Getting around England is pretty easy if occasionally unpredictable in the larger cities under the strain of peak hours. Budget airlines fly domestically, and trains trail some picturesque routes the length of England and can deliver you very efficiently from one major city to another.

Coaches and buses operate throughout the country, coaches being more expensive and a little faster.

In cities, black cabs are a luxurious option - minicabs are cheaper. Drivers of EU-registered vehicles will find bringing a car into England fairly stress-free as long as you have all necessary papers. Think twice before hiring a car to drive in major cities - unless you're happy to drive all day and never park it.

Train

Despite the damage wrought by long-term underinvestment, England still has an adequate rail service - that is, if you're travelling as a tourist rather than trying to get to work on a weekday morning - and trains can be a rewarding and relaxing way to get around. There are several beautiful lines running through sparsely populated country, and on the main routes fast trains travel at speeds of up to 125mph whisking you, for example, from London to Manchester in 2.5 hours.

Bus

In England, long-distance express buses are usually called coaches, and in towns there are sometimes separate bus and coach stations. Where coaches and buses run on the same route, coaches are more expensive (though quicker) than buses. There are many smaller regional operators across the country, several forming part of the Stagecoach or First networks.

Away from cities, bus timetables often seem strangely random and complex - this is because they are designed to serve schools and industry, and there may be few midday and weekend services. The best thing to do is to phone Traveline or double-check at a Tourist Information Centre (TIC) before planning your day's activities around a bus that you later find out only runs on market day.

Water taxi

London's famous black cabs are excellent but expensive. Minicabs are cheaper competitors, with freelance drivers, but you can't flag these down on the street. Outside London and other big cities, taxis are usually reasonably priced.

Car

Drivers of EU-registered vehicles will find bringing a car into England fairly straightforward. The car must have registration papers and a nationality plate, and the driver must have insurance.

If you're going to drive yourself, you're in for a parking nightmare - it's almost impossible to find a spot in many city centres, and the punishments for parking illegally are cruel and unusual indeed.

Air

British Airways (BA), British Midland (BMI), easyJet, and Ryanair are the major domestic players. Fares booked well in advance are usually your cheapest option.

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Source: Lonely Planet