If your journey isnt too grand a distance, for example you are visiting from Europe, you might want to consider a variety of travel options. But if your journey is a long one, plane fares are now so competitive that in terms of speed, comfort and cost you should probably just look at flights.

Flying is the most obvious way to travel to the UK. Fares may vary dramatically so the best advice is to shop around and be flexible about dates and airlines. In particular students, young travellers and seniors should be able to get special deals and discounts.

Prices are often a bit lower if you travel during the week. Peak season is from about May to October and this is when fares will be most pricey with the most expensive months from June to September. Fares will most definately also be very high (and flights booked out in advance) over Christmas and New Year.

The busiest and most popular airports are Heathrow and Gatwick, both in London. But if you are not visiting London you might try some of the other airports in the UK which handle international flights, such as Birmingham, Manchester, and Glasgow. You could always travel to the UK by ship, for example you could choose a transatlantic crossing on a big cruise ship. This would mean that you arrive in the UK in style and without the hassle of jet lag, but any long distance journey by ship will be very lengthy and, of course, very expensive compared to flying.

Another way to get to the UK by water is to travel by ferry. Crossings are very extensive and are a dazzling way to travel to the UK if you wish to bring your own car. Prices vary enormously as ferry fares may change according to measure of year, instant of day you want to travel and even the size of your car - so you will absolutely need to so some careful research to find a nice price. And remember that during peak season you will absolutely need to book a place for your car in advance.

If you are not travelling from too far away, you might want to think about other options.

For example you may travel to the UK by bus from many European cities, which is a grand low cost option if you will not be travelling too far. However, flights are now priced so competitively that if your journey is a long one by coach, you will most definately want to choose the comfort and speed of flying.

If you wish to travel by car, your biggest problem will be crossing the English Channel. There are a variety of ways to do this, for example ferry and now the Channel Tunnel. All have regular services, normally with several crossings each day, so shop around and choose the one that suits you best