American Reacts to What to Know Before You Visit the UK *SHOCKING*

[@Beejay950]

Jay walking isn't a crime in the UK. It's called crossing the road. :-)

[@rusticpartyeditz]

It is illegal in Northern Ireland.

[@Goady1000]

@@rusticpartyeditz lol

[@racheldicker5611]

Lol

[@High_Lord_Of_Terra]

Darth vader taught us how to do it.

[@Benjameshipton]

Did not know it was a crime in other countries

[@anitahermon7827]

Everyone always forgets to mention Devon in the southwest of England. It has Dartmoor nation park, beaches and outstanding natural beauty. A must for anyone visiting the country

[@PolarBear4]

Northumberland is usually forgotten too! We have the most castles of any English county, absolutely stunning coastline with beaches so large they even look half empty in the middle of summer and stunning countryside. Loads of history everywhere too from the home of christianity in England (Lindisfarne) to Hadrian's Wall - the most northern sustained limit of the Roman empire.

[@madeleinevowles7229]

Thank goodness. We don't need more grockles.

[@sconaldo7]

@@PolarBear4 that's cause it's freezing lol. I agree with Devon and Cornwall though it's a paleontologists playground

[@choughed3072]

Try making your cream teas the right way and you may get more tourists 😉.

[@spana123321]

And Birmingham, oh sorry there’s not much these days to recommend about my home town😔😔😔

[@Trillock-hy1cf]

The reason we drive on the left (correct) side of the road dates back to the olden days when everyone rode horses to get about. But also because of mounted armies who were generally right handed, so when facing the enemy riders, the right sword hand was nearest the enemy rider to slice at each other, which you cannot do when on horseback to the right, as they would have to lean over their horses to attack them, and kept riding on the left ever since.....:)

[@hamoostaffat]

Thats why they ride on the other side, it's so that when you were approaching an oncoming rider you knew the chances are pretty good their weapon was on the wrong side for an easy attack, kinda weird when you then look at modern personal defense in public rule differences between UK and USA, like it turned 180 degrees for both of us but we kept the old systems of travel

[@Trillock-hy1cf]

@@hamoostaffat As I said, as it makes their sword hand free, as they are mostly right handed.

[@frglee]

As an American cartoon guide to Britain noted: "There are lots of interesting things to notice when you are in the UK. The first interesting thing you should notice is that cars drive on the other side. If you do not notice this, you may not get a chance to notice any of the other interesting things in the UK."

[@AutoAlligator]

Lmao :D

[@Dutchy80]

If you don't notice this you may get the chance to experience their fantastic NHS

[@smythharris2635]

Debatable.

[@stewedfishproductions7959]

@@Dutchy80 Brilliant !!! LOL ! 😃👍

[@curlyprincess1]

Wow the cars drive themselves in the UK!?

[@davidstanton4716]

As a Cumbrian I'm probably biased, but the Lake District is easily the most beautiful part of the UK and its the furthest North in England and as such, the cheapest. Definitely have to visit us here. We are all super friendly too

[@nagillim7915]

As a fellow Cumbrian, i second this. If he's going to be driving i'd suggest booking into a hotel in Carlisle as he can get to the lakes, to Newcastle, south of Scotland, Hadrian's Wall, the north pennines, even Durham on a day trip. Plus it's on the west coast mainline from London to Glasgow so he can avoid the long drive and just hire a car in Carlisle.

[@nagillim7915]

Plus we have at least 2 stone circles in Cumbria. Castlerigg on a cloudy day with the sun slanting through over the fells is just magical...

[@davidstanton4716]

@@nagillim7915 I live in Carlisle, I could meet him lol. Hadrians wall is here in Cumbria too. Wordsworth museum, Beatrix Potter's House. So so much to see and do and all at cheaper prices than elsewhere.

[@suzannewebb7913]

Have to agree David

[@matthewfearnley526]

As a Yorkshireman I must unfortunately (for my local Yorkies) agree, the Dales are beautiful but the Lakes are stunning

[@sangfroidian5451]

Biggest problem renting a car in UK isn't the driving, it's the parking...understanding the parking rules, avoiding parking fines and not getting clamped, while getting to where you want to go can be a bit tricky.

[@Itsme-wb8zt]

Yes, and we have tiny roads compared to the US and a lot of one way systems.

[@johnsimmons5951]

As a foreigner, Driving on an empty road or walking across an empty road is the worst. When there is traffic you can see where you should look, when there’s no traffic you start looking everywhere, & can so easily loose confidence.

[@PhilipWorthington]

Also, I'm not sure if this still applies, but as far as I know Americans can't rent a 'stick-shift' in the UK. Our normal driving licence in the UK is based on driving a manual (stick-shift) car, but you can also get a lower-grade licence that only lets you drive automatics, and the US licence used to be counted as that same licence.

[@lulabellegnostic8402]

Visit Exmoor. There is a wonderful road from Simonsbath to Watersmeet where you can see Red Deer and wild Exmoor ponies, and Salmon leaping in the river at Watersmeet. Then there is the amazing coastal path.

[@Badgersj]

I think the American perception of British food comes from WW2 which was the first time Americans came en masse. Food rationing was introduced in 1940 and didn't stop until 1954. It took a long tme for things to recover from that.

[@SpiceGhouls]

I have heard the same thing 👍

[@spana123321]

Burgess Meredith did a U.S. Forces Second World War information film and that was mentioned, you need to look it up.

[@Badgersj]

thanks, will do

[@nathanaelsadgrove]

The castle you were saying "wow" to right at the start is in Conwy. It's an amazing small town and is a good base to explore a lot of North Wales. It also has (don't know if it still is) the best chippy in the country.

[@michaelmclachlan1650]

Yes, a great place to walk about. First visit I parked at the far end of the suspension bridge, paid the appropriate foot toll to cross, and enjoyed myself for the next few hours. The castle is very impressive approached that way.

[@nathanaelsadgrove]

@@michaelmclachlan1650 I've never walked across that bridge. Must do next time I go.

[@andrewlaw]

Correct JT, you can't walk amongst the stones at Stonehenge because there's been so much tourism there the soil has been eroded and stones were falling down. To preserve it for future generations the decision was made to fence it off so you view it from 25ft away.

[@TopherPotter]

Theres two Stonehenge experiences. The regular where you walk around the stones about 20ft away or the VIP experience. Obviously the VIP is more expensive and limited in availability but you are "free to wander amongst [the stones] for approximately 45 minutes, discovering all the fascinating details" but they do state that "you don’t stand on or touch the stones."

[@lozzylols]

Didn't they also have problems with people trying to put marks on the stones or chip bits off to take with them? I've done Stonehenge, the legend is more interesting than seeing it, when it comes to it, yes it is just a bunch of stones. You also think it's in the middle of nowhere, but is very close to 2 busy roads!

[@sconaldo7]

I used to live next to Stonehenge and on summer solstice there's no fencing hundreds of people in the circle dancing and music playing watching the sunrise come up

[@jamesfletcher474]

Most overrated tourism attraction on the planet!

[@georgeprout42]

You're better off going up the road to Avebury tbh. A) It's bigger, B) It's free, C) Get as close as you want and D) It has a pub in the middle!

[@willmccurrach2904]

If you don’t like roundabouts you should react to ‘Swindon’s magic roundabout’ … known worldwide… foreigners come to visit purely for the roundabout… FYI it has 5 roundabouts in 1 big roundabout with traffic going the opposite way around in the middle … 🤯🤯

[@admiralsnackbar69]

Honestly not to bad, went over it on my 2nd ever driving lesson, I only avoid during match days.

[@georgejob2156]

Go try East Kilbride in South Lanarkshire. " Polo mint city: ... Try the Whirlies roundabout.. 🥵🥵

[@DrDaveW]

Not sure why he said York is difficult to get to. It’s a couple of hours on the train from London on the line to Edinburgh. One of the biggest train stations in the country and home to the National Railway Museum.

[@SMlFFY85]

I thought that was an odd thing to say too, York is super easy to get to.

[@yumyummoany]

Yes, York’s easy to get to. Book the train in advance to get a cheaper ticket.

[@corringhamdepot4434]

A lot of shops won't take £50 banknotes. As they are not very common in general use, and the shop managers won't take the risk that they might be counterfeit. If you change your money into £50 notes before travelling, change them in smaller notes at a bank when you get here.

[@iainsan]

Speaking as a Brit, the man does know his stuff and the advice he gives is sound.

[@19rick91abc]

Rule #1 - You can only get "real" fish & chips from a fish & chips (chippy) takeaway - getting fish & chips from a pub or restaurant isn't the same thing, regardless of how some places might try to market it.

[@jonbolton3376]

And you need to eat them out of the paper or polystyrene tray. If the place has a cafe area don't ask for them on a plate, they don't taste the same.

[@iriscollins7583]

@@jonbolton3376 And make sure that they are Proper Chips. Not facsimiles, that call themselves Fries. Not the same at all times.

[@Sparx632]

Pub fish and chips is pretty damn good too though, pub food in general tbh.

[@persephonekore7738]

And if you can actually eat it while walking near the beach it’s even better….just watch for seagulls

[@SO_SPURSEY]

As a Brit….I approve this comment! Though there are some pubs that do very good fish n chips!

[@legahsee1able]

I'm surprised he didn't mention any of the Roman ruins dotted all over the UK. Some really cool sites to see

[@dippydonzy2702]

St Albans in Hertfordshire is good for the roman ruins.... Welwyn Garden has the old roman baths

[@elunedlaine8661]

My husband Dave used to drive the 'round London sightseeing tour' bus. One day as he was crossing Westminster Bridge a lady stepped off the pavement about 10 feet away from him. She'd looked left and the road was clear. Fortunately he managed to slow down and swerve away but the bus wing mirror hit her head and she was knocked to the floor. Not seriously hurt. The police asked my Dave and an upstairs passenger what had happened, and they both said the same thing - that she'd stepped out without looking right. The police said to Dave 'Oh, don't worry about it. It happens all the time'. Dave was pleased that the lady was ok but it certainly shook him up. Please consider drivers feelings

[@ginafromcologne9281]

Oh wow, I can imagine this was shocking. Good that his reaction was so quick! I really love those sightseeing tours with the friendly drivers and pretty buses! :)

[@Loki1815]

@Eluned, wow, she must have been a tall woman!

[@anthonyhamilton8007]

Thank god for darth Vader for teaching British children stop look and listen!!! look left and right before you cross, thanks to David prowse

[@Isleofskye]

Good story Eluned. What is your Husband's name,by the way ? :)*** ***Sorry...English humoUr :)

[@elunedlaine8661]

@@Isleofskye Do you know - I can't remember !! ha ha

[@CliveBilby]

Do try Clonakilty Blackpudding, it really is the best. Eynesford Village in Kent is a great day out, 30 min train from London, has a Roman Villa, Two Castles, World Garden, Bird of Prey Centre, Lavender Fields, Weir, Viaduct, Norman Church, Country Park.

[@helenwood8482]

Yes, Stonehenge is fenced off. However, Averbury, a more impressive ancient site is fully accessible. You can touch the stones, walk around them and even join in public druid rituals at some times of year. There's also a very ancient tomb nearby, West Kennet Long Barrow, which yo can walk into and explore.

[@catsaremylife8946]

I am sooo glad you posted this. I have mentioned it a few times before but I don't think JT has seen. He should definitely go to Avebury. It's amazing and I love it.

[@yumyummoany]

That whole area is amazing!

[@peterjackson4763]

It is possible to get access to the stones at Stonehenge, but you have to be on a trip with special access. Some archaeological tours do this. It happens before or after normal opening hours. When I did it we had the 7-8am slot. Then we went to Windmill Hill and Avebury.

[@robertpattinson696]

The Cotswolds are quintessentially English and close to London. On the way to Scotland take time to explore Northumbria - Hadrian's Wall, Bamburgh Castle and Holy Island (Lindisfarne) are awesome.

[@valeriedavidson2785]

The Cotswolds are two hours from London. I live there.

[@maryavatar]

If you want to see standing stones, go to Orkney. Orkney was the source of the religion which built the standing stones, and the ones there are thousands of years older then Stonehenge. Plus, you can go and touch them, and there’s loads of Neolithic buildings - it was a major centre of civilisation right up until the Iron Age, and because they built in stone, a lot of it is still there.

[@neilmorrison7356]

Totally agree

[@Accountforstuff]

This would be great, because it would mean him coming up North far enough for me to say hi 😂

[@harrymarshall]

,, Avebury is good too, it's circle of stones surrounds a living country village you can totally walk about, use the shops / country pub etc & is a walk away from Silbury Hill

[@AtheistOrphan]

What about the Rolling Stones? They’re pretty ancient!

[@namename3130]

He can also get the worlds shortest flight

[@distracted5097]

Hey! Yeah you can't acturally go up to stonehenge and touch it; but not to far away from stonehenge is Avebury, and that place also has stones like stonehenge but bigger, and you can acturally go up to them and touch them. Only difference is that you will be also walking through a field of sheep. Their is also a tomb there as well. If you ever to come to England I recommend taking a quick visit (you will need a car though)

[@maureenjones7222]

Come to Wales. It's phenomenal! Beautiful mountains and valleys. Loads of castles and other beautiful sights! I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. X

[@maggieferris8155]

Hey its very true, stonehenge was secured because of erosion so they cornered them off so you can go see them but you cannot get close enough to touch them x

[@jerry2357]

Remember that most cars in the UK are manual (stick shift). If you want to rent a car, make sure you book an automatic if you're not used to changing gear. And petrol (gasoline) is very expensive at the moment. Public transport is good in the UK (not as good as Switzerland, but MUCH better than most parts of the USA). Personally, I would never drive in London, I would always use public transport, and the same with other big cities that I don't know. And trains are very good for travelling for instance from London to York and Edinburgh. Concerning accommodation in London, it's often cheaper to stay a bit further out and use the train or tube to go into central London each day. You should really try black pudding once. It's very tasty. The best black pudding is said to come from Bury (near Manchester) market. English and Scottish black pudding are slightly different. Remember that accommodation can be quite expensive for a long trip, so two or three shorter trips (a couple of weeks at a time) might be easier to budget for than one long trip. Flying across the Atlantic (at least from the US East Coast) is not such a big deal, unlike visiting Australia or similar. A few years ago I visited the US for business twice within three weeks, no problem.

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

Automatics have been getting more common. They're far better these days, since rather than being a pretty large, heavy thing, they're basically a manual gearbox, controlled by a robot.

[@stuartcollins82]

@@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t yeah, I'm in the UK, my last 3 cars have been automatic. My other tip would be to go for a slightly smaller car than you're used to. Still big enough for the people and luggage, but keep in mind that our roads are smaller, and you're going to be squeezing into gaps you're not used to.

[@kirstenwitchalls3323]

You can easily request an automatic car. Something that he overlooked was how small our roads are. Be prepared when you rent a car to be able to park in smaller places, go down small country lanes (The Holiday with Cameron Diaz is quite accurate for the country!)!

[@jillhobson6128]

I think you have to be over 21 to hire a car in the UK. You can't hire a manual unless you've passed your test in a manual.

[@jerry2357]

@@jillhobson6128 I believe that the age limit is policy of the car hire companies, not law. And it’s been around for a long time: it certainly applied when I was an undergraduate student 40 years ago.

[@English.not.British]

JT You're a good guy so I've got some advice for you when you come here: - Never eat fish & chips in a pub! You need to go to a traditional fish and chip shop (preferably by the seaside) - A Sunday Roast is an absolute must but what you should do is find a 'carvery restaurant' or a pub with a carvery section. What this means is you choose your Meat then get to pile your plate high with as many roast and mash potatoes, roasted veggies and everything else as you like! Great value for money. - He's unfortunately telling the truth about the trains being expensive. I can be in London on the train in just over two hours but it would cost me more than if I took a flight to Europe. - The pubs here are awesome but if you go off the beaten track stay well clear of any pub with flat roof near a housing estate (our version of what you call The Projects) they are very much locals only and are usually rough as hell. Having said that you'll have a great time in the Pubs when you get here 😉 - I'd highly recommend Chester for a day out, if you love a bit of history it's brilliant. - The Lake District and the Scottish Highlands are an absolute must. - If you're nervous about driving book a one hour lesson with any one of the countless driving instructors that can be found here. Explain your situation that you just need to find your feet here about how it all works. Trust me, you'll be glad you did. - Eat your black Pudding you big wuss 🤣🤣

[@DonnyR]

I think he thinks black pudding sounds worse that haggis 😂 honestly I'm a fan of both, he should probably also avoid the pub during world cups lol

[@dougfile6644]

Great tip about driving instructors; I'd never have thought of that 👍

[@English.not.British]

@@dougfile6644 Thank you 👍 To be honest though I'm a bit of a hypocrite because I've bottled hiring a car in the USA twice now but when I do get around to hiring a car over there this is what I'm going to do first 😀

[@Neil_Hyman]

@@English.not.British I was born in Leicester so I am definitely English, my parents also but my grandparents and great grandparents came from much further afield. I had a Scottish granny and my grandad on my fathers side was from a German Jewish ancestry. I just find your name so provincial as to be almost insulting. We all live work and survive on the same island so why make the distinction? The world needs more inclusiveness not less mate.

[@English.not.British]

@@Neil_Hyman What gives you the right to try and dictate what anyone else has to say or by what name they choose to use on here (or anywhere else) I honestly couldn't care less about your opinion or your clearly very fragile feelings. You seem like a bit of bedwetter to be honest so if I was you I'd lock the door! The big, bad world is out there and if you're not careful little snowflake you might have to hear things that you don't like 🤣

[@jrpeacock8695]

JT if you ever come to the UK you got to try the real ales mate, especially the local brewers ales.

[@Psylaine64]

6.10 to 6.19 That's my hometown of Worthing, Sussex!! Never expected to see a small place like ours on the video!

[@lukefarrell6769]

You can get nowhere near the actual stones at Stonehenge, go to Avebury instead it’s a beautiful stone circle but less famous

[@Sam-rs3lp]

Loved Avebury

[@futureperfect_wales]

Nice view of Conwy Castle and bridge at the beginning l live about 5 miles from there.

[@bogarte7185]

I used to tour guide. Always told my American coach parties that we had a competition in London for drivers. It was one point for a pigeon going up to 50 points for a tourist looking the wrong way when crossing the road. Never lost a visitor on my tours :-)

[@YvonneWilson312]

Did you ever watch Death Race 2000?! 🤣🤣

[@joyfulzero853]

Wouldn't it be more grammatical to say "I used to guide tours"

[@gtsliderulz2991]

We used to add squirrels to this, 50 points for the squirrel 100 points if you follow it up the tree🤣

[@marieseaward9891]

@@joyfulzero853 ... Really 🙈. Does it matter? It's you tube. Fast paced and opinionated. Hope I've been grammatically correct in this reply.

[@peterc.1618]

@@joyfulzero853 Some might say you are nit-picking but you'd probably tell them it should be "picking nits"😀

[@blufferfish0896]

2:35 Basically they found a bunch of super important archeological stuff around the stones, so they don’t allow people near them anymore so the artefacts don’ get damaged. That’s what I was told when I went there at the very least a few years back

[@naycnay]

The black pud is definitely worth a try. It's like the ultimate companion to everything on a full breakfast. It's not a typical blood sausage at all and it's usually fried crispy and flaky/crumbly.

[@countertony]

The way I'd describe the experience to a US person is that a freshly-cooked black pudding is kinda like an American biscuit that's been fried in bacon. It's not quite correct as a description, but it's close enough and gets around the 'what' factor. The difficulty is if it's been left under buffet lamps it will dry out quickly, so it starts to have a bit of a burned-toast texture if it's been out too long.

[@truthteller8567]

There are really good black puddings but there are also not very good black puddings. Definitely worth a try though.

[@Thestorminator89]

🤢🤮

[@HolyFreakinDragonSlayer]

Its actually traditionally eaten boiled, served with bred and butter and mustard.

[@some-UK-bloke]

about the stepping into the road thing, its especially important because illegal jay walking isn't a thing in the UK, people cross the road absolutely anywhere especially in towns and you will too. Always look left and right, especially right.

[@russcattell955i]

Yes, jay walking is not a thing but getting a face full of tipper truck is to be avoided.

[@terencehill1971]

Green Cross Code.

[@phoebegreig6523]

Yeh. You should probably look up something called the Green Cross Code.. It’s a road safety video that is taught in school. J-walking is actually legal in the UK and road safety is a big deal. We even take a bicycle test in school administered by the police.. Stop, look right.. look left.. listen, look right again.. cross

[@janinewatson6118]

I live in North East England and we have some fantastic places to visit. Places like York, Durham, Scarborough and the Northumberland Coast. For something a bit different you should visit Beamish Museum where you can step back in time. Hope you can visit soon 😉

[@lincliff663]

I don't think you can pick just one part of the UK as being the best/most beautiful/interesting. I get that people will champion their own area but the island is so small that every county has something amazing within reach and most people are helpful & friendly. I think we're very lucky to live in such a creative environment with a long history along with the different traditions & foodstuffs relevant to each county.

[@kayhollie1490]

Absolutely. 💯

[@neilgilbert6798]

Simple look both ways when crossing the road

[@lynnerussell1440]

From Los Angeles originally. Loved England and Scotland. In London I walked everywhere. I walked when the locals walked. Bath was gorgeous. Stonehenge is a must. I drove in Scotland and saw alot. Glasgow was a great city to walk. Edinburgh is very hilly and steep. Loved the castle. Next time I go, I'm taking at least a month.

[@georgiobra]

come to Cornwall! so much to see and do and the beaches are BEAUTIFUL!

[@carolinegreenwell9086]

At Stonehenge the regular visitors get quite close to the stones, but not so that you can touch them. That's so that they don't get damaged too much. However there are special tours (for which obviously you have to pay a lot more) where they allow a small group unrestricted access. The visitor centre is great, definitely worth spending some time there so you can start to appreciate what you're looking at. Or, as someone else has already said, go to Avebury.

[@fullenglishbreakfast3289]

It costs an absolute fortune. My advice park the car up on the side of the road and you can look at them across the field

[@carolinegreenwell9086]

@@fullenglishbreakfast3289 they don't allow you to do that any more ... and there's always a bottleneck on that section of the (narrow) road as everyone slows done driving past Stonehenge

[@fullenglishbreakfast3289]

@@carolinegreenwell9086 I live up the road there's loads of places to park the car up. Might have to walk a bit but the countryside is much more interesting than stonehenge. Well that's my opinion.

[@monkeyknuts321]

I love York so much. The street with the houses almost touching is The Shambles. You might also want to visit a nearby street just to stand next to the street name: : Whipmawhopmagate !

[@Rhianalanthula]

True, you don't tip in a pub, you buy the bar staff who served you a drink! Not always. It's usually pub regulars who may buy staff a drink occasionally.

[@SpiritmanProductions]

On this note, whilst there is no obligation, if you like the server and you're feeling generous, you can ask: "And one for yourself?" (that exact question, no variation) when ordering drinks at the bar. But be discreet and say it casually! Don't draw attention to your generosity, because that would be really, really tacky. And don't be offended if they politely decline; that's perfectly common and doesn't reflect badly on you. They'll still appreciate the gesture. If they accept, they'll add the cost of a cheap drink to the total but won't pour it there and then, because they're working and don't want to get drunk. They'll have it later, and, if you're still there, and they can easily draw your attention, they'll raise a glass at you to thank you and to let you know they're having the drink you gave them. If you do offer, only do it once, otherwise it could get weird really quickly. The cultural reason for offering a drink is to level out the relationship between buyer and seller. It's very egalitarian. In Britain, we're sensitive to (and uncomfortable about) things that highlight any differences in wealth and status. So, we treat bar staff as our equals, not our inferiors, and offer them a drink (strictly in the prescribed way) to establish that equality. It's completely optional, though. ;-)

[@connormcrae5361]

Black taxi have 3 seats facing forward and 2 or 3 facing backwards. So you sit facing the people you travel with. Also the money is legal everywhere but certain places are weird about it. Look up the phrase 'legal tender'.

[@rachelc1432]

You should just come over for a month and travel from north to south stopping at B&Bs along the way. I live in the Midlands and there's so many places like Lemington, Stratford-upon-Avon and Coventry with lots of great places. The Isle of Wight is beautiful, I visited Osbourne House a few years ago and has always been my favourite.

[@sashh2263]

I vote for couch surfing as well

[@2eleven48]

Leamington, or Royal Leamington Spa (or Leam, if you're a local). I would never ever advise someone to visit Coventry.

[@rachelc1432]

@@2eleven48 yeah coventry is questionable 🤣 Royal Leamington Spa if we're being official but I've always called it Leamington as I live close but not a local 🤷‍♀️

[@Yorkshire-fox]

I'm a York lass it is getting more expensive just a heads up JT. However definitely worth a visit for the amount of Viking,Roman,Tudor and Anglo Saxon History we have here in York city and surrounding areas.

[@masonstanley01]

The car thing depends on where you go, in London you definitely don’t need a car public transport is cheap and a lot more efficient

[@johnhaworth5358]

Full English breakfast. Black pudding is nice. Cottage pie which has potato mash on top. Chicken mushroom pie. Sunday roast. Fish n chips. Pizzas. Toasted sandwiches. Baguettes. Spag bolognese. Curry. ALWAYS queue up,

[@bobbell4461]

Give Hadrian's wall and the Border country a try. Not so well known but a rich and often turbulent history. Try places like Langholm (my home town) Kelso, Jedburgh and on the English side, Hexham, Alnwick and Lindisfarne.

[@loopyloo788]

Agreed. Don’t forget beautiful Bamburgh. ❤️

[@lesleyriseam1282]

St Abbs , Berwick , and North Berwick .

[@olienajh]

Nice that Kent got a mention. We are the Garden of England, a gateway to Europe yet we get forgotten about. Canterbury is less than 45 mins away from me. A very pretty city with an amazing cathedral & a decent modern theatre that I go to regularly.

[@teresabryant1781]

I have been to the UK 3 times, and am going again this July. I would look into going to tintagel in Cornwall... supposedly King Arthur's castle, beautiful view. As to Stonehenge, can confirm, you are not allowed to get close enough to touch the stones anymore, but it's still worth stopping if you are going that direction to get somewhere else like London to Tintagel for example, Stonehenge is kind of in the middle of them. Not sure if it would be your thing per se, but I would also highly recommend taking one of the Ripper tours while in London. Also, rent a car for the driving portion of the trip, but while in London proper, I recommend the train, bus, black cab, etc. for getting around inside the city. If you do drink, look for a place to buy a bottle of Heritage Mead. It's not very expensive, but I have never found an equivalent to it in the States that was as good. If you don't know what mead is, it is wine made from honey and they add different flavors to it like strawberry or ginger, or just have it plain. You have to at least TRY the black pudding with a full English breakfast. If you ever had ring pudding, liverwurst, etc. it tastes almost the same but with a nicer texture and served hot instead of like a pate. It also tastes a lot like Haggis. A scone is like our biscuits (biscuits'n'gravy) but with fruit in them. I recommend looking up Red Letter Days for ideas of fun things to do, like dinner at the warf where you have to yell "Wench!" everytime you need the waitress and they all dress like they're from the time of Henry VIII lol. Good thing also to remember that he doesn't cover is pay close attention to signs on entry doors to exhibits and things like the crown jewels in the Tower... you absolutely cannot have your camera/phone out they will stop you and not let you in until you put it away. It's on a sign above the entrance, but it's easy to miss looking at all the stuff around you. I hope you read this, and I hope you have a fantastic trip. :D

[@paulwalton1222]

You can get close to Stonehenge during the summer solstice and maybe winter solstice but for most of the year you can't get close but you can still see it from a little distance, I used to go past it in a car quite a lot.

[@zakyoung9062]

For visiting the UK I’d recommend York as a city trip if you have the time. Also you can visit Bakewell in the north for a day or half a day. I can guarantee you will not leave without at least one full size bakewell pie. If your into hiking climbing Englebrough or Penegent in Yorkshire are good ways to spend a day. They’re not that bad of a hike and the scenery is great … although you may find it snowing at the top when it’s blazing sunshine at the base depending on when you go

[@markdickins1976]

Come to Milton Keynes. We have neaely 300 roundabouts in our little town alone. Plus we have a herd of Concrete Cows. Literally. Cows. A herd. Made from concrete.

[@markhughes7216]

I think you need to come down to the south west Devon and Cornwall the coast line is awesome

[@rosemarielee7775]

It's well worth seeing the Roman palace at Fishbourne near Chicester. Lots of quality mosaic floors, hypocaust system and gardens.

[@paulineirvine5149]

So glad that Northern Ireland was mentioned as it is often overlooked. The Giant,s Causeway is truly spectacular. The Mourne Mountains are beautiful. Another super thing to see is the Titanic museum.

[@markthesarcasticlawstudent]

Titanic museum is definitely number one on my list of places to visit whenever I get around to leaving Wales for a break ;-)

[@rusticpartyeditz]

@@markthesarcasticlawstudent Come up to the North Coast. There is a lot more than just the Giant's Causeway.

[@markthesarcasticlawstudent]

@@rusticpartyeditz I'll definitely have to do a tour ;-)

[@dunningre]

Please come to Norfolk. It is NEVER mentioned on these things and it’s the most beautiful place ever! We have an amazing coast line and country side! We also have Norwich which has one of the oldest castles in the country. It’s also not very touristy !!!

[@juliandowner1427]

Check out Avebury, it's a much larger stone circle than Stonehenge and you can get close and personal with the stones. Also, there's a decent pub in the middle😁

[@rusticpartyeditz]

How do you get personal with a stone?

[@juliandowner1427]

@@rusticpartyeditz use your imagination...😂

[@danielsorrell777]

Avebury ring is on the way to Stonehenge from London and you can still walk round the stones. They used to let people go to Stonehenge for sunrise on summer and winter equinoxes (21-22 june/December).

[@dataterminal]

Regarding the money exchange thing, a lot of the bigger supermarkets have their own money exchange now. Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys etc do them in some of their stores, it's easy enough to check on their websites via the store locators and they tell you if they offer that service. There is usually at least one of these in most smaller towns, bigger places can have all the stores and even multiple of each. I'm in the midlands and within about 4 miles 3 of the stores do foreign exchange on currency, so it's probably a little easier than you'd expect.

[@jakemartin4729]

Id recommend Devon, a bit of a trek from london but lovely beaches and British beach sort of thing.

[@kennylloyd7645]

Yo JT you should come and see us down here in Brighton, we have a palace called the Royal Pavilion which is unique. Plus Brighton is a party town, so the nightlife is insane too

[@mrLoftladder]

IMHO best city to visit is St Davids in Pembrokeshire Wales, It's the UK's smallest city, really no bigger than a large village, but the cathedral is stunning (not to mention free)as is its setting. If you go to Wales it is well worth visiting.

[@pauldurkee4764]

I agree with the fact that train travel can be ridiculously expensive, but there are ways around that. If you stay in London and want to visit Bath for example, you can book your tickets in advance for travel on a specified date, that way it is cheaper.

[@ukguy]

I recently travelled return from London Paddington to Bath and by booking in advance I only paid £70 for my family of 4.

[@marieparker3822]

The Scottish and NI banknotes are actually sterling, as they are underwritten by the Bank of England (the Central Bank of the UK). However, they do look strange to some people, so it's a good idea only to tender English banknotes in England, so change Scottish banknotes into English ones when leaving Scotland.

[@haydensgamingadventures]

The reason why the Scottish notes are not widely accepted is because they have a different design on them.. they are legal to use everywhere in the UK but alot of smaller companies are wary of possible fakes since they are rare to see, you find that bars and restaurants don't accept them, the Scottish tend to accept British notes no problem

[@almostclement4975]

I used to get paid in Scottish notes and it was a nightmare to get rid of them in pubs and newsagents.

[@kookytoots6755]

Used to work in a supermarket and I had never seen a Scottish note before. Had to ask my supervisor if we accept them 😂

[@DruncanUK]

I think, in your last sentence, you meant to say the Scottish accept ENGLISH notes no problem. Scottish note ARE British!

[@dannyzues]

I worked in a small butchers shop we always took Scottish notes but you really need to no what u looking at theirs so many fakes out their

[@almostclement4975]

@@DruncanUK no I don’t, I said exactly what I meant.. the OP mentioned Scottish notes (Scottish variant of the GBP) not being widely accepted and I was replying to that. I thought it was a given that since I’d said I’d had issues with them it was obvious I’m not in Scotland, clearly I’ve graced you with to much credit.

[@vickyross9999]

6 weeks is probably a good enough stint. Two weeks for Scotland and the north east of England. A week in like Yorkshire & Lincolnshire. Down to Norfolk & Suffolk few days there. Kent and the south east. Then a week minimum in London. Then down to Devon or Cornwall. On the way back up the uk spend a week going through Wales and finally head to Manchester and then Liverpool. From there hop over to Ireland and spend a week between NI and the republic. It’s beautiful.

[@onecrazybritishlady9613]

I live in a town close to the Scottish border and most shops and venues there will take the Scottish notes but the further south you go, the less they'll be accepted.

[@TheDogcat24]

When you come to the UK come to Bath there's so much to do and it's very Beautiful

[@RushfanUK]

It's very simple, just like anywhere that is not the USA, the UK is a foreign country with it's own unique culture, customs and language which is called English, contrary to most Americans expectations the UK is not the USA with castles and some history, that's what you need to know although in my experiences of dealing with American tourists most will never understand this and will remain utterly confused by people who drive on the wrong side of the road and can't speak Americanish.

[@TheCornishCockney]

Hahaha,that’s true far too often,but I’ve met some lovely Americans over the years who were friendly and engaging. Most of them actually live here.

[@robertedwards3551]

The single most moving and thrilling experience is the Welsh National Anthem at an England game at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, just be there. Then there's the first view of the Somerset Levels as you come down into Wells from the Mendips. Driving through Glencoe and the drive from Glasgow to Galloway past Turnberry & Troon. The beaches near Beccles are awesome and when it comes to beaches there's Port Eynon, Robin Hood Bay. Castles are everywhere but mostly Wales. Eat fish & chips and a good Cornish Pastie... really, there's too much.

[@jasminek5771]

Ooh two funky attractions I think you should check out are 1. The Eden Project in Cornwall and 2. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London, if you like Harry Potter, it’s essentially just Harry Potter World. I’ve only been to each one once but I just loved it, it was so cool ♡

[@deankeith830]

The clip of the riding backwards in the Taxi is because the back of a London Black Cab takes 5 passengers there is a front facing bench seat and 2 pull down seats if requred

[@Rhianalanthula]

Crossing roads. Stop. Look both ways a couple of times before stepping out, especially if you're not used to crossing here. Just a bit safer.

[@johnam1234]

I really enjoyed your videos and comments plus learning more about the world around me. I always look both ways and for bike riders.

[@davidwhite5800]

The weirdest thing about driving on the opposite side of the road is checking the rear view mirror and, guess what, it isn't where you are looking. 😂

[@catsaremylife8946]

The Black Cabs, in the back have seats behind the driver facing the back and then more seats facing you. I've been in one with at least 8 of us in, going home on a night out lol.

[@jonbolton3376]

I know this sounds a weird one, but believe me it was great fun when i did it on a daytrip (and i am English) but visit an old coal mine, go underground etc. There are numerous places in the UK that do guided tours, generally at weekends. It's not the first thing that comes to mind for a tourist, but i recommend you give it a go.

[@jonbolton3376]

Obviously you can get details online.

[@carolthomas6334]

The big pit in Wales is a good one

[@geoffpriestley7001]

Theres a pit in west yorkshire thats open to the public never been down it myself, but my partner's father was a train driver in the local pit they use to call the mine the luck

[@lynnejamieson2063]

We went to a slate mine in Wales back in the 80’s and it really was awe inspiring. With some chambers almost cathedral like.

[@peterfhere9461]

@@carolthomas6334 And it is free!

[@CalicoKate13]

And I agree with Mark about York. York is AMAZING. It's only about 2 hours by car from Lancaster and I've been there so many times and it never gets boring.

[@ollieduracell]

Yes JT. Going back to the UK in a couple of days. Haven't been home for 3 years. First thing I'm going to is the chippie! This guy knows the score haha

[@gordonhayward4409]

If you want to see standing stones don't go to Stonehenge, go to Avebury just up the road, there are more of them, you can touch them and there's a pub in the middle you can stay at.

[@ginafromcologne9281]

Great video! :) Maybe you could even do "work vacations", where you move to the UK for some months or a year and work there. Then you would have the chance to see all kind of places. I would definitely recommend Thorpe Park, or if you like hiking, the South Downs Way, or even the bus trip from Farnham to Guildford, both beautiful towns, the scenery there is just mindblowing! You could make so many videos from the UK too! :)

[@ng3057]

I live in West Yorkshire , northern England , our accent is prominent haha 😂

[@cubeaceuk9034]

There are two main organisations that look after most of the heritage sites. English Heritage and The National Trust. As far as I'm aware there is no joint membership pass. You can get a membership pass when visiting either of the two by just asking for a membership rather than an entry ticket. It can be around three times the price of one entrance ticket to one of the larger venues. It is also worth noting that some other organisations are affiliated to one or the other and will give a discount to entry at their sites if you have the correct membership card. I would look up both sites to see which attractions you would like to see as the attraction could be looked after by the opposing organisation. Then there are private attractions not covered by either such as Leeds Castle in Kent. If you are considering bed and breakfast in more rural areas I suggest looking for ones that are farms. They do the best breakfasts and are normally huge. At the moment inflation is growing fast due to a lot of world variables. Expect to pay much more for gas and car hire than in the States. On the plus side, distances between one area and another is much shorter. Parking can also be very expensive. Don't hire a car for London. A complete waste of time and money. As far as driving goes, personally I would advise to stay clear of most country lanes. Even some lanes barely wide enough for one vehicle can be two way and speed limits ridiculously high. Most of us are used to them but even so it makes many drivers very nervous. Signage on such roads can also be very hard to spot. They are often hilly and very winding with limited views. In London and other large cities you may be able to get combined rail, underground and bus tickets for a set duration of days. They are cheaper and normally have no limits on them within the given period. They can also be much cheaper bought online and in advance. Coaches out of London to other destinations can be much cheaper than the trains but the travel times may be much longer. You could consider doing an overnight coach and sleep on board but not overly comfortable and you could arrive feeling tired. Coping with jet lag will be enough to be getting on with. From that point of view I think a long trip rather than several short ones may make more sense. I have no idea what to advise for spending allowance per day to advise. Prices for parking and meals can vary wildly. If going to either national trust of English heritage sites get a sandwich and drinks at a petrol station to take with you. They often do meal deals and will be much cheaper than buying the same at the venues.

[@charlottesmith7322]

If you like castles the english heritage is the one to go for. I know the National Trust has a touring pass where you can get a membership that lasts for your visit but this must be signed up for outside the UK. The other thing you could do is sign up for the Royal Oak which is an organisation in the US and you can use that to get into National Trust properties.

[@dexstewart2450]

@@charlottesmith7322 Wales has the highest density of castles in the world - CADW is the body that manages them

[@GarryGri]

Also be aware the English Heritage pass wont get you into anything in Scotland, You would need a Historic Scotland pass for that... Again They are 'not' the same country.

[@Windowswatcher]

Stratford upon Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace in Warwickshire, the Midlands. Stoke on Trent, the Potteries, the Midlands. Ironbridge Museum, for a whole day experience of life in the old days in an industrial town… the Midlands.

[@barrymichael-james6289]

Hey JT. Yes it is true about the stones.....I was at the final open festival in 1985 (i was 5 years old. now 42!) it was then handed over to National Heritage, a company that looks after and ensures that ancient monuments and places in the UK are protected. The problem was that people kept taking and smashing off pieces of the stones to take home with them and the damage was getting out of hand . Also dont sweat black pub man, get a bit and dip it in some runny yolk eggs its actually quite good. Tipping is not mandatory, we actually pay our waiting staff the national living wage that even at 16 is the equiv of $5 an hour. Also our scones are what you guys call biscuits but we have then with tea.

[@Mrhullsie2]

Tipping is nice but as you say waiting staff are paid a reasonable wage so certainly not mandatory and 10% is usually sufficient unless you feel service has been very good and you want to tip more.

[@demonic_myst4503]

Specific percentages for tipi g in uk is actualy a middle to upper class etiquette thing Like a buisness woman will do it be ause its socialy apart of that social class

[@barrymichael-james6289]

@@demonic_myst4503 often with the "yuppie class" you will see then trying to out tip each other. great for the server for the money but the manners of the upper etiquette class is rarely found in uk mainstream establihments anymore. the days of gentlemanly chivlrous behaviour has sadly long since passed

[@monkeyknuts321]

To be honest it makes sense they'd fence off Stone Henge. I've seen modern graffiti on the Collosseum in Rome and I was disappointed it wasn't better protected. Unfortunately there's no shortage of selfish eejits with no respect for heritage.

[@demonic_myst4503]

@@barrymichael-james6289 i get you my cousin was a buisness owner he the only person i saw tip he more jokes around tho fun guy his dads a dick tho pure buisness man stole my crisps as a kid and asked how much id pay for them to try teach some economics lession we were at my mums funeral

[@amandasmith8212]

You cannot get up close to stonehenge, it is all fenced off, but you can go round the area of the stones. But, you do need to go just up the road from there to a place called Avebury, this us another stone circle, with a pub in the middle

[@t.a.k.palfrey3882]

The only reason some smaller shops in England or Wales, particularly outside London and in smaller towns, might refuse Scottish or NI banknotes is that they don't recognise them. In my many, many visits to the UK, I can count on one hand the number of times I have seen these banknotes outside NI or Scotland. I was at school in London for six years, and never once realised these even existed!

[@georgejob2156]

English education?? Worst system in the UK, thick as shit.

[@iriscollins7583]

And that banks will accept them.

[@geoffpriestley7001]

See alot of Scottish but no ni bank notes

[@allenwilliams1306]

@@iriscollins7583 Banks in England & Wales will accept Scottish and Northern Irish notes for deposit to a customer's account without charge, but will charge non-customers to exchange them. They will never issue them.

[@darkoverladyrosa5264]

For anyone wondering why it's because the lack of familiarity means that it's an easy way to pass counterfeit notes.

[@JohnTaylor-bf6ll]

Roundabouts - practise at a city called Milton Keynes. There they don't have intersections, ONLY roundabouts, sometimes one a few hundred yards from another.

[@sarahwilson2409]

I used to work in a betting shop in northern England and we were told to stop taking Scottish pounds because we had a problem with fake Scottish notes at the time and because we weren’t as accustomed to them we struggled to tell them from real ones. I did feel bad for my customers but they weren’t the ones paying my wages and I didn’t want to get the sack, still rubbish though 🙁

[@jonbolton3376]

Ironically a few times on holiday in Blackpool i was given Scottish notes at a bookies. I made sure i used them before coming back to Scunthorpe, i knew the chances of using them here was slim lol.

[@MajorMagna]

Same with £50 notes at some point, massive influx of fake ones in the mid-2000s, I think.

[@iriscollins7583]

@@MajorMagna The first £50? I saw was a fake.

[@aliceangel03]

And in this situation and ONLY in this situation will you hear the famous words "This is proper legal tender!" from a Scot 🤣🤣

[@sarahwilson2409]

@@aliceangel03 you’ve just took me right back, that’s exactly what they said 😆

[@GuyBelcher-m1l]

In the more tourist/student areas it often says "look right" or "look left" (depending on the flow of traffic) painted on the floor at crossings etc.

[@shaunpierce4174]

Cornwall is a must. It was me that told you about the perimeter rope around the stones at Stonehenge. If you're scared of the thought of using roundabouts then DO NOT go to Swindon, there's a particular roundabout affectionately known as the Magic Roundabout that is basically one big roundabout with several smaller ones attached to it. The general consensus of people who use it is pretty much 'close your eyes and go for it' 🤣 .

[@ankledsquid]

nah tbf i've done it a few times now and its not that bad once you're there, just look where your exit is and get there

[@TheFridge0x]

I grew up on the Jurassic coast, some great picturesque views down there from Sandbanks and Bournemouth to Durdle door, corfe castle etc, but Dorset coast is amazing.

[@PatsyCollyer]

I’m sure this has been mentioned numerous times, but when you get off the bus, it’s The Law to thank the driver. Queue-jumping is an absolute no-no. Reactions can range from (mostly) passive-aggressive tutting and muttering to full-blown physical aggression! Brighton is fab! The Laines and the North Laines are well worth a visit. Sitting on the beach at dusk, watching the starling murmurations by the piers is mesmerising!

[@nancydavies6446]

So true

[@Dave-r4u]

It's "NOT" the law to thank the Bus driver!! Where on earth did you get that idea?! Some people may do it out of courtesy tho'.

[@Mirioman]

Pretty sure they are been hyperbolic as in it is very ingrained in a lot of poeple to do so

[@allisonnancholas9620]

@@Dave-r4u Wow Dave did you have a humour by-pass?

[@stewedfishproductions7959]

@@Dave-r4u - One comment - Whooosshhh! - LOL ! 🤣🤣🤣

[@traceyjordan9284]

York is beautiful. Its in my county. I visit regularly I'd recommend trying to fit in as much as you can in one trip. Our country is dl small travelling from one place to another takes no time at all. Yorkshire where I'm from is a stunning county

[@anta3612]

Scones are da bomb! Especially with clotted cream and a cup of tea (a traditional hot cuppa not southern sweet tea!). I highly recommend them. Make sure you take a break and have afternoon tea at least once during your trip to the UK. 😋😊

[@dereksmith6126]

Devon cream tea. Cream first, jam second. Cornish cream tea. Jam first, cream second. Same thing, but don't mix them up. And don't have a cream tea outside these counties. Also, Cornish Pasty, only to be eaten in Cornwall. And for authenticity, small independent bakeries.

[@anta3612]

@@dereksmith6126 Hear, hear! 👍👌

[@danevans9596]

@@dereksmith6126 let him find out the pure unadulterated carnage that eating a scone wrong can cause.. let alone pronouncing the word.

[@martycrush6412]

I like to spread the jam on my forehead , rub the cream into my bum and throw the scone away, I’m always getting persecuted 🤪

[@TheWorldofGood79]

The North Coast of Northern lreland is fantastic, but equally the places like Strangford Lough, The Mourne Mountains, Silent Alley, the whole of County Down in fact, the view from Dundrum Castle over looking Murlough Bay is incredible. Helens Bay near Bangor County Down. Ballyhornan Beach, Coney Island I could go on & on.

[@JontysCorner]

One place that would be amazing for you to visit is the Black Country Museum in the Midlands. All done as things were in the 19th century and you get to visit shops and businesses how they were at the time. I guarantee you'll never have experienced anything like it.

[@wetcardie66]

good shout also recommend Beamish.

[@prezzeruk4054]

Wen they found that woolly mammoth on the south east coast, in a sandy cliff face. I was on that beach. They had roped it all off and draped a big tarp ovet it. We could see where the cliff had slipped tho, revealing wat was encased inside. We didnt find out till a week or two later.