Millions of tourists visit Britain every year, but some are put off by its reputation of costliness. In part this is justified – London is one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in, and rail fairs are the highest of anywhere in Europe. That said there are ways to experience England without breaking the bank.

Transport

For visitors from outside of Europe the cost of flights to the UK are going to make up a sizable chunk of the cost of your holiday. Remember to consider different airports to find the best deal. Flights to Manchester could work out cheaper than flights to London on the days you want to travel – just remember to factor in the cost of your onward journey. Even the London airports are all some way from London.

This brings us on to the cost of transport within the UK. The rail services can be amazingly expensive. There is a ticket for a one-way journey that you can purchase that costs over one thousand pounds (more than $1500). The most expensive rail tickets are those purchased at the station on the day of travel and during ‘peak times’. The best way to avoid being stung is to book online as far ahead as you can – the official rail inquiries website will give you all the information you need to plan your journey and get the best value tickets you can. Don’t forget to see if you qualify for any discounts. For instance the ‘young person’s railcard’ for those under 25 gives you a third off, and at only £30 this can soon pay for itself.

As an alternative to rail, you have a few options. the largest coach operator in Britain is National Express. They will, as a rule, be cheaper than trains, though they take a lot longer and, especially around London, are often subject to substantial delays. The same rules about booking ahead for the best prices apply. Megabus are another coach operator, who sometimes offer very low fairs at the expense of increased journey times.

Accommodation

You can spend as much as you want on accommodation. If, however, 5-star luxury is not within your budget you still have plenty of options. Hostels are very often the cheapest way to stay in a place. The YHA operate throughout England and Wales in both urban and rural locations. You will be guaranteed a certain level of quality and service at any of their hostels. Private rooms are available at most hostels these days if the idea of dormitories puts you off. In London (and also elsewhere) there are a large number of independent backpackers hostels. The quality and cost of these will vary, so make sure to check out some reviews before you pay for a 3 week stay!

Camping and caravaning are popular pastimes in Britain. You can buy a tent for less than £30, and if you don’t mind roughing it you can sleep in the great outdoors for free. There are also a great many campsites with excellent facilities,but the cost of some of these can actually be quite high. If you are really on the tightest of budgets you might want to consider joining the couch surfing network. This matches people up with folks who will let you stay. Not for everyone, and there are of course plenty of horror stories out there, but lots of people find it a great way to keep their costs down, meet new people and experience a place truly like a local.

Eating

One of the most expensive things on holiday can be eating and drinking out everyday. While this is part of the fun of a holiday, it can be hard to keep up, especially for longer trips. Remember we have shops and supermarkets here just like you do at home. You can pick up some inexpensive food and drink and enjoy a fun picnic in the park or barbecue on the beach. On a sultry summer evening, what could be better?

Cheap Flights Impact Climate Change

I’m fascinated by the fact that progressive papers such as the Guardian and Independent  continue to promote cheap flights and foreign holidays, and that when asked about this they weasel around the issue of the impact on climate change, citing the need for revenue. One assumes that there are industries they do refuse to promote, or industries they will only promote in particular ways, but the tourist industry gets carte blanche.

Longhaul and frequent cheap flights to Europe

In the history of humanity it is only since the 1960′s that we have developed the expectation of the ‘right’ to be able to fly to Sydney, Los Angeles, Bangkok etc on holiday once a year on a fraction of our salaries, and the further ‘right’ to be able to book cheap flights and hop over to Prague, Barcelona and Rimini every 3 or 4 months.

It seems to me that this is an absurd expectation, when these ‘rights’ affect fundamentally other peoples’ rights to life. Try explaining to somebody in the Maldives whose house is being flooded regularly because of rising seas that you have the right to these trips! Let’s not pretend that we don’t now know the effects of what we do!

It’s the toxic combination of the lack of viable alternatives presented to us with the promotion of cheap flights and foreign holidays as a basic right rather than privilege that’s to blame. Of the two ingredients, I’m inclined to believe that promoting the idea of the cheap flight for foreign holidays as absolutely basic to our way of life that’s the more worrying.