Let's Explore England

England Travel Guide, Transportation, Accommodations, Food, Dishes, Hidden Attractions, and much more...

England at a glance

My time in England, more specifically London, was spent in the overcast caused by rain and clouds, but we still managed to enjoy ourselves despite acquiring strep-throat from traveling a lot. I loved London, and long to return so I can explore more of England’s countrysides and visit Stonehenge, while also venturing to the other 3 divisions of the United Kingdom, which is now an entirely separate entity from the European Union. Nonetheless, England is the largest of the 4 divisions that make up the United Kingdom. No other country possesses a richer variety of historic buildings and small treasures, and none has taken more trouble to preserve the best for the traveler’s view. From London, with its theaters, stores, and museums, to the quaint villages of the country side, there is plenty to see and do.

England Do's

Make an effort to keep interactions polite and friendly, evenly balanced with directness, humour and humility—even when under pressure. Rudeness is often remembered.
Control your anger or emotions as public outbursts and large displays of emotion are uncommon.
Eat with a fork in the left hand and a knife in the right. The British pay much attention to good table manners. Even young children are expected to eat properly with a fork and knife.
If you want to criticise or ridicule something that is not of a wholly serious matter, it’s best to use humour to do so. The British are less likely to complain about smaller inconveniences that arise in life, so try to be patient with such matters as well.
Get familiar with the word “Cheers” which is quite commonly used instead of “thank you” and good-bye.”

England Dont's

The British like to tease, so do not take their jokes too seriously or literally.
Do not be overly critical in public. The British like to minimise confrontation, so complaining loudly (e.g. to a waiter) while in their company will most likely embarrass them.
Do not throw any trash or cigarette butts on the floor in the street or anywhere.
Do not boast or make ostentatious comments that give the impression that you see yourself as superior to others. Bragging and boasting is often seen as contrived and obnoxious.
Do not use first names, unless you are asked to. Use last names with appropriate courtesy titles such as “Mr.”, “Mrs.”, “Ms.”, or academic or professional title. The title Sir is reserved for only those who have been knighted. You have to address the person as Sir and his first name.

England Quick Facts

SIM Card/Internet

You’ll need to make sure your phone is network unlocked to use it in the UK, but there’s a super-easy way to check! If your phone’s locked to your home network, it won’t work in the UK (and it won’t work on any other network anywhere in the world). If you don’t have an international service plan, buying a SIM card may be best. Wireless internet (Wi-Fi) has become increasingly common in the United Kingdom whether it’s free or paid for. Most hotels will offer in-house wireless internet, but will likely charge rather high amounts for access. However many guesthouses offer this for free to their guests. Wi-Fi is now free when you visit the U.K. if you have a MasterCard. MasterCard customers can enjoy free Internet on trips to the UK without paying out a single pound, shilling or ha’penny.

England Fun Guides

Transportation in England

By Taxi

There are two sorts of taxi in England: those with meters that can be hailed in the street; and minicabs, which are cheaper but can only be called by phone. Unlicensed minicabs operate in some cities.

By Bicycle

England is a compact country, and hiring a bike – for an afternoon, a day, or a week or longer – is a great way to really see the country if you’ve got time to spare.

By Bus

Cheaper and slower than trains, but useful for more remote regions that aren’t serviced by rail.

By Rental Car

Useful for traveling at your own pace, or for visiting regions with minimal public transport. Cars can be hired in every town or city. Compared with many countries (especially the USA), hire rates are expensive in Britain; the smallest cars start from about £130 per week, and it’s around £190 and upwards per week for a medium car with unlimited mileage.

By Train

Relatively expensive, with extensive coverage and frequent departures throughout most of the country.

By Plane

England’s domestic airline companies include British Airways, FlyBe/Loganair, EasyJet, and Ryanair. If you’re really pushed for time, flights on longer routes across England (eg Exeter or Southampton to Newcastle) are handy, and often very competitive in price – although on shorter routes (eg London to Newcastle, or Manchester to Newquay) trains compare favorably with planes on time, once airport downtime is factored in.

Best Dishes in England

Britain is a fantastic place for multicultural food. All sorts of cultures have had settlements in the country over the years, and their influence is clear in Britain’s food to this day. In 2016 Japanese, Mexican and Indian restaurants and street food are staples in any city, and American-influenced burger chains have also seen a recent boom, with British chains such as Byron flourishing in their own right.

Fish and Chips – Fish and chips is a hot dish consisting of fried fish in batter, served with chips.
Bangers and mash – Bangers and mash, also known as sausages and mash, is a traditional dish of Great Britain and Ireland, consisting of sausages served with mashed potatoes. It may consist of one of a variety of flavored sausages made of pork, lamb, or beef.
Traditioal English Breakfast – Sometimes also called a ‘fry-up’, the full English breakfast consists of fried eggs, sausages, back bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms, fried bread, and often a slice of white or black pudding (similar to blood wurst). It is accompanied by tea or coffee and hot, buttered toast.
Toad in the Hole – Toad in the hole or Sausage Toad is a traditional English dish consisting of sausages in Yorkshire pudding batter, usually served with onion gravy and vegetables. Historically, the dish has also been prepared using other meats, such as rump steak and lamb’s kidney.
Shepherd’s Pie – Shepherd’s pie, cottage pie, or hachis Parmentier is a ground meat pie with a crust or topping of mashed potato of English origin. The recipe has many variations, but the defining ingredients are ground red meat cooked in a gravy or sauce with onions, and topped with a layer of mashed potato before it is baked.

Best Accommodations in England

From farm stays to castles, canal boats to five-star hotels, you’ll find your dream accommodation somewhere in England. How do you like the sound of self-catering in a luxury flat in a charming regency town? A boating holiday on the Norfolk Broads? Perhaps camping under the stars looking out over the Cornish coast appeals. Or do you think you can handle a few nights in a haunted castle? Then again, cozy budget accommodation in any number of hostels and campus rooms dotted across the country might be more up your street. Or perhaps you’d like to get your hands dirty with a few nights on a working farm.

England's Top Tourist Attractions

Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is the ceremony where The Queen’s Guard hands over responsibility for protecting Buckingham Palace and St. James’s Palace to the New Guard. Dates – Daily in June – July, and from August-May on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Stonehenge is the most architecturally sophisticated prehistoric stone circle in the world, while Avebury is the largest in the world. Together with inter-related monuments and their associated landscapes, they help us to understand Neolithic and Bronze Age ceremonial and mortuary practices.

The London Eye, or the Millennium Wheel, is a cantilevered observation wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. It is Europe’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel and is the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom with over 3 million visitors annually.

England's Hidden Gems

Tucked away down a tiny side street in Seven Dials is Neal’s Yard, one of London’s prettiest streets. It’s easy to miss, but it would be unfortunate if you did. Inside this little enclave, you can get everything from pizza to pedicures… and every business is committed to sustainable and ethical commercial practices. Neal’s Yard is a small alley in London’s Covent Garden between Shorts Gardens and Monmouth Street which opens into a courtyard. It is named after the 17th-century developer, Thomas Neale.

The beautiful Kyoto Garden is an oasis of calm in the heart of Kensington’s Holland Park. Originally built to celebrate the 1992 Japan Festival in London, this garden is a thing of pure beauty. Get so lost in the pretty trees and Japanese features that you’ll forget you’re just a stone’s throw away from High Street Kensington.

St Dunstan-in-the-East was a Church of England parish church on St Dunstan’s Hill, halfway between London Bridge and the Tower of London in the City of London. The church was largely destroyed in the Second World War and the ruins are now a public garden.

England Daily Costs

Budget: Less than $80

Accommodation:

Hotel or Hostel (single): $36
Double-occupancy room: $71

Food

Meals for one day: $15

Transportation

Taxis, local buses, train: $10

Entertainment

Entrance tickets & shows: $11

Tips & Handouts

Guides & service providers: $3.79
Scams, robberies, & mishaps: $7.70

Alcohol

Drinks for one day: $5.12

Water

Bottled water for one day: $1.87

Mid-range: $80-170

Accommodation

Hotel or rental home (single): $97
Double-occupancy room: $196

Food

Meals for one day: $40

Transportation

Taxis or Car rental: $26

Entertainment

Entrance tickets & shows: $30

Tips & Handouts

Guides & service providers: $11
Scams, robberies, & mishaps: $21

Alcohol

Drinks for one day: $13

Water

Bottled water for one day: $4.47

High-end (Luxury): More than $170

Accommodation

Resort or hotel (single): $286
Double-occupancy room: $572

Food

Meals for one day: $101

Transportation

Car Rentals or private driver: $70

Entertainment

Entrance tickets & shows: $92

Tips & Handouts

Guides & service providers: $40
Scams, robberies, & mishaps: $53

Alcohol

Drinks for one day: $31

Water

Bottled water for one day: $9.85

England Money-Saving Tips

Travel during the offseason – During the offseason, hotels and flights are often cheaper and the crowds are not as dense.
Explore free things to do – With the abundance of history beautifully displayed in a number of museums, there are a lot of free entrance fees and other free activities offered in many of the larger cities.
Take public transportation – With an extensive transportation system, getting around via bus or train is very reliable. Thanks to a slow progression toward a more modern-look, bicycling can also be very efficient.
Consider buying city-passes – City-passes can be great. They usually let you visit a number of attractions for free and/or use the transit system for a fixed number of days.

Useful Websites & Apps

Hotel booking – Booking.com via InteleTravel
Tours & activities – Viator or Shore Excursions Group
Bus Schedule – Check My Bus

10 Cool Facts About England

Exploding Kings King Henry VIII exploded in his coffin, and his remains were ‘licked up by dog’ as was bravely predicted by Friar Peto. He was not the only exploding king of England, however. William the Conqueror was the other.
Trash Bins Mean Bombs There were no trash bins in London for twenty years, for fear of bomb attacks by the IRA.
Football Leads to Drowning Deaths Believe it or not, medieval football often led to injuries and death. At least 40 men drowned during the game while chasing the ball into the sea!
Queen Elizabeth II….Vampires Queen Elizabeth II is distantly related to Vlad the Impaler, the infamous Romanian ruler who gave rise to Dracula stories!
Only the Rich Ate Veal ‘Veal’ is French, because in medieval England only the wealthy Norman invaders could afford veal, while the poor commoners could only afford the humble ‘chicken’ which derived from Dutch and German languages.
English and French Language Though the French and British may have longstanding rivalries, the English language has taken many of its legal, political and military terms from the French.
No Getting Drunk You can drink in English pubs and bars but you can’t get drunk.
Who Drinks More Tea he English drink more tea than most other cultures in the world, even more than the Japanese. The Irish drink more tea than the English.
London Bridge Actually Just Kept Falling Down The “London Bridge is Falling Down” nursery rhyme may be over 1000 years old. It may also point to the many fires and collapses the bridge was prone to over the centuries, and take a dig at ‘my fair lady’ or Queen Eleanor who may not have made the best use of bridge revenues.
Pet Polar Bears King Henry III had a pet polar bear which he received from the King of Norway. Kept on a leash in the Tower of London, the bear would swim and catch fish in the Thames.