Travel Tips If/When Going To England

Shot+by+Andre+Arissol+from+Shard.+In+london

Shot by Andre Arissol from Shard. In london

Traveling to England is never an easy mission. Being from England I find my self sympathizing with a lot of tourists who really get troubled when exploring and immersing in our country and culture. Not that it is hard, because England is the closest country to America in the whole of Europe. However, there are a lot of things that you should be aware of and prepared when traveling to the motherland of the Queen.

Firstly, one thing that seems to get lost in translation, particularly in other countries is the assumption that all us Brits are English. Admittedly, England is the biggest country in the U.K but there’s a good few… 10 million or so between; Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales that are proud of their country and very distinct heritage. The Queen is not just the Queen of England. She’s the Queen of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland!

Secondly, Idris Elba is not the only person of color in England. I have found that when traveling to America, a lot of people tend to assume that England is full of ‘Pip pip cheerio’ white fellows with top hats and walking canes as they stroll down the corner shop for a cheeky fish and chips. No. This is not the case, England is, in fact,

England, Garden area in East London. (Shot by Andre Arissol)

one of the most diverse countries with cultures from all over the world. So make sure you don’t get too caught up in the diversity of the country.

Next, a tip that is really sentimental to me. Roast dinners every Sunday is like thanksgiving and July. 4. In one day but on every given Sunday. Some Sunday roast revelations from the poll are as follows: A Sunday Roast should be served at exactly 3:15 p.m. in the afternoon. Necessities are three slices of beef, four roast potatoes and gravy all over the plate, but not drowning the food is a must. So if you ever come across somebody asking to join them on a Sunday, that is the equivalent to being asked to meet the president of the United States.

This tip is more for you to prepare yourself. Trains get delayed, all the time. So don’t worry about being on time on the train, because more time it’s going to run late. The train network is pretty vast (you can pretty much get a train to almost everywhere in the UK) but we all love a moan about a delay or two. If you’ve ever experienced Monday morning rush-hour with squeezed into a carriage like a sardine in a can, then you’ll know the pain of delayed and canceled trains. Expect the worst and you can only ever get surprised by your journey.

Politeness is something you will not see in cities. However, we do like to say our please and thankyou’s, even if we are insulting you. A lot of people get caught in the stereotype that we are polite and so well-spoken, which is true however this politeness is not through positivity and charm. It is also through arguments and trying to offend you. “Ay Julie, could you please do us a favor and f*** o**, Thankyou” that a typical example of Micky talking to his wife Julie at the local pub. So be warned, please and thankyou is used in many ways.

Lastly, expenses. England is a place that you could compare to L.A, Hawaii, and New York. but you will be paying the same amount, if not more, for a smaller portion or size of what you’re used to. A medium for Americans is an extra-large in London. Don’t ask questions, we get mad to its just the way it goes.

I hope these facts are enough for you to immerse yourselves in the beautiful culture of the U.K, remember that England is a country of unpredictable weather so bring sunscreen, a raincoat and a hat everywhere you go.