Travel during your Chevening year
Alongside your studies, your Chevening year is a wonderful opportunity to travel and explore the UK. Here’s our guide to travelling within the UK and abroad as a Chevening Scholar.
As noted in the terms and conditions of your scholarship, scholars are not permitted to travel outside of the UK for either academic or personal reasons for more than 30 days throughout the entire period of their award. This applies from the date on which you arrive in the UK.
You are free to travel within the UK in your free time as much as you would like and this is a key part of many scholars’ Chevening journeys.
You can find guidance and tips on travelling around the UK and abroad on this page.
Steps to take if you plan to travel abroad whilst on award
If you plan to leave the UK for any period of time, you must contact your programme officer at least two weeks before your intended travel date, confirming your:
- Destination
- Reason for the trip
- Length of your trip
Remember that you are not allowed to travel outside the UK for more than 30 days. Please also note that Chevening is unable to provide any advice on the visa process for countries outside the UK that you intend to visit. An international adviser at your university may be able to help you with this.
You must send this via email to your Programme Officer-UK.
Travel insurance or medical insurance outside of the UK is not covered by your Chevening Scholarship. You must take out adequate insurance before any international travel.
You will not be allowed to re-enter the UK without your passport and Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).
We recommend that you also carry the following documents in your hand luggage, in case you are questioned when arriving back in the UK:
- Your Chevening Final Award Letter
- Your Student ID
- A student status letter from your university (preferably confirming the university vacation dates as well as confirmation of your student status, if you are travelling during the holidays)
- Emails between you and your university showing that you have informed them of your absence
- Proof of your UK address
- Contact details for the Chevening Secretariat and your university
Getting around the UK
As a student, you are eligible to purchase a Young Person’s Railcard which will give up to 1/3 off rail prices throughout the UK. Please visit the Railcard website to find out more about the railcard. Note: even though it is called a 16-25 Railcard, mature students over the age of 25 are also eligible as long as you can provide proof of your student status.
To get the best prices on train tickets in the UK, you do need to plan in advance and book your tickets early.
The following websites may be useful in checking train travel times and booking tickets:
As a Chevening Scholar, you are also eligible to receive 3% off TfL Travel Options! Apply the code TfL3FCDO for all Transport for London (TfL) products, including Oyster, Travelcard, and Group Travelcard. Explore options on the VisitBritain website.
The following coach companies provide bus and coach travel across the UK.
When travelling around UK cities by bus, you will usually be able to buy tickets directly from the driver when you board a bus, or use a contactless payment card. Large areas like London, the West Midlands, and Greater Manchester also have their own regional travel cards which are valid on all public transport within their area.
Check local tourist websites for timetables and more information. Regional bus operators may also have their own apps, which you can download from the main app stores.
Edinburgh, Birmingham, Sheffield, Manchester, Newcastle, and Nottingham all have tram services to help you get around the city – you can usually purchase tickets for the tram either from an on-board conductor or from ticket machines at tram stops. Get more information from local tourist offices and local tourist board’s websites.
Taxis and minicabs are available in cities and towns across Britain. Taxi ranks can be found just outside most busy train stations or you can phone for one in advance. These taxi cars will all look the same – i.e the iconic black cab in London.
You can also pre-order minicabs by searching for local minicab companies online or using the Uber or Bolt apps (available in most major towns and cities). You must never hail a minicab off the streets, you should always book via a licenced company.
If you plan far enough in advance, travelling to and from Scotland and Northern Ireland can be done inexpensively by plane. British Airways, Eastern Airways, EasyJet, Flybe, and Virgin Atlantic all fly between London and Scotland, while Aer Lingus, British Airways, EasyJet, and Flybe all fly between mainland UK and Northern Ireland. Please consult their websites directly to find the best prices.
Many UK city roads have cycle lanes and even dedicated traffic lights for bicycles. Most cities also have bikes or scooters available for hire, often via a dedicated app such as Lime, Santander Cycles (London only), and Nextbike.
If you’re looking to find UK cycle route, the National Cycle Network, managed by Sustrans, provides signed cycle routes and paths covering many different parts of Britain.
Walking is a wonderful way to explore the UK! In England and Wales alone we are lucky to have over 140,000 miles of public footpaths. These paths, tracks and trails are available for everyone to enjoy all year round and are used daily by the public for exercise, routine travel and to connect with nature. They are an ideal way to get out into nature and discover some Britain’s best views.
Find out more about hiking opportunities around the UK on the Visit Britain website.
You can find more information about travelling around the UK on the VisitBritain travel page. As a Chevening Scholar, you can also get 5% off VisitBritain attractions, tours, and other experiences by using code 5FCDO and 3% off theatre tickets with the code 3FCDO. For any issues with the codes please email: VBShoptrade@visitbritain.org.
We hope you enjoy exploring the UK on your Chevening year – don’t forget to tag us in your trip photos and use the hashtag #MyCheveningJourney for the chance to be featured on our channels!
