ENGLAND TRAVEL TIPS FOR FIRST TIMERS | 30+ Must-Knows Before Visiting England + What NOT to Do!

[@HappytoWander]

Hey everyone!! I hope you enjoy this list of England travel tips. I had more that I couldn't fit into the video, so check out the written version for more tips: happytowander.com/england-travel-tips/ And, as usual - leave a comment if there are any more tips/must-knows you'd add to the list!

[@nevillemason6791]

Ask a Scotsman: "Say are you English?" and he'll have great restraint to not rip your head off.

[@gmdhargreaves]

One of the best advice vidyas on the UK! Great knowledge, everything you said was spot on

[@alasanabah7160]

Hello how are well I will love you guide me I want to apply to visitors visa by ends of October but i don't have clue about the application

[@GayaneKhachatryan-et9bl]

❤

[@EILEENZ0122]

Yes, train is convenient in trip☺️ Hope the railcard bought in a cheap price can use🥺

[@peterdean8009]

Street names: we Brits *never* omit 'street', 'road', etc. If you want to get to Oxford Street (London) don't ask for 'Oxford' - you might be directed to Paddington Station to catch an Intercity train!

[@EILEENZ0122]

That is very elaborate👍 Plus the Railcard used in UK now has a discount😮

[@vangledosh]

I have no idea why I’m watching this. I’ve been living in England for 26 years.

[@charly6067]

Help me I’m German and I’m gonna be in England this year and I don’t know what to do

[@ellenzouroudes176]

LOL

[@matt2685]

@@charly6067you don’t know where to go or what to see? Depends where you’re staying and for how long

[@thesupervideogamenerdmore3171]

Believe it or not, I am considering going to the UK for retirement. Divided between the UK and Japan.

[@Lajefa_bri]

I need help tooo😅😅😅 I’m planing a trip to England and I am Debating on how long I should stay I really want to travel North of England

[@brianpollard3508]

As someone from England I have to say your guide was excellent. I sometimes watch guides by non brits and often I find them quite amusing due to misconceptions being passed on as fact. Yours was spot on and i will make a point of watching your other videos. Congratulations and THANK YOU for telling the truth and being honest and helpful.

[@EILEENZ0122]

Detailed and clear expression🙏 Thx for ur devotion😘 I tried the app mentioned by comments section, amazingly it is 💥super save🤩

[@patjcarey]

Being English and living in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 I was impressed with your content. It was well thought out and accurate and I’m sure it will be of great benefit for overseas visitors. So impressed I’m now subscribing to your channel. Well done and thank you.

[@matthewlewis2072]

As a Brit, reactions: 1. Premier Inn (note we pronounce the "Prem-" like "them) is a top recommendation, they're everywhere. Book in advance for best prices. Pubs can be a bit variable... 2. Don't worry too much about the accents thing, none of us can understand Geordies or Cornish folk, either 3. US English is familiar to us all, don't stress it 4. Be careful commenting on the weather if it's bad. An Australian colleague fid that once, and was told to "F**k off back to convict land". Jokingly, I should add 5. "Ports-muth" is more accurate. And good luck with Mousehole... 6. The #12 ONLY applies on the Tube 7. The trains are FUBAR and much more expensive than the continent 8. Our food used to be terrible, but has improved and expanded massively 9. Nandos ("Cheeky Nandos") cheap and cheerful. Chicken restaurant. 10. Top, top tip: Stonehenge is overrated. Avebury (very near) is better. York, Bath, Brighton are lovely. Cities like Bristol (my home town), Manchester and Liverpool have some great things going on. 11. Finally, don't believe what you have heard, we are actually quite friendly and approachable. Especially if you're Canadian rather than American 🍁, there's still some love there

[@roberta238]

Thank you for your additional info. As I am planning a trip to London and also to visit Bath and nearby, could I ask you some recommendations for Bristol? What's worth visiting there? It would be sooo kind of you!

[@EILEENZ0122]

Great detailed sharing! thank you for your dedication 😍 and with discount the price will be affordable as well😂

[@acbc3543]

Mathew , Stonehenge is not overrated at all . I flew all the way from Austin Texas in order to attend the coronation last year and I had the time of my life including Stonehenge and Liverpool. So much so that I’ll be back this coming October 2024 . Cheers, lad .

[@Magic_beans_]

0:20 (first-timers in London) - One thing I’d add here is that, like Paris or Berlin, London is very day-trip friendly. Aside from the usual trips out of town like Windsor Castle and Stonehenge, within a 2-hour train ride you could be in Dover, the Cotswolds, Brighton, Cardiff, or a dozen other places. It’s _so_ easy to get out and see the rest of southern Britain.

[@daddyrabbit835]

We found the Underground to be extremely useful. We used it everyday when we were there. Very easy, fast, and dependable.

[@nicolad8822]

I wouldn’t go to Stonehenge, the Cotswolds or Cardiff for a day trip.

[@matthewlewis2072]

PS Cardiff is in Wales. And the Cotswolds are a PITA to get round without a car.

[@robyn2791]

Southern Britain aka England and Wales! None of us would call the countries of Great Britain Northern, Western or Southern Britain!😂

[@hn8276]

​@@nicolad8822why not?

[@old.not.too.grumpy.]

One thing to note in the UK is that out of season between October and March the days can get short. Durring the shortest days mid december the sun might not rise till 9 in the morning and set at 3 in the afternoon. The further north you go the shorter the days. However in northern England in the summer the sun can rise at 4 in the morning and set at 10 at night.

[@AroopBose]

Thanks for all tips and information. I wish to add something to what you have said in your video. I was in London in May 2024 and I discovered a nice place for breakfast, it is perfect for tourists on budget. I discovered Brockley Barge a restaurant/pub in Brockley. The breakfast there was superb and very cheap by London standards. The tea and coffee was unlimited, you may take as many coffees you want. I had breakfasts at quite a number of places in London during my two trips. Brockley Barge was the cheapest and the food was also quite good, I paid roughly 60% of what I would have paid elsewhere. This is actually a restaurant chain spread all over UK, as I was told. Each restaurant has a different name, only word common in all the names is the word Barge. I spoke to one of the staff members, he told me that they buy their supplies in bulk so they can keep their costs low. So budget travellers to London should look for Barge when they go out for breakfast.

[@36814]

I know you posted this several months ago but I only came across it today . It is one of the best advise / information videos I have seen - informative , concise , comprehensive and entertaining. So thank you for a job very well done .

[@daveduvergier3412]

Really good advice here, very good vid. One thing about bus stops, at least in london, is to look at the sign - if it says 'request stop' that means that you do have to flag the bus down, otherwise it will stop automatically. But it's safe enough to always wave at the bus as it approaches to be sure!

[@MissHellybaybee]

Same with trains actually - some are request stops where u have to flag the train down or ask the driver to stop there but you will be told if it’s a request stop for the train. Buses, many will stop if you don’t flag them down, depends how many buses go to the stop or if you look like you are waiting to catch it but I think it’s safer to flag them - just stick your hand out

[@EILEENZ0122]

I love and hate UK . I was fascinated by the stunning scenery and rich history, but I was overwhelmed by the high cost. I think trainpal's discount coupon saved me.

[@Simonm9020]

As an Englishman living in England i loved this , very positive and very informative , well done 😃👍

[@jerrytracey6602]

Good tip about flagging buses down: this is because in the sorts of places you are talking about, each bus stop may be used by several different services going to different destinations, so look up the number of the route going to your destination, and when you see that number on the front of the approaching bus, hold out your hand, and (unless they are full) they will stop for you.

[@Angel-il4er]

Living in a village in England I think this would be invaluable to people travelling to this country. A couple of tips I would add are 1. A must which even British people love is try the afternoon tea. This is served in most hotels and a simpler version in most cafes. In a hotel it often comes with Prosecco samwichs, cakes and afternoon tea. May be a bit pricey in some of larger hotels but is a real treat and quintessentially English. Google discounts which are often available for high end hotels such as Claridges in London. Or if you are visiting Kew Gardens try the Maids of Honour cafe. This serves a range of beautiful cakes dating back to Henry VIII’s time. Perfect end to a visit round Kew Gardens. Another thing if driving in rural areas be very careful. Most of the country roads can be narrow and high speed so I would suggest use the local buses. They are pretty reliable but the wait may be longer than in the cities. If you can take a black cab or if you take a mini cab have an idea of price before travelling or you may find it cost more than you expected. When driving brush up on the Highway Code as you do not want to have your trip ruined by being pulled over by the police for a driving infraction. Remember to always use your seatbelt and never use your phone while driving; instant points and a fine.

[@user-zzyachieve]

Thank you for your information! ❤By the way, I found a 5% discount on train ticket purchase on trainpal. If anyone need to travel can contact me😊

[@Azog150]

These are some of the best and most practical tips I've seen on KZbin for visiting the UK (take it from a native). Great job! Two things I'd add: 1) When visiting any city, make sure you check out the parks. One of the best things about the UK (I have lived abroad in several places so have been able to compare) is the parks. 2) On that same note, you really should visit the pubs. It's a crucial part of the culture here, and you are really missing out if you don't go. Weatherspoons is a good suggestion as a cheap option (and some of them are nice where they've bought older pubs). But really just stick your head in to any older traditional-looking pub, buy a drink and soak up the atmosphere. You wouldn't go to Ireland without going to the pub, and the UK is no different - it is just as integral here. If you are planning to spend more than a couple of days anywhere, I'd say try and visit at least one traditional pub. It can also be a good way to get talking to locals.

[@Code-on-TRIP]

And the train. Buy railcard! Different age has different discount. And there's a discount code too.

[@welltravelledlife]

Very impressive! We just left after a 2 month stay in Great Britain and your tips are all spot on. We did rent a car because we were all over the place and seeking small villages. Seriosusly, this is a really well done video - lots of information and all of it good. You deserve our subscription and our like!!

[@Lisa-kz7vw]

I definitely would like a vlog on taking the train throughout England to different area from London.

[@HappytoWander]

Sounds good! Will definitely make that happen sometime in the future. Thanks for watching, Lisa!

[@bdfashions2458]

Absolutely! A vlog exploring train travel across England, venturing out from the bustling heart of London to various charming destinations, sounds like a fantastic idea. It would be a wonderful opportunity to showcase the picturesque landscapes, diverse cultures, and unique experiences that each area has to offer. Stay tuned for an exciting and informative vlog that will take you on an unforgettable journey through England by train! 🚆🇬🇧

[@theaprilbaby87]

I would enjoy this as well. Planning my first trip to the UK for fall 2024

[@user-zzyachieve]

nice idea！But the train ticket is so expensive that I can only look for bargains everywhere. 😂I found that I can get some discounts by using the code to buy train tickets on trainpal, if anyone needs this can ask me for a discount code❤

[@Rich69C]

As a resident of the UK I have to say your content is absolutely spot on. Really good tips and advice for anyone visiting our lovely country. Great video.

[@andrewf3746]

Wow. This video is better than our own tourist board info videos. They need to hire you immediately lol. All of the points are amazingly accurate..this should be shown on all flights from US to UK. Sadly, we often find its the US citizens who make the biggest public mistakes. We don't like to tut at folk but we will if triggered lol. Hehe. Who am I kidding, We love a good tut and bombastic side eye. 😂❤

[@user-gg8tl5yt7d]

I honestly thought this would be kinda clickbaity but it was a great video. Very informative, I learned a lot and I loved your enthusiasm for English food haha 😂❤

[@infadeldog13]

Interesting to see how ones home country appears through the eyes of visitors. This is a really well made video. Couple of pointers on the pronunciations - the -mouth at the end of some coastal towns (so called as they are river mouths) being pronounced as -myth… it’s actually -mth… there is no y sound; so Bournemouth is not Bournemyth but rather Bournemth. Though we do have a town in the North called Cockermouth… but all except the locals do pronounce the last syllable as -mouth! Oh, in the subject of being a little inconsistent on place names - if you’ve been to the Cotswolds, you’ve likely encountered Cirencester - this one breaks the rule and the -cester is pronounced phonetically. There are some much, much weirder ones though - but don’t worry if you get it wrong, even the natives often do if they’re not from that given region - who would think Belvoire is pronounced ‘Bever’ or St Magdalene’s is ‘St Maudlin’s’ - hey, you can just make a game of it. Also, on the subject of hotels; worth noting that we don’t call the ground level floor of a multi-storey building the 1st Floor over here. In the UK the first elevation above the street level floor is the 1st Floor. The ground/ street level floor is just called the ‘Ground Floor’ - this will help you to get off at the right level.

[@marksaxby607]

I won't say what locals often refer to Cockermouth as :D

[@ccityplanner1217]

12:16 is when it clicked for me that Americans only get to eat a roast once a year. We get to eat it any time we're at our grandparents' house & it's Sunday.

[@annareverie13]

This is a great guide! Like others have said, often these sorts of videos are full of stereotypes/misinformation (which is fine because they’re usually good for a laugh!) but it’s clear you’ve spent a lot of time here and gotten to know our strange little country very well. A couple of things to add: 1. Greggs is another good option for inexpensive food, particularly on the go. Pretty much every town has one and it’s also often in train stations/motorway services etc. Not the healthiest but definitely worth trying at least once. 2. As you said there’s a difference between UK/Britain/England, and remember: don’t call an Irish person ‘British’, don’t call a Scottish, Irish or Welsh person ‘English’, and don’t call a Northern English person ‘southern’… there’s every chance you’d start a riot! 3. Don’t call it a fanny-pack. Do not. That word means something VERY different in the UK. 4. Pubs and bars here don’t do tabs, you pay for each drink as you order it. 5. As a lot of people have said the trains here are terrible, but one good thing is you’re allowed to drink. Some shops even sell plastic glasses of wine with a foil lid over it like a yoghurt, and cocktails in a tin are common! (And honestly… if your train journey is going to be more than an hour long I’d recommend getting hammered…)

[@user-zzyachieve]

Thank you for your information! ❤By the way, I found a 5% discount on train ticket purchase on trainpal. If anyone need to travel can contact me😊

[@SoDoneWithIt-we8ro]

I’ve been watching lots of various KZbin videos regarding England travel in my evening spare time. My first trip coming up in Oct. These many valuable tips packed into short time has definitely been THE BEST condensed version by far. No wasted time and I took lots of notes. Thank you so much!.

[@TimeyWimeyLimey]

BEST travel tips for Britain video I have EVER seen. Well done summarizing the place name oddities better than I ever could. You've even discovered the great British sausage roll !

[@old.not.too.grumpy.]

One of the biggest mistakes for most American visitors is to fly into Heathrow and then directly travel to the centre of London and start site seeing. You will be tired and jet lagged. I suggest you fly into Gatwick if possible. Catch the train to Brighton, stay in there for two nights, visit the lanes, and see the Royal pavilion. Bright Centre is small and easy to get around with some great places to eat. Get yourself used to the time difference. Then, after 10 in the morning, after the second night, catch the trian into London. Arrange with your hotel to drop off your bags early, then go siteseeing. You get more out of your visit. I have seen so many American visitors to London walk round in a daze or be so tired they go to bed late afternoon and miss so much

[@monicap9662]

This is good advice for anyone visiting somewhere multiple time zones away from home. I felt so sorry for the Americans we met on our food tour in Rome. They had just arrived that morning.

[@old.not.too.grumpy.]

@mementomori1022 Norse fly into Gatwick and if it ever gets going so will Global. British humour, or as we call it banter, is harsh and sarcastic. If a British person is mean you, then take it as a complaint. It generally means we like you. Also be careful of a British person who ignores you or gives a short answer, that means they don't like you

[@old.not.too.grumpy.]

@mementomori1022 we British are only happy when we are moaning about something. Honestly, no malice intended. If we make negative or hurtful comments, it generally means we either admire or care about someone or something.

[@C.shaw_aviation]

I am originally from Sheffield england and I moved to Florida about 7 years ago and I’m now moving back to England this summer and I got to the food section of your video and I was literally dying I LOVED THE FOOD SO MUCH IN ENGLAND

[@lynnelarosa4654]

I have to laugh - so many of your British followers remarked they needed to slow down the speed. I loved the speed! So much efficiently covered in a short timeframe. Thank you!

[@tripswithgreg5189]

You are wonderful. Bright and honest. Thank you. I’m traveling right now in England. I share your videos with travels who are going on my trips. So many practical and real tips and hacks. Bravo. and thanks!

[@HappytoWander]

Ah wow thanks so much for the kind comment! I really appreciate it :) safe travels!!

[@johnlochness]

If there are two of you taking the train there's also a "Two Together" railcard for any age, it costs £30 and also gives you a 1/3 off ticket prices. Also, train fares are a lot more expensive before 09:30am (peak time)

[@nicolad8822]

Overseas visitors can get Britrail passes and travel cheaper than residents.

[@Judy-zs4gz]

and my friends told me a better way to get bigger discounts for rail trips

[@peterray7523]

Hello there, fellow Canadian here. Just stumbled upon your channel! My wife and I are planning a trip to England/Scotland, for probably next spring. We would most certainly love to see a train/Britrail guide as that's how we are planning to see the two countries. Any plans on doing a video on the various type of accommodation that they have over there? Ideally we would love to to stay in small town B&B's and counrtyside castles. Great channel!

[@Judy-zs4gz]

my friends told me a way to get bigger discounts for rail trips. If u need, I can share😀

[@peterray7523]

@@Judy-zs4gz Sure!!! Thank you!!

[@flower-ss2jt]

Really excellent vlog for first timers in England. I was prepared to eye roll my way through it - not one eye roll. Just good factual info. Apart from Wetherspoon's which is poor quality cheap food. If you want good cheap food, go to an outdoor market - many of them have excellent stalls selling really great food.

[@matthewlewis2072]

Top tip re markets. 'Spoons...has a reputation

[@ZUCKERWATTEQ]

I visited London and South England/ Wales a couple of years ago with my mom. But I would love to come again in the next two years with husband and kids. Its such a great place to spend the holidays 🙂your video is really helpful. 👍🏼

[@legend9335]

Wow! all in one breath.

[@OneRedFeatherStudios.]

Really nice video, with some great information and suggestions. I always love visiting the UK, and you covered some nice elements of a first time visit here. Really nice job.

[@HappytoWander]

Thanks so much for watching! 🥰

[@OneRedFeatherStudios.]

@@HappytoWander - You're absolutely welcome. I found your channel recently and have been going thru a lot of your content, and they are always full of practical and concise information, that would make any trip, a better experience. So keep up the great job. I appreciate the time and effort you put into them.

[@ianbrizell8587]

Excellent video! As a Native Englishman I must say that London, although a must to visit, is not the only place. A lot depends on what sort of holiday you want. If you like hiking, then the lakes are beautiful and very popular. If you like seasides, the South coast is excellent. If cultural places are your thing, you can't beat Liverpool and Newcastle. For canals, try Birmingham and for Oldie, quaint cobbled streets, York is a must. There is so much to see all over England, and Scotland and Wales are wonderful tourist destinations too. By the way, regarding travel, taxi's are another option for short distances. They can be expensive for one or two people but for 3 or 4 people sharing the taxi, it can work out cheaper and more convenient than a bus or coach because you pay for the taxi hire not for individual passengers.

[@matthewlewis2072]

Bristol and Bath also. York is lovely, very small.

[@monicap9662]

So helpful. We're going to England next year. The last time I was in England was 35 years ago as an exchange student. Some of this is familiar but, as you can imagine, some of this is new.

[@SusanMcBrayer]

I lived in England in the 1970s and the food was pretty bad, for the most part, so maybe that's how the "bad food" rap came about. It's SO, SO much better now! Great to see you highlighted many tasty dishes. And sticky toffee pudding? OMG! The best! Brava!

[@shelleywallis4569]

Please do a train video if you can. Would be so helpful for our upcoming trip in September and aliviate a lot of stress 😅

[@HappytoWander]

Ooh! I’m definitely planning on making one but not sure if I’ll be able to publish it before your trip so just in case, here’s my general Europe train travel one that covers the whole process in more general terms: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aH3Xi5yqi9t4edk

[@dogwithwigwamz.7320]

In general I think our train service is better than it used to be. I remember one cold January morning heading down to South Wales from the East Riding of Yorkshire. I had to change trains at Sheffield train station in the South Riding. I had a 20 minute wait until the train was due - standing in the cold and it was snowing. A minute before the train was due an announcement was made that it was running 101 minutes late. That`s right - a hundred and one minutes.... I was furious. Things have improved since then. Our trains are, however, very expensive. I think the most economic way of getting about England ( or the entire UK, for that matter ) would be to plan ahead - obviously - hire a car and stay in Bed and Breakfast accommodation. This type of accommodation is, in general, significantly more affordable than hotel stays and are every bit as clean and tidy as any hotel ( they have to be, by courtesy of the Local Authority / Council ). You also invariably get a full English Breakfast each morning. They are also found everywhere, from cities to towns and villages. Many farms in the countryside have a B&B `section.` In fact, more likely you`ll be staying in the B&B Guesthouses that have a history about them and a tail to tell than staying in hotels. Search online for "British B&B`s." Keep your eye on the train strikes planned over here. They are on - going and started last Summer. I think the Unions have - by Law - to give the Government and the public a certain number of weeks notice before industrial action becomes legal - but alas I fear it may be as short a notice as just a couple of weeks. The `good part` is that by September the school Summer Holidays are over and there are no Public Holidays in that month either - ergo, train staff are likely to be at work, since they`d hardly disrupt life if they were not. I think that hiring a car, pre planning where you`ll be on which dates, book B&B`s accordingly and you`ll likely save at least 25% of the cost of your holiday. This is only a suggestion, of course. If you`re not used to driving a manual car ( `Stick - shifter ?` ) then you`d do well to ask any potential car hire co here if they could provide you with automatic drive. I hope things go well and that you enjoy your stay here. September is usually a balmy month, weatherwise. And it`s when the colours of the leaves in the woods begin to bleed. Farewell.

[@shelleywallis4569]

@@dogwithwigwamz.7320 thank you so much for your reply. It is a shame that a rail journey is not the best way to go! Still hiring a car we will still get to see the countryside

[@yo.adrian]

I'm going to brush up on my British by watching Top Gear UK (the one with Clarkson, May, and Hammond).

[@lesleymay8006]

Please don't! Their programme is aimed at teenage boys.

[@martinshepherd626]

We speak English, not British ffs......

[@carr16k]

​@@martinshepherd626it's a joke

[@gillcawthorn7572]

Wow, I nearly turned of because of the rapidity with which you spoke ,as first it was overwhelmingly fast but the quality of the content was so excellent. I just gasped and followed you along . Very useful tips and hints ,visitors should be grateful to you . Well done

[@threadfix]

Me too but then I worked out how to turn speed down to .75👍 - then was perfect!

[@paigebaille7285]

this was an amazing video!!!! Ive been to england twice, making my 3rd trip at the end of the month. i always binge youtube but this video hit on all points that took me a while to find, and i learned more too with your videos!

[@ronaldjlombardi5013]

AWESOME, anything special to know for Dec for 2 weeks? ALOHA

[@KittyKattKT]

A really great, informative video 👏 I didnt need to watch as I've lived here all my life but I thoroughly enjoyed watching it anyway 😊

[@terranceparsons5185]

Thank you, that was an excellent summary! I was born and brought up there but moved away. So much has changed since I left, but so much us still the same

[@threadfix]

Thanks! I’ve now learned how to slow the speed down! Awesome and great video!

[@seeker1432]

You really are good with your review. Im a Northern Brit near Liverpool. I am amazed how much you know and how good you are at explaining it. I dont think anyone could better you. Im guessing you spent a few years here and travelled regulary.

[@GenXMusicMan]

Great content! Thank you! Will be traveling there next week. A friend of mine just returned from London. He said to also make note that all the street names are on the buildings. There are no street signs. Correct me if I’m wrong, but just what he reported 😉

[@commonsense6257]

This woman gets it! Sticky toffee pudding! Great video 👍🏻

[@hansspadvii]

I've been several times in England and still I learned a lot from this video. I'm from Flanders. Thank you for the information.

[@TravelingDojo]

Really enjoy your videos @HappytoWander. You captivate the charm and beauty and offer such awesome traveler tips. We love that! Keep up the great work 😀Your friends @TravelingDojo Chow!

[@code-TRIP777B]

Sometimes I find train tickets a bit expensive... But luckily I found a way to save money!

[@ccityplanner1217]

Also in London, you get your ticket out of your pocket/bag in the lift or on the escalator, not at the barrier itself. It is super annoying to be stuck behind someone at a faregate.

[@chantalpinsonneault1299]

I just discovered your channel. Wow! This video contains loads of information. Thank you from a fellow Canadian.

[@HappytoWander]

Hey fellow Canadian 👋🏼 So happy to hear you found the video helpful!! Safe travels :)

[@davidhickling850]

😅i was born and raised in yorkshire but now live in stralia but your vidio was spot on i agree with youf advice well done.

[@janetlee8348]

Going to England in 2 weeks’ time, this video really helps! Thanks

[@threadfix]

Any tips so far?

[@yaowsers77]

All the food you mentioned are on my list for when I go in March! I can't wait!

[@HappytoWander]

Yay! Hope you have an amazing trip!

[@jetsetter797]

Hey @yaowsers77 When you come here, make sure you try out some of the Indian restaurants we have over here. They are truly fabulous! 🇬🇧👌

[@fireflies2]

Woww you can make 1000 hrs video on tips you have received in the comment section... all comments are amaaazzinggggg❤❤❤❤

[@dion789]

I really like that you can book a specific seat on a train in Britain. I don't know if that's common in other countries as well, but it's not in the Netherlands. Also, I completely agree that English food is delicious, Scottish food as well. But regarding driving, both my mum (in her 60s) and I found adapting to driving on the left pretty easy. Your first roundabout is probably a bit clumsy, but after that it becomes normal very quickly.

[@jessbower7033]

As someone from England, who has travelled extensively abroad also, and who has lived in the north and south of England this is such a good video for travellers coming to England! I’ve never been to Canada- do you have a video about travelling to your home country? I would love to here any tips you have!

[@Magical_Makeup_UK]

Brit here ! Enjoyed this video about our country ❤

[@juliehodges1387]

Hi Christina, appreciate your videos very much! This is the information I want to know; lots of lovely visuals from other KZbinrs, but this is gold. Thank you! (Subscribed!)

[@SwimminWitDaFishies]

Yes! Would love to know more about the UK train system. Also about the taxi system. Do they have van shuttle service from the airport?

[@HappytoWander]

Will definitely do a train travel guide in the future! As for taxis, yup there are taxis/pickup services at pretty much every airport. If you want to prebook one, I’ve used Welcome Pickups in the past (elsewhere in Europe) and found them to be really good.

[@FrankyLon]

I work for a UK train company, believe me, don`t try to understand our fare system. Transport secetary after transport secretary fails to sort this mess out. As long as you are in London, use some form of contactless payment. It has both daily and weekly caps, so you are actually better off then buying travelcards. If you travel beyond London use an app, don`t try to figure out the ticket machines. Way to many tourists end up with the wrong ticket becuase they are not aware of the different restrictions. Trainline is not bad although I`ve heard from customers that refund is not the easiest thing, can`t speak for myself as I never used it. One tip, in most cases the train to a city is not the fast train for that city. I.e. if you are travelling from London to Birmingham, don`t take the train which says Birmingham as final destination, that most liekly will be a local commuter train stopping everywhere and taking ages. You want a train to say Wolverhampton which stops in Birmingham on the way, this is going to be a faster service (also more expensive of course). Again use the apps and journey planners.

[@peterdean8009]

Careful... in the UK a van is a small delivery truck. What Americans call a van, we call a minibus.

[@jasonchamberlin1532]

Taxis are pretty expensive from most international airports unless staying fairly local and there is good public transport which will be much cheaper than shuttle service. Do be careful though. Things like Heathrow express are v expensive - the tube is not so do check where you land and where you're going to for best service for you. Also don't go making the mistake that London Gatwick is close enough to London to get a cab

[@matthewlewis2072]

The main airports usually have some sort of train or bus onto town, cheaper for the solo traveller.

[@theeccentricenglishman]

As an Englishman with a channel promoting the Uk, I was very impressed by the amount of information you included in this video. Great advice for tourists. One comment - we English often find Americans speak rather loucly but also, as in this video, very quickly. We are a sedate race so I would have preferred the commmentary to have neen slowed up a little. not criticism but feedback. Thanks again.

[@user-gg8tl5yt7d]

that's funny... as an American, I immediately turned the video up to 1.25x speed... 😂 I don't think she needs to slow down!

[@theeccentricenglishman]

As you say, it is curious how we view the world throught our nationalistic glasses. I hadn't thought of changing the playback speed. I found it so much easier at 0.75speed. Thanks for the tip.@@user-gg8tl5yt7d

[@WorkingProgress17]

As an American, listening to brits speak is like nails on a chalkboard. This is why I find it hard to watch movies or TV shows that are spoken in your accent. Every once in a while, a British accent is actually soothing. I think it is a cultural thing where it can be easy to get irritated with the habits of others because we are so used to our own people.

[@user-gg8tl5yt7d]

@@WorkingProgress17 Scathing 😂 but honestly, after arriving in England... my opinion of English accents has only deteriorated! Hearing it more often did not make me more fond of it. 😂 But I do admit, there's a ton of variety in accents here, and the one that you hear a lot on TV/movies is the most annoying kind!

[@theeccentricenglishman]

Diversity makes the world go round. If it is any consolation some British voices really set my teeth on edge too.@@WorkingProgress17

[@selmazopinion]

Can you please do one on Manchester - how to get there, negotiating the airport, public transit, where to stay, what to see and trips from there? TIA!

[@HYUKLDER1]

Re memberships for longer stayers, there is 'Historic Royal Palaces' annual membership (currently £65 adult) which gives repeat free entry to Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Hampton Court Palace which collectively would be (currently) £85 for a non member adult to visit, plus other HRP properties, discounts and online talks and events.

[@thomasfarrell5396]

The bad food myth comes from the 2nd world war when food was rationed . When the US soldiers arrived they thought that the food was boring and dull, hence UK food = bad. This did not take into account the war was getting on a bit by the time US soldiers arrived, and that UK rationing meant that UK was one of few countries in Europe where the population did not suffer from malnutrition ( in fact more healthy than current !).

[@jenn4985]

I think you explained it all in less than 16 mins, great job 🎉

[@Robhalifax]

Possibly the best summary I've seen on youtube. Well done.

[@captaintorch983]

A really excellent brief guide to England Christine, thank you. So much information in a short time! Just a tiny point and often done, is your pronounciation of "etc". This is an abbreviation of "et cetera" and should be spoken so. Pleased to see you have been to Birmingham! Happy Travels. x

[@andreaward6478]

You can get both National Trust and English Heritage vititor/tourist passes for a week or fortnight at around £45 each. No need to pay for a full year. You also get free entry into sites in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland due to reciprocal agreements with their respective organisations. Especially handy for anyone planning to tour the UK

[@frglee]

There are many hundreds of castles, stately homes and other interesting sites in the UK to see using these passes, which pay for themselves after just 3 or 4 visits - so yes, highly recommended if you plan a touring holiday here. Whilst strongly advising against hiring a car in London, driving outside the cities here is not that difficult, even driving on the left is easy to master imo - but you may need to specify an automatic, most car rental companies rent out manuals mainly, especially the budget options. Car rental prices vary wildly, so searching for a good deal is a good idea.

[@dallywilliams6606]

Very helpful video Thank you. We are planning on visiting England possibly in two years. Happy New Year 😊

[@teslaandhumanity7383]

I live in England and you have traveled more than me and I’m 60 . But I did have 60 kids I mean 6 kids and I’m disabled now , but I’m about to visit my daughter in Peak District this week . Please don’t talk about the weather 😂. I’m from Portsmouth. Great video well done 👏🏽.

[@digitig]

The stereotype about English food probably came from WWII rationing and the generation that grew up with it. It was probably fair enough back in the day, but as that generation passed on and international travel got cheap in the 1970s things got better very quickly. You have to wave to get a bus to stop if it says "request stop" - but it does no harm even if it doesn't. The difference between the National Trust and English Heritage is that the former tends to restore properties to how they were in their prime - great if you want to see sumptuous stately homes - and the latter tends to preserve them as they are - great if you want moody ruined castles.

[@ccityplanner1217]

Wetherspoons is not really a pub, but it's a more than adequate substitute for a pub when the pub is Greene King. There is a strong correlation between how honest an Englishman is & how much he says he likes Wetherspoons. This is because liking Wetherspoons won't win you any social brownie points, but it gives you access to a £5 full English breakfast. They're charismatic & often like to mock how high the VAT on ale is by doing a sale in which they sell it for the price it would've been without tax (i.e. the American menu price).

[@JohnSmith-pq3xl]

Great advice just forgot to mention that indian food is very popular more so then English food most museums are free like the British museum. The natural history museum etc

[@LynnSharman]

great video I live in the UK and I agree with everything you sais

[@HappytoWander]

Ahh amazing! Thanks so much for the kind words, Lynn 🥰

[@ianprince1698]

if you are visiting Kewgarens allow a full day, if you are a plant fan allow two days at lest , can go by river boat if you want just check the times

[@ianprince1698]

to stop a bus face the direction the bus is coming from and put out your hand palm facing the bus as it approches, have your bank card out, i dont know if some local routs are cash only most are now bank card only

[@ATChick]

I think it depends on where you are in the United States as to whether or not you flag your bus driver down. When I went to college the town bus system would stop at certain ones but wouldn't always stop at the smaller bus stops you had to flag them down.

[@rgoonewardene380]

If you are really on a budget, and want some cheap food, go to the supermarket, in the evening, and look for discounted items. This will be an order of magnitude better than Spoons.

[@FoxzLady]

I live in England and you are spot on!

[@BenLaws-m9j]

This is pretty spot on. Although I do have to say I come from near a place called Tynemouth, in which the “mouth” is pronounced as mouth and not myth. But even southerners get that wrong.

[@crystalpowers5648]

I’m going to London at the end of march. I would love a how to train video. 😊

[@MuffleX23]

@HappytoWander is very informative. My friend told me his story about last visit of England. He sharing some experience about Heathrow Airport. He also used Express Parking at Terminal 5 for home holidays. It was very cheap as per his saying

[@petertaylor9384]

It's surprising how many foreigners get this kind of video so very wrong. I'm English and lived in England all my life and yes very well done even I learned some tips. You have excellent knowledge of life in the 🇬🇧

[@TheSavin1]

Really good guide - and live in England (although I always say I am British). Good tips on travel and where to stay.

[@andylandry4656]

Thank You very Healful, because I am going to London before My Transatlantic Cruise and thou I have been to London Many Times, there is always Something to Learn and See

[@DianeLStyma]

My friend is going and I’m trying to help her plan!!! Thanks!!

[@chriswoodworth1894]

Nothing to complain about here. Obviously there are local variations, but finding these out is sometimes half the fun. My personal favourite, if you’re visiting London, to get the train out to Eltham Palace - a medieval hall with a 1930s mini palace bolted on.

[@tomburnham5119]

Agreed - the nearest station to Eltham Palace is actually Mottingham on the Dartford via Sidcup line. Eltham station is a rather longer walk.

[@matthewlewis2072]

Note it's pronounced "El-tom"

[@ThatEssentialAttire]

Big NO NO from this video, DO NOT TIP and tell them to remove the discretionary charge unless you really feel like you want to and even then only tip a few £ and give it directly to your waiter/waitress. I hate how over the last few years chain restaurants have started to automatically adding tips to bills when this was never ever a thing in this country, staff are paid properly here so it is not necessary.

[@chichiesdiary]

hi, isn't rude to tell them to remove the discretionary charge? are all restaurants like this?

[@Some_Guyy]

@@chichiesdiaryI’d say maybe only 10-20% of restaurants have a service charge added. The waiters won’t care about removing it, I’m not even sure they see any of that money anyway! I always ask for it to be removed and then leave a fiver if I thought the service was excellent.

[@BeccaSomething]

Tesco meal deal is literally the best.

[@camuchanomellini903]

Wow! this info is incredible 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@Caambrinus]

Well done, Christina. The only thing you did not mention (for US visitors) is the prevalence of coins as well as notes (bills). Tricky during a short visit......_e.g._ a 50p coin is worth about 65 cents.

[@Caambrinus]

What a slick video - very well done!

[@fionacarter5358]

Agoda has Premier Inn. Thank you for all the helpful tips.

[@HappytoWander]

Oh, I had no idea! I never use Agoda so that’s great to know. I thought I read somewhere that they only allowed direct bookings but maybe I misread haha. Thanks for clearing that up, and thanks for watching! 🥰

[@malcolmnicholls2893]

Heard some young Americans saying "Stonehenge is a bunch of rocks". Thats true! It's smaller than it looks. (I'm a local).

[@patfernandes7741]

Excellent video, great knowledge except 'mouth' at the end of place names is pronounced more 'mth' or 'merth' ' - hard to convey I know.....and yeah we do love to talk about the weather.

[@HappytoWander]

Thanks so much for the kind words, Pat!!! To me “myth” was the easiest approximation I could do but with accents it’s tricky haha. Hope you’re having a great day with some lovely weather! ;)

[@concernedcitizen8939]

Bloody Hell girl! Brilliant video, without an ounce of bad advice. And I'm a Brit!

[@philiprice7875]

you say you love Liverpool (my home town) biggest tip is DONT STAY AT THE ADELPHI HOTEL. the council employs beggers outside to "beg" you NOT to stay here. if you are offered a night at the hotel or a night in the sewers, choose sewers (cleaner and the rats have eaten all of the roaches)