REPORT OF THE JOURNEY TO WALES AND ENGLAND.

  

Punctual as never before from Orio al Serio (Bg) at 11.50 am my plane no. 8263 of the Ryanair Company in the direction of Bristol International Airport (United Kingdom), (return ticket price including taxes: Euro 74.44).

 

Arrival on time at 13.00, at Bristol International Airport (United Kingdom). There is a time zone time compared to Italy.

 

To be able to set foot in the United Kingdom, it is sufficient to be in possession of a valid identity card or passport. Once you arrive at the border of the aforementioned airport, just put your passport on the scanner, wait for a photograph to be taken and if everything is ok, the automatic doors that allow you to enter the United Kingdom will open. If you have an identity card, you must instead go to the desk for identification.

 

If you intend to visit England, Scotland and Wales without using a car, you must use the bus or train bearing in mind that many remote areas cannot be reached and that the service on Sundays is very limited and in certain areas even suspended. Also keep in mind that the train is much faster but also much more expensive (about 30% more) and in a country where the cost of living is high is not a factor to be underestimated.

 

It is for this reason that you can consider buying the Skimmer pass online which is an unlimited and extremely cheap way to visit every corner of the UK. For just £ 69 (7 day pass), or £ 119 (14 day pass), or £ 199 (28 day pass) you can board any National Express service which is the UK's leading company. Print the Skimmer pass and present it at the National Express Desk at the Bus Station or directly to the driver before boarding or buy the ticket online for free by entering the Skimmer pass code.

 

The aforementioned airport is located about 13 km southwest of the city.

 

To reach the Temple Meads Train Station, or the Bus Station, or other stops in the center of Bristol, the cheapest solution is to take the Bristol International Flyer bus, with departures every 15 minutes. The journey lasts a short half hour. The ticket, which can be purchased online or directly from the driver, costs £ 7.00 one way or £ 11.00 return.

 

To reach the Bath Bus Station, a city declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the cheapest solution is to take Bus X39 which leaves from Bristol Bus Station every 15 minutes from Monday to Saturday and every half hour on Sunday. The journey takes 50 minutes. Cost of the ticket purchased from the driver: £ 5.00.

 

The most important attraction are the Roman Baths. Entrance fee: £ 15.50.

 

Bath, you can easily get around on foot.

 

To reach Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the cheapest solution is to take one of the many National Express Company Buses departing from Bristol Bus Station. The journey takes 1 hour and a half. Ticket cost: free if you have a Skimmer pass, or keep in mind that the rate changes depending on whether you book several days in advance, or whether you travel during peak hours or not.

 

In Cardiff, National Express buses arrive at Sophia Gardens, just west of the Taff River and Bute Park.

 

In Cardiff I slept at the Nomad Hostel located in

Howard Gardens at n. 11, less than 1 km east of the center. The cost per night including breakfast is £ 22.00 for a bed in a dormitory. Deposit to leave is £ 10 or identity card, for the keys, returned upon delivery of the keys. Reception open 24 hours a day.

 

 

To reach the Pembrokeshire Peninsula from Cardiff, take the train from Central Train Station to Haverfordwest. Price one way: £ 25.80. Trip duration 3 hours scarce.

 

From Haverfordwest, then there are Buses to Tendy, St Davids, ect, not on Sunday though.

 

To reach Swansea from Haverfordwest, take the train. Price one way: £ 15.80. Journey duration 1 hour and 30 minutes approximately.

 

To reach Birmingham, the second largest city in England, the cheapest solution is to take one of the many National Express Company Buses departing from Swansea Bus Station. The trip takes approximately 3 and a half hours. Ticket cost: free if you have a Skimmer pass, or keep in mind that the rate changes depending on whether you book several days in advance, or whether you travel during peak hours or not.

 

In Birmingham I slept at Birmingham Central Backpackers Hostel located in

Coventry Street No. 58, less than 300 meters. from the Bus Station. The cost per night including breakfast is £ 12.50 for a bed in a dormitory.

 

To get to Stratford-upon-Avon from Birmingham, the quickest but not the cheapest option is to take the train from Moor Street Train Station. Price one way: £ 8.00. Trip duration 45 '. There are rides every half hour starting at 5.56 in the morning. However, with the X20 bus there are rides every hour at the cost of £ 5 departing from Moor Stret north of the Pavillon.

 

To reach Chipping Norton from Stratford-upon-Avon, there is only one solution: take bus no. 50 from Bridge Street. Price one way: £ 6.10. Trip duration 50 '. There several runs per day: 6.00, 6.20, 9.10, ect. Less on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased from the driver.

 

To reach Blenheim Palace, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site by Chipping Norton, there is only one solution: take bus no. S3 to Oxford and get off at the second stop in Woodstock Town, right in front of the Palace gate. Price one way: £ 4.10. Trip duration 25 '. During rush hour there are 3 trips per hour. Then for the rest of the day 1 per hour. Tickets can be purchased from the driver.

 

From the gate to the actual entrance of Blenheim Palace, you have to walk for almost 1 km. The cost of entry is £ 15.30 for the gardens alone, £ 24.90 for the interior of the Palace and for the gardens. Opening hours of the gardens: every day from 10.00 to 18.00.

 

To reach Oxford, there is only one solution: take bus no. S3 from Chipping Norton. Price one way: £ 3.20. Trip duration 25 '. During rush hour there are 3 trips per hour. Then for the rest of the day 1 per hour. Tickets can be purchased from the driver. In Oxford, the ride ends at Beaumont Street, near the Ashmolean Museum.

In Oxford, the university town par excellence, which can be easily explored on foot, you cannot miss some colleges. Here are a few:

• Christ Church: admission £ 8.

• University Church of Mary the Virgin: free admission except for a visit to the bell tower for a fee;

• Magdalen College: £ 6.

• New College: £ 4.

• Sheldonian Theater: £ 3.5.

 

To get to Bristol from Oxford, there is only one National Express bus a day at 9.30 am. But if you intend to leave in the afternoon, you can take one of the many buses to Birmingham, the last one at 16.00 (2 hours 30 'the duration of the trip) and then from Birmingham take one of the many buses to Bristol, the last at 19.00 (1 hour 50 'the duration of the trip). On Sunday the service is reduced. Ticket cost: free if you have a Skimmer pass, or keep in mind that the rate changes depending on whether you book several days in advance, or whether you travel during peak hours or not.

 

In Bristol I slept at the Rock N Bowl Hostel located in

Nelson Street at n. 22, less than 300 meters. from the Bus Station, on the edge of the historic center. The cost per night without breakfast is £ 14.00 for a bed in a 24 bed dormitory. Deposit to leave is £ 10, for the keys, returned upon delivery of the keys. Reception open 24 hours a day.

 

Bristol can be easily explored on foot.

 

Punctual as never before from Bristol (United Kingdom) at 8.35 my plane no. 8262 of the Ryanair Company in the direction of Orio al Serio International Airport (Bg), (return ticket price including taxes: Euro 74.44).

 

Punctual arrival at 11.45 am at the Orio al Serio International Airport (Bg).

 

My complete travel report with map, photographs and videos is available at this link:

http://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2018/01/viaggio-nel-galles-e-nellinghilterra.html