Where to Start When Planning a Trip to England
Transportation:
London:
London is like most cities and have several options when getting around. Including, buses, trams, taxis, and the most infamous the tube (aka the London Underground).
The most convenient and reliable was the tube and in most articles you’ll read they will mention an oyster card. The oyster card is a pre-purchased card and you top it off with some money and use it on all forms of transportation while in London.
It seems like a nice way of getting around, however, it cost an extra $7.00 to activate it and you have to guess how much to put on it and in order to top it off you have to be at the right stations that are capable of putting more money on it. It seemed a little unnecessary when most public transports offer contactless forms of payment, such as a credit card with a chip, Google Pay, and Apple Pay with no extra fees.
Would recommend exploring the oldest underground subway system, however, unless you will be in London for an extended period of time, the oyster card seemed more of a hassle than it’s worth.
Things to Consider:
Currency: Pound Sterling (GBP)
Best Time to Visit: March-June or September-November
Language: English
Drinkable Tap Water: Yes
Haggling: No
Tip: Yes (10%)
Flush Toilet Paper: Yes
Cash or Credit Card: Mostly credit card
Cultural Tips:
Do not be alarmed if you are talking to a local and they call you “love”, “dear”, “darling”. They are not trying to be romantic this is a common term they use to address someone.
The word pants in England is a word used to describe a woman’s undergarment. If you want to refer to your pants the common word used in England is trousers.
What We Wish We Knew:
- Don’t get excited about the food. We had the iconic English breakfast and fish n’ chips and it wasn’t bad, however, I would not visit England for their food.
- Know the geography of the countries and who belongs where. United Kingdom includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Great Britain does not include Northern Ireland. London is not synonyms for Britain.
