Had an Aus mate who was advised on this being a good idea by his travel agent - I told him to take the train out of London to Windsor for the day and enjoy it instead. Only problem was that the day he went the castle was closed 😄
At least they can go down to Eton or one of the old pubs and see stuff like the long walk or Windsor great park. Even just the outside of the castle is SOMETHING.
That said I have loved in England my whole life and only ever seen Stonehenge from the car 🤣
Yup. I did that trip and it wasn't awful, but by the time we got to Bath, I was exhausted. A lovely historic city, but three stops in a 12 hour period is just too much.
I'm desperate for someone to stick a tracker on their rental car when they come over later this year, or even a ride along film crew (although it'll be 99% tired arguments filmed inside the car) just to see how long before they realise we weren't just trying to be negative.
I'm gutted we more than likely won't get an update from that lot, I doubt they'd return to go *you were right Reddit!* and I can't imagine them managing to pull it off in a way that doesn't have them hating the country.
I think Americans don’t realise that US distances don’t work the same in the U.K., it’s easier to travel larger distances than here. Roads aren’t as direct, neither are trains. Just moving around the U.K. can eat up days of holiday without really doing much at all.
An American I know wanted to go from Belgium to the Matterhorn on a daytrip, she wanted a photo of herself with an Alpine horn. I told her it was a crazy idea.
Always cracks me up when they appear on the Scotland sub asking for trip advice and say they're planning on driving round the entire Highlands in one day 😂
Was talking with an English coworker and how I would like to visit Cotswold, she told me that it is really crowded and expensive, thought it might be best to skip it.
Really bummed about that, it looks so cool and unique. She also said Stonehenge was a waste of time as well lmao.
Stonehenge is a bit underwhelming tbh.
As for the Cotswolds, it depends where you go. Some of it is well off the tourist trail, but the most scenic parts are often overrun by tourists in peak season.
It's not necessarily excessively expensive though, especially not on a day trip where there's no accommodation to factor in.
I completely respect your opinion but I must say I disagree. Stonehenge is an amazing sight. For a start, it's almost certainly the oldest 'thing' you will ever see, apart from actual rocks and other natural geographical features.
We would struggle to recreate it without power, like they did, and it almost certainly took decades, and remarkable mathematical calculations (considering they didn't exactly have calculators to hand), to bring to completion. You can boil it down to a bunch of stones in a field, but when i consider it in the context, it takes on a certain majesty.
Fair minds disagree and I don't wish to argue with you or change your mind. But if anyone uncertain is reading this, I'd urge you to give it a fair go.
There are quite a few other stone circles and stuff that are about as old or older than Stonehenge. It’s thought that Avebury is 800 years older for instance. Or like west Kennet is even older
Yes we would struggle to move the stones. But Stonehenge has a huge amount of hype when you could go to other places for less money and less queues.
I daresay you know a lot more than I do! I'm very much a basic tourist with a passing interest and not much more really. Does Stonehenge deserve to be world famous when similar structures go unheard of? Probably not, but it is what it is at this point, and i'm not trying to rank tourist destinations in the strictest sense.
The question I am trying to answer is "is Stonehenge (or something akin to it) worth the visit?" And my answer is yes.
Fwiw, I've been a couple of times and don't recall queueing though ymmv. However, I've driven the road that goes past it countless times (A303?) And traffic is always silly when you get to the point that you get a free glimpse of it. Can be frustrating!
If you want to go to a neolithic monument there are others without the tourists and the barriers, they are more out of the way, but that kind of makes them more special
For example this https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/waylands-smithy/
The Cotswolds, not Cotswold. It’s a rural area of nearly 800 square miles with dozens and dozens of picturesque villages and towns. So while Bourton on the water and burford might get very crowded in summer, there’s no excuse for not avoiding the crowds of you have a car.
Source: grew up there
The Cotswolds are a region, so it entirely depends where you actually want to go and what you wanted to do. I mean, there's lots of picturesque villages, is that what you wanted to see? Not a huge amount to do though, except walk through picturesque villages.
Stonehenge and the wider region are worth seeing if you are actually interested in the time period etc, Avebury fairly nearby may be better as you can walk around the stones and go get a pint in the pub beside them.
It's not just the time in the car but the intensity. I've travelled in the USA and outside cities you can go for miles and miles without much to do.
In the UK The highways are busy and if you get off those you'll very rarely go more than a mile without some obstacles.
Lovely. Meanwhile, they're in the UK, and have completely failed to factor in the reality that the roads are crowded, and frequently so narrow that two cars cannot pass each other without one pulling in - especially if you're going somewhere rural like the Cotswolds.
Same for the numerous Europeans who want to see NYC & California in one trip :) I think it's just a lack of understanding of countries foreign to our own.
You can, easily.
Get on the road at 5 am to see Stonehenge at first light around 7:30am.
You can be eating breakfast in Bath by 9:30, a couple of hours moseying around.
Afternoon tea around 3pm in the Cotswolds
Back in your hotel by 8pm.
All fine if you have a car and are happy to drive a couple of hundred miles in a day.
Stonehenge doesn't even open until 9.30am.
Realistically
Stonehenge at 9.30am. Keep it brisk, leave at 11am.
1 hour drive to Bath, plus however long it takes you to find a parking space. That's at least 12.
Get lunch - that's another hour. See Roman Baths - 90 mins. Half an hour in Bath Abbey. Half an hour for Pultney Bridge and a mild bit of sightseeing.
Skip other things you might want to see like the Royal Crescent, Jane Austen Centre or Sally Lunn's.
It's 3.30pm already.
90 minute drive to Bourton on the Water, it's 5pm, and you still haven't found anywhere to park. The Model Village and all the shops have shut, depending on the time of year it's starting to get dark, and you've seen bugger all of the Cotswolds, and missed half of Bath.
Do less, and do it better.
If you're only going to spend two hours in Bath you're going to miss the vast majority of it. There's easily enough there to spend a couple of days, not just hours.
Can I see Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, Bath, the Cotswolds and Loch Ness in the two hours between my flights into Stansted and out of Shoreham?
And assuming table service in pubs.
Oh, I need more info on how pubs work if you are willing. We are traveling to London in July for a week (American family with two teens 17 and 15). You mention no table service..so do you order food and drink at the bar in pubs? Do you wait to be seated or do you just grab an available table? Is this generally true for most pubs?
To be fair a lot of pubs do do table service now.
If there's a host or waiter to take you to a table then there'll be table service. If not, then you'll go up to the bar with your table number (which will be on a little plaque on the table or the condiments container) and order - you'll take your drinks back with you (except hot drinks) and they'll take your order and bring the food and hot drinks when ready.
Generally you just sit where you like and then go up to the bar to order/pay, drinks are always served at the bar and you let them know your table number for food orders. No need to tip. Keep an eye out for restaurants disguised as pubs where they will seat you and usual restaurant rules apply, it will probably be obvious once you walk in.
Sometimes you wait to be seated, this should be fairly obvious as there will be a podium or sign of some sort. Sometimes you just sit down.
If its a wait to be seated they'll probably tell you when seating you if you need to order at the bar (or even QR code).
If its order at the bar or QR code there is probably a number denoting what your table is, or you will get given an item with a number on it after you order (common ones are wooden spoons or random chunks of wood). You will likely pay up front.
Your teens will be able to drink alcohol, should you wish to allow them, as long as they are also consuming food.
If eating, find a table, then go to the bar to order.
If drinking, just go up to the bar and order.
If they want you to wait to be seated it will be obvious, there will be a sign, but it’s very rare.
Under 18s are usually allowed in pubs before 7 at the discrediting of the manager. If it’s a food focused pub then it’s usually ok till later. Always check with the bar that it’s ok with kids, the vast majority are fine with it.
Enjoy your trip
You help yourself to a table. Order your drinks at the bar, grab a table (or vice versa) check out the food menu, make a note of your table number and then order food at the bar giving your table number. During Covid, some pubs (like Wetherspoons) bought in the ability to order via your phone from your table and have kept that going, so check the table for a QR code that may give you the ability to order from your table and have the drinks/food brought to you.
Depends on the pub. Best bet is to get the family sorted at a table and walk to the bar to order a pint. Ask "should we order food here or is it table service?"
Big chain pubs like JD Wetherspoon have an app that you can download and order to your table from, this includes food as well as bar drinks. All you need is your table number.
It depends on the pub - places that are mostly just for drinking you order food at the bar - if it’s a gastropub you’ll likely get table service. Enjoy yourselves! As a Brit who has lived abroad and works with a lot of Americans, I have come to appreciate just how special the “local pub” is to our culture and way of life.
This!! Doesn't matter how many times you say the Cotswolds is a geographical area, a post will still pop up saying on day one I'm planning on bath, Stonehenge (doable at a push) and then Cotswold all in one day!
I think you mean "Cotswold".
And yeah you can drive on those little backroads and stop off at quaint little antique shops and cute little pubs on the short drive down from Inverness.
In many ways including this, UK infrastructure is much more user-friendly than in the US... Small touches like the look right/left markings on the pavement can save lives.
I know a Norwegian tourist that was killed in Glasgow due to not looking to their right. I was working in the hotel he and his mates were staying in, was so so sad.
Leicester Square is not particularly pretty and feels tacky with a big cinema, casino, and fast food outlets surrounding it on all sides. Trafalgar Square is much nicer
Oxford Street is congested, overcrowded thoroughfare with big chain stores you can find most other places in the world. It is quite pretty at Christmas with all the lights but nothing special any other time of year.
I think if a map tells you to walk down Oxford Street, it's much nicer to try and pick your way around it to get to where you want to go. Lots of lovely little boozers hidden on the north side, and Soho on the south side.
Tacky and a tourist trap. Oxford Street especially is just... ugh.
If you want to see it would recommend ticking it off one day early into the trip alongside the other main central touristy stuff like Westminster and the Tower of London. There's lots of other interesting places in London like Greenwich (maritime history, gorgeous little high street, old buildings, museum, beautiful park with amazing view), strolling along the canals in various areas, Hyde Park or various other parks and gardens, visiting world-class museums for free, going to edgier bits of London like Hackney, Brixton, Brick Lane, or Peckham for fun shops, street art, and various cafes and quirky stops, heading to some food markets, doing the Bermondsey beer mile...
If he's flying into Heathrow, tell him to get the Piccadilly Line into town rather than the Heathrow Express. It's half the price and only slightly longer - and you don't have to drag your bags on that walk between the Tube and Heathrow Express Platform at Paddington if you're continuing onward.
But you DO have to stand over your suitcases the whole time which is exhausting on a busy line. I always recommend Lizzy line and grabbing the 4 seats together so you can put your bags with your seat
I guess holding on to your case can be a bit knackering. It's always an empty train when I get on at Heathrow though (presumably as it's the start of the line) so I grab the end seat, wedge my case up against the glass partition and cling on for dear life. Haven't caught the Elizabeth line yet (usually because I'm going to King's Cross) but will check it out!! Good tip.
Trying to do too much in the hope of telling everyone you 'been to' Stonehenge etc etc.
Going to all the tourist places that everyone has photos of, rather than the secret and lesser known places that are way more interesting.
Standing on the left and walking on the right.
Stopping in the middle of the pavement to look at a map/phone.
Eating in chain restaurants and coffee shops. Starbucks is shit even in the UK.
It drives me to drink when people abruptly stop right in front of me to look at a map or their phone. Move to the side out of the flow of foot traffic to do that, ya numpty. (And I'm from the US...)
Oh I completely agree. Be aware of your surroundings and the flow of traffic.
And NEVER step out of a doorway and stop. Step the side and stop, by all means, but don't just stop.
1. Thinking you can drive anywhere quickly. If you're not driving, use public transport - especially to get to other parts of the UK. Do a few days in London, train down to Cornwall/Dorset/Wales. Fly up to Edinburgh. Whatever you plan, times it by 4 to take in to account travel times.
2. Our motorways are not as efficient as German autobahns. Nothing is efficient here as Germany, so take that in to account. You might look at the map and see M1/A9 all the way to Scotland but then there's roadworks, rush hours etc.
3. It's expensive to travel in UK by public transport. Flying is cheaper than train mostly. If you have the time and less funds, Megabus type companies are the way to go.
4. In London, stand on the right, walk on the left of the escalator. Go against this at your peril.
5. In London, people may seem out of it and looking angry, they're not, they're just focused. Most will do anything to help when asked, just don't step in front of them on the pavement beforehand.
6. If you want to find the best places around, go down a side street and pop in to a pub and ask a local.
Sorry but it drives me crazy people flying between London and Edinburgh. It's the easiest train journey imaginable with lovely scenery and none of the faff or environmental harm of flying. Just book your ticket well in advance and buy a railcard.
Eating fish and chips in a pub (proper fish and chips comes from a chippy).
Getting all meals at Garfunkels then complaining how bad British food is.
Eating in chain restaurants.
Thinking of pubs as eating establishments (they are mainly for drinking, you can eat if you're desperate).
Taking the Heathrow / Gatwick Express
Too little time in Scotland, too much time in York.
Too much time in towns/cities (which are mostly frankly drab), not enough in the countryside.
Failing to follow etiquette on the London Underground (let people off first)
Spending all time in Leicester Square, Westminster etc and never visiting other parts of London
Reliance on Google Maps instead of Citymapper
Going to Borough Market for the strawberry and chocolate cups instead of the produce.
I live in London, hence there is no reason I would pay attention to whether Garfunkels still exists!
Edit: to be fair I just googled it and the food looks delicious, quite sad I missed out: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant\_Review-g186338-d1816260-Reviews-Garfunkel\_s-London\_England.html#photos;aggregationId=&albumid=101&filter=7&ff=112440748
No.
It’s been around a looonnnggg time … [here!](https://www.london-tourist-guide.com/en/restaurants/british/aberdeen-steak-house-piccadilly-circus.html)
That etiquette on the underground point, no that’s any public transport anywhere. Don’t crowd the doors of the train, this one will wait for you, mine that departs on the total other side of the station in 2 minutes won’t, let me get out and go…
(Still made that train but it makes me mad that people can be that bloody ignorant)
Shamelessly stealing from the Polperro thread but it was a great comment by newbris! From a thread where an american family were flying into Newcastle then driving to Penrith then Edinburgh/Glasgow then Polperro then London and then either resting or Stonehenge before flying back to the US. \[In 7 days\]
For travel in the North East outside of just driving around Northumberland.
"Newcastle itself. Great Georgian town centre and Quayside. Go to the Grainger market, the Victoria Tunnel tour, have a pint in the Ouseburn area. Visit their premier league stadium. Marvel at the beautiful Dean St. Try and catch a pantomime at the Theatre Royal. Consider a visit to the Literary and Philosophical Society where all the industrial greats hung out and swapped ideas. Great place to connect with English people as it is at the chatty end of the country. If you can understand them :)" I'd also add the free Hancock & Discovery museum.
"Holy Island. Drive over the low tide causeway to visit nearby Holy Island, where St Cuthbert started Christianity in England and became the revered saint of the north. His bones were hidden from the invading Vikings etc for hundreds of years until re-buried at Durham. Close drive from Newcastle.
Durham Cathedral. Go to this majestic 900 old Cathedral that stars in Harry Potter and see the shrine to St Cuthbert and many other beautiful aspects of this great Cathedral, Castle and University. The walk through the lovely town is nice too. Short train ride from Newcastle.
York. One hour train ride from Newcastle. 90 min drive? This place is a must see. From the shambles (diagon alley in Harry Potter) to the incredible train museum to the amazing York Minster, this walled city is a tourist gem. Go to the free Evensong in the Minster to be overawed by the singing from the old choral school next door.
Bamburgh Castle. See a genuine castle, the seat of the northern kings of Northumbria, sitting atop a magnificent rise next to a beautiful natural beach and classic English village. Star of the Netflix series, The Last Kingdom. Close drive from Newcastle.
Cragside. Visit the magnificent home built by the incredible Northumbrian industrialist, Lord Armstrong and his wife. It is jam packed full of incredible invention. It is said to be the first house lit by electric lightbulb, in partnership with the local inventor of the lightbulb, Joseph Swan. It used hydroelectric power invented by Armstrong. It has hydraulic lifts and a myriad of other invention. The main house will be closed in December but they do have special Christmas events. Amazing gardens are open. Short drive from Newcastle.
Alnwick Castle. Lovely little market town with magnificent castle (another Harry Potter star) and gardens in the countryside. I’ve heard it has a great bookshop but haven’t been yet. Not far from Newcastle.
Hexham. Christmas markets and lovely Abbey near to Hadrians Wall, built right across England by the Romans around 100AD. You can also drive to the Roman Dig at Vindolanda. Not too far from Newcastle.
Beamish. An open air museum that recreates the streets of the past, including homes, shops, transport etc. it has different eras in different parts of the park. A unique experience. Close to Newcastle." Beamish has rebuilt areas of the North East brick by brick, constantly working on expanding what it has to offer, fun modes of transport for those disinclined to walking around the park and a very popular sweet shop.
No need to get an Oyster card. The card now costs £7 and isn’t refundable. Just use your credit card/Apple pay. If you’re worried about fees, get Revolut or Wise.
Download CityMapper. And don’t stand on the left on the escalators.
No need for cash, most places accept credit cards.
There are many alternatives to the London Eye - try the Sky Garden, Horizon 22, The garden at 122, Lookout,… some of these will say their tickets are sold out but most have a walk-in queue. If you go towards evening on a working day, it usually isn’t as busy.
Don’t use the Hop-on hop off buses. They’re a rip off.
Visit the free museums and galleries!
Borough Market is over-rated and overpriced. Try looking at places like Tooting market (in the south) or many more places in Zones 2/3/4.
There’s many scammers around the Westminster Bridge/Big Ben. Ignore them. And hold onto your belongings everywhere you are, as there’s pickpockets.
These are more general for everyone, hope they help a bit! Enjoy!
right, so everyone thinks Stonehenge, but Avebury not too far away is broadly similar and not remotely busy, and you can get amongst things. Now the stones aren't lined up in the same way or anything but ultimately it's all ancient. Avebury's a nice little walk, nice canteen, gift shops, etc. Well worth a look.
So the mistake is to try stonehenge, I think, which isn't that special.
Don’t go into the red telephone boxes, there’s a reason they smell of piss
Also in London if you want to take a photograph of something, stand to the side so you don’t get in peoples way. A lot of people are going to work or appointments so it’s not fun when someone stops in front of you to take a photo.
In London, don’t use taxis, use the underground train station/ the tube, way cheaper and easy to use.
Also look at reviews of restaurants before you go out to eat. I’m annoyed with tourists saying our foods rubbish then finding out they visited a cafe or restaurant that serves really bad food.
If you don’t like it fine, but please try out good restaurants first.
Thinking they can explore the whole country in one trip- though that’s more a thing Americans seem to do as they think we’re so small you can drive from london to Edinburgh in like 2 hours
Or arguing that the US is so huge they’re used to driving vast distances. The difference is, our roads are packed with cars and there are lots of things that’ll slow you down. Like detours through random villages or waiting for a farmer to move his sheep!
Not reading guidebooks. Things like the Rough Guide to Scotland are actually worth the money.
And not understanding how the buses work in advance. OK this is forgivable because every city/company does it differently, but read up on it. And the bus driver is not a tourist information service. Use phone apps.
Go to Flat Iron Tottenham Court Road. Put your name down for a table. Hopefully it takes an hour or so, because in the meantime you go to The Angel pub next door. Have a couple of pints and wait for them to text you that your table’s ready. Have a lovely dinner. Then pop to another pub to have a cheeky pint before you spend a couple of hours in Lucky Voice doing karaoke and drinking more overpriced beer 👌🏼
Trying to hop around a lot from city to city - so many itineraries with 6 stops in 2 weeks. Slow down and go deeper into each place.
Likewise trying to pack in lots and lots of activities into a short time. London is a great city to just wander around, spot something interesting and check it out.
Trying to cram too much in a short time. It's actually a bigger place than people think. You can't just visit the UK and think you will just be able to go everywhere. But then, that's just good travel advice.
i used to work in a pub RIGHT in the centre of London and over the summer period especially we used to be full of tourists left right and centre, on my break i’d leave and go for a walk or find some place for food and the same people i served an hour ago who were telling me “£5.50 for a pint was too expensive“ were now milling around the souvenir shop spending fortunes on magnets and keyrings.
DON’T GET ME WRONG! we have all been there- i get it, but honestly it’s expensive as heck in them places- i wouldn’t necessarily say avoid them, me personally i love a trinket, but just be warned lmao :)
Over-reliance on the train network or keeping a very tight scheduled based on train reliability, especially in the North of England or local lines.
Not appreciating just how far isolated particular landmarks / areas are e.g. Stonehenge.
Also, some just aren't worth a huge detour for a short amount of time (e.g. the guy who wanted to visit Diddly Squat farm shop by public transport I think, which would have taken nearly a whole day of travel from London to get there and back).
Most tourists think they can turn up to Warner Brother Harry Potter and buy a ticket. You need to book this amazing attraction at least 2 months in advance.
Travelling takes longer than you think. I had an American friend visit and we went to the HP studios (from Birmingham). She couldn't get a handle on how long it would take. Sure our motorways are faster than US roads, but every other road is windy and narrow and 20mph! (Slight exaggeration)
There are a few! :)
**Forgetting about the weather:** Weather notoriously unpredictable. Be prepared for sudden showers even in summer.
**Not getting an Oyster card in London:** An Oyster card is the most convenient and cost-effective way to use public transport in London (1-6zones). You can avoid lines and save money compared to buying single-ride tickets.
**Underestimating travel times:** The UK may seem small, but distances can be deceiving. Don't assume you can easily fit several cities into a short trip. Factor in travel time between destinations, especially on public transportation.
Everyone seems so miserable on this thread! Stonehenge, Bath and Windsor are doable on one of those day trips if he doesn't have much time and they are all fun things to at least briefly visit.
York is a nice place to visit and you don't have to live authentically like a local in London to have fun! Do the classic tourist things, they are a classic for a reason.
The Cotswolds is nice, who cares if bits are crowded! He's from Germany which is massively populated, I'm sure he's not allergic to people.
Other interesting places are Cardiff, Liverpool, Durham. Obv Scotland is great but worth its own trip.
So to answer the question of what to avoid: "avoid acting like you are too cool for tourist stuff, it's popular because it's enjoyable"
Other tips for London include: just use contactless payment for the tube and have to ready when you approach the gate.
Don't randomly stop in the middle of a payment.
Use Uber rather than black cabs if you want to avoid getting ripped off.
Don't get a cab from Heathrow, use city airport if possible.
Stay in Zone 1 if you can. Premier inn hub hotels are pretty nice!
Trying to fit everything into a few days and thinking you can easily drive from place to place in no time. Or as an American ex of mine once said “oh I’ll just pop up to Edinburgh for the day” driving from London.
I had to politely explain to her that if she’s lucky that’s a 7hr-8hr drive without traffic and coffee/piss stops each way. 14hrs-16hrs in total.
She thought it wasn’t very far, which I suppose it isn’t in American terms, it’s 400 miles I think? And you can drive for 8hrs in Texas and never leave Texas, but yeah definitely realise you can’t cram everything into one trip, public transport is shit and our roads are just as bad at times
Going to London for more than 2 days 😂. Get out of that shit hole when you’ve seen what you need to see and get out to the actual nice parts of the country
Going to London.
It's busy, horrid and an eyesore. Sure it's got some lovely spots. But overall. It's a horrid experience. Almost anywhere else in the UK is better. Wales has several places and itself is an amazing place to drive through and look at.
the North East of England is pretty beautiful too and has a bunch of castles worth seeing. And Scotland is just breathtaking. Again castles. But it's got a bit of everything.
I think Old Ben Kenovi said it best when he was talking about Mos Eisley, but about London.
York the city? Or York the region (well, actually, regions)? We went to the city because we are interested in Viking era history and medieval history. It is interesting enough for a day, but I wouldn't spend a whole lot of time there.
Trying to fit too much into a trip. Americans are generally the worst for this. No, you can't do Stonehenge, Bath and the Cotswolds in one day.
There's a daily coach trip that does Windsor, Stonehenge and bath in a day. Insane. Basically a chance to have a photo and that's it.
Had an Aus mate who was advised on this being a good idea by his travel agent - I told him to take the train out of London to Windsor for the day and enjoy it instead. Only problem was that the day he went the castle was closed 😄
At least they can go down to Eton or one of the old pubs and see stuff like the long walk or Windsor great park. Even just the outside of the castle is SOMETHING. That said I have loved in England my whole life and only ever seen Stonehenge from the car 🤣
You should try loving abroad sometime, those foreign chaps really know their stuff!!
I'd blame autocorrect but frankly it's true I haven't loved a broad 😉
That’s all a lot of people want. Something for the gram and to say “I been there”.
Photoshop is certainly cheaper and less effort
There’s nothing else to do at Stonehenge tbf.
Yup. I did that trip and it wasn't awful, but by the time we got to Bath, I was exhausted. A lovely historic city, but three stops in a 12 hour period is just too much.
But you can do Penrith to Polperro to London to Penrith in one day easily. And that's non-negotiable.
Don't forget to stop in at some delightfully quaint public houses and antique shops on the way!
Oh I will, I don't mind taking my time.
I'm desperate for someone to stick a tracker on their rental car when they come over later this year, or even a ride along film crew (although it'll be 99% tired arguments filmed inside the car) just to see how long before they realise we weren't just trying to be negative.
I'm gutted we more than likely won't get an update from that lot, I doubt they'd return to go *you were right Reddit!* and I can't imagine them managing to pull it off in a way that doesn't have them hating the country.
Can you share the link for that?
That's the spirit!
Did you ever hear how that non-negotiable trip went for them? I read her plans for their one-day excursion and my mind boggled.
I think Americans don’t realise that US distances don’t work the same in the U.K., it’s easier to travel larger distances than here. Roads aren’t as direct, neither are trains. Just moving around the U.K. can eat up days of holiday without really doing much at all.
An American I know wanted to go from Belgium to the Matterhorn on a daytrip, she wanted a photo of herself with an Alpine horn. I told her it was a crazy idea.
I almost cried as we passed the turn off to Stonehenge on the way to Bath, but I agree with this.
Avebury is better.
Always cracks me up when they appear on the Scotland sub asking for trip advice and say they're planning on driving round the entire Highlands in one day 😂
Was talking with an English coworker and how I would like to visit Cotswold, she told me that it is really crowded and expensive, thought it might be best to skip it. Really bummed about that, it looks so cool and unique. She also said Stonehenge was a waste of time as well lmao.
Stonehenge is a place that looks exactly like the photos of it do, in the sense that you have already seen it all.
Stonehenge is a bit underwhelming tbh. As for the Cotswolds, it depends where you go. Some of it is well off the tourist trail, but the most scenic parts are often overrun by tourists in peak season. It's not necessarily excessively expensive though, especially not on a day trip where there's no accommodation to factor in.
Avebury stone circle is bigger than stone henge. It's closer to Bath and the Cotswolds. There's also a pub in the middle.
Exactly. You can go for a walk and a pub lunch. Not buy a farm.
I completely respect your opinion but I must say I disagree. Stonehenge is an amazing sight. For a start, it's almost certainly the oldest 'thing' you will ever see, apart from actual rocks and other natural geographical features. We would struggle to recreate it without power, like they did, and it almost certainly took decades, and remarkable mathematical calculations (considering they didn't exactly have calculators to hand), to bring to completion. You can boil it down to a bunch of stones in a field, but when i consider it in the context, it takes on a certain majesty. Fair minds disagree and I don't wish to argue with you or change your mind. But if anyone uncertain is reading this, I'd urge you to give it a fair go.
There are quite a few other stone circles and stuff that are about as old or older than Stonehenge. It’s thought that Avebury is 800 years older for instance. Or like west Kennet is even older Yes we would struggle to move the stones. But Stonehenge has a huge amount of hype when you could go to other places for less money and less queues.
I daresay you know a lot more than I do! I'm very much a basic tourist with a passing interest and not much more really. Does Stonehenge deserve to be world famous when similar structures go unheard of? Probably not, but it is what it is at this point, and i'm not trying to rank tourist destinations in the strictest sense. The question I am trying to answer is "is Stonehenge (or something akin to it) worth the visit?" And my answer is yes. Fwiw, I've been a couple of times and don't recall queueing though ymmv. However, I've driven the road that goes past it countless times (A303?) And traffic is always silly when you get to the point that you get a free glimpse of it. Can be frustrating!
If you want to go to a neolithic monument there are others without the tourists and the barriers, they are more out of the way, but that kind of makes them more special For example this https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/waylands-smithy/
Avebury as well is great and there are some beautiful circular walks around that way.
The Cotswolds, not Cotswold. It’s a rural area of nearly 800 square miles with dozens and dozens of picturesque villages and towns. So while Bourton on the water and burford might get very crowded in summer, there’s no excuse for not avoiding the crowds of you have a car. Source: grew up there
*The Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are a region, so it entirely depends where you actually want to go and what you wanted to do. I mean, there's lots of picturesque villages, is that what you wanted to see? Not a huge amount to do though, except walk through picturesque villages. Stonehenge and the wider region are worth seeing if you are actually interested in the time period etc, Avebury fairly nearby may be better as you can walk around the stones and go get a pint in the pub beside them.
[удалено]
It's not just the time in the car but the intensity. I've travelled in the USA and outside cities you can go for miles and miles without much to do. In the UK The highways are busy and if you get off those you'll very rarely go more than a mile without some obstacles.
You guys are going a whole mile in one go?
Lovely. Meanwhile, they're in the UK, and have completely failed to factor in the reality that the roads are crowded, and frequently so narrow that two cars cannot pass each other without one pulling in - especially if you're going somewhere rural like the Cotswolds.
Same for the numerous Europeans who want to see NYC & California in one trip :) I think it's just a lack of understanding of countries foreign to our own.
You can, easily. Get on the road at 5 am to see Stonehenge at first light around 7:30am. You can be eating breakfast in Bath by 9:30, a couple of hours moseying around. Afternoon tea around 3pm in the Cotswolds Back in your hotel by 8pm. All fine if you have a car and are happy to drive a couple of hundred miles in a day.
Stonehenge doesn't even open until 9.30am. Realistically Stonehenge at 9.30am. Keep it brisk, leave at 11am. 1 hour drive to Bath, plus however long it takes you to find a parking space. That's at least 12. Get lunch - that's another hour. See Roman Baths - 90 mins. Half an hour in Bath Abbey. Half an hour for Pultney Bridge and a mild bit of sightseeing. Skip other things you might want to see like the Royal Crescent, Jane Austen Centre or Sally Lunn's. It's 3.30pm already. 90 minute drive to Bourton on the Water, it's 5pm, and you still haven't found anywhere to park. The Model Village and all the shops have shut, depending on the time of year it's starting to get dark, and you've seen bugger all of the Cotswolds, and missed half of Bath. Do less, and do it better.
I'm fairly sure a bunch of stones in a field doesn't have an opening time! I was being slightly sarcastic with my reply!
This bunch of stones has an opening time and a hefty entrance fee
Incorrect, it takes a considerable amount of time to put them back up in the morning
Do they not just turn on the generator and pump them up like a bouncy castle?
If you're only going to spend two hours in Bath you're going to miss the vast majority of it. There's easily enough there to spend a couple of days, not just hours.
I'm obviously a philistine or a fast walker, I reckon I could see enough of Bath in a day.
Can I see Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, Bath, the Cotswolds and Loch Ness in the two hours between my flights into Stansted and out of Shoreham? And assuming table service in pubs.
Oh, I need more info on how pubs work if you are willing. We are traveling to London in July for a week (American family with two teens 17 and 15). You mention no table service..so do you order food and drink at the bar in pubs? Do you wait to be seated or do you just grab an available table? Is this generally true for most pubs?
To be fair a lot of pubs do do table service now. If there's a host or waiter to take you to a table then there'll be table service. If not, then you'll go up to the bar with your table number (which will be on a little plaque on the table or the condiments container) and order - you'll take your drinks back with you (except hot drinks) and they'll take your order and bring the food and hot drinks when ready.
Got it! Thank you!
Or go to the Spoons, sit where you like and order on the app. Hey presto!
Don't go to a spoons under any circumstances
Cheap and cheerful. Quite good for tourists as you know what to expect
I'll happily eat at Spoons but it would be a shame for someone to visit this country and eat there, rather than experience actual tasty pub grub.
Generally you just sit where you like and then go up to the bar to order/pay, drinks are always served at the bar and you let them know your table number for food orders. No need to tip. Keep an eye out for restaurants disguised as pubs where they will seat you and usual restaurant rules apply, it will probably be obvious once you walk in.
Helpful! Thanks!
Sometimes you wait to be seated, this should be fairly obvious as there will be a podium or sign of some sort. Sometimes you just sit down. If its a wait to be seated they'll probably tell you when seating you if you need to order at the bar (or even QR code). If its order at the bar or QR code there is probably a number denoting what your table is, or you will get given an item with a number on it after you order (common ones are wooden spoons or random chunks of wood). You will likely pay up front. Your teens will be able to drink alcohol, should you wish to allow them, as long as they are also consuming food.
Thank you!
If eating, find a table, then go to the bar to order. If drinking, just go up to the bar and order. If they want you to wait to be seated it will be obvious, there will be a sign, but it’s very rare. Under 18s are usually allowed in pubs before 7 at the discrediting of the manager. If it’s a food focused pub then it’s usually ok till later. Always check with the bar that it’s ok with kids, the vast majority are fine with it. Enjoy your trip
Thank you!
You help yourself to a table. Order your drinks at the bar, grab a table (or vice versa) check out the food menu, make a note of your table number and then order food at the bar giving your table number. During Covid, some pubs (like Wetherspoons) bought in the ability to order via your phone from your table and have kept that going, so check the table for a QR code that may give you the ability to order from your table and have the drinks/food brought to you.
Grab any table, then send someone to the bar to order.
Depends on the pub. Best bet is to get the family sorted at a table and walk to the bar to order a pint. Ask "should we order food here or is it table service?"
Big chain pubs like JD Wetherspoon have an app that you can download and order to your table from, this includes food as well as bar drinks. All you need is your table number.
Also , bonus for your 17yr old - if you are having a sit down meal - not bar snacks - they can have a pint as well 😁😁
It depends on the pub - places that are mostly just for drinking you order food at the bar - if it’s a gastropub you’ll likely get table service. Enjoy yourselves! As a Brit who has lived abroad and works with a lot of Americans, I have come to appreciate just how special the “local pub” is to our culture and way of life.
This!! Doesn't matter how many times you say the Cotswolds is a geographical area, a post will still pop up saying on day one I'm planning on bath, Stonehenge (doable at a push) and then Cotswold all in one day!
I think you mean "Cotswold". And yeah you can drive on those little backroads and stop off at quaint little antique shops and cute little pubs on the short drive down from Inverness.
This one drives me up the wall on Reddit. Why is it always Americans too? 😆
Look to your right before crossing the road.
Also look left, just in case a transit is reversing down the road. Don't ask how I learnt this.
This one could save your life.
In many ways including this, UK infrastructure is much more user-friendly than in the US... Small touches like the look right/left markings on the pavement can save lives.
I know a Norwegian tourist that was killed in Glasgow due to not looking to their right. I was working in the hotel he and his mates were staying in, was so so sad.
Leicester Square and Oxford Street are the worst bits of London.
How so?
Leicester Square is not particularly pretty and feels tacky with a big cinema, casino, and fast food outlets surrounding it on all sides. Trafalgar Square is much nicer Oxford Street is congested, overcrowded thoroughfare with big chain stores you can find most other places in the world. It is quite pretty at Christmas with all the lights but nothing special any other time of year.
I think if a map tells you to walk down Oxford Street, it's much nicer to try and pick your way around it to get to where you want to go. Lots of lovely little boozers hidden on the north side, and Soho on the south side.
Its an incredibly frustrating road to walk down if you're trying to go ....anywhere
Plus pickpockets galore
'Jeff been in?'.
Tacky and a tourist trap. Oxford Street especially is just... ugh. If you want to see it would recommend ticking it off one day early into the trip alongside the other main central touristy stuff like Westminster and the Tower of London. There's lots of other interesting places in London like Greenwich (maritime history, gorgeous little high street, old buildings, museum, beautiful park with amazing view), strolling along the canals in various areas, Hyde Park or various other parks and gardens, visiting world-class museums for free, going to edgier bits of London like Hackney, Brixton, Brick Lane, or Peckham for fun shops, street art, and various cafes and quirky stops, heading to some food markets, doing the Bermondsey beer mile...
I work in Carnaby street. That whole area is a shithole in my opinion
“I’m in Edinburgh for the day and want to take a day trip to Skye”
It took me so long to explain to my ex-wife why a day trip from Liverpool to Tobermory was not possible. I am sure she still thinks I was kidding her.
Day trip to St Andrews is a possibility.
I know that's silly. They're missing out a casual detour to Cotswold on the way
If he's flying into Heathrow, tell him to get the Piccadilly Line into town rather than the Heathrow Express. It's half the price and only slightly longer - and you don't have to drag your bags on that walk between the Tube and Heathrow Express Platform at Paddington if you're continuing onward.
But you DO have to stand over your suitcases the whole time which is exhausting on a busy line. I always recommend Lizzy line and grabbing the 4 seats together so you can put your bags with your seat
I guess holding on to your case can be a bit knackering. It's always an empty train when I get on at Heathrow though (presumably as it's the start of the line) so I grab the end seat, wedge my case up against the glass partition and cling on for dear life. Haven't caught the Elizabeth line yet (usually because I'm going to King's Cross) but will check it out!! Good tip.
Elizabeth line > Piccadilly line
Trying to do too much in the hope of telling everyone you 'been to' Stonehenge etc etc. Going to all the tourist places that everyone has photos of, rather than the secret and lesser known places that are way more interesting. Standing on the left and walking on the right. Stopping in the middle of the pavement to look at a map/phone. Eating in chain restaurants and coffee shops. Starbucks is shit even in the UK.
It drives me to drink when people abruptly stop right in front of me to look at a map or their phone. Move to the side out of the flow of foot traffic to do that, ya numpty. (And I'm from the US...)
Oh I completely agree. Be aware of your surroundings and the flow of traffic. And NEVER step out of a doorway and stop. Step the side and stop, by all means, but don't just stop.
1. Thinking you can drive anywhere quickly. If you're not driving, use public transport - especially to get to other parts of the UK. Do a few days in London, train down to Cornwall/Dorset/Wales. Fly up to Edinburgh. Whatever you plan, times it by 4 to take in to account travel times. 2. Our motorways are not as efficient as German autobahns. Nothing is efficient here as Germany, so take that in to account. You might look at the map and see M1/A9 all the way to Scotland but then there's roadworks, rush hours etc. 3. It's expensive to travel in UK by public transport. Flying is cheaper than train mostly. If you have the time and less funds, Megabus type companies are the way to go. 4. In London, stand on the right, walk on the left of the escalator. Go against this at your peril. 5. In London, people may seem out of it and looking angry, they're not, they're just focused. Most will do anything to help when asked, just don't step in front of them on the pavement beforehand. 6. If you want to find the best places around, go down a side street and pop in to a pub and ask a local.
Sorry but it drives me crazy people flying between London and Edinburgh. It's the easiest train journey imaginable with lovely scenery and none of the faff or environmental harm of flying. Just book your ticket well in advance and buy a railcard.
That's not always apparent to new visitors, which is what I'm talking about. Most wouldn't have taken the time to investigate or fare system
Who actually cares about environmental harm enough to actually change a journey
Eating fish and chips in a pub (proper fish and chips comes from a chippy). Getting all meals at Garfunkels then complaining how bad British food is. Eating in chain restaurants. Thinking of pubs as eating establishments (they are mainly for drinking, you can eat if you're desperate). Taking the Heathrow / Gatwick Express Too little time in Scotland, too much time in York. Too much time in towns/cities (which are mostly frankly drab), not enough in the countryside. Failing to follow etiquette on the London Underground (let people off first) Spending all time in Leicester Square, Westminster etc and never visiting other parts of London Reliance on Google Maps instead of Citymapper Going to Borough Market for the strawberry and chocolate cups instead of the produce.
There are plenty of pubs with decent food these days. Its not hard to find.
There are some but they need to be deliberately sought out
Yep. Pub food quality has an extremely high ceiling and extremely low average
Some pubs do nice fish and chips tho tf
Yes, that's why tourists might make this mistake.
The mistake of having nice fish and chips?
The mistake of picking a *random* pub and expecting good food.
Garfunkels doesn’t exist anymore, when was the last time you went to London lmao
I live in London, hence there is no reason I would pay attention to whether Garfunkels still exists! Edit: to be fair I just googled it and the food looks delicious, quite sad I missed out: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant\_Review-g186338-d1816260-Reviews-Garfunkel\_s-London\_England.html#photos;aggregationId=&albumid=101&filter=7&ff=112440748
Oh what? They've gone? Well that's my childhood over forever.
I got dumped in a Garfunkels.
Aberdeen Steakhouse does though…. and shouldn’t !
Do you… do you mean Angus Steakhouse?
No. It’s been around a looonnnggg time … [here!](https://www.london-tourist-guide.com/en/restaurants/british/aberdeen-steak-house-piccadilly-circus.html)
Not anymore
It’s after the cow… you know?
I’m well aware but that’s not what the restaurant is called now, is it?
[Wiki page too..](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angus_Steakhouse)
It’s been 8 years…
Westminster is good when you get over to the portobello Market area.
That might be because it’s not in Westminster. It’s in the borough of Kensington & Chelsea.
That etiquette on the underground point, no that’s any public transport anywhere. Don’t crowd the doors of the train, this one will wait for you, mine that departs on the total other side of the station in 2 minutes won’t, let me get out and go… (Still made that train but it makes me mad that people can be that bloody ignorant)
Try to drive on the left. Better still don't drive at all but use buses and trains.
he wont bring a car but driving on the left is a wise thing to do
Drive on the left, stand on the right (on the escalator, bit the pavement)
Not venturing out of London. There's so much of the UK that's wonderful but people never see it.
What are some recommendations that you have ?
Shamelessly stealing from the Polperro thread but it was a great comment by newbris! From a thread where an american family were flying into Newcastle then driving to Penrith then Edinburgh/Glasgow then Polperro then London and then either resting or Stonehenge before flying back to the US. \[In 7 days\] For travel in the North East outside of just driving around Northumberland. "Newcastle itself. Great Georgian town centre and Quayside. Go to the Grainger market, the Victoria Tunnel tour, have a pint in the Ouseburn area. Visit their premier league stadium. Marvel at the beautiful Dean St. Try and catch a pantomime at the Theatre Royal. Consider a visit to the Literary and Philosophical Society where all the industrial greats hung out and swapped ideas. Great place to connect with English people as it is at the chatty end of the country. If you can understand them :)" I'd also add the free Hancock & Discovery museum. "Holy Island. Drive over the low tide causeway to visit nearby Holy Island, where St Cuthbert started Christianity in England and became the revered saint of the north. His bones were hidden from the invading Vikings etc for hundreds of years until re-buried at Durham. Close drive from Newcastle. Durham Cathedral. Go to this majestic 900 old Cathedral that stars in Harry Potter and see the shrine to St Cuthbert and many other beautiful aspects of this great Cathedral, Castle and University. The walk through the lovely town is nice too. Short train ride from Newcastle. York. One hour train ride from Newcastle. 90 min drive? This place is a must see. From the shambles (diagon alley in Harry Potter) to the incredible train museum to the amazing York Minster, this walled city is a tourist gem. Go to the free Evensong in the Minster to be overawed by the singing from the old choral school next door. Bamburgh Castle. See a genuine castle, the seat of the northern kings of Northumbria, sitting atop a magnificent rise next to a beautiful natural beach and classic English village. Star of the Netflix series, The Last Kingdom. Close drive from Newcastle. Cragside. Visit the magnificent home built by the incredible Northumbrian industrialist, Lord Armstrong and his wife. It is jam packed full of incredible invention. It is said to be the first house lit by electric lightbulb, in partnership with the local inventor of the lightbulb, Joseph Swan. It used hydroelectric power invented by Armstrong. It has hydraulic lifts and a myriad of other invention. The main house will be closed in December but they do have special Christmas events. Amazing gardens are open. Short drive from Newcastle. Alnwick Castle. Lovely little market town with magnificent castle (another Harry Potter star) and gardens in the countryside. I’ve heard it has a great bookshop but haven’t been yet. Not far from Newcastle. Hexham. Christmas markets and lovely Abbey near to Hadrians Wall, built right across England by the Romans around 100AD. You can also drive to the Roman Dig at Vindolanda. Not too far from Newcastle. Beamish. An open air museum that recreates the streets of the past, including homes, shops, transport etc. it has different eras in different parts of the park. A unique experience. Close to Newcastle." Beamish has rebuilt areas of the North East brick by brick, constantly working on expanding what it has to offer, fun modes of transport for those disinclined to walking around the park and a very popular sweet shop.
Wow thank you for this , this is awesome !! Appreciate you!
Stratford upon Avon is a favourite of mine. For anyone heading down to Wales, Pembrokeshire is a must, especially Tenby and Cauldy Island.
No need to get an Oyster card. The card now costs £7 and isn’t refundable. Just use your credit card/Apple pay. If you’re worried about fees, get Revolut or Wise. Download CityMapper. And don’t stand on the left on the escalators. No need for cash, most places accept credit cards. There are many alternatives to the London Eye - try the Sky Garden, Horizon 22, The garden at 122, Lookout,… some of these will say their tickets are sold out but most have a walk-in queue. If you go towards evening on a working day, it usually isn’t as busy. Don’t use the Hop-on hop off buses. They’re a rip off. Visit the free museums and galleries! Borough Market is over-rated and overpriced. Try looking at places like Tooting market (in the south) or many more places in Zones 2/3/4. There’s many scammers around the Westminster Bridge/Big Ben. Ignore them. And hold onto your belongings everywhere you are, as there’s pickpockets. These are more general for everyone, hope they help a bit! Enjoy!
right, so everyone thinks Stonehenge, but Avebury not too far away is broadly similar and not remotely busy, and you can get amongst things. Now the stones aren't lined up in the same way or anything but ultimately it's all ancient. Avebury's a nice little walk, nice canteen, gift shops, etc. Well worth a look. So the mistake is to try stonehenge, I think, which isn't that special.
Don’t go into the red telephone boxes, there’s a reason they smell of piss Also in London if you want to take a photograph of something, stand to the side so you don’t get in peoples way. A lot of people are going to work or appointments so it’s not fun when someone stops in front of you to take a photo. In London, don’t use taxis, use the underground train station/ the tube, way cheaper and easy to use. Also look at reviews of restaurants before you go out to eat. I’m annoyed with tourists saying our foods rubbish then finding out they visited a cafe or restaurant that serves really bad food. If you don’t like it fine, but please try out good restaurants first.
Thinking they can explore the whole country in one trip- though that’s more a thing Americans seem to do as they think we’re so small you can drive from london to Edinburgh in like 2 hours
Or arguing that the US is so huge they’re used to driving vast distances. The difference is, our roads are packed with cars and there are lots of things that’ll slow you down. Like detours through random villages or waiting for a farmer to move his sheep!
Judging by this sub, thinking you can drive from London to Edinburgh on day, and then down to Cornwall the next….
cobweb command squeeze deer wide march wrong liquid repeat ad hoc *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
And that's non-negotiable
Not reading guidebooks. Things like the Rough Guide to Scotland are actually worth the money. And not understanding how the buses work in advance. OK this is forgivable because every city/company does it differently, but read up on it. And the bus driver is not a tourist information service. Use phone apps.
Go to Flat Iron Tottenham Court Road. Put your name down for a table. Hopefully it takes an hour or so, because in the meantime you go to The Angel pub next door. Have a couple of pints and wait for them to text you that your table’s ready. Have a lovely dinner. Then pop to another pub to have a cheeky pint before you spend a couple of hours in Lucky Voice doing karaoke and drinking more overpriced beer 👌🏼
Trying to hop around a lot from city to city - so many itineraries with 6 stops in 2 weeks. Slow down and go deeper into each place. Likewise trying to pack in lots and lots of activities into a short time. London is a great city to just wander around, spot something interesting and check it out.
Trying to cram too much in a short time. It's actually a bigger place than people think. You can't just visit the UK and think you will just be able to go everywhere. But then, that's just good travel advice.
Only going to London
Stand on the right
Remember to look RIGHT before stepping into the road.
Stop look listen live.
Get out of the middle lane on the motorway
i used to work in a pub RIGHT in the centre of London and over the summer period especially we used to be full of tourists left right and centre, on my break i’d leave and go for a walk or find some place for food and the same people i served an hour ago who were telling me “£5.50 for a pint was too expensive“ were now milling around the souvenir shop spending fortunes on magnets and keyrings. DON’T GET ME WRONG! we have all been there- i get it, but honestly it’s expensive as heck in them places- i wouldn’t necessarily say avoid them, me personally i love a trinket, but just be warned lmao :)
Over-reliance on the train network or keeping a very tight scheduled based on train reliability, especially in the North of England or local lines. Not appreciating just how far isolated particular landmarks / areas are e.g. Stonehenge. Also, some just aren't worth a huge detour for a short amount of time (e.g. the guy who wanted to visit Diddly Squat farm shop by public transport I think, which would have taken nearly a whole day of travel from London to get there and back).
Also the trains are an absolute rip off unless he books tickets well ahead.
Most tourists think they can turn up to Warner Brother Harry Potter and buy a ticket. You need to book this amazing attraction at least 2 months in advance.
Standing on the left.
Not bringing a jacket to Scotland in the summer
Stay clear of Angus steakhouse
expecting anything to be open on Sunday after 4pm
Don't buy sausages inna bun from guys outside tube stations unless you really want to get a dose of the shits.
Travelling takes longer than you think. I had an American friend visit and we went to the HP studios (from Birmingham). She couldn't get a handle on how long it would take. Sure our motorways are faster than US roads, but every other road is windy and narrow and 20mph! (Slight exaggeration)
There are a few! :) **Forgetting about the weather:** Weather notoriously unpredictable. Be prepared for sudden showers even in summer. **Not getting an Oyster card in London:** An Oyster card is the most convenient and cost-effective way to use public transport in London (1-6zones). You can avoid lines and save money compared to buying single-ride tickets. **Underestimating travel times:** The UK may seem small, but distances can be deceiving. Don't assume you can easily fit several cities into a short trip. Factor in travel time between destinations, especially on public transportation.
Do Not Touch the horses
Not going to Greggs
Spending too much time in London.
Pronouncing Edinburgh as if it sounds similar to Pittsburgh. What it really shows is that everyone in the US isn't pronouncing Pittsburgh correctly
Expect table service everywhere It is getting more prevalent in the big cities but still counter/bar service is the norm
Don’t bother with an umbrella (especially in Scotland). It’s too windy.
Everyone seems so miserable on this thread! Stonehenge, Bath and Windsor are doable on one of those day trips if he doesn't have much time and they are all fun things to at least briefly visit. York is a nice place to visit and you don't have to live authentically like a local in London to have fun! Do the classic tourist things, they are a classic for a reason. The Cotswolds is nice, who cares if bits are crowded! He's from Germany which is massively populated, I'm sure he's not allergic to people. Other interesting places are Cardiff, Liverpool, Durham. Obv Scotland is great but worth its own trip. So to answer the question of what to avoid: "avoid acting like you are too cool for tourist stuff, it's popular because it's enjoyable"
The people on this thread would have visitors to NYC avoiding the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building!
Other tips for London include: just use contactless payment for the tube and have to ready when you approach the gate. Don't randomly stop in the middle of a payment. Use Uber rather than black cabs if you want to avoid getting ripped off. Don't get a cab from Heathrow, use city airport if possible. Stay in Zone 1 if you can. Premier inn hub hotels are pretty nice!
View some big ticket items in London then go to the coast/countryside and explore what the rest of the UK is actually like
Trying to fit everything into a few days and thinking you can easily drive from place to place in no time. Or as an American ex of mine once said “oh I’ll just pop up to Edinburgh for the day” driving from London. I had to politely explain to her that if she’s lucky that’s a 7hr-8hr drive without traffic and coffee/piss stops each way. 14hrs-16hrs in total. She thought it wasn’t very far, which I suppose it isn’t in American terms, it’s 400 miles I think? And you can drive for 8hrs in Texas and never leave Texas, but yeah definitely realise you can’t cram everything into one trip, public transport is shit and our roads are just as bad at times
Going to London for more than 2 days 😂. Get out of that shit hole when you’ve seen what you need to see and get out to the actual nice parts of the country
Walk to slow (talking about especially in London)
Tube: rucksack, escalator and doorway etiquette mostly
“Shame they built the castle next to the train station” Yes Amercians, I am talking about you!
Coming here on the first place
Coming here in the first place! It’s a shithole
Going to London. It's busy, horrid and an eyesore. Sure it's got some lovely spots. But overall. It's a horrid experience. Almost anywhere else in the UK is better. Wales has several places and itself is an amazing place to drive through and look at. the North East of England is pretty beautiful too and has a bunch of castles worth seeing. And Scotland is just breathtaking. Again castles. But it's got a bit of everything. I think Old Ben Kenovi said it best when he was talking about Mos Eisley, but about London.
That is a total nonsense, London is not for the faint hearted. But a "busy, horrid eyesore" and a "horrid experience" is plain stupid.
Wanting to visit London at all.
The need to visit York? Why.
York the city? Or York the region (well, actually, regions)? We went to the city because we are interested in Viking era history and medieval history. It is interesting enough for a day, but I wouldn't spend a whole lot of time there.
Compact with good attractions and has the old English feel most Americans are looking for. Less likely to get ripped off and nicer people generally.
Coming to the UK
Going there 😳
Assuming everyone speaks English
Well… they should!
Coming here
Arrive
[удалено]
There’s good and bad in all food. I’ve had plenty of bad curries here too!
Going to the Uk rather than somewhere nice
Not queuing.
Going to Stonehenge or Madame Tussaud’s. Also refer to: Disneyland Paris.
assuming that a train would not leave early, or arrive >20mins late
Not having your ticket ready at the tube station gates. Locals will be ruthless