On your own in England: by air, train, bus and foot

You don’t need the perseverance of a Peace Corps volunteer to tour England without a paid guide and a group of people you’d never choose as friends. Just good planning and an optimistic outlook will prepare you for a remarkable trip, so here’s how to venture out on your own by air, train, bus and foot.

For Americans, one daunting decision about travel in England is driving on the other side of the road in a car with instruments equally opposite. But, who needs the stress of creeping along a narrow English road lined with hedgerows scraping the paint off the side of your rental car only to learn too late you’re on the wrong side staring into flashing headlights as your life spins in front of your face? The solution? Don’t drive.

Public transportation is state-of-the-art in Great Britain. Trains crisscross England, busses zip along country roads, public footpaths bisect pastures and meander through forests, and in London the Underground rumbles along beneath the city, moving thousands of people in minutes.

Before you leave you can plan your transportation seated at your computer in the comfort of your home; book airfare, buy a Brit Rail pass at a reduced rate only available in the US, and check ticket prices for busses and the London Underground.

Check online for off-season, lower price airline fares

Airfare bargains from San Diego to London Heathrow abound before May 22 and after September 8. Fly at even lower rates after December 24 and celebrate New Year’s in London, then shop Harrod’s for after-Christmas sales. Airfare is easily researched on the Internet, but beware. If you are traveling with a partner, consider booking with an airline directly. The online airfare booking services can reserve space but not always guarantee side-by-side seating on flights to England. Research airfare at http://www.orbitz.com and http://www.cheaptickets.com.

Buy your Brit Rail train pass in advance and save money

With a Brit Rail pass you avoid ticket lines and can board without hassle. A variety of pass configurations makes planning easy. Reservations are not needed on trains in England, the seats are comfortable — some even have tables — and on-board train food is amazingly good. Exchanging ideas with traveling residents, getting their view of Americans firsthand and discovering our differences and similarities is revealing. You’ll learn that train station “take away” food is delicious; their selection of newspapers, books and magazines rival our airline terminals, and the rail employee service is friendly and patient. Visit Brit Rail at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk.

Explore by coach and city bus

Travel on Greyhound-type coaches, used for long-distance “bus” rides in England, and city busses is fun, too. Rub shoulders with uniformed kids going to school, businessmen packing laptops and shoppers loaded with bags. A “single” ticket will get you one-way, while a “return” ticket gets you to your destination and back. City busses scoot off into the farthest reaches of the English countryside. The schedules are frequent, there’s no parking to worry about and the bus driver won’t get lost. For example, using the urbane college city of Exeter as a hub, after a train ride through lush countryside to Barnstaple, hop on a small city bus to Lynton and Lynmouth, two tiny coastal towns nestled against the foot of a sheer mountain. In two relaxing hours you’ve reached your destination with nary a tour bus in sight — all part of the exciting experience of traveling on your own. Scan bus schedules at http://www.stagecoachgroup.com.

Hotel or bed and breakfast? The choices are abundant

Luxury hotels may be your goal, but bed and breakfast inns are the places locals stay when they tour their own country. Each town has plentiful choices in a range of prices within walking distance of the local train station. A “double” indicates something akin to an American full- or queen-size bed, or some strange in-between. If you see “en suite,” it means a bathroom of your own. Book a bed and breakfast on a quiet side street, or over a pub if you’re a late-night person who enjoys the sound of revelry into the wee hours. Breakfasts are hearty and include cereals, fruit, toast, eggs, bacon, bangers (English sausages), juice, coffee or tea. Some also offer “beans” — their version of American baked beans, which are quite tasty if you’re adventuresome at that early hour. No skimpy lo-cal meals. Look for accommodations that suit you on http://www.smoothhound.co.uk and directions to the locations on http://www.multimap.com.

Pack little, pack light, pack comfortable shoes

For each person, one suitcase on wheels that fits in the overhead compartment of the airline is all you need. Stash a light-weight duffel bag inside for your souvenirs, or buy one there. Laundromats are easy to find and simple to use and nobody cares what you’re wearing except you. After all, who’s going to know you wore the same t-shirt twice? For cold weather, layers are best. Consider long silk underwear and leave the heavy Levis and sweater at home. Hot weather? Check out REI or Wilderness Outfitters for lightweight shorts and long pants with pockets. Substitute a small lightweight day pack for a handbag. Easier to carry, it expands to hold water bottles, a camera, guidebooks and snacks. Sturdy, comfortable, broken-in shoes are a must. Winter shoes should be warm and waterproof; summer shoes could be sandals unless a trek is planned. For more information on traveling light, see http://www.ricksteves.com.

So, there you have it. The first steps to an adventure in England on your own. Got your passport ready?