Travelling England
The British use Pounds/Sterling
Football not soccer – The Beautiful Game
If you are travelling to England for the first time here are some things you should know before you go.
- You must have a valid passport which must be valid for the duration of your stay in the UK.
- Pounds (known as sterling) are the legal tender in Britain and Euros in the country of Ireland. You can get these from your local bank but you won’t need much cash as you can use your chipped debit/credit card in most places around England. Check with your bank before you leave what kind of charges you may be subjected to and choose your method of payment accordingly.
- You should learn a little bit about the cheap and the best transport facilities to reach your destination in London or any part of England before you travel so you can plan.
- In England shuttle buses, trains and underground run from all the major airports to the centre of London. In London, you can use buses or walk to venture out into the city. For quick transportation use the Underground but try to avoid it at rush hour as it can be more expensive not to mention crowded.
- I recommend purchasing an Oyster card (combination of bus, underground and Docklands light railway pass) for use in Greater London it saves both money and time.
- if you are going to be sightseeing in London, you can save more money by buying a London Pass that will give you access to 80+ attractions and save you a small fortune – London attractions are costly.
- UK mains electricity is 230V, 50Hz AC, and plugs have three square pins (‘Type G’). there for if you need to charge your mobile phones, laptops and ipads.
- Did you know that you can claim back your 20% tax levied on goods and services from the airports when you depart, for more details please see VAT Refunds for UK visitors.
- Hope these tips are helpful and you enjoy your adventure in England! Here are some posts to help you decide on what you want to visit on your trip to England.