Twenty Things You Should Know Before Traveling to Great Britain

1. You should know the difference between England, Great Britain, and the UK. England is a country. Great Britain is made up of three countries locked together geographically (England, Scotland, and Wales). The addition of Northern Ireland creates the United Kingdom.
2. Money is in pounds, not euros. In fact, if you missed it (not sure you could, really), but Britain voted out of the European Union which uses euros as currency. Get your pounds after you land in GB. It’s cheaper and you won’t need your pounds until you get there anyway. There are ATMs at the airport, but I recommend waiting (if you can) until you get in town where the rates should be much better for your currency conversion.
3. Take your debit card and credit card, but make sure the issuers know that you are traveling overseas; otherwise, you may find your funds cut off! Take more than one card and keep them separately so they both don’t get lost or stolen. Make sure your cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees.  Try to use a debit card that doesn’t charge you each time you use an ATM.
4. They drive on the left over there. Not news, but it also means you’re driving in the right-hand seat, shifting with your left, and passing on the right. Read my blog for more information.
5. London is a great destination, but it’s only a small part of what makes Britain great. See some of my “Off the Beaten Path” posts or my trip articles to get an idea.
6. The English may seem a bit distant at first, but they have generous hearts and go the extra distance for their friends. Be respectful, and don’t interfere with their personal space or yell (as one lady did on a tour I went on) “A BOBBY, A BOBBY” when she noticed a policeman. Typically, gentle voices and a calm demeanor go a long way. Note: The folks I’ve met from Wales, Scotland, and Ireland have a more outgoing and boisterous nature, but I’d still respect their space until they get to know you. Don’t be the ugly American stuffing your camera in their face and clicking pictures without asking.
7. You can’t use your electronics in GB without a converter AND adapter. You must have both and they must have enough juice so that you don’t blow electronics that pull a lot of power. Your local Best Buy or Frys can help with that.
8. There is a definite cultural line drawn between north and south and, in fact, between counties. They are very competitive and you’ll find jokes about it depending on who you talk with. Typically, the south is seen as more educated and the north as more liberal. This isn’t necessarily reality, by the way.
9. The language is similar to ours, but there’s enough of a difference to get you in trouble. Words like fanny pack, jelly, and eggplant have gotten riotous responses from my British friends. If you’re interested in some of the differences, here’s one of my posts on it.
10. Things are smaller there. Streets are narrower; cars are smaller; hallways, bathrooms, and bedrooms tend to be more “bijou”. Think of this when you are packing. Do you really want to haul your American size luggage up three flights of stairs for a hallway that will barely accommodate a carryon?
11. The pace of life is faster or slower than we’re typically used to. London is just frantic. That’s the only word I have for it. Even so, there is a world of exploration to be done there. Meanwhile, in the Lake District or other areas of outstanding natural beauty, you can put your feet up, sip a pint, and let the world float by.
12. They don’t tip there the way we do. However, tipping is more common now than it used to be. Trip Advisor offers a post about tipping in GB.
13. Typically, you can get really cheap rail travel by booking in advance. For my upcoming trip, I’m traveling all over Britain by train for about $280 vs. a BritRail pass for similar flexibility that would cost me $422. The Oyster Card is the way to go for transportation in London. For more information on getting around London, see this post.
14. I have heard time and again how expensive England is (much too expensive to travel there!). For a night in the Lake District, you can find a decent B&B (that’s with a full English breakfast and en-suite bathroom) for about 45 pounds a night (which equals about $56 at today’s rate). With the strength of the pound down against the dollar, it’s a great time to visit! Note that staying in London can be much pricier! This year, I’m staying at the Park International Hotel which costs about $122 a night at the price I got. Prices fluctuate wildly, so if you see a good rate on a hotel you want to try, get it right away! Avoid costly meals out and buy your lunch at the grocery store. Places like Sainsbury’s have sandwiches you can purchase. Be prepared for sticker shock for restaurant food, however. A burger and fries may cost you twice what you’d pay in the states! Gas prices are also pretty outrageous. Know where the pitfalls are and try to avoid them.
15. Pubs, unlike nightclubs, are generally open between 11 am and 11 pm. Pub food can be awesome. Check out a pub guide if you’re interested in “gastro pubs” that specialize in great eats. You must try Sunday Roast lunch at a pub that is known for it. This is a traditional pub meal only served on Sundays! If you’re interested in learning more about pubs, check out this post.
16. If you are staying in a small village, store hours are likely to be a bit wonky. You may not get much service on a Sunday (including train and bus). Make sure to plan accordingly.
17. Make copies of your passport and other important information and carry it with you. Always store in a safe place. This will make it easier to replace things that might get lost or stolen. Use your camera to take pictures of your luggage (inside and out) so that if it gets lost or stolen, you have much better information for the agencies to use. Tag your luggage inside and out. Minimize your luggage. Travel light.
18. You can use your cell phone over there if it’s an unlocked GSM phone or (typically) if you pay out the nose to your phone service provider. See this article for more information on cutting those costs. T-Mobile User’s Only: If you have a T-Mobile phone, T-Mobile is in the UK. You still have to pay extra for using your phone internationally. See your T-Mobile rep. for more information.
19. The British are typically very conscious of courtesy to others when driving or walking. If you’re on an escalator, stand to the right and allow faster folk to pass on the left. If you’re driving on a motorway, slower cars are left, faster in the middle, and fastest in the right lane.
20. The weather can be awful in GB, but it isn’t usually as nasty as the movies would have you believe. If you’re in crowded London, you may want to wear a slicker with a hood on rainy days to keep from poking people’s eyes out with an umbrella. The wind can pick up in the countryside and I’ve had more than one umbrella turn inside out on me. Umbrellas are sometimes not the best weather proofing device! When I pack, I take a waterproof jacket with hood and a fleece jacket. I can use one or the other or both depending on what the weather’s like. One of my favorite trips to England was in the Winter for the Christmas markets. The weather was cool, but clear and I had a fabulous time!

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