Travel, Visa & Preparation

» DOWNLOAD PRE-ARRIVAL GUIDE

Southampton is very easy to reach by train and coach. We can also provide a taxi transfer service between the airport and your accommodation.

We look forward to welcoming you soon here at the Lewis School!

Please note: the prices above are per single journey, and are based on one person travelling. Please contact us if your transfer is for more than one person.

If you have booked an airport transfer with us, you will be met at the airport. The driver will be holding a ‘Lewis School of English’ sign. For your safety, we will email you a password, which you should ask the driver to tell you when you meet. You will be taken directly to your accommodation. Do not worry if your flight is delayed as the driver will check flight information and will adjust their arrival time if necessary.

After the first two hours, you will be charged £25 per hour pro rata for any delays. This is a waiting charge to cover the cost of parking and the driver’s time.

If you wish to travel by public transport, here are our recommendations. Please note: coaches are generally much cheaper!

Coaches
nationalexpress.com

Trains
nationalrail.co.uk

Airports
Southampton (SOU) – Bournemouth (BOH) – London Heathrow (LHR) – London Gatwick (LGW) – London Stansted (STN) – London Luton (LTN)

Please telephone your host family to tell them when you expect to arrive in Southampton. Unless they are coming to the station to meet you, you should take a taxi to your homestay address. The price should be no more than £10-£15.

Please note it is a requirement of UK Visas & Immigration that any child under 18 travelling with an Adult (even if it is a brother or sister) needs a letter of authorisation from a parent giving their permission for their child to be accompanied by this particular Adult or Group leader. If the child is travelling alone, then the details of the taxi company or relative/friend meeting the child need to be stated in the letter. A copy of the passport of the parent signing the letter needs to be attached. Failure to produce the letter at immigration may cause some delay until verification is made OR in extreme cases, the child may be returned home.

» DOWNLOAD OUR PARENTAL CONSENT FORM

We strongly recommend that you have fully comprehensive insurance to cover you in case of accident or emergency. New immigration laws introduced in 2016 now mean that all non-EEA students, regardless of their occupation and length of stay, are required to pay high National Health Service (NHS) fees for all services.

Lewis School can arrange insurance cover through Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited.

Insurance Cover Standard: £8.32 per week
Insurance Cover Private: £16.64 per week

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Do I need a visa?

To find out whether you need a visa to study in the UK, check here on the UK Government website.

What types of student visa are there?

Student visas include:

Short-Term Study Visa – this visa is for English language courses lasting longer than 6 months and up to 11 months.

Standard Visitor Visa – this visa allows you to attend an English language course that lasts less than 6 months. EE &EUA visitors will get this on arrival. Visitors from other nationalities will need to apply before traveling.

Where can I apply for a visa?

To find a visa application centre in your country, click here.

You can download our Pre-Arrival Guide, which will help you and your parents/guardians to prepare for your stay, and to answer questions you may have about our programmes.
We look forward to welcoming you soon here at the Lewis School!

Whether you are travelling individually or as a group, we can arrange travel from your airport to your accommodation.

Please complete and return our Parent/Guardian Consent Form.

Please also print the form, sign it, and make sure your child travels with this document. They may need to show it at border control at the airport.

NB. it is a requirement of UK Visas and Immigration that any child under 18 travelling with an Adult (even if it is a brother or sister) needs a letter of authorisation from a parent giving their permission for their child to be accompanied by this particular Adult or Group leader. If the child is travelling alone, then the details of the taxi company or relative/friend meeting the child need to be stated in the letter. A copy of the passport of the parent signing the letter needs to be attached. Failure to produce the letter at immigration may cause some delay until verification is made OR in extreme cases, the child may be returned home.

We strongly recommend that you have fully comprehensive insurance to cover you in case of accident or emergencies.

New immigration laws introduced in 2016 now mean that all non-EEA students, regardless of their occupation and length of stay, are required to pay high National Health Service (NHS) fees for all services.

Can I purchase insurance cover through Lewis School?

Yes. We can arrange insurance through Endsleigh.
For details, see Insurance Cover Junior Programmes»

Insurance Cover Standard: £6.21 per week
Insurance Cover Private: £12.42 per week

Do I need a visa?

To find out whether you need a visa to study in the UK, check here on the UK Government website.

What types of student visa are there?

Student visas include:

Short-Term Study Visa – this visa is for English language courses lasting longer than 6 months and up to 11 months.

Standard Visitor Visa – this visa allows you to attend an English language course that lasts less than 6 months. EE &EUA visitors will get this on arrival. Visitors from other nationalities will need to apply before traveling.

Where can I apply for a visa?

To find a visa application centre in your country, click here.