The Dos and Don’ts When Touring the UK

Four countries rich in history and culture make the United Kingdom an excellent destination for people who enjoy historical and classic customs and aesthetics.

Whether you’re living in the UK and wanting to know more about your country or area, or a foreigner wanting to visit, you must know how to travel efficiently.

Are you planning a trip to many places in the UK? Do you want to make the most out of your travels in general? The following are the dos and don’ts of touring the UK or elsewhere.

Do’s

Do: Know Travel Routes and Vehicles

This is mainly for non-UK residents: if you want to go around anywhere in the UK, you need to know how you can travel here. It would greatly help to check the country or region you will be travelling to, particularly the travel routes, public vehicles, and the destinations you plan on visiting.

For instance, identify the different ways you can travel. You can, for example, rent a car if you want to travel privately. Alternatively, you can commute by bus, taxi, and train. Should you want to commute, know the available payment methods and check opportunities such as advanced booking, which is available for vehicles like taxis and buses.

For example, if you don’t like waiting and competing with other commuters for a taxi, you can use a taxi booking application that you can download on your phone. Or you can book tickets online to get somewhere via train, like from London to Brighton. Buying train tickets is easy with services like Rail Online - Book Trains from London Brighton Online and enjoy your UK tour hassle-free.

You must also know the roads and areas, at least to a necessary extent. Tools like Google Maps can guide you in getting to your destinations. Moreover, you can also seek help from locals and authorities if you get lost.

Do: Familiarise the Laws

Being familiar with the law is a must-do for any traveller, especially those wanting to venture outside their country. Even when you’re from the UK and want to go to the other three countries, you still need to research basic laws, especially when there are those unique to their country.

It helps to be aware regardless of where you’re from, although the UK has strange laws that still exist today (some of them are not precisely strictly enforced).

Besides specific rules, it would also be essential to learn about unspoken laws or simple etiquette (the latter especially for people who grew up with a different culture). Whether it’s simple greetings, public etiquette, or even knowing how to communicate with a member of the British royal family, adhering to these customs can help you out of trouble.

Do: Consider Your Safety

When you are travelling, safety should be one of your priorities. You have to avoid suspicious strangers, keep your belongings close to you, and steer clear of deserted areas that make you feel unsafe or uneasy. There is no need to elaborate further on the risks of travelling. However, you must find ways to prevent such incidents.

For example, if you want to lessen the risk of scams, you can research the places you will be visiting and check if there are any prevalent scams. Huge cities like London are prone to various scammers who target unsuspecting, vulnerable tourists.

Book safe accommodations if your trip will take several days or you must spend the night somewhere. If you want to feel secure, a hotel or any accommodations that provide excellent security features and personnel would be nice.

Lastly, to ensure that you can act accordingly in case something happens to you, it would greatly help to know who to approach. Get to know the emergency hotlines or even your country’s embassy for more pressing issues. Do not hesitate to contact proper authorities in case of specific incidents.

Don’ts

Don’t: Be Afraid to Seek Help

It can be terrifying to be in a place you’re unfamiliar with. In such a case, you may want to seek help. Maybe you got lost, or you want to ask for assistance. While they value privacy and personal space, people in the UK can be naturally friendly—just be polite!

You may want to be careful with who to approach, though. A safe choice would be to seek help or assistance from public service individuals such as police officers, security guards, or store clerks.

Don’t: Reveal Travel or Accommodation Information to Strangers

Another crucial safety 101 when travelling is never revealing information regarding your accommodations to strangers. Socialising with other people makes excellent memories for your trip, but be wary of who you talk to and what you tell them.

One of the things you should not tell strangers is where you’re currently staying, especially when you’re alone. Sure, you will meet remarkable people on your trip, but that doesn’t mean you can trust them immediately. No matter how secure your accommodations are, don’t risk revealing them to people you barely know.

However, there are people you may need to tell where you are, such as your family or closest friends, in case they want to catch up with you or get to you should something happen. You must also let accommodation staff know you are the only one in the room and should not allow anyone else if you travel alone.

Safe Travels!

Wherever you want to visit the UK, constantly research first. Prioritise safety and convenience and know the relevant culture and laws. Most importantly, make sure to have fun and create great memories!