When done right, traveling to England can be an enjoyable and eye-opening experience. Without the right preparation though, you may be in for a very stressful and agonizing trip.  I have just reached the end of a 2-week-long adventure from Canterbury to London to Exeter and I thought I’d share the lessons I’ve learned along the way. Please don’t hesitated to message me with questions!

  • American electrical plugs are NOT the same as English electrical plugs. Once you cross the Atlantic you’ll need to invest in a converter to charge your devices.
  • If you plan to be traveling frequently by rail, consider buying a rail pass from National Express. A similar pass called the Oyster Card can be purchased for travel via the London Underground. This card can be pre-loaded with money so that you can hop from station to station without buying paper tickets for each leg of your journey. Visitors can request an Oyster Card in the mail prior to their trip or buy one at any Underground ticket counter upon arrival.
  • Once in London resist the urge to shop for tourist knick-knacks until you are out of the city center (i.e. Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Circus, Regent Street etc.). Camden Town offers an incredibly diverse and equally exciting shopping experience at a fraction of the price. Save yourself the money by keeping your wallets closed until your out of the high-profile boutique areas.
  • If you’re using your phone to find a grocery store trying searching for Sainsbury’s, Co-op Food or Tesco. These are the English staples for general shopping needs.
  • If you haven’t decided on a place/area to stay, I’d suggest Piccadilly Backpackers hostel. Check out my review for more information on this hidden gem.
  • A common source of amusement for me along my journey was the number of foreign words I encountered for even the most common of items:
    • Aubergine = Eggplant
    • Lemonade = Sprite
    • Sultana = (Golden) Raisin
    • Malt loaf = Strange banana bread made with raisins
    • Chips = French fries
    • Crisps = Potato chips
    • Salad cream = Weird mustard/mayonaise mixture
    • French mustard = Spicy mustard
    • Fiver = Five pound note
    • Tenner = Ten pound note
    • Pudding = Dessert
    • Haloumi = Springy, often fried cheese much like mozzarella
  • Most stores charge a few pence extra for takeaway plastic bags. Save money by bringing along a knapsack to store your purchases.
  • Finding open WiFi in London can be challenging. Look for O2 Wifi, which is a free service currently being offered in many of the larger department stores and coffee shops such as Costa and Caffe Nero. If that fails, try McDonalds, KFC or Apple stores.
  • When using escalators, stand on the right and let people pass on the left.
  • If you’re interested in touring London with a guide, ask around about free tours (days and times vary seasonally). I was able to take advantage of a free, daily 2 hour walkabout leaving at 11 am from the statue outside the Green Park Underground station exit. A second tour runs daily at 2 pm.
  • Movie tickets in central London are expensive! Don’t pay £13 when you can pay less than £8 outside the city.
  • During the rainy months consider taking the coach instead of the national rail line for time-restricted journeys. Bus trips do run several hours longer than train rides, but you don’t run the risk of getting stranded should tracks become flooded.
  • If you don’t have a global data plan I suggest pre-downloading Underground Tube maps and travel guides prior to your departure. This will save you roaming charges and means you won’t look like a complete tourist!