Getting Around the UK as a Solo Traveler
Solo Traveler
There are many ways to travel to the UK. If you want to travel only by public transport, it is possible! But if you want maximum flexibility in rural areas, a car is your best option.
My favorite way to travel to the UK is by train. The rail system spans the country and trains run quickly and often. Trains are extremely comfortable and in a country as small as the UK it doesn't take very long to cross the country - you can even cover very long journeys like from Inverness to Penzance in just 15 hours. For long distances, however, it can sometimes be cheaper to take an economical flight.
Traveling by plane is fast and efficient. Sometimes it can be cheaper than trains. This has more impact on the environment, so consider traveling by train if you can - especially since when you add time to go and wait at the airport, it can be a door-to-door trip. Door faster by train. If you use miles, it usually costs the same to get to or from anywhere in the UK like London.
Traveling by coach is slower and cheaper. The British designate long distance buses as coaches and the largest network is National Express. These coaches are very comfortable and cost less than trains. Some other lines like Megabus have cheaper but less comfortable coaches.
Ferries also exist. There are short ferries to neighboring islands, especially Scotland dotted with islands, and longer ferries for later trips. I took the night ferry from Aberdeen to Shetland - a wild and tumultuous trip across the North Sea but very fun!
Renting a car is possible. This is particularly useful if you want to explore a beautiful, secluded area like the Cornish coast, the Cotswolds or the North Coast 500 route in Scotland. Keep in mind that they drive left in the UK, cars tend to be manual (be sure to specify automatic car hire if you need it), and cars are much smaller than their American counterparts.
Travel and Safety Tips for England, Scotland, and Wales
Britain is not the kind of place where you need a lot of detailed and unusual safety advice - it's an easy place to travel and crime is pretty low. You can stick to the usual travel safety tips you would follow elsewhere, but I thought I would include some things I learned about British culture. It is much more complicated and nuanced than "They drink tea!" And "They have a queen!"
Much of British culture is about understanding how the British interact with each other. The British tend to be much more attracted than the Americans. They are much less likely to initiate conversations with strangers. They tend to want to avoid confrontation and embarrassing conversations at all costs, and will often be polite to people to keep the peace.
How do you explain that? Here are some very British problems: “Ask to taste a beer, dislike it and order a full pint so as not to waste the bartender's time.” “Do not really catch someone's name, which means that you can never talk to them again. Your hairdresser the temperature is good, despite strong suspicion your scalp begins to melt. "
The English tend to be the quietest; Scots tend to be warmer and more welcoming.
"It's okay?" Doesn't mean "What's wrong?" - It means "How are you?" Now you know!
The British tend to make fun of the people they love and to be very polite to the people they hate. It took me a long time to realize that the people who often made fun of me did so out of great affection. I wish I had done it at the time.
Britons often sign emails or text messages with an X, even if it's a platonic conversation. Don't read it too much (as I might have once or twice). They don't say they want to kiss you or that they have a crush on you; it's just a common thing to do.
The British drive on the left, walk on the left and stand on the left. Look back and forth when you cross the street! Most crosswalks say LOOK LEFT, especially in London, or show you otherwise where to look.
Be aware that some British terms are different from American English. Three that are particularly important: Pissed means drunk, not angry; pants means underwear and pants is what you would say for pants; and fanny means vagina, not butt.
“Shouting” beers can lead to drinking too much. In Britain, it is common to pay for each other's drinks in turn - one person will pay a round for the whole table, and then another person will buy the next round. If you drink with men or heavy drinkers, you may feel compelled to keep up with the pace to avoid any awkward moment (see, it's British culture that infiltrates you!), And it's a quick way to get the drunkard you want. Four beers can suit a larger man, but it can be MUCH for a woman, especially if they are strong beers.
The best thing to do is to tell the group early that you only want two drinks that night. In this way, people will not think that you are trying to stop yourself from paying for others.
Some London airports are far from the city. You could argue that all of them are far apart, with the exception of London City - and London City is usually an expensive place to fly (but easy to do with points!). Luton and Stansted are particularly distant. Keep this in mind if you have an early departure flight, as trains often do not run early enough and you will need to book a taxi.
I encourage you not to change airports during a stopover in London if you can help - it adds a ton of transfer time and hassle, especially if you have traffic. Paying a little more for a stopover at the same airport is worth it.
Scotland has its own currency. The Scottish pound has the same value as the British pound and they use the two currencies interchangeably in Scotland. Try to use it before leaving Scotland, as places outside Scotland do not like to accept it, even though it is legal tender.
Get a SIM card. SIM cards are useful to help you get around and summon Ubers. There are many different companies in Britain, and they are all much cheaper than the American plans. Three, GiffGaff, O2 and Tesco Mobile are some of the companies that make short-term SIM cards with data.
SIM card coverage is uneven on UK motorways and in rural areas, especially rural Scotland. Do not rely on a SIM card to travel in the Scottish Highlands.
Pay attention to your alcohol consumption. Drink less than usual at home - two glasses is a good limit. Drink only bartenders, never take a drink from a stranger, and always keep it with you and keep an eye on it.
Always keep an eye on your belongings. If you are carrying a handbag, keep it close to you. I recommend a shoulder bag, made from a resistant material like leather or faux leather, which closes with a zipper. I recommend many handbags in this post. Never let it hang behind you - always keep it in a place where you can see it, and keep your hand on it if you are in a crowd.
If you are carrying a wallet without a handbag, do not keep it in your back pocket. It is obvious to thieves and they will catch it and run away.
If you are using a small backpack, lock it. I use a Pac safe backpack where you can lock the compartments.
Never leave your bags unattended. Take them with you. In UK cities and tourist areas, if you keep your bag under the table or out of sight, keep it between your feet or hang the strap around one of the legs of the chair.
Keep your valuables locked up in your home and take only what you need that day with you. I do it with my Pac safe Travel safe and consider it the most important thing that I pack. Keep an additional debit card and at least $ 100 hidden in the dark parts of your luggage.
Get an additional debit card. You must have two debit cards to two different bank accounts. If you only have one, I recommend getting a debit card from Transfer wise. Keep a few hundred dollars in your account, hide the card in your luggage and use it if your main debit card is stolen.
If someone steals from you, give them what they want. Things can be replaced. Nothing beats your life.
Don't carry tons of cash with you. You can use credit cards almost anywhere in the UK, and carrying a lot of money leaves you vulnerable to theft. Do not be the traveler who loses his wallet and the $ 500 it contains.
Only use ATMs if possible. If your card is eaten, it is much easier to collect it from the ATM of a real bank. If you can't find a bank and it's at night, use an ATM inside, in a hallway, or in a mall.
Get a digital guide and keep it on your phone. Even today, I still keep a PDF guide on my phone - it's great for calculating approximate travel times, knowing which days the places are closed, and it lists the medical centers you should go to in case of emergency. I am a big fan of the journey.yugo.pk guides and travel the digital version of yugo.pk.
Spend extra money to stay safe. If you're not comfortable going home at night, spend money on an Uber. If you're hesitant to spend money on a not-so-pretty hostel, pay for a nicer place. It is worth the peace of mind. Don't pinch a few pennies on your safety.
Most importantly, you have no obligation to be nice to anyone. Women often feel the need to be nice and to please people at all costs. You don't have to travel, especially in the UK, where meeting the needs of others is part of the culture. If someone makes you uncomfortable, go. Believe me, you will not be the rudest person they meet on that day. What if you were? You will never see them again.
