Before I explain to you how to travel in the UK, I would like to tell you a little bit of my background in the UK. Last year, I was on an assignment to work in the UK for 3 months during Mid April to Mid July. Working abroad is different from studying aboard. I worked hard on the weekday and traveled even harder on the weekend!! I lived and traveled alone in the UK. Almost all of my trips are one day trip. I planned all the trips by myself, so I still remember and be able to tell the story to you guys.

I would like to start my UK blog with the below useful tips about how to travel in the UK and in which way you can save your budget.

Train is the easiest and convenient way to travel across the town. Travel by train is cheap, safe, and on time. Most train stations are in the middle of each town.We can go to the city center easily from the train station. Official website for booking and checking the train schedule is //www.nationalrail.co.uk. Each trains and train stations in the UK are operated by private companies such as Virgin, London Midland, First Great Western, and Chiltern Railways. Each private companies separate their duty by responsible for only train stations in their responsible route/regions.However, there is no need to worry about this. The website above is put together all train schedule of every train companies. You just simply put your destination, date, and time, and then all train time will come up. There may be more than one company operate in the same route but they have different time duration.The train which takes more time to travel has the cheaper ticket price compared with the train which takes shorter time.

There are two ways to buy the train ticket. (1) By online through the website above and (2) By counter

The earlier you buy the ticket, the cheaper price you get. For those who already stayed in the UK may be easier to plan the trip than those who come to the UK from overseas.There are many types of ticket such as Advance ticket (Fix date and time but has the cheapest price), Anytime ticket (flexible date and time but has the most expensive price), and Off peak ticket (The lower price for the route which operate during the off peak period). Some route you can book the seat in advance, but in some route you cannot book. You have to go early in order to get the seat.

Railcard is the solution I used to get a discount for my train ticket. Railcard can be separated into many categories such as 16-25 railcard which suitable for student or those who are not over 25-year old, Senior railcard, Two Together railcard, Family and friends railcard, etc. Check this website //www.railcard.co.uk for more details. Choose the type of railcard that suite you. At that time, I applied for the 16-25 railcard. 

There is a cost for applying for the railcard. For example, the fee for 1 year 16-25 railcard is 30 Pounds but you can use the railcard to reduce 1/3 of the ticket price. You may plan your schedule and see whether applying for railcard is worth or not.

How to apply for railcard. (1) by Online. You have to enter your data and upload your picture in their website. In just a couple of days, the railcard will be sent by mail to you. This method is suitable for those who have the mail address in the UK. (2) by counter. This method you need to have your own photo with you.

This card is issued only for foreigner. You have to buy Britrail card through agency in your home country before going to the UK. There are many types of Britrail card such as consecutive or flexible, cover only England or cover England and Scotland and Wales.

all UK blogs  

1. เรื่องน่ารู้ก่อนเที่ยวอังกฤษ (Thingsyou need to know before going to the UK) here

2. Warwick & Stratford upon Avon (ตามรอยShakespeare) here

3. Oxford here

4. Liverpool here

5. London part 1 part 2 part 3

6. Cardiff here

7. Bourton-on-the-Water here

8. Edinburgh here