If you were to give one (or more) piece of advice to somebody living in England for a year, what would it be?

Question

And if it helps in your advice, we're two American female 19 year olds. I can't wait to see England, I'm very excited about it. I'm trying to find out as much as I can before I go so anything would be helpful! Thanks for the answers!

Answer 1

Get used to walking - towns here were built before cars and you have to walk further between car parks and shops, for instance.

Don't get hung up on London - it's worth a visit but not worth living there for your whole year. It's hideously expensive for a start. Are you expecting to work while you are here? You can't manage on a minimum wage job in London, both of you will need at least two.

England is a lot safer than nearly anywhere in the US as long as you're sensible. There's a heavy drinking culture here and town centres can be pretty disgusting late at night, so stick together. Outside those times you should be fine.

Travel - the National Express Coaches (think Greyhound but less nasty) are dirt cheap and will take you all over the country. There are cheap rail deals too but you have to book them well in advance to get the good prices. England is gobsmackingly beautiful in parts (OK and so are Scotland and Wales) so make sure you see a lot of it.

Answer 2

Firstly, travel around the entire UK, including Scotland and Wales. Visit the countryside, as it's very varied, and small villages are often incredibly picturesque. The UK is a very safe country, but that doesn't mean there isn't any crime, so just be sensible. And as in any city in the world, each city has its rougher areas.

If you're taking anything electric, buy adaptors before you leave as the voltage is different. You can buy them here, but they're generally for taking british electrical products to America.

London is a must really, but as already mentioned, don't stay there an immense amount of time.

Although food in the UK has a bad reputation, there are plenty of good, affordable restaurants, and pubs which serve food. (Remember, you buy and order food AT the bar in a pub, unless there is a waiter service) Have a cream tea, they're very nice (but very fattening!).

Cities you should think about visiting are London, Bath, York, Lincoln, Edinburgh to name but a few.

British people are very nice, but are more introvert than Americans. For example, don't just strike up conversation with people on trains; "Hi, I'm Amanda (or whatever), and I'm from the US" as they won't like it. Instead, ask a question first, like "is this seat free?" or "is this the train to...?". Also, Americans have a reputation of being noisy, brash, rude and ignorant. Don't call hundred-year old buildings "quaint" as some will find it patronising, and don't say the Americans saved the British in the Second World War. And don't say, "you wouldn't find this in America" in a condescending way. I've heard Americans say that, and it's annoying. Be inquitisitive and respectful, and expect to find cultural differences which you hadn't anticipated.

Answer 3

To support the comments of the wacky Cornish nationalist, Cornwall is a beautiful county full of history, legends, great coastlines, even surfing! You should definitely go there. If you are into history there are prehistoric stone circles, Norman castles, 18th century tin mines. For natural beauty there are the cliffs and beaches of the coastline, the fjord-like inlets on the south coast, the picturesque villages, and the wild, misty and mysterious Bodmin Moor. Legends range (in time and degree of truth) from King Arthur to smugglers. Also try the food & drink there - like the Cornish pasty, clotted cream, scrumpy. Forget fears of crime, just be sensible, like you always are. We English have stopped massacring, so you should get out alive! Did you notice the complaint about English buying second homes in Cornwall? Well that's because of the county's natural beauty and attraction for tourists. So what does the erstwhile Celt do to defend the county from the foreigner? - just invite two more foreigners into the county. Now where's the logical integrity in all that? There's always one!

Answer 4

I just came back from living in England for a year teaching, so I can feel your excitement.

Advice:
Take lots of pictures! If you can't decided whether to take a picture, the answer ususally is yes. (Keep track of the pictures you took: places, descriptions, reason why you took the picture - You'll thank me later for it when you are looking through them).

Be midful that its quite expensive in England. Just get over it as soon as posible, otherwise you'll be complaining about how expensive it was to go to the zoo and not enjoy the zoo.

Bring proper rain gear. (you can get some there, too). Staying dry while traveling is key.

Be prepared that you'll attract extra attention because of your accent. I never was able to pick up an accent, but you can try, if you want.

Answer 5

Travel to the extreme South-Westerly tip of England where you will find a beautiful county called Cornwall, a once proud nation in it's own right, which had it's own language, parliment, flag and national anthem, beliefs, fokelore and sense of identity before the English took it away from us by force by slaughtering 20% of the population, and more recently, by buying huge ammounts of property, thus raising the house prices and thus making it impossible for local people to afford to live here. Nevertheless Cornwall it still regarded as one of the most special areas in the UK due to it's scenery which consists of stunning coastlines, bleak/windsweapt moors, dark and atmospheric woods and a way of life which is generally free of stress and modern day pitfalls. I sincerely hope that you will be able to experiance it for yourselves. Whatever you do, take care and enjoy your year. Much love.

Answer 6

Take advantage of the fact that so many things are so close together. To go from London to Edinburgh on the train is only 6 hours and well-worth it. You can do so many day trips so easily. Once you are in a town, many areas have day passes on the local buses that can take you all over the countryside for a small amount. Have fun in the best place ever!

Answer 7

you do no longer say regardless of if for study, artwork or excitement yet i bypass to anticipate that's artwork or study. i'm American and stay in Rome. i can provide help to realize that housing is rather high priced right here, so that's fairly useful to contemplate sharing an appartment. in case you opt to proportion with different individuals, you will locate notices on the understanding board on the embassy and in pubs the place different individuals dangle out. If language isn't a topic, then you definitely might desire to be positive right here. you could have a superb journey in this stunning city! in case you want anymore particular pratical information, i visit be than happy to offer any. Benvenuta a Roma!

Answer 8

I live in Ireland and my cousins are from England. Be careful with your sense of humour - a lot of time, they don't get it...
Oh, and this doesn't just count for England, but anywhere in the UK - ya gotta get fish and chips and eat it from the paper at a park or beach. That's a true English experience!

And ignore the post above - the food doesn't suck!!! All UK food rocks!!!

Answer 9

Try and see as much as you can - use the coach as they're generally cheaper then trains but you can sometimes get good deals on train tickets, also think about using airlines like bmibaby and easyjet to travel longer distances e.g. going from London up to Scotland!

Answer 10

You are probably not smokers but just incase you are - stock up in the duty free store as ciggies are about $10-$11 a packet over there!