24 England Travel Tips & Things to know before visiting England

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Heading to the UK soon and looking for some England travel tips to help you plan your holiday? We can help!

England is one of the 4 countries that make up the United Kingdom. While there is no massive culture shocks in comparison to other western European countries, there are still a lot of things to know before visiting England.

In this article, you will find a selection of tips for people traveling to England for the first time.

This includes things to be aware of ie cultural habits that are very much British, but also travel tips to England your visit to England.

Please note that while we will focus on England here, most of these statements and tips are also valid for the whole of the UK.

Important England Travel Tips

We are going to start this article with the most important travel tips for England. Here you will find a selection of advice that will make your trip much easier.

1. Book your tickets in advance (especially for London attractions and Stonehenge)

Tower Bridge in London

If you are visiting England, it’s very likely that you are also looking for some London travel tips. While they are many to consider, the most important one might very well be to book your tickets in advance.

Millions of people visit London every year therefore the attractions can sell out quickly.

It’s important you book your tickets in advance to avoid any disappointment. Here are the ones to prioritise:

PRO TIP: If you are planning to visit several landmarks in London, you may want to opt for the London Pass. Depending on what you have planned, this could save you a lot of money!

READ MORE: London 2-day itinerary: Exactly How To Spend 2 Days in London

2. Bring an adapter

The UK and Ireland have different plugs than the rest of the world. Here, you will find a type G pulg which is made of a triangle of rectangular pins. They operate on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.

For this reason, you will need an adaptor otherwise you won’t be able to charge your phone and other electronic devices.

The best way is to buy it online beforehand (it will be cheaper and you won’t have to worry about it once you arrive).

You can get it here.

Don’t worry if you forget though, adaptors are sold everywhere, even at Primark!

Make sure not to get it from one of the souvenir shops on Leicester Square though, they will charge you much more than it worth!

Things to know about British Public Transport

Let’s keep going with some facts about public transportation in England. Here you will find some things to be aware of as well as some tips to plan your journey across England.

1. The Railway network is excellent

tram in Manchester

The railway network in England is very well developed. You will find trains going everywhere and at almost every time of the day, even small villages.

While it can be hard to get around Scotland or Wales without a car, it’s not the case in England.

You can find train tickets to literally everywhere!

Also, there are many trains so you will have loads of options.

Taking the train is an excellent way to get around the country.

Taking the train is one of the best tips for Americans visiting England. Most Europeans are used to take public transport but if you are from the US, you probably are more inclined to take the car so this one is important.

Public transport is great here and not something you should ignore.

HOW TO BOOK TRAIN TICKETS: The easiest way is to look at Trainline and search for your destination. This will give you the entire timetable as well as the best prices.

You can then easily book online and keep your tickets on your phone.

2. Trains are often late

train station in Manchester

So, I know I just mentioned how good the railway network was and while this is true, I’m also forced to acknowledge that trains are often late.

Punctionality doesn’t seem to apply that well to trains in England.

But, before you start imagining something worse that it actually is, let me explain.

Most trains will be on time but it’s also not unusual for trains to be late straight from the start or to be blocked somewhere, making it arrive late at the destination.

There are so many trains running in England that it can sometimes be difficult to coordinate all of them. Also, if one is late somewhere, it creates a bit of a domino effect and it can make many other trains running late as well.

There is a good news in all of that though. It’s that you should be kept updated quite well.

Firstly, if you use the Trainline app, you can follow your train in real time. Secondly, it will be displayed at the station and in the train.

PRO TIP: If your train runs late, you can sometimes ask for a compensation. If you booked through Trainline, they will let you know if you can apply for a compensation or a partial refund.

If your train gets cancel, you can take any following train with your current ticket (even if the fare was higher).

3. You can use a contactless card for the London Tube

Underground Sign in London

When it comes to public transport, London sets the standard.

We can say or think whatever we want about the British capital but it is undeniable that the public transportation system is brilliant.

Between all the underground trains, national railway trains and buses, you can go anywhere you want without ever needing a car.

As a matter of fact, you should never hire a car in London. It’s more hassle than it’s worth!

FUN FACT: The London Underground is called the tube. This is actually a slang word that became ‘the normal’ way of saying. It was nicknamed the tube because the underground tunnels have a tube-like shape.

The great thing about public transport in London (bus and tube) is that you can use your contactless bank card to take it. There is no need for a ticket, you can simply tap your card or phone and you will be charged accordingly.

PRO TIP: If your bank charges a fee for using contactless abroad, you can buy an Oyster card and top it up as you go. The oyster card costs ÂŁ5 (refundable when you bring it back) and will work exactly like a contactless card would.

Things to know about British Houses and Hotels

Now that you know everything about transportation in England, let’s move on to houses and hotels.

You will find below some facts about English houses that may surprise you.

If you are visiting, you will certainly be booking a hotel or an Airbnb somewhere and these will come in handy.

Even if you are staying with a friend, you will notice all these things so it’s better to be aware of them so you’re not too surprised when you find out about them.

1. There aren’t switches or plugs in the bathroom

There are no switches in UK bathrooms. This is a nationwide requirement meant to ensure everyone’s safety. The electric system in the UK is built with a very high voltage which can make it very dangerous.

For this very reason, light switches are not allowed in bathrooms as it would represent a risk of electrocution with the humidity naturally present in a bathroom.

To switch the light on, you will either find a switch outside of the bathroom or a string to pull inside.

The same principle applies to plugs therefore, you won’t find a single socket in the bathroom. They are located in every other room though.

It can be a bit annoying since you can’t dry your hair in the bathroom but there is no way around it, you’ll simply have to do it somewhere else.

2. You need to turn on the plug socket

Unlike the rest of Europe, in the UK, you will find little switches above the sockets.

This is so you can turn on and off the socket.

Make sure to turn on the socket otherwise electricity won’t go through and your phone won’t charge.

If it’s on, the top of the switch will be red. If you can’t see the top of the switch, the plug is off.

It’s important you check this before putting your phone to charge and going to sleep otherwise you might wake up in the morning just to find out your phone hasn’t charged.

3. Toilets are (almost) always in the bathroom

British bathroom with toilet

In the UK, toilets are always in the bathroom. There is no separate room for the toilet like in France for example.

4. Washing machines are very often in the kitchen

washing machine in kitchen

As a general thing, houses in the UK tend to be quite small. For this reason, it’s very common for the washing machine and dryer to be in the kitchen.

If this will not come as a surprise for other Europeans, it will definitely surprise a few Americans!

5. There aren’t shutters on the windows

This one is uniquely British since some people will find it completely normal but some others will be extremely suprised by it.

There are no shutters on windows.

Instead, you will get either blinds or curtains which means that it will never be pitch dark in the room if there is light outside.

Things to know about British Food

Food is one of the most important aspect of a trip and when it comes to English soo, it’s safe to say that it doesn’t have the best reputation.

This is a bit of a mistake though because there are loads of delicious things you can eat!

1. British food is very good

Sunday Roast in England

The ‘bad’ reputation of English food mainly comes from the fact that British food is not as elaborated as others and the range of products used is not wide as it could be.

This is mainly due to the fact that some British chefs like Jaimie Oliver or Gordon Ramsay became massively famous and some foreign chefs such as Gino D’acampo moved to the UK and brought new things to the British food scene.

Nowadays, British food is very good! You won’t be disappointed with the food! We recommend you to try: Sunday roast, lamb in mint sauce, scones, English breakfast, fish and chips…

READ MORE: 15 Traditional British food to eat in the UK

2. The Brits don’t kid with tea

The Brits love their tea. This is not just a stereotype! No matter where you go it will be everywhere!

In supermarkets, you will find massive boxes with hundreds of tea bags.

Black tea is the most popular type of tea here and it’s drank with a dash of milk. If you order a tea in a pub or cafe, you will always be given milk.

Another popular type of tea is Earl Gray.

If you are visiting England for the first time, you may also notice that people talk about ‘afternoon tea’. This is not a cup of tea taken in the afternoon but an actual type of meal.

It’s a great thing to do when meeting up with friends. You get to sample a bit of everything and it’s always super cosy.

PRO TIP: If you are visiting London, you can also opt for an afternoon tea bus. It’s super fun and you get to do a bit of sightseeing while eating.

3. Sandwiches are very popular for lunch

sandwich on arran

Most people have sandwiches for lunch in England. During the week, people don’t usually bother to go to the restaurant at lunchtime.

This is mainly due to the fact that their lunch break can be very quick (30 minutes) so there isn’t enough time to go for a sit down meal.

An afternoon tea is composed of finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, sweet pastries and cakes. It is a light meal that is usually taken between 3 PM and 5 PM.

For this reason, sandwiches are incredibly popular!

You will find all sorts!

Here are some of the most popular sandwiches in the UK:

  • BLT (Bacon Lettuce Tomato)
  • Tuna Mayo
  • Corn Tuna Mayo
  • Bacon and Cheese
  • Sausage
  • Egg Mayo

You can also find some ‘fancier’ versions in pubs.

If you are on a budget, this is a great way to save money on food. Sandwiches are much cheaper than restaurant dishes and you can find them everywhere.

4. Tips are optional

This is an important thing to know about England: you do not have to pay.

A lot of people expect England to be like the USA in regards to tipping but let me reassure you here, it’s not the case.

There is no obligation to tip in England. Waiters (like any other worker in the United Kingdom) are being paid at least minimum wage and tips are entirely optional.

That having been said, tips are obviously much appreciated so it is common to leave a tip if you think you had good service.

10% would be a standard tip in London. Everything up to 10% will be very appreciated outside of London.

GOOD TO KNOW: In London, you might notice that there is a service charge added to your bill (usually 10 to 13%). If that’s the case, it’s actually the tip. If you choose to pay the service charge, you do not have to tip on top of it.

5. Get a Full English Breakfast

English Breakfast

That having been said, in the past 10 years, Britain had a culinary revolution.

The Full English Breakfast is not a legend. That’s the traditional English breakfast and it’s amazing!

No matter what you do, you have to get a Full English at least once.

This is one of the best travel tips for England!

A full English Breakfast is made of baked beans, toasts, mushrooms, tomatoes, hash browns, bacon, eggs, sausages and black pudding.

Needless to say that you’ll be rather full after that and that’s the whole point!

A full English costs between ÂŁ4 and ÂŁ9 (depending where in England you get it) and it’s excellent value for money.

It’s delicious but it will also fill you up for quite a bit.

This means that you can then have a light lunch and save a fair bit of money that way.

Things to know about British Fashion

1. The Brits dress in their own way

carnaby street in london

British fashion is a rather difficult concept to explain. In the UK, you will find a bit of everything.

The Brits don’t tend to follow fashion, they just wear whatever they want and feel comfortable wearing. It’s not unusual to see people shopping in a onesie for example.

When you go to the UK, you will see so many different styles.

Although it can be a bit disturbing at times because all these styles are mixed and clearly don’t always fit together, I always thought it was a great thing. You can just be yourself.

2. You can bag some great bargains in England

If you love shopping, England will be your paradise!

Here you will find loads of shops where you can buy clothes and the best thing about it is that they can be very cheap.

Firstly, the UK is the land of Primark and that is the ultimate shop to get some cheap clothes.

The Brits love Primark and most visitors rush there because, let’s be honest, it’s so good!

Another way you can get some great deals is by shopping in charity shops. The British Heart Foundation, RSPCA, Oxfam… they all have shops all around the UK where you can find some fantastic second clothes and shoes.

It’s also a great place to buy toys for children and books.

Things to know about driving in England

1. We drive on the left-hand side in the UK

In the UK, the steering wheel is on the right and we drive on the left-hand side.

If you are from Australia or South East Asia, it will be only normal to you but if you are from the rest of Europe or America, it will require a bit of getting used to.

There is nothing to be overly worried about, however you will have to be careful. Whether you are driving or walking, bear in mind everything is the opposite way.

We drive on the left-hand side, on a roundabout priority is on your right, when you cross a road you have to look right first.

That having been said, the UK is very much aware of the fact that it’s a difficult thing to keep in mind and in most places you will find signs on the ground to remind you which way to look at.

2. British drivers are very polite

The Brits are very polite people as a general thing but when it comes to driving, they go the extra mile!

They are very organized in the way they drive and there is this common understanding that you will let people go or change lane.

If you are driving on the motorway for example and there is an insertion lane on the left, generally cars will move onto the right lane to let people insert themselves on the road.

If there is traffic and an intersection, cars will go one by one in turns. That way nobody is blocked and each lane go forward equally.

Even though there is no proper rule that says you have to let people go, it is a common understanding and it will come across very rude if you don’t let them go.

3. The rules are the rules

British people are extremely disciplined and follow the rules thoroughly.

This applies to driving as well. In the UK, you have to follow the rules. Don’t try to change lane abruptly for example. You put your indicator on first, someone will let you go (either by doing a sign or leaving more than enough space for you to go) and then you can go.

In roundabouts, you have to be on the good lane otherwise you won’t be able to take the good exit.

Even though this seems like a very straightforward recommendation, it can be quite hard to follow when we are used to fewer rules or to just get on with it. In the UK, drivers won’t get on with it.

If you are in the wrong lane they won’t understand why you’re trying to exit. That’s how accidents happen.

It’s something to be very careful of, check your GPS often and which lanes it’s indicating you to take as otherwise you will get it wrong.

4. There are a lot of potholes

Unfortunately, the roads in the UK are in very poor condition. There are potholes everywhere.

It’s something you should be very careful about as it’s not unusual to blow up a tyre or damage your car.

As a matter of fact, a claim is being raised every 7 minutes because of potholes.

Things to know about British Weather

1. It does rain a lot

Manchester in the rain

This is no legend; it does rain a hell of a lot in the UK.

Even though you have a better chance to get nice weather in summer, the weather is very unpredictable so there is no guarantee of anything.

Sometimes we get very nice and sunny days in February and cold and rainy days in August. If you come to the UK between May and September it will be more likely to be nice, however, you really can not know.

For this reason, I am about to share with you the ultimate England travel tip: pack an umbrella and a raincoat!

These are two items you should always have when visiting England.

Even if the weather forecast says that it will be sunny, there really is no guarantee here!

So, knowing that, the best thing you can do is buy a good raincoat (mine is from the British brand Lighthouse Clothing and it’s great) as well as an umbrella.

2. It floods a lot

Oddly enough, even though the UK gets a lot of rain, the infrastructures to deal with that quantity of water are not the best.

Sewers get blocked quickly and often and it’s very common to have floods, especially in the north.

Something to be aware of when driving as there are massive puddles everywhere.

3. The Brits are never cold

wellies in london

As a general thing, British people are never cold. They have some kind of superpowers that immunize them from the cold.

If you go out on a Saturday night in the UK, you will understand what I mean straight away. They barely have any clothes on.

The reason for that is originally to avoid having to pay for a cloakroom however as a general thing you will notice that they are never cold.

As soon as there is a ray of sunshine, everyone wears t-shirts and dresses. Superpowers, I’m telling you!

Things to know about British Culture

1. The Brits are very polite

If there is one thing to remember about British people is that they are extremely polite. They are almost obsessed with it. This can be surprising for foreigners.

2. They love queuing

As previously said, the Brits are very polite and therefore like queuing. Of course, it’s not exactly that they like to wait but they like it being organised. You queue and go one by one. No chaos will be tolerate.

3. They always give you pet names such as Love, Darling, Honey, Babe…

The Brits love calling the others with these cute pet names. In certain countries such as France that would be particularly offending to have a complete stranger calling you like this. In the UK that’s normal. They are just naturally adorable!

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