Travel Tips

London and Environs

England is one of the easiest countries for Americans to visit. Not only do the speak English, but their customs are also comparable to those in the U.S. Although both sides might be hesitant to admit it, the English and Americans are very, very similar.

[If you haven't read our general Europe Tips yet, that would probably be the best place to start.]

Money - One thing we would like to mention up front is the cost of everything in England. As a whole, England is an expensive country and, currently, the exchange rate of U.S. Dollars to British Pounds is not good, which just heightens the problem. In general it is not a problem, and much of your vacation is already taken care of if you travel with Great Explorations Tours, but we would just like to warn you that you may need to budget a little more for souvenirs than normal.

Weather - The weather in England is pretty infamous, but can actually be quite pleasant in and around London. Yes, it does rain, but the saying in England is “if you don’t like the weather, wait 15 minutes,” and that couldn’t be more true. In one day you’re likely to experience clouds, wind, rain, and brilliant sunshine.

The temperature in and around London is moderate. It is very rarely cold or hot, but tends to vary between about 50 and 80 degrees.

How to Dress - The English dress very casually (like Americans) so you can feel free to wear jeans and sneakers and not stick out. We do recommend that you wear layers due to the often changing weather. If your tour is not in the summer, layers are even more vital and a coat and scarf are usually a good idea to fight the chilly wind that sometimes blows across the country.

Food - Another infamous aspect of England is its cuisine. English food is hearty and savory (even their desserts) and has a reputation for being bad. While it is not as refined as the food in other cultures, it is still good. In London, like in any large city, you can find food from all over the world, so don’t worry if you don’t like English cuisine.

Two specific items we would like to mention are fish and chips and pies. Fish and chips are world renown and a very nice, although not the healthiest thing you’ll ever eat. Fish and chip stands will not be hard to find. Also abundant and filling are pies. These are not pies like we tend to think of in the U.S., but meat pies. They are also found everywhere and come with all sorts of savory fillings. The English love the simplicity and ease and, frankly, so do we.

Beer - To the English, everything is better with beer, and you have your choice of hundreds of different beers. Each pub will serve a selection of local, national, and (in larger cities) international brands. English beer is usually ale, which is slightly bitterer than American style lager beers. In fact, most English ale is referred to as “bitter” when ordering and are then pumped (by hand) straight out of the barrel.

To clear up one popular misconception, the English do not drink their beer warm, although it is not cold either. The kegs are stored in the basement of the pub so they are kept at around 50 degrees. In many pubs you will see beer listed as “Extra Cold” which simply means that it is refrigerated.

The London Subway - The subway in London is officially called the Underground, although you will almost always hear it referred to as the “tube.” At Great Explorations Tours, we are very fond of the tube system. It is very clean, very efficient, and by far the best way to get around London.

Language

Yes, they do speak English, but that doesn’t mean that they’re using exactly the same words as you. Like the U.S., England loves its slang, some of which we’re familiar with, some of it we’re not. For the most part, you’ll be able to figure out what they mean, but just in case, here are some often heard words that you may not know:

• Fag - Cigarette (We actually don't hear this one a lot anymore because smoking is not allowed very many places, but we don't want you to be caught off guard.)
• Bin - Trashcan
• Loo - Toilet
• Queue - Line
• Cheers - Used as an informal thank you, and used a lot.

Cockney Rhyming Slang - This is a special coded slang that originated in London. It is almost impossible to figure out unless you know. Luckily, you won't hear too much of it. Here are the two phrases that we do hear fairly often.

• Barney - Trouble (derived because trouble rhymes with Rubble, as in Barney Rubble. Used like this: "You're in barney.")
• Porky - Lie (derived because lie rhymes with pie, as in porky pie, a name for one of their many meat pies. Used like this: "You're telling a porky.")

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