The UK is a fascinating place to visit, offering all kinds of experiences, from diverse city life to lush countryside and scenic beaches. There is a wide range of cultures in the UK, and no two cities are the same. If you’re considering visiting the UK, it’s worth planning ahead to decide what exactly you hope to achieve from your trip. To help you get some ideas of what to do, and what to expect, we’ve put together the following guide for those visiting the UK for the first time. Keep reading to find out more.
Accommodation
There is a wide range of options when it comes to accommodation in the UK. From some of the most luxurious hotels that have been around for years, to good quality budget hostels- there’s something for all needs and budgets. Big cities such as London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Belfast will all have plenty of options for accommodation so there will be plenty of choices available.
However, if you’re looking to stay in the countryside, it could be more difficult to find the accommodation you need. In the UK countryside there tend to be bed and breakfast accommodation dotted around, but if you’re looking for a luxurious hotel or low budget hostel, it could be more difficult to locate. Make sure you do plenty of research for all the areas you intend to visit and pre-plan for accommodation.
Transport
It depends on what part of the UK you’re staying in as to the access for transport links. Most UK cities have strong transport links, with the options such as buses, planes, and trains. In the bigger cities, trams are pretty common and of course, there is the highly efficient London underground for getting around the capital. If you’re visiting capital cities and what to see the sites whilst you’re there, you can usually find bus tours.
With a day pass, these will allow you to get around the city whilst learning about its history and popular tourist sites. If you’re venturing into the countryside, renting a car or campervan is a good idea. There are plenty of places you can park a campervan for the night across the UK countryside, just make sure you plan ahead to find places to park overnight legally.
City Breaks
The UK can be a great option for those looking for a city break with plenty to do. As well as the obvious London, Edinburgh is a fantastic city break in Scotland, and you could even hop on a ferry over to Dublin. There are also a number of smaller cities with great tourist sites, restaurants, and nightlife, such as Manchester and Liverpool. You can easily move from city to city using the UK’s rail network. You could even get the Eurostar over to Paris for a couple of days.
Country Escapes
If you’re visiting the UK it’s well worth venturing into the countryside for at least part of your journey. The UK features some stunning countryside and has a plethora of options to choose from when it comes to outdoor camping. Some of the best country spots to visit in the UK include the Scottish Highlands, the Peak District and Lake District in England, and the Welsh mountains such as Snowdon.
Consider A Road Trip
If you’re visiting the UK for a couple of weeks or more and want to see as much as possible, organising a road trip can be a great idea. You can either hire a campervan to travel around and sleep in, saving you having to find accommodation for every night. Or you can simply hire a car and stay in hostels, bed and breakfasts, and hotels along the way. if you’re thinking of seeing the UK via a road trip, make sure you have a detailed plan in place for all aspects of your journey. This should include:
- the route and destinations you want to follow
- sites you plan to visit along the way
- accommodation for each night of your journey if you don’t have a campervan
- places to stop for food, supplies, and toilet breaks
- the time you plan to spend in each location
Having Network Service For Your Mobile Phone
If you’re planning a long-term visit to the UK, it’s a good idea to arrange a UK sim provider so you make calls, texts, access the internet, and save money. Lebara SIM-only plans offer 30-day rolling deal that you can leave anytime, and you don’t need a credit check to sign up. Being able to make calls and access the internet is a vital lifeline for all those traveling abroad. You must make sure you have good network service arranged for your visit so you’re contactable and safer.
UK Nightlife
There is plenty of nightlife in big towns and cities across the UK. As well as the traditional pubs which very often have live entertainment, there are plenty of bars, cocktail lounges, gin bars, and nightclubs to visit. Of course, if you’re venturing out into the countryside there will be far fewer options for nightlife, but pubs remain a common theme.
Eating Out
The UK is famous for its pubs, popular throughout the countryside and cities serving traditional meals and drinks. However, the culinary culture is more diverse than you may think. There are a number of Michelin star restaurants throughout the UK, and increasing move towards international cuisine options to choose from. The UK loves Indian cuisine, and this type of restaurant can be found frequently. Chinese, Italian, and Greek food is also popular, and there is an increasing number of Thai restaurants popping up throughout the UK.
UK Traditions And Customs
It’s a well-known cliché that the Brits like to queue up for everything, and this is quite true. Cutting in to be served when there is a line formed is considered very rude in the UK, so make sure to be patient and respect those in front of you. Being polite and using your manners is also a very British trait. For example, when stepping off a bus you may notice that all the passengers thank the bus driver.
British people tend to have a dry, sarcastic sense of humor that sometimes seems strange to those not used to it. However, it is likely to be well-meaning and with no offense intended. British people often say that making jibes and light-hearted jokes at the expense of their friends is a form of affection.
Dialects And Accents
If you’re traveling from place to place around the UK, you’ll come to notice that there is a huge range in accents and dialects. You may be familiar with the West London accent, Scottish, and Northern Irish accents, but there are many others you may have never heard. For example, the Liverpool or “scouse” accent is very pronounced. So too is the Birmingham (Brummie) and Welsh accent.
This can take some getting used to, and you may find that you have difficulty understanding people from certain areas at first. If you’re visiting somewhere such as Wales, you may even notice some native people speaking in a completely different language, ancient to their country. However, almost all of these people will be bilingual, and able to speak English too.
