Planning a trip to the UK? Here’s how to travel like a local.

Are you thinking of visiting the UK? Great! As a Brit, I’ll share some top tips for travelling in the UK like a local. 

It’s easy to make little mistakes that make you stick out while on vacation in a new place. And, sometimes you might not have the insider information you need to make your trip as enjoyable as possible.

From etiquette in British pubs to bringing the right plug, I’ve got you covered. I’ll share practical advice, personal recommendations, and useful nuggets of knowledge for your trip. 

Keep on reading to make sure you know how to navigate some British quirks like a pro when you step onto British soil.

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Know that the UK consists of four nations

It’s important to know what the UK actually is before you visit so you can plan your trip well and avoid offending locals when you’re here. 

The UK is a sovereign state whose full name is The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – the longest name of any country in the world! 

The UK is made up of four nations: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. I’m from Wales, a beautiful country which is often overlooked by international tourists. Many visitors to the UK predominantly just explore England, with some venturing to Scotland (well, mostly just Edinburgh). 

Each nation is worth visiting and has strong identities and its own cultural quirks, traditions, and a selection of incredible destinations. 

Don’t think you’ll ‘do’ the UK in a day, take time to explore

I’m a big advocate for tourists taking the time to explore more than one UK nation and trying to get a good taste of the country. But just because the UK is small, don’t think you can ‘do’ it in a short space of time.

Being unrealistic with your itinerary is a classic faux pas of visitors to Scotland, and I’ve seen tourists make the same mistake when visiting the UK as a whole. If you don’t have time to visit everywhere on one trip, focus on what you really want to see.

The UK isn’t just a tick-box and it’s fine to leave some destinations for future trips!

Visit lesser-known & more rural destinations in the UK 

There’s a pretty predictable route that many international tourists take in the UK. London, Edinburgh, and Manchester are the most-visited UK towns for overnight stays [source]. These are wonderful cities, however, there is so much more to explore!

The UK is predominantly covered by countryside and small towns, and many Brits favour rural destinations for their holidays. I recommend venturing to less urban destinations like Cornwall or cities slightly off the typical tourist path like Cardiff. 

Use public transport to travel in and around the UK

The UK has a pretty good public transport network of trains, buses and coaches. It is common for Brits to use public transport to travel within and between places. You might get funny looks if you tour the Isle in a private taxi!

Major UK cities have trams, undergrounds and other inner-city transport links. Public transport in rural areas can be more patchy. Some rural areas are not well connected and don’t have reliable services. You can easily get a taxi in cities but this is more difficult in rural areas.

It is sometimes cheaper and more convenient to travel by public transport than driving. It can be stressful to get your head around new road and parking rules, and you can enjoy the views more on public transport! 

Look out for traffic on the left hand side

In the UK, we drive on the left-hand side of the road, unlike the majority of the world.

Ensure you have the correct documents and car adaptations if bringing your car to the UK. And familiarise yourself with your right-hand-drive car if you rent a car in the UK. 

You also need to look out when crossing roads! Typically, you will need to look from right to left when crossing a road. Remembering to do this will make you feel like a real local. 

Be prepared to pay by card

Payments by card are widely used in the UK, and the limit for contactless card transactions is £100. Some places only accept card or cash payments so double-check first. Cash is still widely used, especially in markets and independent stores. 

I’d recommend travelling with a card that you can use abroad and having some pounds sterling in your purse.

Be prepared for the weather – and make sure you talk about it 

The UK has notoriously change-able weather and we’re used to rainy days! Pack appropriate clothing (I recommend wearing layers and bringing waterproofs) and don’t let the weather dampen your mood! 

Make the most of every day of your trip, regardless of the weather. A sunny day in the summer – the British standard would be anything over 18°C – makes locals flock outdoors. Beaches are busy, the smell of BBQs wafts around and sales of suncream soar. 

Brits talk a lot about the weather and many interactions start with an exchange of weather-related chat. 

Even if the British sunshine isn’t hot to you, don’t divulge your disappointment to the locals. There’s an unwritten rule that people who moan about sunny days are weird. 

Remember the right plug adaptor

In the UK, we use the Type G plug, which has three flat pins. You can often find USB chargers on public transport but having access to the correct plug is a must.

Try and understand British sarcasm and humour

British humour is often quite dry, and we use a lot of sarcasm and irony in everyday conversations. Comments may come across as confusing and rude, but usually, they are just said by a well-meaning local trying to be witty. 

For example, if you hear a local say “it’s beautiful weather today” on a miserable, rainy day, they almost definitely don’t mean it. 

You’re bound to come across some sarcastic remarks on your travels. You can always ask for clarification if you’re unsure… or just go along with the joke and smile and nod.

The style of humor is just one difference between Brits and Americans, as well as travelers from other countries.

Remember to queue

Brits take their queues seriously. It is typical to queue in many situations, for example when entering a building, boarding a bus or waiting for an attraction. Respect the queues if you don’t want to stand out like a rude tourist.

Mind your P’s and Q’s

It is polite in the UK to say ‘please’, ‘thank you’ and ‘sorry’ quite frequently. ‘Sorry’ is culturally used as an apology, to show sympathy and to mean ‘excuse me’ or ‘can you repeat what you said’.

But don’t be too gushy, we usually keep politeness fairly short, sweet, and sincere. 

Follow British pub etiquette 

I recommend including a trip to a British pub in your travel itinerary. Pubs are like cosy bars where a standard drink is a pint (in the UK, that’s 568.26 cubic centimetres) of beer, cider, or ale. 

When it comes to ordering a pint at a pub, there is less of an orderly queue and more of organised chaos. Punters are still polite and tend not to jump in front of each other for fear of retribution, but there is no orderly line. 

In most circumstances, the legal minimum age in the UK to buy alcohol is 18. You may be asked to show proof of age and ID if you look under 25, a policy known as ‘challenge 25’. 

If you’re hungry, check whether the pub serves food and if so, when the kitchen closes. Pubs are not usually open super late, and you’ll usually get a warning from a bell or a tired staff member when they’re about to close. Listen out for the phrase “last orders”!

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I’d love to hear your top tips for travelling in the UK, please share them in the comments below!

Next up, read my article “Forget flying, traveling overland is the best way to see Europe.“