England
Within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country out of a storybook, England. No matter where you are in England, you are not far from the sea. The landscape is predominately lush farmland, along with grassy rolling hills.
England is a mix of cultures, cities, landscapes, unusual traditions, small cozy pubs, and a love for football (soccer). England is woven together of traditional and modern beliefs, fostering liberal values and cultural heritage, which withstood many centuries.
Most travelers select London as their destination to explore. England offers many other great cities to visit, such as Manchester, Oxford, and Liverpool. Although these cities share in their history, each one has its unique characteristics to offer its visitors.
England can be expensive so planning your budget is essential. Once you travel outside of London, prices become more reasonable.
Things to See and Do in England
Buckingham Palace in London
Tower of London
The City of Caves
The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
John Lennon’s home in Liverpool
Ferry boats in Bristol
Greenwich Park
Chatsworth House Derbyshire
Stonehenge in Salisbury
Typical Costs When Travelling
Accommodation – Expect to pay for a hostel between $13-$52 a night, which are dorm-like rooms with a shared bathroom and free WiFi. If requesting a private room, expect to pay $65+. Budget hotels with limited amenities can start around $80 per night. Airbnb cost about $100+ per night. Near any popular tourist attraction, the prices will be much higher. I suggest booking accommodations near a public transportation station to access the city more easily.
(I recommend using www.Airbnb.com when looking for moderate price accommodations within a nice neighborhood)
Food – English fast food such as fish and chips cost about $7-$10. A lunch entree can range from $10-$15. If you plan to enjoy a sit-down restaurant, expect to pay around $35. I recommend you take advantage of visiting a small grocery store to pick up sandwiches, pasta bowls, fruits, and veggies to either eat as a meal or snack to reduce the number of times you need to eat out while traveling. The best places to shop are Aldi, Lidl, and Sainsbury’s.
(Use www.TripAdvisor.com when trying to locate a restaurant within your budget range)
Transportation – Public transportation is the best choice and relatively easy to use. Purchase an Oyster Card before you travel to England. The card works like a debit card and works on London underground rail and buses. Planning to travel throughout Great Britain (which includes Scotland and Wales), purchase a BritRail Travel Pass, allowing you to travel for a consecutive number of days. Second class fare for 4 days $259, or for 8 days $375 depending on your travel length. Victoria Coach Station is the central bus station. You can visit www.checkmybus.co.uk to get accurate pricing for your travels. Taxis are available almost everywhere in England. The average cost for a taxi in London is $20. Riding a bicycle (Santander Cycles ) is common in London. To rent a bike for 30 minutes is roughly $5.
(Best option in transportation is purchasing an Oyster Card to use on train or bus)
Suggested daily budget – Average daily budget should be approximately $160 per person, including hotel, transportation, meals, and sightseeing. A two-week vacation for two people costs roughly $4,500, staying at mid-range hotels.
Money Saving Tips
1
Traveling in September
through the winter months is typically cheaper, and many tourist hotspots offer discounts. Groupon is also another place to find bargains for museums, events, and hotels by purchasing a voucher.
2
If you plan to visit the theater in London,
I suggest you head to the official TKTS booth in Leicester Square, where you will find seats at discounted prices. Another great place to see a show is head over to The Royal Court Theatre in Sloane Square, which offers standing tickets each night for approximately $10 per person.
3
National Museums
are all free throughout England. London is full of fascinating museums to explore, so don’t miss out!
4
Websites such as Open Table
offer half-price deals at eateries across Britain. If you plan to eat out often, I suggest you visit the website Money Saving Expert or Taste of UK Card, which gives you a list of restaurants offering 2 for 1 promotion. Also, check your bill for service fees because if you tip, you will be giving the waiter twice as much tip!
5
Eat a food market
where you will find freshly prepared dishes for $6-$10, such as Borough Market, Maltby Street Market, Mercato Metropolitan, etc.
6
Take a free walking tour
with Royal London Tour, which will help you familiarize yourself with the city. You might find some other walking tours that would interest you, like food, history, haunted, etc.
7
When making a purchase,
save the receipt. Claim back the VAT, which is a 20% tax when you return to the airport. Give yourself an hour or two to locate and wait for the process to be completed. It does not work on hotel rooms, food, or books.
What can I expect from England?
England is full of great places to visit, and if you are a Shakespeare or Harry Potter fan, you will find it! With its incredible amount of history, age-old traditions, spectacular gardens, England has it all. If you are a fan of cold weather, the best time to visit is after Christmas when shops reduce their prices. Otherwise, June to August is the high season for visitors.
Language: English is the official language.
Currency: The currency is the English pound, and currently, the exchange rate is 1£ = $1.33 USD. Most major credit cards are accepted in England.
Plugs: plugs are type G, the standard voltage is 230V, and the standard frequency is 50Hz.
Safety: England is a safe country to visit; however, always take precautions and beware of your surroundings.
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November 8, 2020
