I've been imagining a version of the TV programme Race Across the World, where contestants have to get from Birmingham to Istanbul in time for the game. Options are limited because lots of routes are fully booked. In that programme contestants aren't allowed to fly, but there aren't any flights available within budget anyway. So it's buses, trains, taxis and ferries. Looking online (which contestants aren't allowed to do), you can get a bus from Birmingham to Bucharest, and then trains to Istanbul from there, for less than £50 in total.