Whenever I got bored in the U.K., the best thing to do was pack a backpack, buy a £20 round-trip train ticket and take a day trip. Throughout my time in Manchester, I did this more times than I can count. I visited places like Edinburgh, York, Bristol, Bath and many smaller towns in between. One of my favorite parts about living in the U.K. was how accessible everything felt. It seemed like every weekend there was somewhere new to explore, all within just a couple of hours by train.

When going on a day trip, you really don’t need much. A waterproof jacket is a must (don’t bother with an umbrella — the wind will probably turn it inside out), a camera, a portable charger and a meal deal from your local grocery store. A meal deal is a classic student staple: for around £3.95, you get a sandwich, snack and drink. Every grocery store has its own version, and people are surprisingly opinionated about which one is best. Personally, I’d stay away from SPAR and definitely recommend Sainsbury’s.

Some of my favorite memories came from these spontaneous trips. I’d spend the morning wandering through cobblestone streets, visit museums or old cathedrals, stop for a coffee and then find a nearby trail or park before catching the evening train home. Even if I only had one day, it always felt like I had gone on a real adventure.

Day trips are also one of the cheapest ways to make memories while studying abroad. Unlike in the United States, where a train ticket can easily cost over $100 and still require a four- or five-hour journey, traveling around the U.K. is generally much more affordable and convenient. With a Railcard, tickets become even cheaper, making it easy to travel on a student budget. The railway system isn’t perfect (expect the occasional delay or cancellation), but overall it makes exploring the country incredibly easy. Looking back, some of my favorite days abroad weren’t the ones I had planned months in advance. They were the mornings when I decided to hop on a train, see somewhere new and be back in Manchester by bedtime.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: University of Manchester