What NOT to do in ENGLAND - DON'Ts of England [2021 U.K. Travel Guide]

In this video, we'll cover what not to do
when you're traveling to England.

From enchanting small towns to the cosmopolitan
cities like London, you'll probably agree

England is one of the must-visit places.

But what are some of the absolute
DON'Ts of England?

Knowing this might help make
your trip more pleasant.

This video is based on our
many trips to England.

Don't forget to like this video, subscribe
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And share your own experience or ask a question
in the comments below.

Let's explore.

First of all, let's just get rid of this one
right away…

Don't confuse England with the United Kingdom
or Britain

The United Kingdom or shortly U.K. stands
for The United Kingdom of Great Britain and

Northern Ireland, commonly referred to as
just the United Kingdom which consists of

four different entities with its own governments,
distinctive national identity, and culture.

Great Britain, also known as Britain, is U.K.'s
main island and includes England, Wales,

and. Scotland.

While most of the traditions are the same
across the U.K., there are some distinct differences

between them.

So, let's explore England
where London is located.

Don't assume all food is bad.

Although British food is not considered the
best in the world, you can find some great

traditional fish and chips and other international
food varieties in England, especially in

the last couple of years in bigger cities,
like London.

Talking about food, here is just quick info
about lunch and dinner time.

The typical England lunchtime or luncheon
is between noon and 1.30 pm, and the British

eat dinner or supper at restaurants between
6:30 and 8:00 pm.

Don't eat in the restaurants located next
to the main tourist attractions.

Restaurants next to famous attractions, especially
in big cities, are many times a tourist trap

and are sometimes overpriced, especially those
selling fish and chips.

There are many great places located
just a short walk away.

Use Google, TripAdvisor, or Yelp to find
a great place near you with good reviews.

Also, don't forget to visit one of countless
food and other markets in London and other

places across England.

Don't assume tipping is mandatory.

Tipping in England is not mandatory.

However, if there is no service charge included
in your bill and you are satisfied with your

service, a tip of around 10% is appreciated
when you order at the table.

Don't assume everything stops
for an afternoon tea.

Afternoon tea is actually a light meal that
includes tea, and is typically eaten between

3:30 and 5 pm.

Although the people of England love a nice
cup of tea, and you've probably heard about

the famous 4 o'clock tea break, people don't
just take a break in the afternoon and stop

working to enjoy some tea,
sandwiches, and cakes.

It became more common to drink tea when you
go for a visit, where you can take time to

enjoy it properly and have long conversations
while sipping your cup of tea.

And a quick pro tip: drink your tea the way
people in England do: with milk.

Don't assume they don't drink coffee in England.

While people do drink a lot of tea, over 160
million cups per day, coffee is gaining popularity,

and 70 million cups of coffee are being consumed
in the U.K. every day.

The coffee in England is similar to the one
you find in the U.S.

Of course, at Starbucks and similar coffee
shops you can get anything.

Don't drive if you feel unsure.

If you want to drive around England and the
U.K., you need to be prepared to drive on

the left side of the road.

Also, some cars still have a stick shift,
so don't forget to ask for an automatic.

If you really want to explore beautiful villages
and breathtaking nature, you will have to

rent a car.

If you're coming from a country that uses
metric system, pay attention because the U.K.

uses imperial system for roads, with some
exceptions where you might see both metric

and imperial systems used
on the same sign.

Pay attention to road signs
and speed limits.

Use your phone for navigation but pay extra
attention to the road.

If you feel unsure of driving in England or
elsewhere in the U.K., use internal flights

or convenient train transportation to travel
between main British cities, like between

London, Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool,
Manchester, and others.

Once you are in the city, you can walk around
or use public transportation.

Did you know you can even take a train from
London to Paris and it will only take a little

over two hours?

Don't forget to look right when crossing the
street unless stated otherwise.

Be very careful when crossing streets.

Always look right-left-right.

There is also a sign on the road that says,
look right or look left.

Just follow that.

Pay extra attention when in traffic, regardless
of your mode of transportation since they

drive on the left.

Don't stand on the wrong side
of an escalator.

Stand on the right side since the left side
is reserved for the people in a hurry.

Don't expect to party all night long.

Most bars and pubs, especially in London,
close by 11 pm.

While there are many great party places in
England, you'll probably have better luck

in Ibiza, Berlin, or Prague if you want to
party all night long.

But do go visit at least one of the pubs while
you're there as it is an exciting experience.

Don't forget to check how many daytime hours
there are when you visit.

If you want to experience more attractions
during daytime, don't visit England between

October and April.

The country is located in the northern part
of Europe, and days are longer during the

summer months.

In winter, the sun sets between 4 and 5 pm
as opposed to the summer months when it sets

around 9 pm.

So, keep this in mind when booking your stay.

By the way, check out our video
on top 10 things to do in London

or buy our London travel guide,
the links are in the description.

Don't forget to visit free museums.

England, and especially London, is home to
some of the most amazing museums in the world,

and many of them are completely free of charge,
so be sure to visit at least some of them.

Just don’t forget to visit the official
website to check if they’re really free.

Don't visit just the touristy places.

Don't just travel to London.

And definitely don't try to see all of England
in one week since the England mainland alone

extends over 650 km or around 400 miles.

From beautiful coastal towns, cobblestone
villages, breathtaking castles and villas,

prehistoric Stonehenge, Bath's Roman spa,
centuries-old universities, like Oxford or

Cambridge, to picturesque hills and stunning landscape,
there are plenty of other places to explore.

Don't expect the rest of England to be cheaper
than London.

London is one of the most expensive cities
in the world, and that also applies to accommodation,

transportation, food,
and activities for tourists.

But prices in the rest of England
can also be quite high.

Of course, the accommodation prices depend
on many factors, such as the time of your visit,

the type of accommodation
or location.

You can get cheaper options if you book budget-friendly
guesthouses or hostels or if you sleep outside

city centers.

Don't forget to bring comfortable clothes
and shoes.

Don't bring a heavy suitcase.

Pack light and smart and plan to wear the
most comfortable clothes and footwear because

you'll probably do a lot of walking while
exploring the cities and nature.

And just a quick tip; if you bring a carry-on
suitcase, you will be able to get flights

to other destinations around the U.K. and
across Europe, a lot cheaper since most flights

don't charge for carry-on luggage or only
charge a small fee.

Don't assume it rains every day.

And although it doesn't rain daily, we do
suggest packing a raincoat, light umbrella,

and waterproof shoes.

And always check for the weather forecast
before traveling.

Don't stay only at hotels.

Choose to stay at an Airbnb instead.

Especially if you visit the countryside
- there are many beautiful and authentic accommodation

options you'll remember forever.

Don't forget to watch your belongings.

England is generally a safe destination, so
you normally shouldn't be worried about specific

areas to avoid or staying inside at night.

However, typical for all major world destinations
packed with tourists, there are quite a lot

of pickpockets, especially in the crowded
areas close to major attractions and on public

transport.

Don't jump the queue.

Whether you're waiting for ice cream or for
people to come out of the tube,

people in England respect the line.

So, be patient while waiting for your turn.

Don't greet inappropriately.

People in the U.K. are generally more reserved
than, for instance, people in Italy or Spain,

or the U.S.

Hugs and kisses are usually reserved
for close friends and family, so go for a

handshake instead.

Don't forget to be on time.

If you are meeting someone for lunch or a
meeting, people in England are very punctual.

They respect and value if you are on time.

Don't do small talk.

Especially not on public transport.

People here are generally reserved, so don't
do small talk and don't make eye contact if

not necessary.

They might feel very uncomfortable
and confused.

Don't forget to say please
and thank you.

Don't forget to say please and thank you when
ordering food in restaurants and other places

with services.

The majority of English people are very polite,
and they show their appreciation very often.

They do apologize a lot.

However, we also experienced some underline
mood when they might say please and thank you

in a more assertive way.

So, try to read between the lines
and be polite.

Don't forget to bring a travel adapter.

If you're coming from outside the U.K., you
will need a special U.K. travel adapter to

charge your phone and other devices.

England uses type G plug.

We recommend purchasing a travel adapter before
traveling to England so you will not have

to deal with this when you arrive, and might
pay more at the airport.

In fact, it is worth purchasing the universal
travel adapter so you can use it in other

countries too.

Are you traveling to London?

Continue to our video on what you absolutely
must know before you travel there.