Onward Travel

You should receive instructions from your place of study on how to get your destination before you leave, which is also the easiest way of travel planning. If you arrange your onward travel with your travel agent when you book your flight, your agent should be able to give you instructions for the next stage of your journey.

Since all of the Burmese international students will travel to UK via air, you are likely to arrive at Gatwick, Heathrow, London City, Luton or Stansted airports all of which are close to London or the South-East of England. But in case you are studying else where, you might as well arrange your arrival to be at a destination airport closer to your place of study. There are many airports throughout the UK, most of which has excellent connections through Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, London or Paris.

You can check out your institution’s website for onward travel details and also the British Tourist Authority should be able to provide travel information if they are contacted well ahead of the time. Visit the website visitbritain for more details.

If you have not already arranged onward travel from the airport, the general information desk at the airport will advise you on the best way to travel to your destination.  There are also commercial information desks where you can find information abut onward travel.  

Some places of study send a staff member to meet new international students at the airport or local train station.  If they offer this service they should have sent details in your information pack.  You may need to use a telephone to contact your place of study.

The Underground (Tube)

At Heathrow airport there are signs showing the way to the Underground (none of the other London airports have Underground access).  Before buying a ticket you should look at one of the large Underground maps to check your route.

Learning your lines

The Underground has 12 different lines, each shown in a different colour. You can find the map in the ticket hall at each Underground station, and usually on the platforms as well. Sections of the map are also displayed in the carriages of the Underground trains. Travelling on the Underground is the quickest way to get around London and is the best way to get to London’s mainline stations for trains to take you to your place of study.

Planning your route

Before you begin, it helps to know which line you are starting on and on which line your destination can be found. If they are on different lines, look at the map to see where the two lines cross, and note the name of the station where they meet and that's where you have to change trains.(If the two lines do not cross, keep looking until you find a third line that crosses both of the other two.Then you need to change train twice.)

Buying a ticket

You can buy a ticket from one of the automatic machines or the ticket office. Either way, you need to know the name of the station you are going to. You also need to know whether you want a single or two-way ticket.

Fares are based on the zone system. The more zones you are travelling through, the more expensive your fare becomes. Depending how far you are travelling and how many journeys you may need to take, it may be cheaper to buy one-day Travelcard, which gives you unlimited travel on all London Underground and bus services the day you buy it. The card will cover for you to travel all six zones, after 9:30 A.M. on week-days, all day on Saturdays and Sundays.

Entering the System

At most stations, you must pass through an automatic gate. Put your ticket into the slot, which is located on your right side. When the gate opens, passes through. As you pass through, your ticket will pop out from another slot on the top. Pull out the ticket and take it with you since you need it till the end of your journey. If you have a baggage with you, you can go through the special gate where you can pass your baggage through more easily.

Leaving the System

At most stations, you must pass through the automatic gate again to leave the station. Put your return ticket in the slot as before. If you bought a return ticket or a travel card, your ticket will pop for you to collect again so that you can use it later.

Find out more about the London Underground and about other transport options in London.

Travelling by train

The network of train service in the UK is extensive and well used, ranging from local lines to fast intercity routes. Intercity train travels between major towns and cities. There are train services from all of the London airports into central London and from many of the regional airports such as Birmingham, Manchester and Newcastle, to their city centres. If the city centre is not your final destination, it is possible to make connections through the city centre stations to any part of the UK and from certain airports, there are also direct trains to other parts of the country.

If you are arriving in London and travelling onwards, you will probably need to change stations as London has seven stations, each for a different part of the country. The London stations are all connected by the Underground services and by bus, but you should allow plenty of time to cross London and check your route carefully.

Train travel in the UK can be more expensive than other forms of travel, but if you book in advance you often get some very cheap fares. As a student you may also be entitled to student or youth discounts, so make sure you get the information you need before booking and paying for a ticket.

Further information

Information on train timetables
Information on discount fares
Information about the National rail network and links

Buses and coaches

Coaches and buses are the most convenient and inexpensive way to travel within UK. At all major UK airports, there are large bus and coach stations with direct or connecting services to most cities and towns throughout UK. If you are planning on travelling by coach, it is best to book them in advance, since they are very popular.

The A2 Airbus runs from Heathrow airport through central London to Euston and King's Cross railway stations and is a cheap and convenient way of getting into the city.

Coaches are very inexpensive and the airport to city centre services can often save time and stress compared with an equivalent rail journey.

However, if you do choose to travel by coach for a long journey (i.e. over 3-4 hours), rest stops are usually scheduled in on the way so you can stretch your legs, or buy something to eat.

Find out more on details of airport links and fares.

You can also check out the Information on coach travel in the UK with National Express and other UK coach companies.

Taxis

Whether travelling to London from Heathrow or Gatwick airports or the Channel ports, travelling into centralLondon by taxi is very expensive. If you must take a taxi, ask the driver for a rough idea of what the fare will be before you start and, for your own safety, make sure that you are using a licensed taxi.

The taxi that you will find on the ranks at airports and railway stations are licensed but if someone approaches you in the arrival hall with an offer of taxi, they are unlikely to be licensed.

Travel by air

Surprisingly, plane travel can sometimes be quite cheap. If you are studying in a major city outside London (such as Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, or Edinburgh) the best way to get there is by air. You can book your luggage right through from Yangon (no need to mess about with heavy bags at Heathrow airport), and it will generally be much quicker than travelling by coach or by train.