perfect Regency city and setting of so many of Jane Austen's greatest works. The trip will take you due West, through the lovely English countryside. Bath was a largely planned town, so it's perfectly orchestrated and easily walkable. For more: check out the full post.

Bath Abbey

• Edinburgh to Stirling: Another city off the beaten tourist path, Stirling is a charming town, home to the Wallace Monument and the stunning Stirling Castle - check out the full blog post for more information!

View of the Wallace Monument from Stirling Castle

• London to Hampton Court, Henry VIII's beloved palace (pictured below) is actually not far from Windsor. It can be a half day in its own right, or combined with Windsor for a full day (though it ends up being a bit of a strange train route, sending you through Clapham Junction twice).

Hampton Court Palace

• London to Canterbury, a lovely town - home to the head of the Anglican church, Canterbury Cathedral, is an easy half-day from London. The Cathedral is stunning and the historic town is just as welcoming to visitors as it has been for thousands of years! Check out the full post for more details.

Canterbury Cathedral

• London to Winchester, a beautiful, prosperous cathedral town, with more than enough to keep you occupied for a day. It's one of my favorite cities in England - for more information, check out the full blog post.

Winchester Cathedral

Happy Travels!!​​ Consider checking out Rick Steves' helpful tips in his UK guidebook - a must-have for any traveler! 

You might also like...

• What to Wear in London​​
• Packing for a 10-day trip to Europe
• Planning a trip to Europe

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