Although you are likely to have flown into London, getting further into the real UK is easy and very rewarding.
Travel in the UK is very easy as the trains are safe and comfortable, even hiring a car is nice experience even if you feel you are driving on the wrong side of the road.
Here are a few tips which will help you work out what you would like to do:
Hotels.
There are some amazing hotels in the UK. Mostly you will be staying in hotels when in towns and cities, but don't be afraid to stay in guest houses or b&bs (bed and breakfasts) in the countryside.
My favorite hotel group is Johansens group, but there are lots of others as well. My favorite guest house chain, where most of the houses are over 400 years old are the Wolsey Lodges, but Alistair Sawday's Special Places to Stay are nice as well.
Travel
Travel in the UK is easy and safe. Taxis in London are the Black Cabs you may have seen on TV. All London black cab drivers have to do a course which can take five years called 'The Knowledge'. This means that they have to memorize almost every road in London, so you don't get lost.
The Tube or Underground (metro or subway) in London is also safe and easy to use, but can get very congested during rush hour (Monday to Friday between 7 and 9 in the morning, and 5 to 7 in the evening).
Trains in the UK are also sale and reliable, and times can be found online at TheTrainLine.com. They have two classes, with most people travelling standard class, but for real comfort you can also travel first class.
Hiring a car is easy, with firms like Avis Avis, Hertz and Budget operating in the UK. If you are used to driving on the right or with an automatic transmission you may like to request an automatic. Driving in big cities is can be difficult if you're lost, even for those of us who live in the UK, but driving in small cities, towns and the country is very easy and not at all confusing.
Destinations
In the England, towns with Cathedrals are called Cities, and they are normally larger than towns. Also if the town or city was founded by the Romans then it will normally have 'cester' on the end of its name. Examples which are also interesting tourist destinations are:
Chester
Worcester
Dorchester
Colchester
Winchester
But other cities were founded by the Romans but later had their names changed:
London
York
Cambridge
Other countries to visit include Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland and Cornwall. Interesting cities include:
Edinburgh, Scotland
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Conwy, Wales
Torquay, Cornwall
Dublin, Ireland
However almost anywhere you go in the UK will be interesting.
Police
The Police in the UK are almost always polite and helpful. It is considered normal to ask the Police for directions, and they almost always try their best to help. The number to phone if you need help (Police, Ambulance or Fire) is 999 from any phone.
Gun control in the UK is very strict, with only the Military and the Police allowed to carry guns. Mostly you will see that the Police do not carry guns, although you may see gun in major airports because of terrorist threats (but don't worry, we've lived with this for over 40 years now).
Hiking
Hiking is very popular in the UK, and there many routes you can walk. Good quality equipment is available from Millets and Blacks, but there are many other good shops as well.
Hiking maps are produced by the Ordnance Survey and are available in most hiking and book shops. Please also note that the largest carnivore in the UK is a seal. There have been no wild wolves or bears here for over 300 years!
Places to visit
The UK is full of interesting things to see. For example Castles, Stately Homes, Gardens, Museums, Lanscape, National Parks and Ancient Monuments.
Food and drink
There are many wonderful local foods grown in the UK. The Michelin Star Guide demonstrates quality restaurant food, but there are so many local specialties that you just have to try things as you travel.
If you like beer, you should try locally brewed ales, and see if they are recommended by the campaign for real ale Camra. There are also Ciders and strong Scrumpies brewed from apples, and English wines for you to try.
.
Culture
There is so much cultural interest and entertainment for you to enjoy in the UK that you will be spoilt for choice.
From Les Miserables in London, to Up-helly-aa in the Shetland Isles, from The Last Night of the Proms to concerts at the O2. Where ever you plan to go, do some research on the internet first as you may find some great event taking place while you are there.
My Favorites
1. Tour the UK staying in Wolsey Lodges Wolsey Lodges
2. Staying in Johansens Hotels
3. First Class travel on intercity trains
4. London Black Cabs
5. Hocking's Ice Cream in North Devon
6. Arbroath Smokies (smoked haddock) in Scotland
7. The Shambles in York
8. Chester Rows in Chester
9. Visiting Snowshill Manor in the Cotswolds
10. Visiting Chatsworth House in the Peak District
Travel in the UK is very easy as the trains are safe and comfortable, even hiring a car is nice experience even if you feel you are driving on the wrong side of the road.
Here are a few tips which will help you work out what you would like to do:
Hotels.
There are some amazing hotels in the UK. Mostly you will be staying in hotels when in towns and cities, but don't be afraid to stay in guest houses or b&bs (bed and breakfasts) in the countryside.
My favorite hotel group is Johansens group, but there are lots of others as well. My favorite guest house chain, where most of the houses are over 400 years old are the Wolsey Lodges, but Alistair Sawday's Special Places to Stay are nice as well.
Travel
Travel in the UK is easy and safe. Taxis in London are the Black Cabs you may have seen on TV. All London black cab drivers have to do a course which can take five years called 'The Knowledge'. This means that they have to memorize almost every road in London, so you don't get lost.
The Tube or Underground (metro or subway) in London is also safe and easy to use, but can get very congested during rush hour (Monday to Friday between 7 and 9 in the morning, and 5 to 7 in the evening).
Trains in the UK are also sale and reliable, and times can be found online at TheTrainLine.com. They have two classes, with most people travelling standard class, but for real comfort you can also travel first class.
Hiring a car is easy, with firms like Avis Avis, Hertz and Budget operating in the UK. If you are used to driving on the right or with an automatic transmission you may like to request an automatic. Driving in big cities is can be difficult if you're lost, even for those of us who live in the UK, but driving in small cities, towns and the country is very easy and not at all confusing.
Destinations
In the England, towns with Cathedrals are called Cities, and they are normally larger than towns. Also if the town or city was founded by the Romans then it will normally have 'cester' on the end of its name. Examples which are also interesting tourist destinations are:
Chester
Worcester
Dorchester
Colchester
Winchester
But other cities were founded by the Romans but later had their names changed:
London
York
Cambridge
Other countries to visit include Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland and Cornwall. Interesting cities include:
Edinburgh, Scotland
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Conwy, Wales
Torquay, Cornwall
Dublin, Ireland
However almost anywhere you go in the UK will be interesting.
Police
The Police in the UK are almost always polite and helpful. It is considered normal to ask the Police for directions, and they almost always try their best to help. The number to phone if you need help (Police, Ambulance or Fire) is 999 from any phone.
Gun control in the UK is very strict, with only the Military and the Police allowed to carry guns. Mostly you will see that the Police do not carry guns, although you may see gun in major airports because of terrorist threats (but don't worry, we've lived with this for over 40 years now).
Hiking
Hiking is very popular in the UK, and there many routes you can walk. Good quality equipment is available from Millets and Blacks, but there are many other good shops as well.
Hiking maps are produced by the Ordnance Survey and are available in most hiking and book shops. Please also note that the largest carnivore in the UK is a seal. There have been no wild wolves or bears here for over 300 years!
Places to visit
The UK is full of interesting things to see. For example Castles, Stately Homes, Gardens, Museums, Lanscape, National Parks and Ancient Monuments.
Food and drink
There are many wonderful local foods grown in the UK. The Michelin Star Guide demonstrates quality restaurant food, but there are so many local specialties that you just have to try things as you travel.
If you like beer, you should try locally brewed ales, and see if they are recommended by the campaign for real ale Camra. There are also Ciders and strong Scrumpies brewed from apples, and English wines for you to try.
.
Culture
There is so much cultural interest and entertainment for you to enjoy in the UK that you will be spoilt for choice.
From Les Miserables in London, to Up-helly-aa in the Shetland Isles, from The Last Night of the Proms to concerts at the O2. Where ever you plan to go, do some research on the internet first as you may find some great event taking place while you are there.
My Favorites
1. Tour the UK staying in Wolsey Lodges Wolsey Lodges
2. Staying in Johansens Hotels
3. First Class travel on intercity trains
4. London Black Cabs
5. Hocking's Ice Cream in North Devon
6. Arbroath Smokies (smoked haddock) in Scotland
7. The Shambles in York
8. Chester Rows in Chester
9. Visiting Snowshill Manor in the Cotswolds
10. Visiting Chatsworth House in the Peak District
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