Great British Travel Advice

I live in Canada and am starting a new job next month. The company is headquartered in London and part of the onboarding is a week-long training at their London HQ.

I'm just worried about what to tell the border services/passport control officer. I'm always worried about saying the wrong thing and don't want to be denied because they think I'm working. Would some kind of documentation from my new company be needed? Or should I just say I'm there as a tourist for a week?

The paranoid part in me thinks if I say I'm a tourist , they will pull me over for secondary screening and see that I have a work laptop, emails about the training etc and I will be forever banned. I'm a mid 30s married guy with kids, why would I travel all the way to London alone for a week for 'sightseeing'?

Please tell me I'm overthinking this.

EDIT to add: I'm originally Sri Lankan, and have been a Canadian citizen for 6 years. This adds to the worry along with PTSD of carrying heaps of documentation on my travels.

I want to visit both of course but have to choose one. Can someone please recommend which is better?. I want to use National express as it is cheaper to go by coach and can enjoy the day without driving myself. I'm wondering which is more worth the visit from London Victoria and also how easy would it be to get to the castles?. I plan on getting to London Victoria at 11am then returning to London again by 8pm.

Hi folks, this will be my first visit to London, please tell me if I am insane or not.

We would like to go to the Proms at Royal Albert Hall, then take the Caledonian Sleeper to Scotland the same night. The concert starts at 7:30pm. My guesstimate based on the length of the works to be performed is that it will finish around 10 (Assuming a 20 min interval). With a google maps estimate of 30-45 mins by public transport to Euston, we should have eniugh time to pick up our bags and get on the train before it leaves at 11:45. A taxi would be our plan be if the concert finishes late.

Will this all be too hard? It will be a Sunday night, we are international travellers so will have a large bag each, which we plan to store at the station earlier in the day and pick up before we get on the train.

Is there anything we can do to ensure we don't miss our train, or make the experience easier?

Hello. In a couple days I'll be flying to London for the upcoming MLB games. Super excited to finally visit the UK, but I get easily overwhelmed when traveling, especially to a city as big as London, and was hoping for some help with a few questions.

1. Best way to get from Heathrow to our hotel in covent garden? I know there is the Heathrow Express, but from what I understand the subway is an option as well, correct? Are both easily found when arriving at the airport?

2. For subway travel in general, is there an app or something that tells you exactly which line you need to take to get to a certain destination and which station to go to? Mainly concerned about how to get to London Stadium, but would be helpful for getting around the rest of the week.

3. Can I just tap my Mastercard debit to pay each time I ride or should I get an oyster card?

Thanks!

I am flying out of Glasgow Airport, coming from Edinburgh. I am flying with three children by myself, so public transportation with all of our luggage will be too difficult. Taxis are insanely expensive, and are unlikely to have appropriate carsseats.

We are leaving for 30 days, and are looking to use long-term parking at Glasgow airport. This is an NCP carpark. It is really expensive, but might be our only option. Has anybody left their car at an airport for this long? I am not sure if this somehow impacts my insurance, or if something happens to it who is liable? Other than our home, this is the most expensive thing that we own and the thought of leaving it away for that long is scary! Any thoughts?

We're going to be going to the UK next year in the spring, and we really want to go see the Cotswolds and stay a night somewhere in one of the towns. However, no one in our party feels comfortable driving ourselves as we are from Canada, and also some of those roads look extremely narrow.

We were just wondering what bus/train/car services there were that could get us from London/just outside London to places like Bibury and Burton? Or if we got ourselves to a place like Cirencester, if there are busses/car services that would get us to the smaller surrounding towns?

My worry is having an Uber take us to one of these small towns, and then not being able to find someone to pick us up.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Hi there, I plan on doing my first solo trip to London this September and after some digging I was thinking about booking a room for one week in LSE. Any experience with Passfield or Bankside? I know it’s a student dorm during most months so by no means I’m expecting high end hotel suite but is it worth it or will I regret it in no time? Premier Inn prices are a bit too steep but not out of reach, I would rather spend the money on attractions rather than room.

So I applied to renew my passport on the 25th May - they said they received my old one and were processing it on the 30th - I know applied last minute so it’s my fault really, but I’m meant to be travelling on the 23rd June, do you think I’ll get the new renewed passport in time? No idea how long it takes these days

Curious about same day or last minute theater ticket options. Google serves up a dizzying amount of resellers, but I want to make sure that they are legit and best priced. (Hamilton and Book of Mormon)

Thanks!

Hi all! I'm planning a 3-day trip to the Lake District (Fri, Sat, and Sun) with my husband and I'd love to pick the best hike and wild camp spot for us. We are going by bus/train from London and haven't got much time, so I wanted to find a trail that's close to the main places (like Ambleside, Windermere) so we make the most of our time there. We would love to wildcamp. Which trails would you recommend? Are there any that are less visted/not too crowded with people?

Thank you so much in advance :)

I am traveling solo this summer to london. But read so much about this now that I am scared.

My family and I are visiting London for 5 days this summer. We are trying to decide if a day trip to Windsor/Stonehenge/Bath is worth it. I see mixed opinions on if it is enough time to see all the places, as well as whether to take a coach tour or public transit on your own.

Right now I’m leaning towards a Stonehenge/Bath public transit day trip on our own and Windsor Castle on a separate day since it’s closer to London, but I am open to any suggestions!

Hello All!

I am planning to take a 15 Day trip to the Uk and Ireland. I will be visiting in late September and will be there till early October. I have gone through a lot of itineraries online and places to visit. But despite these, i am still confused about where to go and the things I want to do.

So, I want to get your opinion on the places I should visit.

Looking forward to your recommendations!

Edit: I do not know how to drive a car -- so driving is out of the option.

Let me preface this, already put this out there on other subs, mods by all means remove this if it somehow violates your rules.

Currently on the first 805 in passenger service if anyone has questions feel free to ask no matter how mundane about the experience onboard or anything.

Do note up to yet I’ve only tried standard I’m hoping to do first on the return but that’s still TBD so ask away but I might not have an answer.

Hi folks,

I'm contemplating travelling to London this summer. I'm looking to find a hotel that's not too expensive. This could be very subjective, so I thought I'd ask what neighbourhoods/areas are good to stay in and which ones should be avoided when travelling with family.

Hello everyone,

My wife and I are planning a trip to Scotland in July for about a week. We intend to do a road trip throughout the country and are also considering exploring other parts of the British Isles if we extend our trip by another week. We don't want to cram too much into our schedule, but my wife is particularly interested in places like Bath, the English countryside, and the Cotswolds. I'd love to see some castles if possible.

I'm unsure if any must-see locations in Ireland offer a different experience from the scenic views in Scotland. We're also open to spending a few days in London to see the city, especially since we're both of South Asian descent and look forward to enjoying some of the best desi food in the world!

However, we prefer not to focus too much on metropolitan areas unless there are truly must-see attractions. I'm a big fan of Sherlock Holmes and Tolkien, so visiting Baker Street or something similar (if its worth it as a fan) would be great and maybe we'd also like to visit the British Museum to see some of the artifacts taken from our homeland (no hard feelings, of course, lol).

If you have any suggestions, please let us know. For Scotland, I plan on following one of the online road trip itineraries, but if you have specific recommendations for there as well, we’d love to hear them.

Thank you!

Hi!

I’m going to London the first week of September as part of a 3 week European trip. It’s my first time in London so appreciate the itinerary check and any tips. I’m a bit worried it’s too packed or there may be a more efficient way of seeing everything on my list.

Sunday 9/1/24

Arrive at LGW around 9pm. What’s the best way to London — Gatwick Express or the Southern Service train? (I’m staying in Mayfair.)

Monday 9/2/24

In the morning I’m visiting Buckingham Palace and then St. James Palace for photos. Then heading over to Westminster Abbey

After lunch, the plan is to visit the Churchill War Rooms and Churchill Museum

In the late afternoon before dinner, I plan on walking to Big Ben & Parliament, #10 Downing Street, Horse Guard Palace, and Trafalgar Square to take some photos.

Tuesday 9/3/24

Joining a tour group for a half-day tour of Stonehenge.

After coming back to London for a light lunch and some rest, I plan on having some afternoon tea. TBD on location, but I was looking at The Savoy.

Then, planning on a River Thames cruise at night.

Wednesday 9/4/24

In the morning, I’m planning to spend time at the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.

For lunch, I’ll probably visit Borough Market

After lunch, I plan on visiting the Globe Theater.

Late afternoon, I’ve slotted a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral and then a quick visit to the Monument of the Great Fire of London

For dinner and views, I’d like to head to Sky Garden.

Thursday 9/5/24

Spending a few hours in the morning at the British Museum

After lunch, I’ll probably head to Notting Hill and Portobello Road Market. I was thinking about doing a Notting Hill tour – any recommendations?

If there’s time, I’ll head to Kensington Palace to take some photos and then head to dinner.

Friday 9/6/24

Leaving from Heathrow

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hello everyone. I'm putting together a list of items for a potential two week trip to Liverpool, England; but aside from the airfare, I'm stumped on the prices for the following things and would like your expertise.

1). Airbnb house rental. Are water, electricity, and Wi-Fi included or are they separate charges? Is home insurance included?

2). Vehicle rental. Can I use Google Maps from my phone and have my phone mounted on the dashboard or windshield of the car? Or is it illegal for the driver to use a GPS while driving around England?

3). Vehicle insurance. Does it only cover one driver or multiple drivers?

4). Gas prices. Does England use the terms 'unleaded', 'regular', and 'supreme' for their gasoline? Are the gas stations attended or are they self-serve? Do they take cash?

5). Groceries. I plan on cooking some meals at home instead of eating out every time.

Please let me know if there are other expenses I should know about. Thank you for reading this.

Hi UK folks, Please tell me if this plan is ok or not.

1) Renting a car in Oxford and using to explore surrounding areas.

2) Heading down south and using car for Cotswolds time and exploring towns down to Portsmouth, attending wediding near Winchester. Was told no taxis/Uber/public transit exists in that region, or is very scarce.

3) Drive back and drop off at Heathrow after festivities.

Caveat: Have never driven in the UK and don't know how difficult it will be. Assuming country roads easier than London....so will the Heathrow drop-off be a nightmare? Current rental car is an automatic. Should I rent or try my luck with cabs/public transit instead? Thanks very much.

American here. I lived in Birmingham 20 years ago and am spending next week in London with my family. My husband loves spicy food and is envious of my memories of baltis. Where can we get good ones in London? We will be staying in Kensington but doing the usual tourist stuff in all the major tourist sites. Thanks in advance!

Hi all. I’m currently based in UK on Graduate visa. Was planning to travel somewhere which allow me to enter on an evisa or visa on arrival. Turkey is one of the options in my mind. Open to other recs please.

Have a Pakistani passport for reference.

Ello I'm going to London during the Election Week. Here are a few places I plan to see.

Bummed that my visit to the Palace of Westminster got canceled (Lol, Thanks Prime Minister). (Really wanted to see this)

However, I plan to see the following. Ya'll think any of these will get canceled due to the general election?

Also do you think it's worth it to cancel my trip and reschedule if since I can't see the Palace of Westminster.

Also, if ya'll know any places that are good for Tea, lmk. I'm from Texas so not the best tea places here. Also, any additions are welcome. Thx.

Day 1

Changing of the Guards Ceremony

The Shard

Westminster Abby

Walk Westminster Bridge & see Big Ben (outside)

Day 2

Tower Bridge

Tower of London

Windsor Castle

Day 3

Harry Potter Studios.

London Thames Boat Tour

Walk Westminster, Whitehall, etc.

See #10 Door. (The replica one)

Buckingham Place Photo

Harrods & Picadilly Circus.

Well, I’m in a tough spot. I’m leading a group of college students on a trip to England. Our travel agent accidentally put me and the other chaperone on one flight, and all ten of our students on another flight. They can’t switch any of our reservations.

The other chaperone and I will land at Heathrow Terminal 2 at 6:20am. The students will land at Heathrow Terminal 2 at 7:20am.

Where should we meet them?

EDIT: Added the airport name because that’s pretty salient information.

I've just been looking at their prices for next May, and they look quite good. Is it Haven who offer Early Bird discounts? I'm just wondering if the price offered now is the best that I'm likely to see, or if it's worth waiting for a bit?