Mistakes American Tourist Make in England
Whether you are heading to Lisbon, Bournmouth, Bristol, Manchester or Newcastle there are a lot of do's and some really important don'ts of visiting England and we want to make sure you don't make any tourist mistakes when you visit England. So here we have the most common mistakes tourists make when they go to England on vacation. Honest travel advice for visiting England.
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You don't have to tip at all, especially in pubs and never when ordering drinks.
Yes, tipping is only a thing in restaurants with waiter service, and even then it is optional.
Exactly... You don't tip in pubs! But if you plan to be there for several drinks, you can always round up the first order by saying "keep the change" or "have one yourself" - but ONLY the once, Not after each order... (Which an American couple were doing in a pub in London last week). And IF a 'service charge' has been automatically ADDED on to a restaurant meal, I won't tip extra - So ALWAYS check the signs or menus to see if service is already included. 🤔
Do not tip, unless you REALLY want to tip. Also ask for gratuity to be taken off your bill as thats basically the resteraunt forcing you to tip. You are under no obligation to tip anyone we aren't americans. No one is going to think any different of you for not tipping here as we pay people a living wage. Of course if you are flush with disposable income do what you want its your money.
@@stewedfishproductions9554 But even so you can refuse to pay the service charge and have it removed from the bill. I always refuse to pay a service charge. I will tip the servers as I deem fit as often they DO NOT get any of the service charge. Also, who has the right to charge me extra to the advertised prices on the menu -----no one !
Tipping is at your own discretion. Usually if you've had a good meal and service. Don't tip in chain pubs like Wetherspoons only independent businesses. There's usually a jar on the counter if you want to tip.
As an American, I'll add something else, whether traveling in the UK or France, Japan, Fiji, Australia, Canada, etc, etc.: *Politeness* . Saying "please," "thank you," "you''re welcome," and "may I have...?" will *always* set you apart in a positive way from those who say "yeah," "mm-hmm," and "gimme." Our lax (I think too lax) norms of politeness at home tend to not fly abroad, so keep that in mind.
That's the same if you go to the south in the United States, One of the things that I find frustrating for people who are not from the south is their lack of manners.
@@milliedragon4418 Well, I'm a rural Southerner myself. I tend to think that Southern hospitality and politeness are so - but only by US standards. In fact, we're losing that aspect of our culture quickly. I was in Cincinnati recently and heard more usage of "please" and "thank you" in a weekend than I'd hear in Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, Alabama, etc. My solution is to go to Canada and western Europe whenever I can because, for now at least, certain terms of politeness are still expected.
@@milliedragon4418 Agreed.
I completely agree. The one that is most egregiously misunderstood is “mm-hmm” when someone says thank you to you. This one infuriates me. To a Brit, rather than being a polite acknowledgment, this is tantamount to saying “yes, you should be grateful, and by the way you’re too unimportant for me to talk to.”
In a study 70% of people in England responded negatively, sometimes without being aware of it, because people didn't say please and thankyou, so it is particularly important.
Americans, please use your "inside voice". Halve your volume, or even lower. Thank you and have fun! 🙂
😂😂
Remember, speaking louder doesn't mean you are being more positive, upbeat and getting your point across. You are just being more obnoxious.
its because they think they're all the main character and are all the most important there
Especially if you’re from the mid west or southern states. Please and thank you.
@@oeokosko i wouldnt care about people talking loud its kind of expected
I like that you mentioned the National Trust, its honestly a fantastic way to experience what most tourists probably think of when they think of the UK.
Don't forget English Heritage or its Scottish & Welsh equivalents. Many castles & historic places are run by them.
I just wish that the National Trust did not allow fox hunting on their lands.
If you want the woke version of our history that is!
@@OldeJanner Get a grip
Sorry, but you're wrong about tipping. I've lived in the UK my whole life(nearly 50) and you are absolute not expected to tip anywhere other than entering national museums. Places that attract tourists often put out tip jars but its not really the same thing.
I don't agree, I think tipping is becoming more and more of a norm...
Agree except for the museums, most free museums ask for a donation, but I've never known this to be aggressive in any way.
@thomuk2006 maybe due to American imperialism, but surely if anything the end of cash has moved things the other way.
You haven’t been out much recently, have you?
Yes cheeky companies are trying to force through the tipping culture but it's still optional and you can ask them to take that [naught word] off the bill. Usually waiters are fine with it but sometimes you get funny looks. But England does and should not have any tipping culture.
Jump a queue at a Bar, and often the barperson will completely ignore you until there is no queue.
There shouldn't really be a traditional 'line' at a bar. You are all horizontal against the bar front. If you know someone was there before you, if the bar tender asks you for your order first gesture to the punter who was there first.
The way it should be
We don't queue at bars, we line up against the bar. If you push through to the front though, definitely expect to be treated poorly.
Tipping? When I lived in London I never tipped nor felt any obligation to.
Tipping has never been expected in the UK but in the age of us swiping our cards it's not even a concept really. That said certain upper tier restaurants will automatically add a percentage service charge to your bill.
@@srspower 'Upper tier...'? More like every single restaurant and increasingly many bars.
It is rude not to if you have had table service. Generally, the smaller the restaurant chain (such as single family restaurants) the more rude it becomes.
@@charlesunderwood6334 Tipping is based only on quality of service, not on the size of the business. Typically, we have dreadful service in the UK as no training, or very little, is given.
@@DM-ur8vc Maybe that's it. The local restaurants I regularly go to are family run and the service is fantastic (they leave me alone when I don't want to be hassled, and act when I need something)
Respect the guards in London they are soldiers and deserve respect
Never Ever touch them or get in their way when they march around. You WILL regret it.
They deserve respect because they're people, their job should be irrelevant
I would have assumed that people would understand that mocking people carrying a weapon was not a good idea. But YT videos have proved me wrong.
@@StimParavane Never underestimate the stupidity of people.
Look how many unrepresented English they keep in subjection!
How lovely to see you in my home city of Chester. But regarding tipping, we only tip if we think we’ve had above average service. Tips aren’t expected
It's the same in the U.S. We just have more people eager to hold their hand out, but this guy just makes stuff up, for his channel, that's why he's wrong. 😂
My home city too friend 😊
I live 15 miles away from Chester in Nantwich.
same here just outside anyway, was nice to see him there.
@@malcolmdrake6137 We are certainly led to believe that in the USA, in a hotel say, someone will carry your bags to your room, and _expect_ to be tipped for doing so.
Your video just popped up on my recommended and as an Englishman (Norwich!) your tips and tricks seem absolutely spot on. Great video mate - you’re super knowledgeable about the UK and I love your passion for our country! Cheers!
one thing us Canadians inherited from the British, queue culture, we definitely respect the line here too.
Is it not a thing in the US? (also Canadian)
@@patrickthurston8811 To line up, or to queue, is usually a thing in the US. However, there are some people who don’t respect it. They try to jump ahead because of impatience. I can’t stand that.
I don't understand the free for all culture. If the person serving sees someone do this they will tell you to wait in line. I've noticed African countries seem to be worst for this especially when I finish my shift where I work. The Africans just form a scrum no matter how many times they are told to form a queue.
@@patrickthurston8811 go to Universal or Disney, people constantly queue jumping! They leave one person in the queue and then 10 wait until they're near the front and then rock up and push past everyone
When I went to a nightclub in Miami I was asking people "are you in the queue" and they literally didn't understand what I was saying. Back of the line buddy! 😂
Another tip when visiting the UK, make sure you see some local theatre, there's a whole plethora of shows for a very reasonable price all across the UK, particularly in the cities. A great way of supporting the arts and you don't have to spend a fortune as you would in the West End!
What most Americans think of as a beer is what we call "lager". And it is served cold!
I'm not sure why Americans are confused by this, it even says 'lager' on Budweiser.
@@RickP2012 Which is owned by AB Inbev - a Belgian company!
@@thomasm1964 It has always said that for decades.
@@RickP2012 Nobody drinks Bud anymore though.
@@Mr196710 Being a lager drinker I'm not a fan of strong flavoured beers but even to me Budweiser tastes like water with all the flavour removed.
DRINKS: UK Beer = USA Ale UK Lager = USA Beer UK Cider = USA Strong Cider (alcoholic!) UK tap water = USA Bottled water (Still) We don't have an equivalent to USA tap water as we can drink from the tap without fear of death.
Lucky
I live in the US and I’ve never had an issue with drinking tap water. It’s a massive country, with many of our individual states being comparable in size to European countries. 11 of our states are larger than the entirety of the UK. Just as in Europe there are areas where you should avoid the tap water, there are some places in the US that you should avoid it. It’s that simple.
Incorrect. Beer is the overarching term. Lager and bitter are styles of beer.
Faucet water I believe the Americans call it
@@RTWuk Alright Milky, Milky...... Calm yer pants down. Maybe also check your perfect dictionary mind for "Satire/ SarcaSM" EH?
As a Brit, I will share two mistakes I have personally seen Americans make when visiting here. 1. In our cinemas, you stay quiet & watch the movie. You do not shout, cheer, boo & throw popcorn at the screen. You WILL be removed from the premises, both for the people who want to watch the movie in peace & for your own safety. In fact a good rule... don't be so loud in general. 2. Ok so this one I have unfortunately encountered on multiple occasions. When not getting your own way, do not, under any circumstances ever, proclaim in a loud voice... "ERM... I AM AMERICAN", in a defiant tone as though it grants you some kind of special recognition or treatment. that statement will NOT be received the way you want it to be & your best case scenario is that the people you say it to will laugh at you for it. Most of us have absolutely nothing against you for being American but stating it like it's somehow going to change our laws or entitle you to special privileges will definitely not have the effect some of you seem to think it will.
Liverpool, York and Chester? Brilliant choices!
Old roman route
@@elwolf8536 I know the York/Chester route, then out along North Wales. But I didn't know Liverpool was Roman?
@mojosbigsticks no liverpool isn't, I live not far from the old Chester to York road that's part of the A58 in West Yorkshire lots of tangible history
@@elwolf8536 Isn't it wonderful to have that direct link? I live on Watling Street.
@@mojosbigsticks it certainly is !! Watling Street is part of meny an old story !!
Scouser here, great video but tipping really isn't a thing. You won't be thought any less of if you don't
Love my Scousers!!!
Not true. Many places they force you to tip
@@WhoeverwhateverwheneverNever been forced to tip anywhere in the world.
@@wncjan Right. You've never been to a place where they "suggest" you choose 10%, 15% and so on? At least half of cafés/restaurants in England are like that
Watch out for the sneaky 12.5% service charge, however. That said, it’s always hugely appreciated when I tip 10% for good service, which is sadly rarer than it should be. While we shouldn’t go as nuts as they have in America, I think more of a gentle tipping culture in bars and restaurants would provide much more pleasant and attentive service than we get now - not to mention putting a few quid in the pocket of people on a very poor wage.
Tippings optional and not all places ask for a tip on the receipt
Many American tourists visiting London want to see Westminster Abbey but ask for directions to Westminster Cathedral (which does exist but is some distance from the Abbey). The Cathedral is well worth a tour but gaining a basic knowledge of what one wishes to achieve during the visit does not go amiss. Guidebooks are worth actually reading. 🙂
Politeness is the passport to having a relaxed and enjoyable time in the UK. Imagine the politeness factor in somewhere like South Carolina, then turn the dial up a few notches. If you are polite then even the police will go out of their way to help, if you are brusque or entitled then the response will be full-on bureaucracy.
I LOVE people from the South ! everytime i hear them talking in videos i think "Now they are my people it would be a fantastic time to get to hang out with people up that way if i ever visited America"
@@GeekyC. My daughter-in-law is from South Carolina, I have three grandchildren that live in Myrtle Beach. It is always a pleasure to spend time there with them, most everyone is polite, although there was a sign in the biker's bar door stating 'No guns No attitudes' which is a bit of a shock to someone from Sussex.
@@glynnwright1699 aww bless them i hope they continue to have a wonderful time there .. and oh god yeah id be very paranoid if i saw that sign but i guess youd have to get used to it
Nope, you absolutely dont tip in England. It's entirely optional. US is the only place where it's "expected" because of your insanely low restaurant salary.
And Canada unfortunately. Worse, servers got minimum wage recently but tips are still socially expected. You usually don't get people confronting you if you don't tip though. I don't usually tip more than 10-15% percent anymore even though 18-20% started becoming the "standard"
Tipping in restaurants is/was common, especially if you pay in cash. It's not uncommon in pubs either.
@@joninawhitecoat I am 67 and have always been a pub person. Nobody tips in pubs. Nobody.
@@rodjones117 You've never bought a round and one for the bartender? "...and whatever you're having" You've never done this?
@@joninawhitecoat No I have never done this, and in my experience it's more common in London than elsewhere. You do not have to tip in pubs - nobody expects it and let's keep it that way. US tipping culture is insane now.
Our countryside is our best asset. Visit the ancient towns. And yes, London is essentially a different country to England.
if you are on the escalator on the tube (underground) please stand on the right hand side. (especially if youre just going to stand there like a lemon 🍋).
To clarify: this is so that people in a hurry can get past people who aren't, without having to weave around them; it's not just a strange custom!
To explain the time with "half seven" (or any number). It's short for "half an hour past seven" (or any number). We also say "quarter past" and "quarter to" which is also short for "quarter of an hour past" or "quarter of an hour until". I hope I explained this in an understandable way
Mancunian (Manchester native) here, what a lovely guy! I love your enthusiasm towards England. Non-London parts of the country are definitely underrated. Happy travels mate, thanks for this fantastic video. Subscribed.
Hello! I’ve lived in London my whole life and have been to so many parts of England - this is so accurate! Great representation of our beautiful country ❤️🤍💙
You mentioned the National Trust, but don't miss out on Historic Houses or English/Scottish/Welsh Heritage memberships as well. Historic houses include many of the privately owned houses and in general tend to be less manicured and sterile than the National trust ones. English Heritage tends to have mostly ruins, but if you like Castles can be worth having.
I don't know why you had to sign up with 4 or 5 different train companies. Tickets for all operators can usually be purchased from 1 site.
A big bit of advice I'd give to you as an American, which is advice that British people need too; don't neglect regional foods. Everyone knows about the big ones (and there's nothing wrong with them) but most regions will have unique local cuisine too. It's also good to remember that a lot of British food culture is based on getting the highest quality ingredients possible and cooking them simply, which means sometimes the best option is to buy some ingredients yourself and make a simple stew or roast. Unfortunately a lot of regional food is difficult to find these days as most people here now live on pasta and chicken nuggets instead of British food, but you can still find it at specialty shops, especially local farm shops that are normally a way out of town.
Another tip if you're travelling to the UK: lots of historic towns are not big at all - often you can get a good flavour of a town in literally a day or two. Particularly in the North there are LOADS of great towns and cities to visit: Durham, York, and Lancaster are great examples - they're small but full of culture and history, easily digestible in a day or two as a traveller. You could spend two weeks touring the North of England/Scotland and see some amazing sights and never stay in the same place for more than two days.
I go to the UK all the time. I love London. I found a good place to stay on the strand near Covent Garden that was very reasonable. Going back again in July. Yorkshire is wonderful too. I loved walking all around Sutton Bank and taking a train to Whitby .
Go to Newcastle Berwick upon tweed Cumbria Northumberland I come from Newcastle Absolutely amazing castles and historical buildings
@@darrenrobinson6844 I will indeed Thanks for the recommendations .
I live not far from sutton bank, call in for a cup of tea next time your over.
@@johnlogan1333 How kind of you. I will indeed :)
Shropshire (look it up on a map!) and Ironbridge in particular is the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution - lots of museums as well as the Ironbridge itself. (The Olympian games in Much Wenlock were the inspiration for the Olympic Games. Have you ever wanted to see an Iron Age hill fort?)
Yep. As an Englishman who loves the rain, it doesn't rain ENOUGH for me!
A rain poncho 😂 nothing says 'American Tourist' in the UK more !
I hadn't particularly thought about it before - but if you travel light, with just a backpack, it sounds like a good alternative to a raincoat as it would fit away in a bag easier. Besides, if it was more of a cloak type thing, then it could look rather British. Think Sherlock Holmes.
@samuelmelton8353 Yeah I know they have their uses, I have several disposable ones for use on cruises etc(and some vintage Universal studios ones), but we just don't use them at all in the UK. Mainly because our rain goes sideways, is cold, and usually accompanied by high wind. I was in the UK Police when a few colleagues still had capes....really heavy things great for hiding your fish and chip takeaway under !
@@MrAlexrowlands Yes - the typical person will not be wearing a poncho - definitely makes them stand out as a tourist! Although I feel like I see a few older people wearing rain cape type things - I quite like the way some look, maybe they should make a resurgence.
The main downside of a pancho is that we often have rain showers rather than one consistent downpour and then it's dry, so either you put your pancho back in your bag and get everything inside wet or you're wearing a pancho when it's not currently raining, that will really make you stand out.
@@neighborofthedevil That could be so - but depending on your bag, you can always put it in a bottom compartment. I don't own one, but I wouldn't be surprised if they could be rolled up into a small plastic bag/ come with a bag. Alternatively, you could probably put it outside the bag, in a pocket or over the bag itself. Besides, if your bag doesn't have waterproof sections, then the contents will be wet because of the rain seeping through anyway.
Thank you for highlighting our national parks and National Trust properties. They truely are the best parts of the UK.
1:07 You can live in a stately manner if you live in a stately manor, but you cannot visit a stately manner, only a stately manor. However, you can visit a stately manor in a stately manner if you are posh enough.
As a Brit, most of this advice is right. Everyone in England hates traveling to and around London, it's nothing like anywhere else in the UK, definitely see places out of London if you can!
Solid list, I'd add just a couple of things: 1) Driving: Americans will probably want to request an automatic car when hiring, as we tend to be manual ("stick") by default. 2) Food: pies are a criminally-underrated traditional food, especially in the north
A huge one I would say as a dual citizen of the US & UK, is Americans; remember to say please and thank you literally every time you ask for or receive something. No exceptions. This is not all Americans by any means, but I’ve noticed particularly that American travellers from large cities such as New York and LA omit these words from their vocabulary almost entirely. In NYC it’s absolutely fine to just walk into a bar and say “I’ll have a beer” and that’s it and no one bats an eye lid. You wouldn’t necessarily get a reaction if you said that in the UK, but automatically everyone within earshot will have noticed that and have you marked down in their estimations. “I’ll take a pint of (insert beer of choice here) please.” And then “thanks” or “cheers” when that Amber goodness is handed over. Very easy, minimum effort, trick to not get people looking down their noses at you.
That's everyday courtesy in Canada. It's mindcroggling how the Americans don't understand that omitting 'please' and 'thank you' is rude.
And.on the bus, do not forget to say thankyou to the driver.when you alight!
@@Shan_Dalamani yeah it’s not all of us but it is noticed when it’s missed overseas. I’ve lived in the Uk for about 5 years now and whenever I watch American shows it does just sting my ears a little when the courtesies are missed.
@@Shan_Dalamani To be fair, it may just be a different custom - to the extent that if you say please and thank you too much in NY you may be thought of as odd! Probably just charming/polite, though. But where the lack of them is the norm, not using them is not necessarily rude: like tipping in England. (Which _is_ acceptable - but usually should be done as an exception, when you have received good - quick, or kindly, say - service; _not_ as a matter of course.)
Respect the country and it's traditions. Respect the King's Guards and horses.
i mean if you really buy into that
Been watching your channel for a while now, and seeing you visit my birthtown was really humbling as i've not been there for years. I'm currently preparing for my first ever trip abroad to Erie, PA next week! I'm so excited and will be rewatching your videos on the plane in preparation! Keep up the amazing work!
Great videos mate, and from my hometown of Chester, hope you enjoyed your stay.
You are absolutely spot on mate. Great advice. I love how enthusiastic you are about our country. Cheers mate.
My mum sold the mounted horns to the owners of the inn in Chester that you stayed at, must have been over 10 years ago now, back when she sold antiques. They threw in a nights stay with the deal. she still swears to this day that she saw a ghost that night. Crazy to see the horns again here!
I kept getting recommended this randomly so decided to watch & wanted to say great video! Hope you had a lovely time visiting England, seem like a nice bloke! :)
Many of our villages have great hidden attractions and history. I grew up in Edwinstowe, a village next to Sherwood Forest most famous for the legend of Robin Hood. They also have medieval festival weeks where they have reenactments of old battles and how they would have lived. I would add a mistake I’ve noticed is being too loud. We’re generally reserved and will typically talk loud enough to have our own conversations. Having loud conversations which take over the room will be considered rude. Great video!
I live near Edwinstowe, great place and very interesting history.
As a born and bred guy from and living the UK I find your videos on these isles to be so authentic and true. You're definitely an honorary local. This makes me trust all your other videos on all the other wonderful places you've been.
Thank you. That is really nice of you.
Your sooooo wrong
@@woltersworld great mentioning the guards in London and they are soldiers not Disney characters so show respect . See if you can put it on your other videos so the message can spread 😊
Ale is beer! Beer tends to be bitter, stout etc. What you refer to as beer would be called lager over here. Real or cask ale is naturally brewed beer that is pulled from a hand pump by vacuum and not forced through with CO2. Also, particularly for Americans, cider over here is what you call hard cider, and perry is the equivalent of cider (made with apples) but made from peach. Apple juice is probably the closest to what you call ordinary cider. Beer is also not served at room temperature (total myth) as the barrels are stored in a proper cellar, which chills the beer. BTW it's not "manner" house but "manor" house (usually refers to an estate house owned by the nobility, but comes from a latin word for "remain").
I'm 17 seconds into this video and I would like to show my appreciation for you using the English flag and not the Union Jack when talking about England. Small detail, but this makes me happy.
It's only called the union jack when it's flown at sea. Its just the union flag.
The football shirt tip is a good one, some pubs won't allow you in wearing one.
Thank you for the channel!
On the ordering food. Just check before sitting down. There are plenty of pubs that will take your order directly from your table. Some do table service some don't. Just check beforehand.
I agree with everything apart from the tipping i was and raised in england and we only tip if the service and food was exceptional but in general we rarely tip and people that work in hospitality will not expect to receive a tip.
Good to see you in Liverpool Wolter. Love you mate
love to the scousers!
Top tip, if youre using trains around the north check for strikes over the weekend ❤ also, check bus prices for evening journeys, In some cities the buses are cheaper as they are trying to compete with the trains, some places offer a night bus for a pound
Born and raised in London of American parents until 15 and i have to say this is the spot on video I will save for first timers. Really good job!
You can buy train tickets from any of the companies, not just the one you are travelling on. So probably very little need to sign up for four different websites.
Trainline is a great app/site.
Yeah, I'd recommend National Rail or Trainline for train tickets - you can book specific seats on specific trains or open/flexible tickets where you can get on any train that day that's headed in the right direction. Remember though that you can't book tickets for metro systems like the London Underground, Liverpool's Merseyrail, or Manchester's Metrolink in advance. They're usually only £3-5 max per journey anyway, and you can easily buy on the day - just allow 10 minutes if it's your first time. In London you can even tap in and out using a debit/credit card or a special Oyster card which you top up, but make sure you have one of these for each traveller otherwise you might get stuck at the ticket barriers!
@@CWM93 Please avoid Trainline - they charge booking fees. Use one of the train companies.
Don't use Trainline, they charge extra.for.the privelege. Just use one of the rail.company's sites, does not matter.which one.
Brit here, you can spend weeks exploring the North, we have loads of castles and beaches that are so underrated. I spent 4 days in London 8 years ago and not wanted to go back, maybe on your first trip to England, but you can have a wonderful trip avoiding London entirely! Agreed with the queueing comment, we get very annoyed but we won't ever say to your face we will just tut and glare 😂 if you're getting rhe train around I recommend splitting the ticket, it will be cheaper most of the time. Great tip about national trust membership, English heritage is good as well, see where you are going and pick. Also it's raining the most I've ever seen this week, lots of puddles! Bring waterproof shoes😅 enjoy your trips! I used to live in York and I love seeing you there, very good city to visit!
What does “splitting the ticket “ mean please.
@@chriswilliams6568 They don't mean splitting a ticket but splitting the journey. They are suggesting that you don't buy one ticket direct to your destination as it might be cheaper to break up the journey and buy several tickets for that route/destination. For instance, though I don't have specifics, if you are going from say Edinburgh to London - maybe purchase a ticket from Edinburgh to Carlisle, then Carlisle to Birmingham, then Birmingham to London or something like this and sometimes you don't even need to change trains.
@@chriswilliams6568 hello! There are some specific websites that do it for you, including Rail Easy. You end up with loads of tickets but it can save you loads.
@@user-dr9qu7qt9o This is where ticket offices at the station(s) come into their own. Talk to the counter staff regarding the destination and they with sort out the most cost effective route for you. It might not be direct, but it's likely to save you lots of money. As an example, I went to Cardiff from the North West of England. The online cost was just north of £300. I spoke to the staff at the ticket office and the trip (via Manchester) came down to a more managable £76. get the idea?
@@user-dr9qu7qt9o Though Edinburgh to London, I'd go down the east side (Newcastle, York, Darlington, Peterborough) - Carlisle is more for Glasgow to London, though I think you _can_ go from Edinburgh there. But it's a dog-leg.
May I suggest Cornwall, the Cotswolds and the Peak District for those tourists who want to see more of our beautiful English countryside. Let's not forget the beautiful coast in the North East of England - just gorgeous
Also just to add, check open days. Even we Brits can get caught out! Some places like a stately home may be closed (especially Mondays). Hairdressers usually close on Monday too. Some smaller towns have what we call “Half Day closing”, usually a Wednesday. So you’ll find quite a few shops are only open for the morning, close at noon or 1pm. Not as common as when I was growing up, but it still happens in some places.
Worth mentioning this isn't really a thing in larger cities. Almost everything is open every day of the week, typically.
8:55 not a Londoner but a Brit and I can confirm! I live about an hour and a half from London and I’ve never driven through neither have either of my parents, I always use the trains to get to and from and around London (and the amazing black taxis if I have luggage) which are excellent but if you want to get around outside of London you can do it by public transport but for a lot of places it is way easier by car.
Nice video, thanks! Glad you enjoy getting out and about, past the normal London-centric approach. The “half seven” thing has also caused much confusion in my experience too! I think to explain that “half seven” is an abbreviation oh “half PAST seven” helps (ie half of one hour after seven o’clock, 30 mins). It’s always great as an English person to have these weird little discombobulating semantic quirks of the UK pointed out, as we are so accustomed we can’t spot them. Totally get that it’s a strange old linguistic island 😂 I’m sure a few other noticed it too, but it is “Manor House” not “Manner”.
Say 19:30 and watch someone from the USA glaze over.
@@martinconnelly1473 yes I was thinking that's worth mentioning, that trains and cinema times etc will be a 24hr clock, I've seen tourists get confused with that.
That was super informative !!! Well done :)
Great Video as always! I am from the South East of England and I highly recommend our seaside towns of Eastbourne, Brighton, Hastings, and Bexhill-on-Sea. So much History here, you have Pevensey Castle and the 1066 Trail, Beachy Head and the South Downs National Park, The Harbour and beaches. Its just stunning😊
The 3 lions song 'it's coming home' is a song of hope, not of arrogance FYI.
Half seven stands for half an hour past 7, this explains it better I think. Thx
Where I live we say "Half past seven" etc.
I learned that from reading Harry Potter fanfiction.
I would have thought that it would have been an obvious thing to work out. I know alot of American school children 14 or 15 year olds can't even tell the time so what hope have they of working out what half 7 means 🤣
@@lizvickers7156 Not obvious at all, if you leave out the "past". In Germany for example (as he says), "halb sieben" means half _to_ seven, i. e. 6:30. I always say the "half", but I know parts of England (and some generations) don't.
Your videos are always good and informative.
thank you steven. that is really nice of you
Very informative and well presented video.Thank you
Look out for garden centres , they very many have restaurants and cafes and the food is often good quality and well priced. Garden centres in the UK are different to the US, they are very often like department stores and sell high end products and organic produce.
This is a great tip
I had a lovely day out in Lincoln yesterday with my Dad - we had a tour of the cathedral, and then walked around the old city, which is beautiful. And so many places to eat, too! You absolutely know what you're talking about when it comes to the UK, I wish every American (heck, every tourist!) watched your videos before coming here. There is so much to do and see, in a country that's smaller than several individual states of the US!
I'm glad you like Lincoln. I prefer it to York which is far too touristy. Another gem if you're still in the area is Stamford, just off the A1 or you can catch the train from the mainline at Peterborough(another fine Cathedral, town not so much)
Great Video… spot on! I am American but my mom was English… these are great tips for first time travelers to the uk…
Very good information here, reckon it's worth watching for anyone visiting the UK
If you do decide to drive in England, you should know that rush hour begins at 1430 and finishes at 1800
And don't drive in London. Ever. Ever. Ever. It's a nightmare and it isn't necessary.
Ales in pubs are typically kept in cellars, which are considerably cooler than room temperature. They’re just not chilled like a lager. No need to tip that much either. Just round it up to the nearest fiver, and that’s only when you’ve had a sit down meal. Definitely use your manners, or you may find yourself waiting!
i got back from my solo trip to london and edinburgh last month and had an absolute great time! lol i asked so many people so many questions and they were always so helpful and kind. i carried around some little tiny glass duckies in my pocket (when i remembered) and whenever someone was extra helpful or kind, i gave them a ducky and every person loved it! and it really brought out their smiles and friendliness. i'll be doing this every time i travel from now on! from police to information booth people to the random residents walking on the streets or doing laundry, no one was safe from being asked a question! 🤣😂 i did pretty well navigating on my own and took a train from euston to watford junction for harry potter and the lumo out of king's cross for edinburgh. haha i was even able to help a few tourists! that just tickled me to no end! can't wait to go back! my comfort with maneuvering the cities came from mark's videos as well as all the other videos i've watched and the facebook group london travel tips.
I remember one of my friends who is a Liverpool fan watching a Liverpool football match at a pub in Manchester lol
As a Londoner I totally agree that London does not represent the rest of England at all. Enjoy your trip.
“In England you do tip” … uh, no you don’t! …. Maybe if you go to a restaurant you can leave a small tip but for absolutely nothing else. Tipping is not a thing here at all, in fact if you start dishing out tips as you do in America people will think you’re a bit strange.
Speak for yourself. Barber, barman/woman, restaurants, taxis. Just cos you're tight as a drum doesn't mean everyone else is.
Yeah 40 years ago. It’s not strange at all.
@@tonypine3434 He means the expectation. There is no expectation to tip anywhere in the UK. In the US it's pretty much demanded.
@@SeanJepson7 As an old biddy I can assure you that 40 years ago we still tipped taxi drivers, hairdressers, restaurant staff etc. Bar staff you don't normally tip but you'd often say "and one for yourself" which they can just take the money for if they want, but you'd probably only do that once in an evening.
I always tip taxi drivers, my hair stylist and in cafes. So think it depends on individual people.
Love your positivity and can tell you’ve really experienced the culture . Watched your video when I visited cusco. Cheers from Liverpool
I grew up in Chester.
I cant imagine drinkng beer ice cold honestly.
Another mistake to add on is do not assume that everyone likes football because as an English man who is sports mad I hate football.
Same but to be fair as a Mancunian, the first thing everyone from anywhere in the UK I meet also asks "Red or Blue?" 🤣
Yes I also notice a bit of a bus stop scrum - especially where multiple bus routes use the same stop. You need to know your bus number and pay attention to what is displayed on the front of the bus. And politely move aside if the next approaching bus is not yours.
As a Brit who's lived in America and has a foreign wife, this is excellent advice.
I visited London for the first time last year and enjoyed it. The public transit is very convenient. I took the tube around London and was shocked at how much ground I was able to cover.
I'd say that to see more of London try and take the bus as an alternative. The Tube might get you rapidly from A to B but the view from the top deck of a bus is far more interesting. The tube is often very hot and noisy. The bus sometimes gets you closer to where you want to go than the nearest Tube station. There's a recorded announcement telling passengers the next stop so it's easy to get off at the correct place.
For traveling around London on the bus and tube don't forget to buy a prepaid Oyster Card on arrival. Typically available at tube stations and you can also top it up at some newsagents too. I also found if you are a family or group of 3 or 4, it's often cheaper and much more comfortable for all of you to travel by black cab, anywhere in central London - rather than paying individual fares.
I'm from England and love your programmes but would just like to add that you do not need to tip in the U.K, its a nice gesture and always grateful but no restaurant or pub expects it and you will not be looked down on for not tipping. Would like to add that if you do tip ensure you give it with cash to whoever served you or pop it in a tip jar, this ensures that the frontline workers get it. DO NOT TIP USING YOUR CARD, noticed some new places have started offering this option when paying this way. The frontline workers will unlikely recieve these so called 'tips'. And theres no % limit, £1 in a tip jar is fine, or just tell them to "keep the change", for example if your pint cost £3.50 and you pay using £5 they will keep the £1.50 as a tip.
You do *NOT* tip in pubs! £1.50 tip on a £3.50 drink?
@@rodjones117 you do? idk if this is a thing with my area but "get yourself one" or "keep the change" or "round it up to the pound" are common phrases i hear. espeically during tourist season i get a good 5-8 pints per 8 hour shift at work. obv not required but appreciated and is common
@@caijones156 "And whatever you want..." does happen sometimes (more common in London I think) but is not common, certainly round where I live. We do not want US-style tipping culture to become the norm in this country. Being expected to tip someone simply for pulling you a pint is unresonable imho.
The house shown in the video when talking about National Trust membership is Leeds Castle in Kent, which is not a National Trust property. NT membership is definitely worth getting (also English Heritage), but just be aware that many stately home destinations are privately owned.
As an Englishman I can say that this is all pretty accurate and good advice. I personally do tip in restaurants, but nowhere else. I tend to tip about 10% for good service. If service is poor then don’t, and if the server doesn’t give you the option then don’t force it! Nobody will chase you down the street for not tipping like happened to a relative of mine in the US! Here are a few other tips. When driving, there is no turn on red anywhere. Most petrol pumps do not require pre-authorisation, and do not ask for a postal code if they have pay-at-pump. This always catches me out when travelling in the US as it asks for a Zip code that I don’t have! When using the London Underground you can use Apple Pay or Google pay at the entry and exit barriers. Simply hold your phone on the contactless pad. If you visit Chester like this gentleman, then the zoo is worth a visit as it is one of the best in the world. The only one I’ve been to as good was in San Diego.
I was recently on a train travelling between Edinburgh and London Kings Cross and asked the customer host with the food trolley if I could have a white coffee (in the uk that's what we call a coffee with milk in) and these 4 americans looked over at me shocked that I would dare ask for a white coffee thinking it was some derogatory term. The customer host had to explain to them what a white coffee was in the UK......
no explanation owed to those racist
When I was in catering college our food service lecturer said there was no such thing as white coffee, we had to ask if the customer wanted coffee with milk. It was his golden rule. It stuck with me and I often politely correct anyone who asks me if I want white coffee.
Lol we do have that in America too, it’s called a flat white.
@@deeingalaplike White coffee is just filter/instant with some milk added. Pretty basic coffee it's what you get in most ordinary cafes in the UK unless they have a barista machine.
@@mementomori1022 It's racist to assume that a term including the words "white" or "black" is racist. White and black are just colours, not races.
I'd add another one with regards to pub culture, as I think you get four kinds of pubs here and you don't want to accidentally go into one kind when you intended to go into another: 1) the chill place with a lot of local history - it's the pride of the town or local area, and is there primarily as a social spot and not necessarily as anywhere to get 'pub food'/roast dinners etc 2) the place that does 'pub food'/roast dinners - the majority of whom are gastro-pubs, the place is super done up, the chairs are uncomfortable, a roast dinner will set you back at least £20 plus tips and a pint at least £7 plus tips 3) the place with the cheapest drinks! however it's the sort of place that you can't actually see into from the street, the place would otherwise look boarded up or abandoned, Union Jacks fly high, the loos have "worst toilet in Scotland" vibes, and if it's your first time walking in you will literally have the needle scratch moment as everyone looks at you with high suspicion 4) Wetherspoons
At the type-2 place, you don't need to tip, and if you order at the bar, then tipping is just not something that people do.
@@katrinabryceI mean at the number 2 places, generally they’re the ones that do all the table service and then give you the bill at the end with a fat tip already added…
I'd add to that: 5) Carveries (e.g. Toby). I don't count them as a Gastro-pub, but they are the more meal-based than drink based. 6) Sports bar. Where it's mostly lager, little in the way of food and even minor sporting events get televised. Loads of TV screens around (too many!). Big England games are insanely crowded, normal pub events like the quiz / local band might get cancelled for it.
Wetherspoons is a chain, and gets lots of stick. (Not least, during the pandemic, for treating its staff badly.) I've generally found the food excellent value (especially if there are two of you and you go for one of those meals), and, though not thrillingly innovative, perfectly acceptable; I'm not much of a drinker, but I'm told their drink prices are fair too. They're often in a converted premises - I know of a former fire station, church, and department store, for example. Basically, I'd say, you know what you're getting - which may or may not be what you want, but if you're in a hurry, it can save a lot of time choosing.
Nice to see you back in my part of the world! Chester is underrated.
Okay...I'm british (Scottish living in England) I need to correct you on a few items. 1. Trains - get a railcard, but there's no reason to use 4/5 different companies. Go onto a site called "trainline", enter your place of origin and your destination and pay, and it will download your ticket onto your phone digitally, for anywhere and on any train! It accepts railcards - which give you 30 per cent off all trips you make over the period of a year. 2. Nobody is going to tackle you to the ground because you don't pay a tip. It is polite to do so in posh restaurants, but nobody here outside of the speciality hotel/ restaurant is even going to expect a tip. It's so rare, people outside those speciality industries may pass out with shock if you tip them. Don't stop though. It is lovely to receive one. 3. Please stop calling Edinburgh ... Edinburg! It is pronounced 'Edin-burra' by the Scots and its like nails on a chalkboard when you pronounce it like as in 'ice-berg'!! Same with aluminium - we pronounce it all-oo-min-ium! (But you probably cringe at us with that one! 😂) 3. It is possible to have all weather's in one day. We are an island after all, with differing thermals in different places. But if you come in May - July, bring factor 30 suncream. We do get days - sometimes for weeks at a time - where you can look a boiled lobster like the rest of us and our parks and beaches will be jam packed. Wear layers and bring a light waterproof jacket. Promising that you won't need to build an ark, not every day anyway! Football shirts is a fact on football match days...you could end up on a hit list on match day 😂. The rest of the time, nobody cares! Have fun and ceude mille failte - enjoy Assuming you can speak Scottish, get ready for a whole new literature lesson. Most off, enjoy and have the best time ever x
Tipping is not expected in the UK. It is becoming more of a thing, but it's not like the US/Canada where not tipping will cause offence. Many (perhaps even most) people do not tip at all.
Nope. Tipping is optional. Service charge is more of a thing and has been for a long time. Usually you find tip jars instead.
@@deadzio they call 'tipping here the service charge. It's optional.
Yep.. the reason is because the staff will be getting paid at least the minimum wage, therefore do not rely on tips for their basic income. In fact, most Brits are shocked that this is how tipping works in the US.
Weather is all relative. I taught in Essex for a few months. I found the weather amazing. Coming from Newfoundland, Canada, I found it really warm. Parents of my students used to joke that I must be part polar bear because I was in shirt sleeves when they had on a heavy coat. 😂
I experienced the same thing with British tourists when I worked in Fuerteventura. We were stood outside welcoming the kids to the school, everyone in coats and scarves when it was a record-breaking low of 12ºC, and the British holidaymakers were in T-shirts and shorts.
Great video! Wouldn't change anything you mentioned!
Completely agree about the old or historic hotels comment. I stayed at a place called Casa Chiozza when I was in San Bernardo, Argentina. It was definitely less modern than some other hotels I stayed at on my Argentina trip, and I wasn't sure what to expect. It turned out to be the former home of the founder of that city, and I learned a ton of history about the place and the city from the staff there that I otherwise wouldn't have if I had chosen a chain hotel. Definitely has changed my perspective on hotel booking. It's nice to stay in a chain hotel because you know what to expect, or a fancy hotel to spoil yourself a bit, but moving forward, if I have a multi-destination trip, I'll be mixing it up a bit. :)
Used to travel to the UK on business. Beautiful country. Round a bouts are easy. Rail system is outstanding.
Rail network is not bad…. Used to be even better pre-60s when a load of regional lines were axed :(
You must have used a different rail system to me then. Been terrible since at least 2014. Strikes are currently long-running and no end in sight.
Oh, that's just given me a good chuckle. Our rail system is not outstanding. It's absolutely awful. It's old and hap-hazard in coverage. It's permanently running at maximum traffic capacity. It's slow and inefficient. The trains are massively overcrowded to the point of being unsafe. It's massively unreliable, with constant delays, cancellations and strikes. It's also outrageously expensive to use, by far the most expensive in all of Europe. Countries with genuine outstanding rail systems, that put the UK to shame are Switzerland, Japan, Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, etc.
@@andywilliams7323 That's the legacy of inventing the transport. It was built haphazardly at the whims of major landlords and rail barons. Including at both ends of the spectrum: some landowners wanted their own personal station (and they were granted, usually if they financed the whole line), to objecting to being anywhere near the new railway and having to find new much more expensive routes to build. Very few new routes have been built since Victorian times. The track itself has been upgraded and replaced, but it's essentially still the Victorian system. 20th century urbanisation means it's difficult to change or expand the capacity of those routes. The railway built over fields are now surrounded by townscape. The other countries had the luxury of seeing our pioneering experiment and designing railways with some practical examples of how they work. But people have had the same complaints as now since at least the 60s: late, dirty, crowded etc. And that was the start of the diesel era!
Queuing is huge in England. If you push in people will not be happy. You also don't need to tip in most places.
1. At some pubs, when you order a pint, you'll be getting a gallon! 2. Book your bus and rail tickets 2 weeks in advance. The closer you book, the more expensive it'll be. 3. DEFINITELY check out some PERI PERI Chicken spots! The food is delicious! I recommend Nando's. 4. Go to Poundland to buy essential stuff on the cheap. It's their version of our Dollar Store.
Wow this video is very relatable to me because I grew up near Chester and then spenr four years at university in York!
Be overprepared for rain & cold wind, even in summer. Be prepared for places NOT to accept American express. Be prepared to NOT get an Automatic car with rentals. Be prepared for NOT having elevators in some hotels. Be prepared to walk A LOT, as parking is generally a pain. Be prepared for slow but professional service. And, do NOT tip it's not needed and you won't be judged at all 😅 , and oh, if you are at a pub with new friends, make sure you get a "round" of drinks for them. They will get the next. You don't even have to ask. Finally, be prepared for pubs to close at 11pm, with last food orders at 10.30 max.
Licencing laws mean most pubs open past 11 unless they're quiet. I agree you'll need to learn to drive a car properly by controlling the gears yourself before you get here. Have some self respect. An automatic license here is just embarrassing.
Last orders for dinner 9pm
Driving will come quickly. Many Brits drive in continental Europe where they drive on the WRONG side of the road and it can be gotten used to very quickly. But autos are rare, mostly manual gearshift.
getting a "round" involves some weird calculus, not as simple as you made it sound. Firstly, if the number of people in the group exceeds the number of drinks you'd be comfortable drinking, best to make it clear that you're opting out and getting your own drinks otherwise you'll get hammered. If any person has a tab running, doing rounds isn't usually acceptable. If the group is likely to shrink or grow in number then again, doing rounds isn't really a norm. But if you're joining a group of people for the first time, buying a round is a great way to introduce yourself (say you've just met a new team of colleagues or something, and want to make a good first impression) but in these cases its kind of the norm to refuse any offer from another person to reciprocate with another round - but if they insist then you accept their offer on the second pass. Its weird, until and unless you're a group of friends who regularly meet up because in that case doing rounds is very normal because any shortfall in rounds owed can be "got next time". Seriously this is such a complicated system of etiquette and convention that i'm sure there is someone on the internet who has made a video about it lol