Paddington London Underground Station
While I was studying abroad in Oxford, I did not ride in a car for the entire month. Instead, I had the opportunity to use every other common form of transportation. I used planes, trains, buses, and even boats. Before going on the trip, I expected to love the easy access to public transportation. The idea of being able to hop on a train and travel all over the UK was exciting to me, and I was looking forward to not having to drive for a few weeks.
However, I found that I did not appreciate UK’s public transportation as much as I expected. Britrail is the primary train system that is used to travel across the UK. The Underground is the train system used to navigate London. The trains did not run as consistently as I expected them to, and when they did arrive they were often packed. Additionally, the trains were prone to being delayed, so I often arrived at my final location anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour behind schedule. I would highly recommend that if someone is traveling more than an hour on the Britrail, to reserve a seat online so that they don’t have to stand in the aisle. Also, be aware that trains can be cancelled even while there are people on it. On my first night in London, I was taking an Underground train to Paddington, and the train service was cancelled even though the train was packed. Because of this, our group had to find a midnight double-decker bus, and drive back to Oxford since we missed our Britrail train.
Additionally, the iconic double-decker buses were slightly nauseating. I am well-seasoned at riding buses in the states, but when I rode a double-decker bus (which was may more often than I was expecting), I quickly became nauseated whenever we sat on the second level. Because the roads were windier, and the added height made the bus sway, I regularly got headaches. However, I will say that the bus system was very efficient, and I would recommend that anyone who visits the UK ride a double decker at least once just for the experience alone. It is a very odd experience that is definitely enjoyable in its own way.
While all of this seems negative, I do want to make it aware that I thoroughly enjoyed all of my different travel experiences while abroad. I never felt unsafe or unsure about how to get to where I wanted to go. I just learned that I would rather be in complete control of when I will arrive at a destination. Many of the people on my trip had a much more pleasant (or even worse) experience than I did on the trip. Don’t let my experience discourage anyone from travelling to the UK. I had a truly wonderful time, and I would love to go back at any time!