Bath

This city in the south west county of Somerset is famed for its Georgian architecture, Roman Baths, Jane Austen Centre and the nearby Stonehenge - get to Bath in 90 minutes by train from London Paddington or 2 hours 35 minutes by coach from Victoria Coach Station

 

Brighton

This beachfront city is known for the iconic Brighton Palace Pier, streets of colourful independent shops, and vibrant nightlife with a huge LGBTQIA+ scene - get to Brighton in under 1 hour by train from London Victoria or in 1 hour 25 minutes by coach from Victoria Coach Station

 

Bristol

‘Alternative’ is the word that best describes this city’s vibe - you can take a street art tour, relax by the harbour, or visit the glorious Clifton Suspension Bridge - get to Bristol in under 2 hours by train from London Paddington or 2 hours 30 minutes by coach from Victoria Coach Station

 

Cambridge

Famous for its prestigious university, on a trip here you can tour many of the university colleges, explore the markets or punt down the River Cam - get to Cambridge in under 50 minutes by train from London King’s Cross or 1 hour 35 minutes by coach from Victoria Coach Station

 

Cardiff

The top sights in the Welsh capital include the nearly 2000 year old Cardiff Castle and the vibrant, buzzing Cardiff Bay area - get there in 2 hours 20 minutes by train from London Paddington or 2 hours 40 minutes by coach from Victoria Coach Station

 

Edinburgh

There are so many ‘must sees’ on a trip to the Scottish capital, including a visit to the historic Edinburgh Castle and a walk up to the top of Arthur’s Seat for incredible city views - get there in around 4 to 5 hours by train from London King’s Cross

 

Glasgow

In Scotland’s largest city, foodies will love the Finnieston area, history buffs can visit over 20 museums and galleries, and everyone can visit nearby Loch Lomond to escape the city - get there in around 5 hours by train from London Euston

 

Liverpool

Spend a day at the Royal Albert Dock, visit the British Music Experience and pay homage to ‘The Fab Four’ with a tour The Beatles Story - get there in just over 2 hours by train from London Euston or over 5-7 hours by coach from Victoria Coach Station

 

Oxford

Visit the renowned Ashmolean Museum and the colleges of the world’s second oldest university, where you’ll see many Harry Potter filming locations - get there in under 1 hour by train from London Paddington or 2 hours by coach from Victoria Coach Station

 

Stratford-upon-Avon

On your trip to this historic market town, best known as the hometown of one of the world’s most famous playwrights, you take a tour of Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Schoolroom - get there in around 2 hours by train from London Marylebone

 

Winchester

England’s former capital city is home to the legendary Great Hall, the magnificent Winchester Cathedral and historic Gurkha Museum - get there in under 1 hour by train from London Clapham Junction or 2 hours by coach from Victoria Coach Station

 

Windsor

No visit to this royal city is complete without a tour of the iconic Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, one of Queen Elizabeth II’s many royal residences - get there in 35 minutes to 1 hour by train from London Paddington

 

York

This historic city founded by the Romans is home to the Jorvik Viking Centre, the medieval Shambles street and York Minster, one of the world’s oldest and grandest gothic cathedrals – get there in just under or just over 2 hours from London King’s Cross

Cornwall

Sandy beaches, blue seas, quaint villages, and Land’s End await you in the most southern county of England – get there in around 5 to 6 hours by train from London Paddington, with services to Newquay, Truro, St Ives and Penzance

 

Cotswolds

In the largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the English countryside, you’ll find rolling hills and picturesque villages across 5 counties – get there in around 1 to 2 hours by train from London Paddington with services to Kemble and Moreton-in-Marsh

 

Devon

This county is home to beautiful landscapes including two national parks, Dartmoor and Exmoor, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site the Jurassic Coast – get there in just over 2 hours by train from London Paddington with services to Exeter St David’s

 

Hastings

Known for the Battle of Hastings that took place in 1066, history buffs can combine a visit to the nearby Battle Abbey with all the features and charm of a classic getaway to the British seaside – get there in just over 2 hours from London Victoria

 

Highlands

Some of the world’s most beautiful, natural scenery can be found in this part of Scotland including Glencoe, Ben Nevis and the legendary Loch Ness – get there by taking the train to Edinburgh then joining a guided trip with our friends at the Haggis tour company

 

Lake District

Visit charming villages, explore rugged hills and mountains, and marvel at England’s largest lake, Lake Windermere, in this beautiful part of England – get there in around 3 to 4 hours by train from London Euston with services to Keswick and Oxenholme

 

Peak District

England’s first national park boasts breathtaking natural landscapes and stately historic houses including Chatsworth House – get there in around 2 hours by train from London St Pancras International with services to Chesterfield and Derby

 

Pembrokeshire

This Welsh county is home to Britain’s only coastal national park and Britain’s smallest city, St David’s – get there in around 5 hours by train from London Paddington with services to Fishguard & Goodwick where you can stay with our friends and outdoor activity specialists, Preseli Venture

London is home to 12 major railway stations making it an ideal hub from which you can easily reach destinations across Britain. Most railway stations will be signposted with two white arrows facing opposite directions on a red background, as you can see in this example.

National Rail has information on all the rail services and stations across England, Wales and Scotland, including maps, timetables and service updates. You can either buy your train tickets directly through the National Rail website or app, or you can try to find a better deal via a well-known and secure independent ticketing platform such as Trainline or TrainSplit.

Railcards are another great way for you to save money on your train journeys. As a student, there are number of different types of railcards that you may be eligible for including the 16-25 Railcard, the 26-30 Railcard, the Two Together Railcard and the Brit Rail Pass.

Travelling by train is a great way to see the country, but it is also a very sustainable way to travel. For example, taking the train from London King's Cross to Edinburgh Waverley uses a whopping 87% less CO2 compared to flying! You’ll also get to take in all the beautiful sights along the way while avoiding the commotion at the airport, so take the scenic route and help save the planet.

The London Underground, the subterranean sibling to the train that is frequently referred to as the “tube”, is one of the fastest and most efficient ways to get around the city. All London Underground stations are easy to identify as they are signposted by the iconic roundel symbol, usually featuring a red circle with a white rectangular banner the runs through the centre.

Transport for London (TFL) has information on all tubes across London, including maps, timetables and service updates. You can access this information on the TFL website or app, or via the Citymapper app, that allows you to view some maps offline.

Your Oyster Card is valid for zones 1-2 of the London Underground, so you can travel freely within these zones, which cover most of central London. To use your Oyster Card for the tube, simply tap it on the yellow reader at the gates when entering and exiting a London Underground. If you need to travel outside of zones 1-2, you can add pay as you go credit to your card. This tube map shows the numbered zones.

There are several tube stations in and around the FIE Kensington Campus, including Gloucester Road station and South Kensington station, which can both be reached by taking the Circle Line (Yellow), District Line (Green) or Piccadilly Line (Dark Blue).

The tube usually runs between 5am and midnight, except on Friday and Saturdays where there is a Night Tube service on select lines including the Piccadilly Line.

 With a vast network spanning from the city centre out to the suburban areas of London, the bus is a great way to explore above ground and take in your surroundings. All stops are marked with a version of the roundel symbol, in which the whole shape is red.

TFL also has information on buses services London, including maps, timetables and service updates. You can access this information on the TFL website or app, or you can also use the Citymapper app to help you navigate bus services across London.

Your Oyster card is valid for all zones on the London Bus Network so you do not need to add credit to use the bus outside of zones 1-2. To use your Oyster card for the bus, simply tap it on the yellow reader when boarding the bus – you just need to tap once.

There are numerous bus stops and bus services that serve the FIE Kensington Campus including the 9, 14, 23 and 74, which feature on this map of key bus routes in London. Hold your hand out as the bus is approaching to signal that you want to board the bus.

Buses run throughout the day, many run 24 hours and some with Night Bus routes, so a bus can often be the best way to get home from an outing, especially late at night.

 There are many different taxi services that operate throughout the country, but you may be most familiar with the iconic London black cabs. All London black cab drivers have to take ‘The Knowledge’, as test which typically takes them up to 3 – 4 years to pass!

Transport for London has a helpful guide that has information on taxi fares and the difference between black cabs, private hire vehicles and minicabs. The most important thing to note is that licensed black cabs can be hailed from the street – all other taxis must be pre-booked over the phone or in a minicab office. To hail a licensed black cab, simply hold your hand out when a taxi that has their orange light on is approaching.

Black cabs run on a meter and you will be expected to pay the full fare shown on the meter at the end of the ride unless you agree a final fare with the driver before the start of the journey. Black cabs are one of the most expensive ways to travel around the city, but you can save money and travel more sustainability by sharing a taxi with friends.

 An often affordable alternative to the train, you can take the coach to many destinations across Britain. Victoria Coach Station is conveniently located just a short ride away from the FIE Kensington Campus, and is the largest coach station in London.

National Express is one of the country’s main coach operators. On their website, you can book your tickets and find the information including timetables and service updates.

 This little blue card will be your key to the city (the clue’s in the name!). Oyster Cards are included in the cost of most of our programs and are given out during arrival week.

The Oyster Cards provided by FIE have been pre-loaded with a zone 1-2 travelcard which means that you can travel freely on the tube, bus, and many other services within these zones without adding any credit. Much of central London falls within zones 1-2, but if you need to travel outside of these zones, you can add pay as you go credit to the Oyster Card. This tube map shows the numbered zones.

To use your Oyster Card, simply tap it on the yellow reader that you’ll encounter when entering and exiting tube stations or boarding a London bus. For more information on how to use your Oyster Card on different modes of transport, visit the TFL website.

If you lose your Oyster Card, simply email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will let you know the process to get a new card. You will need to pay for the cost of your travel while you are waiting for your replacement Oyster Card to arrive. Visit the Transport for London website for information on fares and payments.