Planning a trip to the UK? You’re at risk of doing it all wrong!
But keep calm and carry on reading – because here we reveal advice travellers and locals have offered to tourists on Reddit about the worst mistakes they can make while on holiday there.
Reddit user ‘Cashewnutzzzz’ kicked off a lively discussion on the platform by asking: ‘I’m trying to help my mate. He is from Germany and wants to travel to the UK, but he asked me for some advice. What would be some good tips for him to not make silly mistakes as a first-time traveller to the UK?’
From avoiding the capital’s tourist traps to pub faux pas and ‘tacky’ attractions to avoid, the tips came thick and fast…
Trying to see too much
Travellers and locals have offered advice to tourists on Reddit about the worst mistakes they can make while on holiday in the UK for the first time. Visiting Leicester Square (above) is one error, they say
Britain is small, but not that small, the contributors point out, with user ‘KaleidoscopicColours’ remarking that one of the classic errors is ‘trying to fit too much into a trip’.
They add: ‘Americans are generally the worst for this. No you can’t do Stonehenge, Bath and the Cotswolds in one day.’
The inefficiency of Britain’s transport infrastructure is also touched upon, with ‘Skoodledoo’ declaring that the mistake is ‘thinking you can drive anywhere quickly’.
They add: ‘If you’re not driving, use public transport – especially to get to other places in the UK. Our motorways are not as efficient as German autobahns.’
Visiting London’s tourist traps
One user sticks his neck out and suggests visiting the UK’s ‘horrid’ capital, London, is a mistake.
‘MattHatter1337’ comments: ‘It’s worth skipping London altogether. It’s busy, horrid and an eyesore. Sure, it’s got some lovely spots. But overall it’s a horrid experience.’
‘Velvetspoonroutine’ agrees that some parts of London aren’t enticing. They remark: ‘Leicester Square is not particularly pretty and feels tacky with a big cinema, casino and fast food outlets surrounding it on all sides.
‘Trafalgar Square is much nicer. Oxford Street is a congested, overcrowded thoroughfare with big chain stores you can find in most other places in the world.’
‘Verbal-Gerbil’ adds: ‘The only good things about Leicester Square are Leicester Square Theatre and its proximity to the theatre district. Oxford Street is painful to navigate unless you’re a 1.7mph stroller who enjoys sudden stops and countless obstructions.’
Visiting Stonehenge
Stonehenge (left) is a ‘bit underwhelming’ according to one user, while another Reddit poster suggests heading to Avebury (right) instead as it’s ‘broadly similar and not remotely busy’
Poster ‘Jwd’ is sceptical about the need to visit Unesco site Stonehenge, commenting that it’s a place that looks exactly as it does in the photos – ‘in [one] sense you have already seen it all’.
‘KlaeidoscopicColours’ goes further, describing the site as ‘underwhelming’.
‘Silasgoldeanll’, meanwhile, suggests diverting to Avebury, another ancient site, instead. They say: ‘Avebury, not too far away, is broadly similar [to Stonehenge] and not remotely busy – and you can get amongst things. Now, the stones aren’t lined up in the same way or anything, but ultimately it’s all ancient. Avebury’s a nice little walk, nice canteen, gift shops and so on. Well worth a look.’
Trying to get table service in a pub
One poster, ‘Realistic-River-1941’, says a major mistake is ‘assuming there’s table service in pubs’.
‘Randomdude2029’ explains further, and comments: ‘If there’s a host or waiter to take you to your table, then there’ll be table service. If not, then you’ll go up to the bar with your table number and order. You’ll take your drinks back with you and they’ll 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 take-out restaurant – and not a pub
A comment from a deleted account states that ‘eating fish and chips from a pub’ is a major mistake. They add that ‘proper fish and chips comes from a chippy’.
That’s a fish and chip shop – a form of take-out restaurant – for those who don’t know.
Stopping in the middle of the pavement
‘Temporary-Pirate-80’ says ‘standing on the left and walking on the right’, is an issue – referring to the common system of manners expected when moving around London’s transport system.
The system of rules requires you to stand on the right on escalators while leaving the left side free for those who want to move quickly. The poster also berates those who ‘stop in the middle of a pavement to look at a map/phone’.
‘CaptainCate88’ adds: ‘It drives me to drink when people abruptly stop in front of me to look at a map or their phone. Move to the side out of the flow of foot traffic to do that.’
Going to big attractions without a ticket
Users explained that tickets need to be bought in advance for major attractions, such as Edinburgh Castle (above)
Forgetting the sheer number of visitors Britain gets is alluded to on the thread, with users explaining that tickets need to be bought in advance for major attractions.
‘Mattynutt’ says: ‘Most tourists think they can turn up to the Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour and a buy a ticket. You need to 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 up to Edinburgh Castle and buy a ticket. Very unlikely they will have any because they only let in a set number per day.’
Being 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 key mistake is ‘not bringing a jacket to Scotland in the summer’.