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Are you planning a trip to Great Britain? You run the risk of doing it all wrong!
But keep calm and read on – because here we reveal advice that travelers and locals have given to tourists on Reddit about the worst mistakes they can make while holidaying there.
Reddit user ‘Cashewnutzzzz’ kicked off a lively discussion on the platform by asking: ‘I’m trying to help my buddy. He is from Germany and wants to travel to Great Britain, but he asked me for some advice. What would be good tips for him to avoid making stupid mistakes when he travels to Britain for the first time?’
From avoiding the capital’s tourist traps to pub faux-pas and ‘tacky’ attractions to avoid, the tips came thick and fast…
Try to see too much
Travelers and locals have been offering advice to tourists on Reddit about the worst mistakes they can make while holidaying in Britain. A visit to Leicester Square (above) is one mistake, they say
Britain is small, but not that small, the contributors point out, with user ‘KaleidoscopicColours’ noting that one of the classic mistakes is ‘trying to fit too much into one trip’.
They add, “Americans are generally the worst at this. No, you can’t do Stonehenge, Bath and the Cotswolds in one day.’
The inefficiency of the UK’s transport infrastructure is also highlighted, with ‘Skoodledoo’ stating that the mistake is ‘thinking you can drive anywhere quickly’.
They add: ‘If you don’t drive, use public transport – especially to get to other places in Britain. Our highways are not as efficient as German autobahns.’
Visiting London’s tourist attractions
One user is sticking his neck out and suggesting that visiting Britain’s ‘horrible’ capital, London, is a mistake.
‘MattHatter1337’ notes: ‘It’s worth skipping London altogether. It’s busy, horrible and an eyesore. Sure, there are some beautiful spots. But overall it’s a horrible experience.’
‘Velvetspoonroutine’ agrees that some parts of London are not attractive. They comment: ‘Leicester Square isn’t particularly pretty and feels tacky, with a large cinema, casino and fast food restaurants surrounding it on all sides.
‘Trafalgar Square is much nicer. Oxford Street is a busy, congested thoroughfare with major chain stores that you can find in most other places in the world.”
‘Verbal-Gerbil’ adds: ‘The only good thing about Leicester Square is the Leicester Square Theater and its proximity to the theater district. Oxford Street is painful to navigate unless you’re a stroller who likes sudden stops and numerous obstacles at 1.7mph.”
Visit Stonehenge
Stonehenge (left) is “a bit disappointing” according to one user, while another Reddit poster suggests going to Avebury (right) instead as it’s “broadly similar and not remotely busy”
Poster ‘Jwd’ is skeptical about the need to visit UNESCO site Stonehenge, noting that it is a place that looks exactly like the photos – ‘in [one] the feeling that you have already seen everything’.
‘KlaeidoscopicColours’ goes even further and describes the site as ‘disappointing’.
‘Silasgoldeanll’, meanwhile, suggests moving instead to Avebury, another ancient site. They say: ‘Avebury, not so far away, is broadly similar [to Stonehenge] and not a little busy – and you can get between things. The stones aren’t lined up the same way or anything, but at the end of the day it’s all old. Avebury is a nice little walk, nice canteen, gift shops and so on. Definitely worth watching.’
I’m trying to get table service in a pub
One poster, ‘Realistic-River-1941’, states that a big mistake is ‘assuming there is table service in pubs’.
‘Randomdude2029’ explains it further, noting: ‘If there is a host or waiter who takes you to your table, then there is table service. If not, go to the bar with your table number and order. You bring back your drinks and they take your order and bring your food when it’s ready.”
Eating fish and chips in a pub
Fish and chips must be ‘from a chippy’ – a fish and chip takeaway – and not from a pub
A comment from a deleted account says that ‘eating fish and chips from a pub’ is a big mistake. They add that ‘real fish and chips come from a chippy’.
That’s a fish and chip shop – a form of takeaway – for those who don’t know.
Stop halfway down the sidewalk
‘Temporary-Pirate-80’ says that ‘standing left and walking right’ is a problem – referring to the common system of manners expected when moving through London’s transport system.
The system of rules requires you to stand on the right on escalators, leaving the left side open for those who want to move quickly. The poster also criticizes those who “stop in the middle of the sidewalk to look at a map/phone.”
‘CaptainCate88’ adds: ‘It makes me want to drink when people stop abruptly in front of me to look at a map or their phone. To do this, stand on the side outside the pedestrian flow.’
Going to major attractions without a ticket
Users explained that tickets must be purchased in advance for major attractions, such as Edinburgh Castle (above)
The thread alludes to forgetting the huge number of visitors Britain gets, with users explaining that tickets for major attractions must be purchased in advance.
‘Mattynutt’ says: ‘Most tourists think they are going to the Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour can come and buy a ticket. You must book this amazing attraction at least two months in advance.’
‘YawningAngle’ adds: ‘Book things you want to see and do. People think they can walk to Edinburgh Castle and buy a ticket. Very unlikely, because they only let in a certain number per day.’
Be optimistic about the weather
Never underestimate the power of the British weather system to surprise, say users.
‘TaxiDirectory’ says: ‘It’s notoriously unpredictable. Be prepared for sudden showers, even in summer.’
‘Tortilla_avalanche’ warns that a major mistake is ‘not taking a jacket to Scotland in summer’.
