Advice for Americans Visiting Britain

Following on from the first part in this two-part series, here is my advice for Americans visiting Britain.
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[@Tyrannosaurus_Wrexx]

As to “using your accent to your advantage”, my boyfriend and I are from Dallas, Texas. He’s a cowboy, so on our two London trips last year, people kept asking him to say “y’all” and “howdy”. It got us a lot of free drinks

[@TanyaQueen182]

I bought a couple a drink once in Boston because they had Scottish accents and red hair like me. :)

[@vailpcs4040]

I got a lot of mileage in Wales and Northern Scotland with my 'standard American'. All you have to do is get 20+ miles from a major motorway and everyone is interested in what you are doing there...

[@L0VTX_H8CA]

No I believe it. I’m not even from Texas but I have a southern accent and I do live in Texas so my wife and I get this treatment in some places in the US…

[@Timbothruster-fh3cw]

So that's how you get free refills in London huh?😂

[@williamjones7163]

But don't you know because there are about 333.3 million Americans versus 66.5 million Brits, how we speak English is more correct because there are more of us speaking American English than Brits speaking British English.

[@Brightangel55]

We're tough in Australia - our electricity is 240 volts. We like our cup of tea NOW 😋

[@David-e1b3t]

I'd love to go 4x4 off roading in Australia.

[@lemming9984]

Me too - fast-boil kettles were invented by God!

[@pjschmid2251]

Another very important thing to remember if you’re going to drive when you’re in Britain. When you reserve your car rental be very sure to specify that you want an automatic transmission. The default will be a manual transmission if you do not specify this. Even if you are familiar with driving a manual transmission, get an automatic transmission. You are already going to be driving on the left side of the (very narrow) road sitting on the right side of the car the last thing you want to have to do is try and figure out how to shift using your left hand while you’re navigating all those differences.

[@Norvaal3]

My friend and I went over last year. We went to pick up our car on the day before a rail strike, and they told us when we got there that none was available at the moment because people were hesitant to return them. So we waited roughly an hour. There were other Americans waiting for something with automatic transmission. Finally, a car with manual transmission became available. My friend had driven on the left before and thought he knew how to drive manual transmission, so we agreed to take it. The thing is, this particular car handled very differently than other stick shifts he had driven. After being scared nearly to death by that, the roundabouts, and the narrow streets that were laid down long before cars existed, I saw him gradually improve to the point where we both felt okay. Another thing I noticed: we were driving on a motorway from Bristol to Oxford, and there was some kind of traffic accident (to this day, I don't know what it was about.) In any case, instead of seeing emergency vehicles whizzing past us and traffic slowing down to a crawl as we'd expect in the States, everything just stopped. Drivers in the other cars seemed very accustomed to that happening. People turned off their engines, so that's what we did. It was quiet, but strangely refreshing. My friend actually took a nap for about 45 minutes until traffic started moving again.

[@natdatil6830]

And be prepared to pay an extra £200 for that automatic. I'll usually get the automatic when my company is paying and a manual when I'm paying.

[@McFlingleson]

That's a good point. I know how to drive a manual, but now that I think about it I could see it being difficult to deal with that and also having the gearshift be in a different place form where I'm used to it being.

[@nicolad8822]

@@Norvaal3​​⁠​⁠ They must have completely closed the road. Does that not happen in the US? Perhaps for an Air Ambulance to land, for vehicles to be cleared in the case of a wide debris field and possible road surface damage, or in the event of a fatality the collision investigation cops have to survey the scene in case of prosecution.

[@Norvaal3]

@@nicolad8822in the States, first responders come (i.e., police, paramedics, and/or fire department), but they always direct traffic to go around the accident after they check on everyone involved and clear the obstruction. Traffic may stand still for long intervals of time, but I had never seen it completely stop like that before. Accidents are never pleasant, yet everyone seemed very calm about the whole thing, which is something else we aren't used to seeing in America.

[@pamelabennett9057]

I'm glad you mentioned about the turn signals being called indicators. When I rented a car after a long overnight flight and was served by an Indian man speaking British English with a strong accent, I was totally confused when he pointed and said "There are your indicators." In the US, we use that term to mean lights on the dash that indicate something is wrong (low oil, engine trouble, etc.). After several times going back and forth with me asking "my what??", he finally reached in to the turn signal and said "What do you call this?"

[@bobunderwood803]

The lights on the dash that indicate something is wrong are called "idiot lights."

[@davew4998]

Hmm. As an American driving in the UK it might be safer if you just used the hazard lights. All the time I mean.

[@michealdrake3421]

​@@davew4998As an American who drives to work every day I agree. People here cannot drive for shit. And my state doesn't even have a reputation for bad drivers.

[@davew4998]

@@michealdrake3421 😀 I only meant that I know Americans find our roundabouts a daunting proposition. I don't know if it's still the case but back in the 80s I found Californians to be very polite and considerate drivers. Much more so than us aggressive Brits. We were always the first ones away at crossroads when four cars were stuck facing each other. When we got back to England we thought the world had gone mad, everyone driving fast and close.

[@amym.4823]

A very crucial thing to understand before visiting Britain is that they have the best ice cream. And the sausages are great too. So just put your diet on hold until you return home.

[@MK-dr7dx]

They also have the worst ice cream that contains no actual dairy, so check the labels and don't just buy whatever's the cheapest.

[@jenniferrowland1339]

My last trip (2019) was with a BritRail pass. London - Birmingham - Sheffield - Liverpool - London. Seamless. Buy before you leave the US for lowest prices. Well worth the money.

[@intercity_trainspotting]

Oh my god if that’s worth the money how bad is the US rail network?

[@jenniferrowland1339]

@@intercity_trainspotting What US rail network? lol We have public transport in cities but very few across states.

[@dstarling61]

As compared to British or European rail, you wouldn’t recognize it😂

[@rainbowstarfall]

​@intercity_trainspotting Bad. Very bad.

[@MrOtistetrax]

I’m sorry you had to go to Birmingham.

[@kenbrown2808]

Americans visiting the UK should also be aware that the standard for switches in the UK is inverted. down is on and up is off.

[@avaggdu1]

A binary choice is not hard: Is the light on? NO - flick the switch Is the light on now? YES - Success! NO - it's broken. I haven't seen an up/down switch in donkey's years except in crappy, old-fashioned hotels and pub toilets (not much call to switch off lights in those).

[@tereseshaw7650]

Oh, of course.

[@kenbrown2808]

@@avaggdu1 funny, I installed a double plug socket Friday, and it had two up/down switches on it. and I'm not even in the UK. had to have a friend buy it and send it to me, because the only ones you can buy direct in the states, is a white single.

[@kozodoev]

@@avaggdu1 that's all true until you meet a switch that has to buttons, one is on and the other is off. Looking at you, Lutron.

[@WilliamTurk]

Thanks to you, "Ooh, Lawrence" is part of my vernacular.

[@Starry_Night_Sky7455]

I do that thanks to him.

[@travis672]

"And I know what you're thinking . . ."

[@bozo6049]

We americans may not have a sign for elderly pedestrian crossing, but we do have ones for general pedestrian, children, deaf pedestrians, and deaf children.

[@toddjohnson5692]

probably because the elderly would complain that they could cross just fine like everyone else.

[@HugsXO]

Don't forget the one sign of a "man, woman and child running"...across the freeways. I'm serious about this sign, I'm in San Diego (border city) it's the illegals or the homeless, one of them is likely to be on the freeway.

[@deed5811]

Duck crossing sign is my favorite 🦆

[@webbess1]

I've seen one for blind children too.

[@Susan-cooks]

I've seen a few turtle crossing signs in local neighborhoods.

[@Finvaara]

As an American who doesn't get much time to travel, I am extremely grateful that from time to time my cheese board can visit Gloucestershire. The Double-G is hands-down my favorite British food import.

[@missjenkenz]

I live in Gloucester and a few people here still make the cheese by hand locally, truly delightful if you get the chance.

[@kclightman]

I'm an American and I LOVE Derbyshire and the Peak district. I spend more time there than I do London, because it is so gorgeous and different than anything here. I've found the residents to be very friendly and helpful, too, when I ask for directions etc.

[@chetmanley1885]

Thank you, I live there and do appreciate how much visitors enjoy it.

[@nicolad8822]

Wait till you get to the Yorkshire Dales. 😉

[@ailo4x4]

When I first moved the UK as a US Service Member in 1999 I was kind of adopted by my landlords. They have me a copy of Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain, 1942 as was issued by the US Army for troops during the war. It was as relevant in 1999 as it was in 1942!

[@chrisbamborough222]

That's great😅 I have seen those instructions and yes in some ways still good advice. It must have been an interesting Cultural journey in 1942. I take it you're well settled here now or it was just a service Posting I'm not sure. Where did you get stationed in the 90s. ? 👍Cheers

[@sluggo206]

What did those instructions say?

[@chrisbamborough222]

@@sluggo206It's all contained in the book that was handed to American Soldiers called. ( Instructions for American servicemen in Britain 1942) In the book is information about how to behave in what was a more reserved Country. Also instructions on how to blend in when in Pubs etc. It pointed out we had been at war before America entered and to be keep that in mind . Really just sensible advice, British troops abroad got similar advice. If you Google the title you will find several sources with extracts. If you want a copy of the book it's on UK Amazon at £4.99. It's probably on US Amazon. The Chicago Museum I think sells it by mail. Type in Imperial war Museum, this is our central records Museum they will also have extracts. This next quote was meant in mostly good humour. Said of US troops in England "Over paid,over sexed,and over here.😂. All US troops were called Yanks this was at first not liked by some troops from the South but it was explained it was our all encompassing term for all Americans. We were Limeys or the soldiers as Tommy's you might know the origin those terms if not you can look it up🤗. Despite the war England was a much better place 1939 to 1990. I think most Americans visiting now would have loved 60s England ,however like the 1950s USA ,big Cadillacs, beach boys , and at that time with things we could only dream of those good times have gone. Cheers.

[@simhedgesrex7097]

@@sluggo206 You can seem some extracts by googling "Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain". If you visit one of the Imperial War Museum locations in the UK (at the old Bedlam mental hospital in London, appropriately, but also in Salford and some other places) you can buy a copy of the full thing.

[@ailo4x4]

@@chrisbamborough222 Well settled, married a local gal and stayed. Posted to RAF Moleworth in Cambridgeshire. My sons grew up here going to British schools their whole life, back in the States now. ;-)

[@brandonhumphrey5085]

I love that the Welsh basically agree with us that it’s “yield” and not “give way” haha

[@avaggdu1]

The English do not yield; you can if you want, to match your surrender flag on the Moon. 😉

[@Deano-Dron81]

Boo hoo! 🤣 Cry baby country, wanting to be different just like this dude having living in the US.

[@PeterGaunt]

My local pub is two Tube stops and then two bus stops away from central London. We sometimes get Americans turning up who have either thought to explore a bit further and find how real London people live or Americans who are staying around here because the lodgings are cheaper. They're usually good company. Your advice is excellent.

[@iowagreen8932]

Many years ago I visited London and was on a bus going to some tourist attraction. A middle aged woman looked at me with a bit of suspicion and announced to all and sundry, "you're Italian!". I just gave her a sweet smile and began a lengthy explanation of my U.S. heritage which does indeed include being half Italian. With the first words out of my mouth she said, oh, you're American, and thereafter seemed to wish she hadn't said anything because I was just chattering away.

[@am2dan]

I found the steering wheel being on the other side of the car much more disconcerting than driving on the other side. I had no intrinsic feel for where the rest of the car was; looking into the rear view mirror felt like staring off into space. I _highly_ recommend getting a no-fault no-questions insurance policy on the rental car. I returned a slightly more dinged-up car than I took out and just walked away from it.

[@philipcaldwell3187]

Try landing an airplane from both the left and right seat. My biggest problem was getting ing to wrong side of the car for the first few days.

[@scottfw7169]

Would love to have the health and money to visit Britain & go see canals, and railway museums, and aircraft museums.

[@rmur4820]

Since it was one of your mentions in this video: I watch a LOT of English KZbinr's and I don't think a stone should be thrown either way with the improper use of the English language. It seems many of the people I watch cannot stand the letter "T" or the "TH" sound. I didn't fink I should mention it but I've heard it a fousand times. I probably shouldn't go any furver, a-shoe-ming (assuming) it might upset somefink. Observation only folks.

[@tereseshaw7650]

I, too, am an observer of linguistics. The "theta" sound is the hardest for a non-native English speaker to pronounce. For that matter, it's very hard for our own children to say. My then-3-year-old in a Socratic dialogue with her daddy, "I fought dat's what you'd fink, Daddy."

[@LordRawnsley]

This is perfect. My wife and I are planning a trip to London in June. I want to head out to the Cotswolds and Devon where my ancestors were. Planning to take the train to Paris as well. So excited.

[@pinknylon1121]

Honestly I can't stand the Cotswolds, it's pretty but it's heaving with tourists and there are equally pretty villages elsewhere!

[@HedgeWitch-st3yy]

If you're coming to Devon and like train journeys, the train from Exeter to Paignton goes right along the river and then the coast to the point the tracks were washed away by the sea a few years ago and the sea wall had to be reinforced. I live in Devon and it's one of my favorite journeys. There's a video on you tube of the driver's eye view if you want to check it out. Whatever you end up doing, I hope you have a lovely trip.

[@LordRawnsley]

@@HedgeWitch-st3yy thanks so much. We’ve decided to scrap Paris because of the summer Olympics. This will give us much more time in England. Thanks again!

[@romad357]

My first trip to the UK was in 1977 while stationed in Germany. My wife & I drove and camped 30 days around Britain & Ireland. Basically it was Dover > Canterbury > Stonehenge > St. David's, Wales > Rosslare, Ireland > Cashel > Lough Derg > Tara > Dún Laoghaire > Holyhead, Wales > Edinborough, Scotland > Loch Ness > Coventry > Straford-upon=Avon > Sulgrave Manor, Northamptonshire > Oxford > London. I later had two more assignments to Germany so every 3-day weekend we would fly to London. We took day trips from there to York, Shrewsbury, Hastings, Brighton, Portsmouth, etc. Sorry, we missed Grimsby. It was only in out last couple of year in the late 1980s that we started repeating sites in London.

[@diskopartizan0850]

Sounds like a great experience, thanks for sharing.

[@nicolad8822]

Impressive! To he honest there would be no reason to go Grimsby unless you liked trawlers and fish processing.

[@pinknylon1121]

You totally missed East anglia - the Norfolk and Suffolk coasts are stunning, with empty beaches and huge skies , and Suffolk is quintessential English countryside with beautiful little towns and villages.

[@robertfoulkes1832]

It's spelled Edinburgh!!! There's no such place as "Edinborough" 😂

[@flamingpieherman9822]

I loved getting to Britt rail pass when I went! You can get the one that lets you do non-consecutive days or consecutive days... So if you're going for a 2-week visit, you can get the one that will give you 7 or 8 days which allows you to be off going through a city, taking local transport and then hop on at your convenience. I also found the London pass exceptionally a good value for hopping on all transport for preset price for set period of time

[@johnchristmas7522]

When using a "Oyster" card (prepaid at machines in stations) ALWAYS click in to enter and click out to finalise your journey on the card.

[@flamingpieherman9822]

@@johnchristmas7522 And coupled with a London travel pass it could be really a good deal... Especially if you have a lot of sites you'd want to see in London

[@nicolad8822]

@@johnchristmas7522You don’t really need an Oyster card now if you have a contactless debit card.

[@nicolad8822]

I wish us Brits could get Britrail passes.

[@flamingpieherman9822]

@@nicolad8822 Well they are expensive... To get An 8-day pass you looking at anywhere between 375 to 550 In US dollars. But it does allow you to go anywhere for those 8 days In Britain. So they're not cheap but they are cheaper than purchasing individual tickets... Which is good for tourists because usually only going to stay a day or two in each City... So you're going to get maybe four trips out of that. They also have a flexi pass and it looks like those have increased as well but that affords you to be able to stay there longer and only use it when you absolutely need to...

[@voodoochild1975az]

I love this channel because it is my experience that Brits and Americans are natural friends. People have happily moved back and forth between these nations for centuries. Set Americans and Brits down at a table with a few pints, laughter and good times follow 999 times out of a 1000. I actually believe this is the core of the 'Special Relationship'. We get along easily.

[@monicahamm3353]

very diplomatic of you, Lawrence! very diplomatic!

[@crazygangrel]

I’m heading to Britain for the first time in three weeks. I needed this!

[@lunaholiday8585]

Have fun!

[@danz1182]

Last time we were in the UK my cousin took us to Stonehenge, which was cool, but the real unexpected treat was on the way back to London we went to Bath just because we had time and it was sort of on the way. It is a really lovely town. The Roman baths are better preserved than any I have been to in Italy. We had a really nice afternoon. I would recommend it to anyone.

[@LauraKnotek]

I'd love to have a bath in Bath. 🛁

[@deborahlosekelly1520]

Bath is so beautiful!

[@pinknylon1121]

Bath is not on the way back to London from Stonehenge

[@dstarling61]

Bath is literally the opposite direction from London, about an hour northwest of Stonehenge 😂. It is a beautiful town though.

[@teleriferchnyfain]

I love the Costume Museum there.

[@dpcnreactions7062]

I just can't get enough of Lawerence telling us to do something NOW! Here in Canada we have many roundabouts and we still forget how to use them. Most of them are only one lane so it's not that big of an issue.

[@JonReevesLA]

I don't know how common this is, but I was shocked when I visited an apparently moderately priced restaurant to find they added a fairly hefty "cover" charge to the food bill; I was told it was for the unasked for plate of small appetizers, like olives and bread sticks. (This was a sit down restaurant with no entertainment, though it was in a heavily touristed area -- Picadilly Circus, if memory serves.) Maybe it was just this one place, and this was at least 15 years ago.

[@PhilMasters]

That sounds like a bit of tourist trap chicanery. Not unknown in the UK, but not standard or popular.

[@RootBeerQueen]

The request to subscribe is the most politely hostile way to do it. I love this. I'm subscribed, have been for a while now, but I still get a chuckle whenever you request for people to subscribe. 🤣

[@troys6965]

In Britain, you never want to see a train in the subway. 😂

[@sandywatts2078]

About street signs I have seen sign warning for Ducks, Geese, Squirrels, wild Horses, Burros and Cattle --- Oh and Big foot [Only in the US. LOL] Tipping -- depending on the restaurant in London u go to and how often they don't ignore u. I tipped way above and beyond because of excellent food and service and I was treated exceptionally well, even given extra things not on menu they came by asked if I needed anything etc. Bus tours are great too and a lot of fun

[@tereseshaw7650]

A real traffic sign seen in Idaho outside Yellowstone: Moose on Road At Night Next 13 Miles.

[@laurabustos6560]

We do have a similar road sign in the US to the stooped elderly couple sign. But they're for " "children present" and usually only found near schools and daycare and such. I secretly think the stooped elderly couple is a really quaint sign. We also have a "running people" silhouette sign that is posted around the border w/ Mexico and along major freeways near the border, usually at freight weigh stations and customs checkpoints.

[@LindaC616]

Puerto Rico has the sign with the elderly couple on it, but I have never seen it here in the States. I enjoyed contrasting the school crossing signs in Ireland, where a boy and a girl carrying books are crossing, and Spain, where a school crossing sign is a stick figure running for its life!

[@EthanHyland]

There is also the "deaf child area" signs. One of those signs used to be by my old home.

[@moochomo133]

I've seen them for Autistic Children as well

[@Sashazur]

There’s also the unofficial plastic sign you see propped on the sidewalk in many residential areas to show playing children.

[@zebo-the-fat]

I thought that sign was to warn about elderly pickpockets in the area!

[@odintheallfather4863]

Great video. I'm American and want to visit the UK because of the numerous awesome heritage railways & railway museums

[@denisem.1042]

When I visited the UK last year and rented a car, I thought the roundabouts would be the main issue to overcome. I adapted to them quite quickly (except the really complex ones). One thing I had trouble with are the extremely narrow roads in the countryside. There are no shoulders on the side of the road. Usually just a muddy ditch. I found myself gripping the steering wheel whenever I met a large vehicle going the other way. I just learned that the driver can't sightsee. Those narrow roads require 100% of your attention!

[@avaggdu1]

The driver shouldn't be 'sightseeing' anywhere. You should be paying attention to the road.

[@denisem.1042]

@@avaggdu1 Oh, I agree. But here in the states you can at least glance from side to side for a couple of seconds. Not so on those roads. I found it to be an intense experience. Like white knuckle at times. Have you driven in the UK or are you from there?

[@avaggdu1]

@@denisem.1042 From the UK and used to be a motorcyclist, so I'm very aware of car drivers not paying attention. I stopped riding precisely because of car drivers 'taking a few seconds to glance around'; got hit by several of them.

[@Croz89]

Best advice I'd give to someone unfamiliar with roundabouts is to imagine a one way road going round in a circle with every road entering having a yield sign. If you treat a roundabout like that you shouldn't go wrong (unless you're in France where some roundabouts have the priority reversed, but let's not talk about that...).

[@markperry5975]

I'm from the UK, yeh those roads do get narrow at 90mph 😂😂😂😂😂

[@UncleKennysPlace]

Fun fact: the standard voltage in a US house is 220-240 volts; it effectively uses a center-tapped transformer, giving the center tap (stupidly called "neutral") and two "hot" wires. The neutral wires also terminate at ground. Between the two hots, you get the full voltage, between a hot and a neutral, you get half that. It's not unusual to have high voltage sockets in a US home; I have ones for the dryer, the range, and my welder. Lighting circuits and ordinary outlets are the lower voltage.

[@TheEulerID]

It is not stupid that it is called a neutral. Just as in other countries with single phase, neutral is a ground referenced load carrying wire. I should, however note that the Schuko type sockets used in much of Europe are not polarised. They have a neutral and a line/hot, but it is random which way they are arranged. This is for historic reasons as, long ago, Germany used a system not unlike a US 240v receptacle with two "hots", although without a centre tap. Later on, they adopted 230 line/hot + ground referenced neutral, but never produced a polarised socket, probably because it was difficult to do and retain socket compatibility due to the round pins (in North America, the neutral pin was widened which maintained backwards compatibility for non-polarised plugs). Incidentally, neutral has a specific meaning for "star wired" 3 phase, and in some countries, like Germany and the Netherlands, 3 phase supply to households is normal, and individual single phase circuits are tapped off of a single phase given line/hot and neutral in the same way US 120V circuits are tapped off of one of the two individual phases. However, in Germany a very powerful appliance might be fed by 2 or even 3 phases. Note you will not come across 3 phase sockets in domestic properties. Most European countries aren't like that and use 230V (nominal) single phase supplies to the great majority of domestic properties.

[@NeuroPedsDad]

I took my wife to London years ago and I decided to rent a car. Sounds good so far I'm a great driver who had driven in multiple countries throughout the world. Well I go to get the car and unfortunately for me the lorry carrying my car broke down or something. The car agent is cool and upgrades me to the luxury class and I'm thinking this is going to be awesome. He then informs me that the car and well as the cars he has are all manuals. Not a problem I think. I've driven a manual car. It shouldn't be an issue. I get in the car and realize immediately that I'm screwed. I'm sitting on the right side of the car and the shifter's on the left. At least the pedals where in the same place. However I'm an American. So I say f'k it hold my beer and take off down the streets of London. I dare say that there are a number of Londoners who have PTSD after witnessing my first days driving. Especially that poor lady walking when I entered my first round-a-bout. I did get the hang of it by day two.

[@simhedgesrex7097]

Driving in London: not to be recommended. Even for most Brits.

[@Xeroph-5]

Yeah, we don't recommend driving in London. Anywhere outside of London is generally lovely (Unless the motorways are CLOSED AGAIN--!) so city to city journeys are great for driving. Also, driving up here in the North is always nice. Lovely scenery and less traffic generally.

[@inconnu4961]

Fortunately they have EXCELLENT national healthcare in UK, which they are VERY proud of! Those poor people with PTSD will be well cared for! LOL

[@tracy5721]

@@inconnu4961It’ll just take along time for them to get in to be seen.

[@kitefan1]

I was told, even as a left-hander who always drove manual at the time, not to do it.

[@davidfulton179]

When I did a semester abroad in London in 1997, my Muswell Hill homestay family (hi Martin and Doris, if you are still with us, or if you are ghosts with wifi) had me leave an outgoing message on their answer machine as they thought I sounded glamourous! The first and only time that mistake has ever been made!

[@TanyaQueen182]

It's a sin that you're not at 1 million subs yet. This year! Let's do it! Big love from your fan in Florida!

[@nedludd7622]

This site is probably not most Floridians' cup of tea.

[@spudskie3907]

Would love to visit the UK someday.

[@BadgerOfTheSea]

If you do, don't just do London. That is like just going to Manhatten in the US. The real England is outside the city

[@richardwani2803]

Another thing to remember is that for the emergency services its 999 not 911

[@fionagregory9147]

And 999 is much more sensible.

[@richardwani2803]

@@fionagregory9147 agreed

[@ToastyMozart]

​@@fionagregory9147911 is much harder to butt-dial, since it uses two buttons on opposite ends of the keypad instead of just one.

[@jeffyoder1168]

You might like to know that in parts of the American south, the trunk of cars is known as the boot, and the hood as the bonnet.

[@mikebauer6917]

Traveled to Exeter numerous times for work. I found that I got more interested reactions to “where are you visiting from” questions by saying New York (which was true) rather than America or the US. I mean interested in the sense people asked me follow on questions. Also, being a New Yorker I always look both ways twice before crossing a road, because New York, so I never did the classic American mistake of looking the wrong way before stepping into the street. But my fellow Americans I warn you to take care in this regard.

[@kirbyculp3449]

Churchill was almost hit by a truck in NYC because he looked the wrong way. World history could be very different.

[@jasonmalstrom1043]

You posted this less than a week after I got back from my first trip to Britain. Sometimes playing the part of the confused tourist was quite helpful.

[@brianwhite8465]

Same here. We got home on the 3rd.

[@charlespeterwatson9051]

Here's good advice: Get out of the cities your international flight lands in to see the better parts.

[@kristend344]

That's pretty standard anywhere.

[@neutrino78x]

nah man cities are the best 🙂

[@brontewcat]

Not totally true- ‘When a man is tired of London he’s is tired of life …’. London, Paris, Rome and many of the major cities are all worth spending time in. There is so much to see both in London and throughout the UK, the country requires much more than one visit.

[@Bozbaby103]

Oooo, I did when I visited several years ago. Hired a car and drove everywhere for four weeks. Started by flying into Mildenhall RAF Base (I’m now retired US military), drove to the SE of England*, skirted intimidating London*, then all the way into the Highlands, then into northern Wales, popped over to Dublin, to the SW of England and eventually into London for the last week. Stayed in B&Bs and hostels, ate at pubs, stayed away from most tourist attractions, talked with locals A LOT. Met a lot of great people. A different experience than my one or two night trip in the mid 90s when I first joined the military where I did the Londony touristy things. The month-long trip allowed me to feel the culture, the way of life. Loved that I shocked many Brits, Scots, Welsh and Irish when I steadfastly requested tea instead of coffee. Give me tea or water over coffee any day. Still makes me smile…with tea-stained teeth. Hmm…need to do something about that. * Oh boy…. Driving on the other side of the road, on the other side of a car that happens to have a manual gearbox in city/village centers that are effectively a maze if one is not used to them was a steep learning curve. This was before GPS/SatNav on our phones in 2008. Nearly turned around and went home, but promised to try again the next day, to stick to M roads and stay the eff away from city centres. Soooo, what’d that next morning bring me? Driving toward the largest city centre you have: London. I was heading toward Canterbury from Winchester (I think). Wooo, tested myself by sticking to the Ms, which are no different than our Interstates. Did well, then hit A roads. Lessons were learned, but eventually I gained confidence and didn’t have much problems until London. I stayed/parked yards/meters away from the city center line and walked everywhere and took the underground. Whew! And yes, I learned how to navigate roundabouts the first day of driving. Lots of circling until I could get a feel for how to navigate is a different direction that I’m used to. I should note that I have been able to drive vehicles with manual gearboxes, or sticks as we call them, since I was 12. Clutches and sticks don’t bother me. However, I was soooo thankful the shifting pattern was the same as what I was used to and not opposite. That would’ve been a problem…for a bit.

[@jacobhealy8376]

so dont go im not going to hang out in the burbs

[@dougmackenzie5976]

I always enjoyed going to Scotland, given my name. I could hardly buy a dram in any pub I entered. It usually went something like this: Me, walking into a pub and asking for a drink from the barkeep. In almost every instance, a hush fell over the pub upon hearing my Northeastern US accent. After sipping my bevvy in solitude for a few minutes, the barkeep would then ask me where I'm from. "Upstate New York", I'd say, slipping in the curveball of "Upstate". "Aye, where's that, then?", would be the common response. I'd explain and he'd nod and go about his work. A few minutes later, the local regulars at the far end of the bar would send a delegate down the bar to greet me and inquire further about this "Upstate" NY the barkeep had just told them about. He'd ask my name, and when I'd tell him, a big grin would spread across his face, and he'd invite me down to the other end of the bar, to sit with him and his pals. "Dou MacKenzie? Really?" Then I'd add, "Douglas Stewart MacKenzie" to pats on the back and drams of malt miraculously appearing by the twos and threes right in front of me. The festivities always commenced, and, frankly, my memories begin to become a bit disjointed and fragmented after that, but the scene repeated itself in nearly every pub I entered. The amount and quality of malt pushed my way when I was up in my old clan's territory was legendary. A MacKenzie, 'come hame frae the New Wurld'. I couldn't buy a drink. They practically bathed me in some of the finest, oldest malts in the world. Some of the very best memories of my youth!

[@misspat7555]

5:06- It’s your wife that’s good at planning, is it, Lawrence? 🤣

[@LEPorter55]

OMG, you are from Grimsby???? My Grandmother came from Grimsby and moved to Michigan in about 1903. So cool!!

[@EebstertheGreat]

btw, US voltage is actually 112.8-127.2 V when within spec, with an average of 120 V. You can get twice that with two live wires and one neutral, e.g. for ovens. In the UK, voltage is 216.2-253.0 V with an average of 240 V. But you can get a lot more in the UK with three-phase power.

[@vailpcs4040]

If you get particularly good service in a UK Pub, tell the barkeep 'and one for yourself...' when you order another round. They'll usually add the price of a half pint to your order and 50/50 will join you for a drink. It's best to do this at slow times and strike up a conversation to make it feel like your very own 'local'.

[@simhedgesrex7097]

But don't be offended if they refuse. Some pubs don't like their staff to drink on duty, and of course, some bar staff may themselves not wish to drink, or just don't like beer.

[@dougmackenzie5976]

Sorry to hear trains have gotten more expensive. I used to get a rail pass, and frequently traveled between Ely and Edinburgh. I used to love pulling into Waverly Station at tea time!

[@bobbabai]

Any electronic device made in the last 10 or 15 years is just fine with any plug voltage in the world. You can't use motorized devices at a voltage for which they weren't designed. So, no hair dryers. Also you can't move heaters around the world.

[@dougbrowning82]

Some portable appliances, like hair dryers, for the international market, actually have voltage switches, and have had them for years. I used to have a Phillips portable cassette recorder with four voltage options, plus that odd looking power cord connector.

[@ToastyMozart]

Yep, if it converts to DC it generally doesn't care what the source voltage is.

[@VodShod]

The elder pedestrian crossing signs usually have a number on them in America, you can understand what the number is about if you look into Death Race 2000.

[@noone1929]

Our nearest city has recently added more roundabouts and it drives my dad crazy that people are always stoping instead of yielding to traffic. It’s been a few years now and I still don’t think anybody else is used to them. Personally I think a part of the problem is nobody signals as they leave making it hard for others to enter with being sure you aren’t going to crash into them. Funnily enough I’ve heard of a person who decided to ignore a roundabout completely and just drove over the hump through the bushes.

[@kynn23]

My town's roundabouts are fairly small. By the time you enter, there's barely time to signal before you're out of it.

[@loganmccoy2842]

In Florida I hear more people referred to roundabouts as traffic circles. In Tampa, there is quite a few of them.

[@frankandstein8618]

rotary

[@Itsgonnabeok1325]

My area of Ohio has several. There are three within 15 min of my home, and we live in a farm county

[@stubstoo6331]

Tampa Bay area has lots of them.round about. Just yield to your left easy peasy.

[@tenshikim2013]

In southern Oregon we have a few and they are for some reason called turn abouts

[@LindaC616]

​@frankandstein8618 RI has entered the chat!

[@BeachPeach2010]

One of my favorite parts of visiting England was having old men in the pubs serenade me with Elvis Songs! 😄

[@fortheloveofgrey6045]

Carmel, Indiana is a great place to practice driving roundabouts!

[@penelopeshaffer5143]

It’s true that you don’t necessarily need a car in England EXCEPT when visiting the Cotswolds. For some reason, the Cotswolds do not have the public transport of the rest of England.

[@andrewbatts7678]

My friend was in a bad car crash decades ago while in England, he awoke to see a Rabbi sitting next to his bed. The hospital staff saw that he was circumcized and assumed he was Jewish. They were unaware that pretty much all Americans are circumcized and have been for a long time😂

[@SalyLuz-hc6he]

Well, I still hope he was thankful and gracious to the rabbi, who took the time out to come and pray for him!

[@daveaglasgow]

This seems to be a lie, if any staff at the hospital were to inform someone else about something private such as circumcision it would be a massive violation of the patients rights, and the person could get into a lot of trouble for divulging this information. Not only this, but there are many people in the UK who are circumcised who are not Jewish, so no medical staff would just assume something like that. I just looked up the stats, 20% of the male population in the UK is circumcised and less than 0.5% of the population is Jewish.

[@avaggdu1]

Why would hospital staff call a rabbi unless he was requested? Religion is not as big a thing in the UK as it is in USA. Hospital staff wouldn't care less (unless they are particularly zealous and he was on his deathbed - even then I doubt it). I call bullshit.

[@juliaw151]

Which is so beyond bizarre. It's actually abhorrent.

[@keefsmiff]

Iv heard that Americans love to give tips but that's ridiculous

[@Aegelis]

My personal favourite signs while visiting and not found in the U.S. were: 1.) "Humped Zebra Crossing". I watched this patch of road for a half hour and saw no humped zebras. 2.) "Dead Slow Hoot" which had me looking for a zombie owl. 3.) "Mind the gap" did have a salacious ring as well. Enjoyed Avebury, Tewkesbury, Hay on Wye. We hadn't any problems with rudeness, though did catch fantastic flourishes of back-handed compliments (sarcasm) occasionally such as, "You're very nice for a Americans." I said, "Thank you very much!", then while walking away realised that was like saying, "Of all the dirtbags, you're topsoil."

[@sifridbassoon]

The European headquarters of the company I used to work for was outside of London, and I got to go a couple of times to do some training. The people were so nice and friendly. I got quite spoiled. I also almost got mowed down on Kensington High Street because I looked the wrong direction to check for oncoming traffic. 😂

[@brians2733]

It’s been over 25 years since I last visited England (though I did visit Scotland about 7 years ago), I am looking forward to returning sometime soon. I prefer public transport over driving - when visiting London, my father driving a rental car was a traumatic experience - and having visited over 70 countries, it’s really common sense. I love that tipping isn’t mandatory (I won’t eat out in America because of it) and appreciate all of your insight.

[@williambailey344]

You just have to admire Lawrence's sense of humour a true Brit who is a duel nationality great vlog😊

[@user-pe9gz8si8k]

When I was stationed in Newbury, a cabbie described their attitude toward Americans perfectly. He said, “you Americans are over. Oversexxed, overpaid and over here.”

[@chrisball3778]

That phrase dates back to WWII and the huge influx of US military personnel that arrived in the UK. Britain was in the middle of strict rationing, so US servicemen were comparatively wealthy. Because Britain had been fighting for two years before the US entered the war, many young British men were already serving overseas, leaving behind a large number of single women, hence the 'oversexed' bit.

[@BigFluffyPup]

Could you please start a 24-hour channel? I need a permanent break from typical TV and video to keep me company. I love what you do. Thank you.

[@sarahheld3761]

Speaking of roundabout oh my gosh Ohio's got roundabouts popping out of nowhere well thank goodness that I've been disabled for 10 years so I don't drive

[@Torrentialdownpurr]

I'm from Ohio and can agree with this, a lot more popping up. Good for slowing traffic down in traffic stop areas that people were just whizzing through the red lights. Can't do that with a roundabout!! Hahah

[@L1623VP]

Clearly, the state road department had a LOT of money to waste over the last ten years. Instead of putting in needless roundabouts, they should have used those millions of dollars to fix and improve the conditions of our highways, especially around the cities. Tired of the lumpy, patched-up, crumbling, highways.

[@kitefan1]

As a US person I have been to the UK several times. (I spent a few days on a narrow boat, too. At my age now I recommend motorized lock canals only.) The outlet switches always get me the first, jet-lagged, day. My recommendation for visiting the UK is to go somewhere else in Europe first where English is not the primary language. It is easier to get the European mindset if the signs are not in English. I went to Portugal and Denmark first. I did overpay about $20 for a breakfast I could have gotten for $7 at a pub a street over when I was jet-lagged because the signs were in English. The other thing you didn't mention is that outside of LARGE cities like London, you'd better have access to a microwave if you want hot food after 9pm. And no, taking your leftovers or dessert home isn't a thing.

[@WillowWhispers]

US has Pedestrian crossing signs.

[@avaggdu1]

Good for you. The UK has them too but we mostly ignore them and cross the road where we like without fear of being mowed down or arrested.

[@WillowWhispers]

@@avaggdu1 You ignore them? Ok.

[@ianz9916]

@@WillowWhispers Jaywalking isn't a law in the UK. You can cross the road if it is safe to do so.

[@rhysalexander182]

The important thing about tipping in the UK is that it’s normally included in your bill (check) as “service charge” normally 12.5%. Don’t tip on top of that unless service was exceptional. Tip your taxi drivers and your tour guides though!

[@BillPeschel]

The Britrail pass should not be confused with a slew of other passes that can cut your rail cost by one-third. My wife and I are planning on getting the Two Together Rail Card for our visit to Britain (London, Torquay, Bath) in September.

[@lightwoven5326]

Another thing to remember is that us English like to make jokes or 'banter' about one another, especially in pubs. This really has freaked several of my US friends over the years, including one from Nashville who thought we were going kill each other.. . Also, as a point of business never try to outdrink a Brit..... Also we eat using both knife and fork, not just cutting the food up and just using the fork 😅

[@jimgreen5788]

Laurence, back when I was across the pond in '86, I used a BritRail Pass (as well as a Eurail Pass), and both were very useful, as well as, I'm sure, a huge money saver.

[@petuniasevan]

3:25 Laurence this may be true in a lot of states but Wisconsin is loaded with roundabouts. They are built in such a way that they're more challenging because the road crew builds a big berm in the center and loads it up with trees, shrubs, boulders, large "welcome to city" signs and the like. You can't see the traffic coming around the right of way which makes it more exciting to dart into the circle. Snow's a plus since it makes it harder to tell when you're about to end up curbing your car. I'd rather have the British style where I can see and anticipate traffic instead of "surprise, enjoy the honking".

[@Sashazur]

All the roundabouts I’ve encountered in the US so far have flat centers. As you said, filling the center up with trees and signs is less safe.

[@InvdrDana]

@@Sashazur I don't think I've come across a roundabout in Ohio that didn't have a berm filled up with stuff. I haven't had too much trouble, but it still doesn't make much sense to have such low visibility.

[@SalyLuz-hc6he]

@@InvdrDanaI’m in Ohio, and nearly all of them we have around me have just flatland in the center. I know of one that has a fountain, and another that has a statue. But neither of them obstruct Vision- we can still see that someone is coming etc.

[@darleneh608]

They add all that stuff because in the early days of building those roundabouts, drivers would ignore the roadway and just try to drive through the middle. Eventually they got smart and when adding a new roundabout, would position a traffic cop there for the first few days. They do a lot of pulling over and handling out warnings and explaining how it was supposed to be done. Eventually, everyone gets it. Well, nearly everyone.

[@Ritabug34]

My wish for years is to visit the Yorkshire dales! They are so beautifully serene. I also love James Herriot

[@vtcs1963]

Watch the series if you can find it, then watch Happy Valley to see how it completely changed in 50 years, at least according to Hollywood (I use Hollywood in the international sense of "movie-land" before anyone bites my head off).

[@TofuHasenpfeffer]

We only took a few train trips so using Trainline and buying way ahead of time worked fine without the pass. Visitor pass from TFL worked well for London. And what I have learned from watching this channel was a great help. If you are a train buff then the National Railway Museum is a worthwhile visit.

[@simhedgesrex7097]

In London you can now use a contactless credit or debit card to touch in and touch out. It's supposed to work in New York too, but the US seemed to be rather dodgy when it came to accepting (or not) my foreign contactless cards: not a problem I've had in Italy, Ireland or France.

[@TheInselaffen]

If you are in Wales look out for the Araf. These creatures may dart out into the road at any time; luckily local authorities will clearly mark the roads in rural areas where they live.

[@SalyLuz-hc6he]

🙄It’s not really an animal, is it?? I just thought it meant slow down.

[@avaggdu1]

Caerbannog Cave is rife with the buggers.

[@simhedgesrex7097]

The Araf are hunted by the dreaded Heddlu, who are driven around in special cars with flashing lights on. The Araf tend to hide for safety in the caves of Gwasanaethau, conveniently sited along motorways. The Araf are hunted for their wealth: they are as rich as Croesos.

[@chetmanley1885]

​@@SalyLuz-hc6hedats da joke

[@kitefan1]

Okay, you got me. I looked it up. 🤣

[@janetstonerook4552]

I visited London a few years ago. I'm from WVa but several people there asked if I was Canadian! Apparently, my accent has gotten distorted from living in other areas of the US for much of my adult life. Much DNA is 2/3ds from UK ancesterage. So I absolutely loved being there. And a special acknowledgement of the taxi drivers in London. They are wonderfully polite and knowledgeable. Very professional and reasonably priced fares.

[@darlenebergantzel1534]

I had the opportunity to visit England for 3 weeks several years ago and really enjoyed it. Because I was there primarily for work, I used the weekends to explore London and the surrounding countryside. Beautiful.

[@andipep]

An American who bought a travel-size curling iron in Berkshire exclusively to bring on every trip to the UK 🙋‍♀️🧏‍♀️ ETA - love the advice on getting out of London! My husband (who loves driving on the right) and I road-tripped all over England, appreciating all the traffic signs and roundabouts, and especially loved Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Wiltshire and Hampshire. England is so beautiful and in every corner the people are really kind and loads of fun 💗

[@chthoniapodcast]

As an American I go to the UK quite regularly, and have lived there for up to 6 months at a time. I hate driving in the U.S., so I don't subject anyone in Britain to my driving--buses are definitely cheaper, and National Express is my friend. I have at least 10 bus apps on my phone. BritRail passes are quite handy, I had one when I was an undergrad at University of Reading, it saved a ton of money on train travel (which is less and less reliable these days--and be cautious about travel by bus or train on Sundays, it is very likely that there will be an interruption.) I've been told that as an American, I am "quite exotic" to the locals, which I find humorous. When I was an undergraduate study abroad student, I was told, "You'll make friends will people from other countries, but not the English," which was bogus. Last time I was there I realized that I know as many people in the UK as I do in America! Now looking into moving there permanently, though this is challenging with the current government, to say the least.

[@iankr]

Re tipping in Britain: a lot of restaurants now add a discretionary 12.5% to your bill. You are not obliged to pay this (despite what some of them might tell you*), but if you do, you can treat it as the tip. * By law, you are only obliged to pay the price of the items as given on the menu.

[@ddlee84]

I think the only way you can be charged more than the menu prics if if it was mentioned before dining as a "service charge"...although that is typically only added on for large parties or special events. EG If you book a table of £20....they will say "Oh for a table of that size there is a 15% service charge".

[@iankr]

​@@ddlee84 No. They're trying it on.

[@johnchristmas7522]

As a Brit I abhor the tip added to the bill. I always insist that the bill is without the tip. Why? well it isn't a given that the staff will receive anything! So I take cash with me and tip the waitress/waiter personally.

[@nicolad8822]

@@johnchristmas7522Increasingly they won’t take cash, happened to me in a chain place recently. I asked about the round up on the credit card, the waitress said the business kept 5%, the kitchen staff got maybe 20%, the rest to the server.

[@TheInkPitOx]

I hope to visit Britain someday. I want to see Canterbury, Cornwall, and Norfolk particularly.

[@Torrentialdownpurr]

Thank you for this! We're gonna be in London for a few days next summer and I was nervous lol im one of those people that think the rest of the world hates us but youre videos have opens me up to real perspectives. Im glad our accents can be just as fascinating to folks as the rest of the worlds accents are to us. I was afraid I was gonna have to hide how American I am lol

[@pinknylon1121]

We only hate you if you vote for Trump or say you won WW2 😂

[@fermisparadox01]

Every time I see pictures of the English countryside, I'm struck by the awful deforestation. I don't understand why it's allowed to remain that way 😕

[@DavidChorley-pg2qi]

Please remember that in the UK an up switch is off( usually) and down is on, and there are fewer electric sockets in bathrooms and toilets. Also public toilets are usually a disgrace. Buy loo roll and wipes. I have often thought there is a business case for "Uber loos" for tourists with a subscription service

[@eattherich9215]

The only socket in a UK bathroom will be for a shaver and many don't even have that.

[@Shackleford_Rusty]

I drove through London… it was a mistake and expensive mistake thanks to ulez….

[@brucemedley635]

You got the mayor of london to thank for that

[@cunningtim]

Great video, as usual! As I am an American travelling in Britain right now, I have a few more observations: -Don’t pack your hair dryer. While your phone charger will convert between 120 and 230V, it and many other electrics won’t, even after you adapt the plug. Also US voltage is at 60hz, and European at 50hz, and it won’t convert that, either. -If you go to a car boot sale and see great deals on DVDs, forget it-they won’t work in the US, and vice versa. CDs are fine, though -Unless you stay in a hotel that caters to Americans, they don’t seem to have washcloths in Britain -In a week of pleasurable driving in the Southwest, I did not encounter a single rude or inconsiderate driver, which would have taken 5 minutes at home in Philadelphia. Why? They follow the rules! Especially speed limits; 30mph MEANS 30, so slow down when you get to a village. You don’t have to go that fast, though. The speed limit if unposted is 60, which is hilariously high on many roads. I also did not encounter a single driver going slow in the fast (right) lane. If we all drove like this America would be a much happier place.

[@brucelee3388]

But US DVDs will work in almost every DVD player in the Rest of the World, but not BluRay disks. So you can send US DVDs to friends and relatives outside the US and they shouldn't have any problems (unless their DVD player is 25-30 years old)

[@BlankCanvas88]

They've been putting in a bunch of round-a-bouts (or traffic circles as some Americans call them) in my home of north Louisiana. I'd been to Britain a couple of times before, so I was used to them. People here were uncertain at first but now they've got it down like clockwork.

[@pattischult9401]

My converter let me down when I first used it back in 1994... probably bad tech. Every part of my curling iron that was plastic melted onto the counter. I was so sad because I was going to be there (Nairobi, not the UK) for 8 months! My absolute top trip goal is the Cotswolds ❤

[@lynnwales2937]

I live in Massachusetts. We love roundabouts so much, we keep installing them. If I ever drive in Britain, I’ll at least be prepared for that!

[@avaggdu1]

It's not the Volts that will kill you, it's the Amps. Using water flow as a metaphor for electricity, the voltage is the amount of water in a pipe, but current (ampage) is how quickly the water flows; a slow steady trickle may flood your house over time but being hit by a fire hose will knock you on your behind. Every UK plug/socket has its own fuse so the higher voltage is largely irrelevant.

[@sluggo206]

Is the fuse replaceable, and are there replacement fuses in stores? Occsionally an American appliance's instructions mentions an internal fuse, but even rarer do they talk about how to reset it o how to get the appliance open to get to it. House fuses are a different matter: houses/apartments older than say the 1950s still have them, and the last time I lived in one in 2003, the fuses were available at hardware stores. But those fuses are a lot larger than would fit in a plug or small appliance.

[@hughtonks]

Completely wrong. Voltage is equivalent to water pressure. Current is the amount of water passing a point in unit time. Water itself is equivalent to electric charge.

[@simhedgesrex7097]

Plug a standard US (or Canadian) hairdryer into a UK socket, and wait for burning smell, or the loud bang as its motor is destroyed. Instead, buy a travel hairdryer or bring a converter (which steps down the voltage), which is not the same as an adapter (though you can get combined converters/adapters). You argue all you want about voltage or ampage, but whatever it is, it is not irrelevant!

[@dougbrowning82]

Higher voltage allows you to use less amperage. 15 Amps at 240 Volts is the equivalent power to 30 Amps at 120 Volts. The benefit is that 15 Amps uses thinner wire than 30 Amps.

[@dougbrowning82]

@@simhedgesrex7097 Or buy an International hair dryer with a voltage switch, that you can use anywhere with the appropriate plug adapter.

[@teleriferchnyfain]

I went to Glasgow University for a year in the early 70s. Trains were not as expensive then, plus I got a Britrail Pass that could breed the Tube, London buses & the trains for the first two weeks of my stay, so I could sightsee in London & elsewhere. Went to Stonehenge before they fenced it in. Later(90s), the US Navy sent me to Edsel, Scotland, for a couple of weeks, & to London for a month. I stayed in a mansion flat in London, with a normal (not tourist) Tube pass, & worked in civilian clothes. People did not realize I was an American at any point 🤗. In London, I got taken for French (had a rental car courtesy of the Navy for unknown reasons, & me making gestures in the car caused a Bobby to come over & offer assistance in French LOL. Luckily I speak French 😂. I drove from London to Wales, & also to Edinburgh - no problems. I drove a shift no less. I never got fingered as an American in Europe either (join the Navy, see the world) - not even in Thailand (where they thought I was German). I asked once & got told it was my shoes - I don’t wear trainers nor high heels so I guess? I noticed in my last British trip (2004) that the train system definitely has not aged well 🥺. Made me sad. I also know the old money system in Britain cause I went in the 70s & am a British Lit major lol. However I do know the metric system quite well (actually have used it to sew for years cause I make doll clothes).

[@eattherich9215]

'I went to Glasgow University for a year in the early 70s. Trains were not as expensive then ...' Those were in the days before privatisation. These days, the taxpayers are subsidising thee private rail companies to make profits at our expense.

[@72stones43]

Don’t trash the place, it’s not a Walmart parking lot.

[@mell0city]

Public parking spaces always has small trash. But idk if your message was pointed americans because the u.s is surprisingly clean when tourists or foreigners visit.

[@dougmackenzie5976]

When I first went to England, in the mid '80s, a local fellow told me the difference between Americans and the British is that the British think 150 miles is a long way, while Americans think 150 years is a long time." Told to me in a neighborhood pub in Mildenhall, known The Bird in Hand.

[@julietannOsfan1972]

I’m so glad you still say maths & not math. You’ve got to keep some British words.

[@kimberlypatton205]

Local accents are a novelty to people even visiting other states.. I never thought I had one ,being a Texan, until I visited my mother in PA. Every waiter and store clerk asked me to “say-something” and knew I was fromTx!

[@jzero53]

Interesting to hear BritRail passes are still available since the trains were privatized. My parents bought me BritRail passes for 2 of my trips during my uni days. Have been to UK about 20 times. ❤ it.

[@kain772]

I live in Massachusetts. Plenty of rotarys.

[@jLutraveling]

Excellent video.

[@masterofallgoons]

I quite enjoyed the pronunciation of 'voltage' as 'vault-age' here. Don't think I ever heard that one before.

[@aredub1847]

please consider roundabouts (good) vs traffic circles (bad)

[@firstcynic92]

My advice for visiting Britain, having done it once. Some is repeated in the video. Don't try driving. Use rail, bus, taxi and your feet. Only take a minimum of devices that need power, like 1 phone. Keep a supply of 1£ coins on you. At least a half dozen. Get an oyster card (bus & rail in London) as soon as you can. They take 1£ coins. Travel light. Use laundromats to wash your clothes while there. They take 1£ coins. Spend 1 week in London and 1 week outside, at a minimum. If you visit Westminster Abby or The Tower of London, get there 1/2 hour before they open. They get busy fast. For the Tower, go to the Crown Jewels exhibit immediately when you get in. It gets busy fast. Try haggis in Scotland. It's better than you think. Edinburgh is the only city in the world where every direction is uphill. Even if you turn around and backtrack its still uphill. Be prepared for it. London is NOT a "walkable" city. Just walking from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Palace, then up to the National Gallery will take at least 3 hours. The Welsh are almost unintelligible. Be patient. Have at least 1 Sunday Roast in an English pub.

[@katrinabryce]

These days I would suggest a contactless debit/credit card with minimal or no fees for foreign transactions. You can use that in place of an Oyster card in London, and on buses pretty much everywhere else in the country. Note that in London, you only tap the card on the reader when you board the bus, it is a flat fare wherever you travel, but in most other parts of the country, you have to tap the card on the reader when you leave the bus as well. You can also use it *everywhere* else that takes money, including street traders etc. I do not take cash with me when I leave the house, I use Apple Pay for everything. A lot of places now actually don't take cash, only cards.

[@diskopartizan0850]

One correction, the uphill thing is also true of Sheffield 😂

[@avaggdu1]

Better still: don't eat in pubs; save them for drinking and socialising, go somewhere more suitable for a Sunday Roast.

[@firstcynic92]

@@avaggdu1 I had 2 Sunday Roasts in my 2 weeks in Britain. One in a restaurant which was not that great, overpriced and overcooked. One in a pub that was possibly the best meal I've ever eaten.

[@katrinabryce]

@@avaggdu1 There are some pubs where you can get really nice food. Not all of them though, so you need to pick carefully.