UK Tourist Attractions

Britain's trains may lack the break-neck speeds of some other European countries, but the rail network of England, Scotland and Wales is just as well developed. And speed isn't everything when you get more time to sit back and experience some of the most breathtaking scenery in the British Isles from the comfort of your chair.

Whether you're making a cross-country journey to marvel at the changing landscape, such as the Deerstalker Express from London Euston to the Scottish Highlands, or simply a local trip along well-established routes, train travel is often the most convenient way to get where you're going in the UK. Even if you live in the city, you're never too far from rolling green fields and coastal views, and train journeys offer a relaxing and reflective alternative to dealing with noisy traffic on busy motorways.

One of the nation's favourite train journeys is the route from Settle to Carlisle, connecting some of the major areas of the North of England, including Leeds. This charming 72-mile route travels through the spectacular Yorkshire Dales and also boasts a number of man-made attractions too, most notably the long tunnel at Blea Moor that's always a favourite with younger travellers.

The other side of Carlisle is just as well represented by the westerly route along the Cumbrian coast to Lancaster, which offers a number of diverse sights for travellers - from the industrial towns of Barrow and Workington to mudflats and salt marshes. You'll also get a tempting view of the spectacular Lake District, one of Britain's most remarkable areas of natural beauty.

Some of Britain's rail routes are tourist attractions themselves, rather than just being a convenient method of transport, and none more so than the charming steam trains which still carry passengers down heritage trails in many areas.

Some of the most delightful heritage routes can be found off the beaten track, such as the miniscule mile-and-a-quarter line from Craignure to Torosay Castle on the Scottish Isle of Mull. Others put passengers' mountaineering skills to the test, like the exhilarating rack-and-pinion haul up Snowdon in Wales.

Train travel is moving with the times, and still one of the best options for getting to and from places in Britain. For short journeys, they're a chance to save on petrol, and a more eco-friendly option for longer trips - that's not to mention the savings that can be made when getting train tickets online before you travel.

The cost of traveling in the UK can vary wildly, depending upon where you live. In general, if you reside in the bigger cities there tends to be more competition between rival transport operators - whether they are airline, train or coach companies - so chances are travelers will be paying a lot less per mile than their rural cousins. However, if you do live slightly out of the way, you may find traveling around the UK a lot more expensive. And if you reside in the sticks, forget public transport altogether; the infrastructure just isn’t there so a car is the only real alternative for getting around.

So, how do prices match up when it comes to differentiating between air, rail or road travel? For many years, air travel was only for the better off, with prices out of the reach of the masses. However, with the advent of low-cost airlines, competition increased and prices have dropped dramatically to the extent that an airline ticket can cost the same or less than mainline train tickets. Depending upon the carrier, a cheap return air ticket between London and Manchester can cost as little as £69 - comparing favorably against a return train trip fare of £110! However, low-cost domestic airlines only operate between major airports, which tend to be few and far between, giving the traveler less choice if they live outside the country's major conurbations.

Train operators have been subject to criticism lately, both over the cost of traveling and also their inability to consistently keep to their published timetables. Indeed, Virgin recently lost their cross-country franchise after 10 years service, mainly due to one in five trains arriving late and costing the government over £2m per week in subsidies. This move is seen by many as the start of price increases for train travelers, as the operators will now seek to recover their costs from the public rather than the government.

Coach travel is mostly a cheaper alternative to using trains or planes and in many cases can be even better value than car travel. Most coach travel in the UK operates between fixed routes on a timetable basis, but there are also many charter companies from which you can hire a coach to a destination of your choice. This is a handy solution if a group of people wish to travel to a special event, and again can prove cheaper than taking the car.

In summary, there are many options for traveling throughout the UK, but the majority of us still choose to use our own private transport. That is likely to continue until there is major investment in the rail and road infrastructure; until then traveling anywhere in the UK will continue to be frustrating, mostly expensive and largely unsatisfying.