Travel by Train in the U.K.

In the mid-1800s, railways were everywhere, zigzagging across Britain. It brought modernity to rural areas and news of the cities to far-flung locales. And it allowed people to travel quickly, comfortably and affordably across the country. While some miles of tracks were decommissioned after car and road travel became common, the British rail system is still a great way to travel.

There are a few regional carriers, but they are all tracked under the umbrella of National Rail. The site helps millions of travelers each year find schedules, transfers and up-to-the-minute delays and information. It’s simple to use and incredibly accurate.

For mapping out your route and destinations, start with Visit Britain. Each region — England, Scotland, Wales and London — has its own site as well but start with the entire island to get an overview. They have partnered with BritRail to create flexible passes, specifically for tourists. These fares are not available to U.K. citizens.

If you’re flying in or out of London’s Heathrow or Gatwick airports, definitely consider including that in your pass option. It is a hassle to travel overland to either and is expensive to purchase a single fare to or from.

Traveling to continental Europe via the train is now incredibly easy. Trains bound for France and beyond leave King’s Cross/St. Pancras station. The trip to Paris is barely more than two hours and is run by the EuroStar company. These tickets are separate from any of the rail passes you might buy, so be careful when purchasing.

Most trains have outlets for getting some work done on your laptop and some even offer free WiFi. Whether on a small regional carrier or the high-speed train bound for Europe, travel by rail is comfortable and easy.