www.ramblers.org.uk

Transport, tourism and utilities

Transport

Public transport information

For more information see Public transport for walkers

Operators and agencies

  • Arriva Passenger Services (buses) 5 Dominus Way, Meridian Business Park, Leicester LE19 1RP, tel  0116 240 5500
    www.arriva.co.uk
    Operates local buses in Glasgow; Northeast England and parts of Yorkshire; Nottingham, Derby, the West Midlands, Cheshire, Liverpool and Manchester; North Wales; much of southern and southeast England.
    Arriva Trains Wales - Trenau Arriva Cymru 47 Penarth Road, Cardiff CF10 5DJ, tel 0845 606 1660
    Tickets, reservations and enquiries tel 0870 900 0773
    www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk
    Operates nearly all rail services in Wales, and express services between Wales, Bristol, London and Penzance
  • British Waterways Willow Grange, Church Road, Watford WD1 3QA, tel 01923 201120
    www.britishwaterways.co.uk
    Leisure information on waterways including walking: www.waterscape.com
    Birmingham: Bayleys Lane, Tipton DY4 0PX, tel 0121 506 1300
    Lancaster: Main Road, Galgate, Lancaster LA2 0LQ , tel 01524 751888
    London: The Toll House, Delamare Road, London W2 6ND, tel 020 7286 6101
    Marsworth: Marsworth Junction, Watery Lane, Marsworth HP23 4LZ, tel 01442 825938
    Oxford Canal: The Stop House, Braunston, Daventry NN11 7JQ, tel 01788 890666
    Pennine and Potteries Office: Red Bull Wharf, Congleton Road South, Kidsgrove, Stoke-on-Trent ST7 3AP, tel 01782 785703
    Southall: Norwood Top Lock, Poplar Avenue, Southall UB2 4PN, tel 020 8571 8900
    Warwick: Brome Hall Lane, Lapworth B94 5RB, tel 01564 784634 
    Responsible for the maintenance and safety of most of Britain's canal network: over 3,200km of waterways, including towpaths
  • c2c see National Express
  • CAST (Centre for Alternative and Sustainable Transport): see under Education
  • Central Trains see National Express
  • Centro (West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive) 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham B19 3SD, tel 0121 200 2787
    Enquiry line tel 0121 200 2700
    www.centro.org.uk 
  • Chiltern Railways 14 Rickfords Hill, Aylesbury HP20 2RX, tel 0845 600 5165
    www.chilternrailways.co.uk
    Operates rail services between London, the Chilterns and Birmingham.
  • CityCarClub 7 Northumberland Street, Huddersfield HD1 1RL, tel 0845 330 1234
    www.citycarclub.co.uk
    Britain's largest provider of city car club schemes covering Bath, Brighton, Bristol, Edinburgh, London and several other towns and cities.
  • Commission for Integrated Transport (CfIT), 5th Floor, Romney House, Tufton Street, London SW1P 3RA
    www.cfit.gov.uk
    Provides independent advice to Government on the implementation of integrated transport policies
  • Countrygoer: see under Walking and Outdoor Activities
  • CTC (Cyclists' Touring Club): see under Walking and Outdoor Activities 
  • Department for Transport: see under Government Agencies
  • Deutsche Bahn Potsdamer Platz 2, D-10785 Berlin
    UK booking office tel 0870 243 5363
    www.bahn.co.uk
    German national rail operator. The UK office is one of the best sources in Britain of rail tickets covering the whole of Europe.
  • DPTAC (Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee) see Department for Transport
  • Environmental Transport Association: see under Countryside and Conservation
  • Eurolines see National Express
  • Eurostar UK Waterloo Station, London SE1 8SE, tel 01777 777879
    Tickets and enquiries 0870 518 6186
    www.eurostar.co.uk
    Operates high speed rail services between London, Paris and Brussels via the Channel Tunnel
  • First Group 395 King Street, Aberdeen AB24 5RP, tel 01224 650100
    www.firstgroup.com
    Operates bus services in parts of southwest England; London, Berkshire and Hampshire; East Anglia; Leicester, Northampton, Herefordshire and Worcestershire; parts of Yorkshire; Manchester, Cheshire and north Staffordshire; Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow; and south and west Wales. Also operates the Croydon Tramlink for TfL
    First Capital Connect Freepost ADM3973, London SW1A 1YP, tel 0845 026 4700
    www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk
    Operates local and regional rail services on the East Coast Main Line and branches between London, Stevenage, Peterborough and Cambridge, and on the Thameslink line linking Bedford, Luton, London and Brighton.
    First Great Western 1 Milford Street, Swindon SN1 1HL, tel 01793 499400
    Enquiries, tickets and reservations tel 0845 700 0125
    www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk
    Operates express and local rail services linking London, the Thames Valley, southwest England, the Cotswolds and south Wales.
    First ScotRail 1st Floor Atrium Court, 50 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6HQ, tel 0870 000 5151
    Enquiries, tickets and reservations tel 0845 755 0033
    www.firstscotrail.com 
    Operates rail services in Scotland and sleeper services to London
    First TransPennine Express 7th Floor Bridgewater House, 60 Whitworth Street, Manchester M1 6LT, tel 0870 000 5151
    www.tpexpress.co.uk  
    Operates express rail services across the north of England.
    Heathrow Connect see Heathrow Express.
  • Gatwick Express see National Express
  • GMPTE (Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive) 9 Portland Street, Manchester M60 1HX, tel 0161 242 6000
    Enquiry line: 0161 228 7811 (Daily 08:00-20:00 hrs)
    www.gmpte.gov.uk 
  • GNER (Great North Eastern Railway) Station Road, York YO1 6HT, tel 0845 722 5333
    Enquiries, tickets and reservations tel 0845 722 5225
    www.gner.co.uk
    Operates express rail services along the East Coast Main Line from London to Yorkshire, northeast England and Scotland
  • Go-Ahead Group 3rd Floor, 41-51 Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6EE, tel 0191 232 3123
    www.go-ahead.com
    Owns bus operators Brighton & Hove, Go North East, Go West Midlands, London Central and General, Metrobus (South London, Surrey, Kent and Sussex), Oxford Bus Company, Solent Blue Line, Southern Vectis (Isle of Wight) and Wilts and Dorset, and part-owns the train operators below in partnership with Keolis.
    Southeastern     PO Box 286, Plymouth PL4 6WU, tel 0845 000 2222
    www.southeasternrailway.co.uk
    Operates rail services in southeast London and Kent.
    Southern     PO Box 277, Tonbridge TN9 2ZP, tel 0845 127 2920
    www.southernrailway.com
    Operates rail services in south London, Surrey, Sussex and along the south coast.
  • Grand Central 5 The Crescent, York YO24 1AW, tel 01904 633307
    www.grandcentralrail.com
    Operates express rail services from Sunderland and Hartlepool to York and London under an open access agreement.
  • Heathrow Express 3rd Floor, 30 Eastbourne Terrace, London W2 6LE, tel 020 8750 6600
    Enquiries 0845 600 1515
    www.heathrowexpress.co.uk
    Heathrow Connect: www.heathrowconnect.com
    Operates non-stop rail services from London Paddington to Heathrow Airport, and stopping services on the same route under the Heathrow Connect brand (in partnership with First). Owned by airport operator BAA.
  • Highways Agency 43 Marsham Street, London SW1P 3HW, tel 0845 955 6575
    www.highways.gov.uk
    Manages England's motorway and trunk road network
  • Hull Trains Premier House, Ferensway, Hull HU1 3UF, tel 0845 676 9905
    Enquiries, bookings and reservations 0845 071 0222
    www.hulltrains.co.uk
    Operates trains between London and Hull under an open access agreement
  • Island Line see Stagecoach
  • liftshare.com ltd Butterfly Hall, Attleborough NR17 1AB, tel 08700 780225
    www.liftshare.org 
    Develops and implements car-sharing schemes, including through a free website.
  • Merseyrail See Serco-Ned Railways
  • Merseytravel (Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive) 24 Hatton Garden, Liverpool L3 2AN, tel 0151 227 5181
    Enquiry line: 0151 236 7676
    www.merseytravel.gov.uk
  • Metro (West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive) 40-50 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 2DE, tel 0113 251 7272
    Enquiry line: 0113 245 7676
    Typetalk: 0113 242 8888
    www.wymetro.com
  • Midland Main Line see National Express
  • National Cycle Network see Sustrans

  • National Express Group 75 Davies Street, London W1K 5HT, tel 020 7529 2000
    www.nationalexpressgroup.com
    National Express Coaches 4 Vicarage Road, Birmingham B15 3ES, bookings and enquiries tel 0870 580 8080, textphone 0121 455 0086
    www.nationalexpress.com
    Operates long distance coaches through England and Wales, including Flightlink services connecting airports
    Eurolines UK 4 Cardiff Road, Luton LU1 1PP, tel 0870 514 3219
    www.eurolines.co.uk
    Long distance coaches connecting Britain and the rest of Europe
    c2c 207 Old Street, London EC1V 9NR, tel 0845 601 4873
    Tickets and enquiries tel 0845 744 4422
    www.c2c-online.co.uk
    Operates rail services between London Fenchurch Street, Tilbury and Southend
    Central Trains PO Box 4323, Birmingham B2 4JB, tel 0121 6534 2040
    Tickets, reservations and enquiries tel 0870 609 6060
    www.centraltrains.co.uk
    Operates rail services throughout the Midlands and to parts of Wales, northwest England and East Anglia
    Gatwick Express 52 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0AU, tel 020 7973 5000
    Tickets, reservations and enquiries tel 0845 850 1530
    www.gatwickexpress.com
    Operates non-stop rail services from London Victoria to Gatwick Airport
    Midland Main Line Midland House, Nelson Street, Derby DE1 2SA, tel 00845 712 5678
    www.midlandmainline.com
    Operates express rail services from London to Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield
    'one' see www.nationalexpress.com
    Operates rail services from London Liverpool Street to northeast London, the Lea Valley, Stansted Airport and East Anglia.
    Silverlink 207 Old Street, London EC1V 9NR, tel 0845 601 4868
    Enquiries and tickets tel 0870 512 5240
    www.silverlink-trains.com
    Operates local rail services between London Euston, Watford, Northampton and Birmingham, and in North London
    Travel West Midlands PO Box 3565, Birmingham B1 3JR, tel 0121 254 7272
    www.travelwm.co.uk
    Operates buses in Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country.

  • Network Rail 40 Melton Street, London NW1 2EE, tel 0845 711 4141
    www.networkrail.com
    National Rail Enquiries 0845 748 4950, www.nationalrail.co.uk
    Not-for-profit company managing the day-to-day running of the infrastructure of Britain's national rail network
  • Nexus (Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Executive) St.James' Boulevard, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4AX, tel 0191 203 3333
    www.nexus.org.uk
  • Northern see Serco-Ned Railways
  • Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) 1 Waterhouse Square, 138-142 Holborn, London EC1N 2TQ, tel 020 7282 2000
    www.rail-reg.gov.uk 
    Responsible for the regulation of railways. See also SRA.
  • 'one' see National Express
  • Passenger Focus Freepost WA1521, Warrington WA4 6GP, tel 0845 302 2022
    www.railpassengers.org.uk
    Independent public body set up by the Government to protect the interests of Britain's rail passengers. Can advise on how to make a complaint.
  • Postbus Royal Mail Customer Services, Freepost RM1 1AA, tel 0845 774 0740, textphone 0845 600 0606
    www.royalmail.com/postbus
    Bus services combined with postal deliveries offering useful links in remote areas of Britain.
  • Railfuture (Railway Development Society): see under Countryside and Conservation
  • Railway Ramblers: see under Walking and outdoor activities
  • Scottish Citylink Buchanan Bus Station, Killermont Street, Glasgow G2 3NP, tel 0141 332 9644
    Enquiries and bookings tel 0870 550 5050
    www.citylink.co.uk
    Long distance coaches in Scotland and between Scotland, England and Northern Ireland
  • Serco-Ned Railways Derwent House, rtc Business Park, London Road, Derby  DE24 8UP, tel 01332 263718
    www.serco-nedrailways.com
    Joint venture of Serco and Netherlands Railways (NS)
    Merseyrail     Rail House, Lord Nelson Street, Liverpool L1 1JF, tel 0151 702 2534
    Operates local rail services on Merseyside on behalf of Merseytravel. See Merseytravel for passenger information.
    Northern 9 Rougier Street, York YO1 6HZ, tel 0870 000 5151
    www.northernrail.org
    Operates local and regional rail services in the north of England.
  • Silverlink see National Express
  • Slower Speeds Initiative: see under Countryside and Conservation
  • South West Trains see Stagecoach
  • South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive PO Box 801, Exchange Street, Sheffield S2 5YT, tel 0114 221 1544
    www.sypte.co.uk 
    Enquiry line: 01709 515151
     www.travelsouthyorkshire.com
  • Southeastern see Go-Ahead
  • Southern see Go-Ahead
  • SPT (Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive) 12 West George Street, Glasgow G2 1HN, tel 0141 332 6811
    www.spt.co.uk
  • Stagecoach Group 10 Dunkeld Road, Perth Scotland PH1 5TW, tel 01738 442111
    www.stagecoachgroup.com
    Stagecoach UK Bus     Address as above, www.stagecoachbus.com 
    Operates buses in Exeter; the south coast; London; Bristol, the southern Midlands, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire; Manchester; parts of the east Midlands; Lancashire and Cumbria; Durham and Tyneside; Ayrshire; Fife, Perth and Kinross; northeast Scotland; Monmouthshire and Gwent. Also operates the Sheffield Supertram for South Yorks PTE
    Island Line St Johns Road Station, Ryde PO33 2BA, tel 01983 812591
    www.island-line.com
    Operates rail services on the Isle of Wight
    South West Trains 41-45 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8NZ, tel 0870 000 5151
    www.southwesttrains.co.uk
    Operates rail services in southwest London, parts of Surrey and Berkshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire and between London, Exeter and Penzance
  • Stansted Express see 'one' under National Express
  • Sustrans (Sustainable Transport): see under Walking and outdoor activities 
  • Thameslink: see First Capital Connect
  • TransPennine Express See First
  • Transport 2000: see under Countryside and Conservation 
  • Transport for London 42-50 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0TL, tel 020 7941 4500
    www.tfl.gov.uk
    Walking website: www.tfl.gov.uk/walking
    Walking leaflet orders: select Leaflets and Information on walking website or tel 0870 240 6094
    Streets (also strategic responsibility for promoting walking): tel 0845 305 1234, www.tfl.gov.uk/streets
    Good going travel awareness campaign: tel 020 7364 6704, www.goodgoing.co.uk
    Public transport enquiries and journey planner: 020 7222 1234, http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk
  • Travel West Midlands see National Express
  • TravelWise: see under Countryside and Conservation
  • TRL (Transport Research Laboratory) Old Wokingham Road, Crowthorne RG45 6AU, tel 01344 770007
    www.trl.co.uk
    Provider of impartial transport research and advice, formerly government-owned
  • Virgin Trains 85 Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham B5 4HA, tel 0870 789 1234
    Tickets, reservations and enquiries tel 0845 722 2333
    www.virgintrains.co.uk
    Operates express rail services along the West Coast Main Line between London, Birmingham, northwest England and Scotland, and between key cities in northern and southern England via Birmingham.
  • Walking Bus see under Walking and Outdoor Activities

Tourism

  • Camping and Caravanning Club: see under Walking and Outdoor Activities organisations
  • Campingcar www.campingcar.co.uk 
    Extensive commercial online directory of UK camping and caravan sites.
  • Cumbria Tourist Board Ashleigh, Holly Road, Windermere LA23 2AQ, tel 015394 44444
    www.golakes.co.uk
    Outdoor activities website: www.lakedistrictoutdoors.co.uk
    Covers Cumbria and the Lake District. Click here for Tourist Information Centres.
  • East Midlands Tourism EMDA, Apex Court, City Link, Nottingham NG2 4LA, tel 0115 988 8300
    Covers Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire (except for North and North East Lincolnshire), Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
  • East of England Tourist Board Toppesfield Hall, Hadleigh IP7 5DN, tel 0870 225 4800
    www.visiteastofengland.com
    Covers Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk
  • English Tourism Council See VisitBritain
  • Green Tourism Business Scheme
    See Visit Scotland
  • Heart of England Tourism Larkhill Road, Worcester WR5 2EZ, tel 01905 761100
    www.visitheartofengland.com
    Covers Birmingham, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire
  • North West Tourist Board Northwest Regional Development Agency, Renaissance House, PO Box 37, Centre Park, Warrington. WA1 1XB.
    www.visitenglandsnorthwest.com
    Covers Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Manchester, Merseyside
  • Scottish Youth Hostels Association: see under Walking and Outdoor Activities organisations
  • Tourism South East 40 Chamberlayne Road, Eastleigh SO50 5JH, tel 023 8062 5400
    www.visitsoutheastengland.com  
    Covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Kent, Isle of Wight, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Sussex
  • Southwest Tourism Woodwater Park, Pynes Hill, Rydon Lane, Exeter EX2 5WT, tel 0870 442 0830
    www.westcountrynow.com
    Covers Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire
  • Tourism North East (Northumbria Tourist Board) Aykley Heads, Durham DH1 5UX, tel 0191 375 3000
    www.visitnorthumbria.com
    Covers Durham, Northumberland and the Tees Valley (the former Cleveland)
  • Tourist Information Centres
    A searchable database of these is on the Visit Britain site. Selected TICs are listed on our TICs page.
  • VisitBritain Thames Tower, Black's Road, London W6 9EL, tel 020 8846 9000 (not an information line: for Tourist Information please visit the Visit Britain website and look up your nearest centre)
    Britain Visitor Centre: see Tourist Information Centres: London
    www.visitbritain.com
    Get Active website (including walking): www.visitbritain.com/getactive  
    Aims to build the value of inbound tourism throughout Britain and to grow the domestic market for the benefit of England. Website has visitor information including a database of Visitor Information Centres.
  • Visit London 6th Floor, 2 More London Riverside , London SE1 2RR, tel 020 7234 5800
    www.visitlondon.com
    London Tourist Information: click here
  • VisitScotland (Scottish Tourist Board)
    visitscotland.com (visitor information and accommodation): Fairways Business Park, Deer Park Avenue, Livingston EH54 8AF, tel 0845 225 5121 or 01506 832121
    www.visitscotland.com
    Walking in Scotland website: http://walking.visitscotland.com
    Visit Scotland (tourism industry matters): 23 Ravelston Terrace, Edinburgh EH4 3TP, tel 0131 332 2433
    www.scotexchange.net
    Green Tourism Business Scheme: The Lythe, Barthol Chapel AB51 8TD, tel  01463 723040
    www.green-business.co.uk
    Wales Tourist Board - Bwrdd Croeso Cymru 2 Fford Fitzalan, Cardiff CF24 0UY,  tel 029 2049 9909
    Information and booking line: 0870 121 1251, minicom 0870 121 1255
    www.visitwales.com
    Walking website: www.walking.visitwales.com
  • Yorkshire Tourist Board 312 Tadcaster Road, York YO24 1GS, tel 01904 707961
    www.yorkshirevisitor.com
    Covers Yorkshire (except the former Cleveland) plus North and North East Lincolnshire
  • Youth Hostels Association: see under Walking and Outdoor Activities organisations

Utilities

  • Severn Trent Water Sherbourne House, St Martin's Road, Finham, Coventry CV3 6SD, tel 0800 783 4444
    www.stwater.co.uk
  • Thames Water PO Box 286, Swindon SN38 2RA, tel 0845 9200 800
    www.thames-water.com  
  • Yorkshire Water Western House, Halifax Road, Bradford BD6 2SZ, tel 01274 692586
    www.yorkshirewater.com
    See under 'Your enjoyment' for an extensive guide to walking on Yorkshire Water's sites.