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Going to England for the first time! Suggestions?
Hey 20sb!
So I get to go to ENGLAND in February. I've never travelled outside of the US before and I'm super stoked. But I know nothing about travelling! Do you guys have any suggestions for me? They can be England-specific (places to go, cultural things to remember, etc) or general to travel (safety, preparedness, etc). I'd be super grateful!
Thanks soooo much. You guys all rock, you know.
-Samantha
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Karie on -
I suggesssst.... you take me with you! :)
Actually, I've never been so I hope someone else is much more helpful than I have been. Maybe when I finally go, you can give ME suggestions! I hope your trip is amazing!
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Permalink Reply by Yishi on -
Heyyy!!
If you're going to England in February, make sure you pack warm clothes! :)
London is a great and vibrant city to check out since there is so much history there - all of the museums are free entry, but best to get a travel guide to make sure you get what you want out of your visit to the capital since there is so much to do there! The West End is fun to hang out in - if you want to see a musical, try to go to Leicester Square in advance as you can buy very cheap tickets for the shows from the stands there. There are some really nice parks, but it may be too cold to really appreciate the gardens and parks in London. If you want to go clubbing, try to find out when the student nights are since they are cheaper. London also has Europe's largest mall - Westfields near Shepherd's Bush if you want to buy stuff - it's very pretty inside! But a warning - London will empty your pockets if you are not careful with your spending!
Other places of interest: Stonehenge, York (a quaint and historical city in the north of England), Liverpool (for museums and clubnights, also a much cheaper city to stay in), the Yorkshire Dales (beautiful landscapes - hills, heather, waterfalls and stuff but might not be so pretty in February!), Norfolk broads, Bath (another historical town), Oxford and Cambridge (these places are just awesome - gimme a shout if you're in Cambridge and I can show you around since I study there)! I'm sure there are plenty of other places to visit but can't think of anywhere right now.
In restaurants, it's nice to tip 10-15% if the service charge isn't included. People are generally very friendly, so don't be afraid of asking for help if you get lost/stuck. We drive on the left side of the road...if you want cheap accommodation, book hostels in advance (London is very expensive!) When arranging your travel, use http://www.nationalexpress.com/coach/Offers/funfare/funfares.cfm to get cheap coach travel - book in advance! I prefer trains as they are usually quicker. Also, if you do have your student card, or an expired student card from college/university, bring it with you - it's always worth trying to get discounted entry to exhibitions/places or from shops.
Hope this helps - if you have any other queries, feel free to ask/PM me and I'll do my best to help!
Yishi xxx
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Permalink Reply by Lozzz123 on -
I definitely also suggest Stonehenge - I loved it! Also try to see as many castles as possible - they're awesome.
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Permalink Reply by Heather on -
I loved visiting England when I was in High School! I really enjoyed visiting Canterbury. Not sure if you are able to head that way. But it was neat. Have a wonderful trip!
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Permalink Reply by Hannah on -
When I travel, I always forget pajamas. Don't forget your pajamas!!! Okay, if you are going all the way to England, you probably won't, and I really only commented here to say how super jealous I am. (I've always wanted to go to England). Have an amazing time! And blog ALL about it so we can live vicariously.
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Permalink Reply by treacleandink on -
Where in the country are you going? There are tons of things to see, but are all in a million different locations and depending on the duration of your visit, it's probably best to stick around the same area or only go to one or two different parts of England as the cost of travel can be quite high (or long, if you choose the cheaper option).
I live in Brighton which is a seaside resort about an hour south of London. It's really culturally diverse, but I'd always recommend coming in the summer when the weather is better - Brighton's true colours really come out in the sunshine.
Do you want to see 'quintessentially English' places? Stratford-upon-Avon is the home of Shakespeare and is in the Mid-West of the country. York is in the Mid/North East but is also very beautiful. If you google 'York the Shambles' you'll see just how pretty it is! Manchester in the North West is an amazing city - nowhere near as big as London but filled with gorgeous architecture and it has a lot that London has to offer - it's a bit cheaper up North, too!
I'd be more than happy to help you plan (I love planning) and could give you a few more tips if you wanted any extra help. Don't hesitate to ask!
Oh, and as Yishi mentioned - bring WARM clothes! It's pretty cold around here at the moment!
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Permalink Reply by Robin on -
Bring a rain coat or umbrella! It'll rain most days but only part of the day or only for an hour. It often rains very fine misty rain that you feel ridiculous holding an umbrella up but after out in it for 30 mins your soaked! Go to a pub! Pub's there aren't just for drinking - families will go for a meal together. They have good solid food you should try. Drink if you want to but go to some pubs! I love going to grocery stores when travelling - you'll see some crazy stuff! Also note that not all museums are free entry. As I recall the good ones charge; something I was surprised about when coming to DC for the first time and seeing they had no entrance fee! Restaurants don't just give out free water like they do here in the States. If you ask for water they'll pour you bottled water then charge you. Or more European is to assume you want sparkling water. Ask for tap water. But not they aren't nearly as liberal with ice either. You'll be lucky to get a few with a drink! I love England; I lived there for 10 years!
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Permalink Reply by Harley Jane on -
Get an Oyster card for the London Underground. And top it up by more than you think you'll need. That card is shitdamn expensive!
Also go to the Natural History Museum and the V&A - they're both free and you could literally spend days in there!
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Permalink Reply by Ms. Elle on -
I love the Lake District but it's probably too cold to be visiting at that time of year.
If you're planning on visiting a bunch of historical sites or places like Stonehenge, do a bit of research and see who they're managed by - National Trust or English Heritage. For example, Stonehenge is owned by English Heritage but administered by the NT - so a membership with either gives you free admittance. An NT membership will give you free entrance to places like Stourhead, Fountains Abbey and a whole bunch more - you can check out their website. If you're 25 and under (which I see you are), you can get the 'Young Person' membership from the National Trust which costs 18 pounds online (do call and cancel it when you're done though, because they roll them over automatically each year). It's worth getting if you want to visit more than 3 places that are managed in some way by the NT as adult prices to enter tend to run from 8-13 pounds per entry. These memberships also mean that you can skip the lines, so to speak.If you're going somewhere on the coast, find a fish and chippie (but make sure it looks busy, as that will tell you something about the quality). Then sit on the seaside and eat them - no one does fish and chips as well as the British, and they taste so much better outdoors.
If you have access to a car (there might be public transport, I'm not sure), it's well worth visiting the Jurassic coastline of the Southwest, which is a UNESCO site. Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove are particularly popular, but being able to drive along the coastline and stop off where you desire is wonderful.
Like everyone else says, York is a gorgeous city, and the Yorkshire Dales are lovely, full of quaint villages and quintessentially English scenery. Bath is a UNESCO site - visit the Roman Baths and then stroll around the city - it is quite compact, and has a great ambience. I really like the Yorkshire Moors and Dartmoor, but they might be a bit cold and bleak in the winter. Visit as many castles and estates as you can - they're pretty impressive, and you learn so much about the history of England. These links: here and here will give you an idea of castles and places to visit.
Bring warm clothing - England in February is cold, and an umbrella or a light waterproof outer layer. It does rain frequently in the UK, so better to be prepared! Obviously, if you're travelling alone, stay away from dodgy places and don't be walking about too much on your own at night. Most of the safety stuff in the UK is the same as anywhere else.Hope this helps!
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Permalink Reply by Lynsey Smith on -
don't try to use your blowdryer there. I've never been to england, but I studied abroad in the netherlands for a semester, and it was my experience that trying to convert an american blowdryer or straightener to a european outlet never ends well. if you need either of those things to survive, I recommend finding a department store and buying a cheap one when you get there and save the suitcase space by leaving your american beauty appliances at home!
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Permalink Reply by Ms. Elle on
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Euro-plugs/outlets are different from UK plugs and outlets, so they might not be a problem. But that raises a good point. Bring a universal converter for your electronics e.g. phone, camera, laptop, etc. Though you could just get an England-specific one, I tend to prefer universals as you can then use them for most countries.
I have one like this, but do read all the warnings/instructions as they don't convert voltage/watts, so you might also need to get something like this. Read the electronic charge capabilities on your electronics first though (and the reviews are fairly helpful).
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Permalink Reply by Jason Simone on -
SAMANTHA I HATE YOU RIGHT NOW. Except not really. Because that's impossible.
But still. I'm super jelly. And this reply is not at all helpful because before moving to NY the farthest I'd travelled away from home in NC was a two-day trip to Busch Gardens... Virginia. But hey! Now you can put INTERNATIONAL BLOGGER on your resume! *swagger*
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