Travel Tips for the Great West Way

We’re compiling a collection of useful travel tips below to help you better navigate the Great West Way… if you have any pressing questions that we haven’t answered here or on our other travel pages, do pop into one of the tourist information centres along the touring route and staff will be pleased to help. 

Flight check-in times 

For domestic and short haul flights, arrive around 2 hours before your flight time. 

For international and long haul flights, arrive approximately 3 hours before your flight time. 

*The above estimates are generous to make sure you don’t miss that all-important flight. At smaller airports, however, you may judge that you need slightly less time. 

Book longer journeys in advance 

Long distance bus, coach and train journeys in the UK are nearly always cheaper when booked as far in advance as possible. Same goes for flights and ferries. 

Rush hour 

Despite the blissfully quiet, rural nature of many destinations along the Great West Way, it’s always best to avoid travelling at rush ‘hour’ (roughly 7-10am and 4-7pm) if you don’t need to. 

Whether going by road, rail, bus or coach, you’ll avoid having to sit in traffic or stand up due to lack of seats. By train, it’s also cheaper to travel off-peak. (Rush hour, you’ll be glad to know, is not usually an issue for canal boats!)

Seat reservations 

If you are booking train or coach tickets to travel at a peak times, it’s worth booking seat reservations - that way you won’t find yourself standing in the aisles. 

Sundays & Bank Holidays 

If you’re due to travel on a Sunday or Bank Holiday (a public holiday), check that your travel plans won’t be affected. Trains, coaches and buses all run to different schedules on these days - especially in rural areas. 

Tipping in taxis 

Tipping is not expected by British taxi drivers, but is always gratefully received. Especially if they’ve given you some good local insight. Since taxi drivers spend so much time on the road, chatting to interesting people, they can be an untapped source of information.

General advice for travelling around Britain 

VisitBritain has comprehensive advice on its website about travelling around Britain. From coach and car journeys to navigating the waterways, there’s certain to be tips in there you’re better off knowing.