The Article Will Detail The Most Complete Travel Guide In The UK.
◊The United Kingdom is a fascinating country on the edge of Europe.
◊It has a long and complex history, a rich national culture, a royal family that attracts attention, a pleasant rural landscape and authentic ancient castles.
◊There are also rock and roll, football, fashion and fashion brands, together create a strong British style.
Let’s Jump In!
01 The UK
The UK administrative division includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
There is the glamour of the metropolis of London, historical and cultural cities such as York, Bath, Canterbury, Cambridge and Oxford, the seat of the famous universities, the magnificent Lake District. And then there are the fan-crazy cities of Manchester and Sheffield. These icons of Britain are all in England.
Around Christmas time, cities such as London and Edinburgh get into the festive spirit, with the biggest sales of the year starting after the holidays. It’s not a bad idea to choose a winter trip if you’re interested in coming for bargain hunting.
02 Travelling Cities
# London
The Romans founded the city on this land 2,000 years ago. Now London is the world’s most important political, economic, cultural and artistic centre. It is a city where different races, religions and cultures mingle, creating a unique diversity.
→♦London’s seemingly contradictory qualities are inadvertently intertwined to create a unique atmosphere. 300 museums and galleries and more than 400 live music venues provide a labyrinth of art to immerse yourself in. Countless churches immerse people in the solemnity and mystery of religion. The variety of cuisines and pubs offers a wide range of experiences for the gourmand. Shoppers will find tens of thousands of shops and countless bazaars.
→♦The “Foggy City” is long gone thanks to environmental measures, and even when it’s raining, the fashionable men and women on the streets make London look bright and colourful. The London Eye, the London Olympics venue and other innovative buildings are the new face of modern London. So, every day in London is a surprise.
# Oxford
Oxford is Britain’s oldest academic temple.
→♦With no walls or gates, it is the most academic city in the UK. The most famous is the University of Oxford.
→♦In addition to schools, commercial enterprises are located in all corners of Oxford. Especially high-tech enterprises make Oxford this ancient city of youthful.
→♦Oxford’s cultural flavour is strong during the day, but at night Oxford is very quiet. There are very few noisy pubs, and students prefer to talk in cafes and clubs
# Cambridge
Cambridge is located about 80 kilometres north of London and is famous for the University of Cambridge. Considered to be a “university in a city”, the streets and lanes are filled with a mixture of academia, business and leisure.
→♦The city of Cambridge is dominated by the 31 colleges of the University of Cambridge. The city of Cambridge is dominated by the 31 colleges of the University of Cambridge, and is full of old buildings with appropriate gardens, museums, churches and bridges. It has a strong collegiate atmosphere and a pleasant natural environment. There are also numerous theatres, art galleries and other facilities, giving this university town a strong literary atmosphere.
→♦Whether it’s a romantic boat ride on the Sword River or a walk through the city’s collegiate corners, you can experience the ancient colours and aroma of books. Or a poem by modern Chinese poet Xu Zhimo comes to mind: “Gently I go, just as I gently come”. Almost all of the people who have been here must have their own reasons to fall in love with this city.
# York
King George VI once proudly said, “The history of York is the history of England”. Situated on the banks of the River Ouse in the north-east of England, York is the second most visited city in England. Outstanding architecture and 2,000 years of history merge with thriving shopping streets, and the city centre is home to more than 30 museums and galleries of all kinds.
→♦Modern York is both a famous tourist destination and a major transport hub in England. It is home to the National Railway Museum of Great Britain. York has a rich history, incorporating Roman, Viking, Norman and other cultures.
→♦Here you can get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the relaxation and tranquillity that a small English town can bring you. Tasting the pure English afternoon tea at Betty’s Tea House in the city centre is a must-do for every traveller in York.
# Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and the most iconic Scottish city, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. It is home to many ancient churches and magnificent Victorian buildings.
→♦See a montage of war stories in Edinburgh Castle. Stroll the Royal Mile and feel the pulse of Edinburgh. Stand on Calton Hill overlooking the city of Edinburgh and feel the weight of history. Sit down for a cup of coffee in the Elephant Café and imagine meeting Harry Potter at the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
→♦This is the heart of Scotland, this is the city that gives you unlimited imagination, this is the Edinburgh that you are haunted by.
03 Etiquette and Taboos
England is a country where etiquette is very important. Here, there are many British etiquette customs that travellers must know and follow.
Now let’s learn about British etiquette customs and taboos. So as not to make jokes or embarrassing situations when you are travelling.
A. What questions should not be asked:
In Britain, there are two aspects of questions that should not be asked.
→♦One is a man’s income. Even how much the furniture in his house is worth is not a question that should be asked.
→♦The second is the lady’s age. Ladies want to stay young forever, so their age is their secret and is not to be asked. When you are in front of a lady, it is better to say “You look so young” or “You are so beautiful”. They will be very happy.
B. Numbers and topics you can’t talk about:
→♦The British consider both 13th and Friday to be unlucky. They are especially squeamish when 13 meets Friday. At this time of the year, many people would rather stay at home than go out. So you’d better avoid talking about words like 13 and Friday when you talk to British people.
→♦It’s also best that you don’t talk about things like political leanings with others. You can talk about food, sports, films and so on.
C. No bargaining in shopping:
You can’t bargain in shopping in Britain. This is because the British think that haggling is a very humiliating thing.
→♦If they think the price of an item is right, they buy it; if not, they walk away.
→♦If you are worried about being asked for a high price, then ask for the price first and then think about whether you want to buy it.
→♦If the item you are buying is an expensive piece of art or a large item. You also need to be careful about agreeing a price with the seller.
D. Going to the toilet should be done politely:
→♦In the UK, if you want to go to the toilet, you have to say it politely. You can say, “Please wait a few minutes” or “I want to wash my hands”. You can also say “go to the men’s room” or “go to the women’s room”.
→♦In the UK, however, the most common way to go to the toilet is to say “I want to go to somewhere”.
→♦In addition, among friends and family, “number 100” is often used to represent the toilet.
E. Other things you can’t do:
→♦The British taboo four cross-style handshake, but also taboo lighting cigarettes in a row three people.
→♦In addition, you can’t smoke indoors or in public places, and you should go to a special smoking area.
→♦If there is no smoking area, you have to get someone’s permission before you can smoke.
F. Queuing in public:
→♦In the UK, you have to queue, whether you are checking out after a shopping mall, going to a bakery to buy breakfast, getting on a bus or train, or buying a newspaper, and so on.
→♦You can’t just go to the front of the queue and cut in line by saying that there are too many people or that you are in a hurry. Queue-jumping is considered by the locals to be disgraceful behaviour.
04 Must-See Items for Your Visit
# The British Museum
One of the largest and most famous museums in the world. Moreover, the collection is so huge that it can almost put the whole world’s civilisation history on display.
There are more than 7 million pieces of cultural relics and treasures from all over the world in the museum. The number and variety of collections are rare in museums all over the world.
The main collections come from the Middle Ages, especially the ancient Egyptian and Greco-Roman collections are famous. In addition, there are a large number of valuable cultural relics from Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas.
Photographs are permitted in the museum and it is open to the public free of charge. What’s more, cultural treasures from many parts of the world can only be witnessed here.
# York Cathedral
York Cathedral is also known as St Peter’s Cathedral. It is the largest surviving Gothic church of the medieval period in Europe. Moreover, it is one of the most superbly designed and built churches in the world. It is very grand and solemn, and took more than 200 years to build.
The church was built in 627 A.D. as an all-timbered building, and was later destroyed by battle in the Civil War.In 1060, the Normans captured York and built the first Norman church, the cornerstone and crypt of which can still be seen today.
In the evening, Evensong is celebrated in the cathedral with the choir singing beautifully and the organ playing in harmony. This adds to the solemnity and grandeur of York Cathedral. The stained glass in the south-east of the church is the largest medieval stained glass window in the world, and the north wing of the church is in the Early English style. The vestibule and choir stalls and chapel are heavily decorated in the Baroque style. The central nave is in central symmetry, and the hall is where Hogwarts Hall was filmed in Harry Potter.
# Hyde Park
Hyde Park is Britain’s most recognisable and largest royal park, located on the west side of Buckingham Palace, just a wall away. The park covers an area of 2.5 square kilometres and is divided into two parts, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, by the Nine Quarters Lake. The existence of such an unbounded green field in the noisy metropolis brings much delight to the visitors.
The Speaker’s Corner, the Horse Riding Trail and the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain are some of the more popular attractions in the park, which was the King’s hunting ground for deer until the 18th century, and where Queen Victoria first hosted the London International Exhibition in 1851.
The park is also home to a horse-riding track, and from time to time you’ll see people on big Western horses drifting past. There are also many people lying on the lawn sunbathing, so you can feel the laid-back side of local life.
05 Gourmet Guide
English Afternoon Tea:
Delicate black tea with delicious desserts, the culture of afternoon tea has continued from the Victorian era to the present day. You can’t come to London without trying this aristocratic courtesy and enjoying a slow life of elegance and refinement.
Although nowadays you don’t have to be so formal when you have afternoon tea in a hotel, it’s better to dress not too casual, behave in a decent manner and keep your voice as low as possible. Generally speaking, the special tea for afternoon tea is Darjeeling tea, Earl Grey tea or Ceylon tea. Tea is served on a three-tiered confectionery tray. The bottom layer will put some savoury snacks, such as sandwiches, croissants and so on. The second layer is a combination of sweet and savoury snacks, usually without a sandwich, such as English Scone muffins and bacon rolls and other traditional snacks. The third tier holds cakes and fruit tarts, as well as several small desserts.
The order of eating should follow the rule of light to heavy, savoury to sweet. Start at the bottom and work your way up, tasting the savoury sandwiches first. Let your taste buds take their time to savour the true flavour of the food, and then take a few sips of black tea.
Fish and chips:
When it comes to British food, the most popular dish is probably fish and chips, the most common street food and very popular with the British. Fish&Chips are made by slicing boneless fish and frying it in wet flour, making it crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It is served with a variety of sauces.
English Breakfast:
The British consider breakfast to be the most important meal of the day, representing a uniquely British way of life. An English breakfast consists of oatmeal, omelette, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, soya beans in tomato sauce, smoked bacon and grilled sausages. Breakfast is usually served with English breakfast tea, coffee and orange juice and slices of toasted bread with butter.
Steak:
Steak is a classic dish in Western cuisine, and the British love and obsession with steak dates back more than two hundred years. The most famous steak in the UK is Angus, one of the oldest breeds of beef cattle in the country. The most common parts are Fillet, Rib eye, Sirloin and T-Bone.
Haggis:
A traditional Scottish dish, basically a mixture of haggis (heart, liver and lungs), oats, suet, stock, onions and spices, sewn into the sheep’s stomach (gullet) and made by a variety of methods, including grilling and smothering, with a savoury, spicy and intense flavour. Due to its unique flavour, haggis has become a traditional Scottish favourite and is served with whisky.
06 Shopping Guide
Oxford Street:
Oxford Street is the shopping street of choice in London, England. Less than two kilometres long, the street is home to more than 300 large shopping malls. Among them, the old department stores’ SeIfridges has a large collection of top brands, and the British attentive service here can make you experience a five-star treatment. Oxford Street enjoys a worldwide reputation and attracts visitors not only from the rest of the UK but also from overseas.
Harrods:
The most famous and exclusive department store in London for over 150 years. Harrods has seven floors of everything from high-end fashion and accessories to the finest homeware and cutting-edge technology. The world’s finest luxury goods are gathered here in one place. And both the architecture and the interiors are aristocratic. There are 28 restaurants in the mall. The list continues to grow with dining meccas such as Galvin Demoiselle, Bentley’s Sea Grill and The Georgian. Nowadays Harrods is not just a department store, but one of the must-see attractions for tourists from all over the world visiting London.
Bicester Shopping Village:
Bicester Designer Village is one of the most famous shopping villages in the UK, also known as the ‘Village of Designer Stores’. It is also known as La Vallé Village in Paris. Every year, many European tourists come here specifically to buy things before Christmas. More than 90 world-famous brands have discount boutiques here, with prices about 60 per cent below the market rate. Although many of the products are not seasonal, you can always find good bargains.
Major brands include Aquutum, Burberry, Cerruti 1881, CK, Dunhill, Salvatore Ferragamo, DKNY, Ermenegildo Zegna, and so on. Among them, Versace, Burberry, Polo Ralph Lauren shops are of a certain size. Each boutique is divided into two areas, displaying out-of-season and in-season items.
Covent Garden:
Developed and formed over 200 years ago, it is still the most popular area for tourists. Theatres and special shops are the big features of this area, and the Strand, located on the east side, is an area that has preserved the civilisation of countless important buildings from the 17th to 18th centuries.
Selfridges Department Store:
SELFRIDGES CO. was founded in 1906 by the American entrepreneur Harry Gordon Selfridge and is the most well-known department stores’ in London’s oldest. Over the past hundred years, it has witnessed the historical evolution of British taste and consumerism, and is regarded as one of the British fashion trends indicator ball. 2003 Canada’s Weston family bought the shop at a price of 598 million pounds. In 2003, the Weston family of Canada bought the store for a whopping £598 million, and immediately transformed it into a retail group focusing on “fashion, design and celebrity” and presenting the top culture of each country’s metropolis.
07 Immigration Policy
The UK is not a Schengen country. All Chinese nationals need to apply for a separate UK visa before entering the UK.
Applicants can apply for a visa up to 3 months prior to their planned departure date. Visa-free entry to Ireland is possible with a valid UK tourist visa.
08 Currency and Exchange
① The currency symbol for the pound sterling is £.
Notes are available in denominations of £50, 20, 10, 5 and 1, and coins are available in £2, £1, 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p and 1p (£1 = 100p). Be aware that some small shops may refuse to accept £50 notes.
② Visa and MasterCard can be used in the UK for shopping, accommodation, car hire and other purchases.
Some merchants in London and other major cities can also use UnionPay cards, so ask the merchant before shopping.
③ Banks in the UK are generally open from Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 16:00 and on Saturday mornings.
→♦You can accept US dollars, euros and other currencies to exchange for pounds, and some banks also accept the exchange of RMB. However, the exchange rate is not very cost-effective or charge a high handling fee. It is advisable to exchange sufficient cash at home.
→♦ATMs with the Link network logo support cash withdrawals with UnionPay cards. The daily withdrawal limit and handling fee are set by the card issuer, and you cannot check the balance.
④ In the UK, the tipping culture is not particularly deep-rooted, and payment is generally measured according to the actual service received.
→♦If you dine in a fine dining restaurant, the service charge is usually included in the bill and there is no need to pay separately, while fast food restaurants and buffets do not require additional tipping.
→♦When drinking at a bar, tipping is generally not required. However, if you have a good conversation with the bartender, it is appropriate to pay for half a glass to a glass of wine as a token of appreciation.
→♦When taking a taxi, you can usually ask the driver not to make change as a tip. If you receive special service in a hotel, you can pay 1-2 pounds as a token of appreciation.
09 FAQs of Travel Guide in the UK
The UK is truly a year-round destination, however, the most favourable time to visit is typically during the spring (late March to early June) and autumn (September to November). During these periods, you can enjoy mild weather and fewer crowds in popular destinations. Embrace the bursts of blooming flowers in the spring and the golden hues of the autumn leaves, each setting a picture-perfect scene for your travels.
Absolutely, the UK boasts an extensive and reliable public transport network. The iconic red buses of London, the vast rail network reaching the farthest corners of the country, and the underground Tube are both convenient and cost-effective ways to explore. Remember to get an Oyster card or a rail pass for the best value. Trust in the UK’s transport to provide you with a seamless journey through the heritage and beauty of the isles.
Given the UK’s unpredictable weather, packing a waterproof jacket and umbrella is wise. Comfortable walking shoes are a must for exploring the urban streets and countryside alike. Additionally, don’t forget a UK power adapter and, perhaps, a portable battery for your gadgets. Pack layers—like a lightweight sweater or a fleece—to adapt easily to the changing temperatures. Travel prepared, and you’ll be free to immerse yourself completely in your grand UK adventure.
Tipping in the UK is not as widespread or generous as in some other countries, but it is customary to leave a tip of around 10% in restaurants if you are happy with the service. It’s not typically expected in bars or for fast food, but it’s always welcome. When it comes to taxis, rounding up the fare is a common way to show appreciation. Remember, tipping is a way to acknowledge great service, so always feel it should reflect your genuine gratitude.
