Preparing for a trip to England. What tourists should not do in London Lack of curtains on the windows

In the photo: sometimes England can be easily confused with Russia.

Local vegetation painfully resembles the nature of central Russia. Limes, poplars, ash-trees, maples and birch trees, so close to the Russian heart - sometimes driving through the London suburbs, you feel like you are in the Moscow region. The only thing that brings you back to reality is neat English red brick houses.

2. Lack of curtains on the windows

In the photo: townhouse in Notting Hill, London. Photo www.pinterest.com.

For all their closeness and carefully guarded "privacy", the British, oddly enough, do not try to physically protect themselves from the outside world, even with curtains. Walking through the streets of London, you can easily become witnesses of the most real English life: here is a friendly family comfortably sitting on the sofa, watching TV. But the hostess is enthusiastically preparing something in the kitchen, and the child in the next room is doing homework with concentration.

For curious passers-by, the everyday life of the British appears at a glance: the blinds on the windows are actually lowered infrequently so that the coveted rays of light can freely enter the dwelling (thereby reducing electricity bills).

3. Separate taps

Photo: A popular solution to the double faucet problem in England. Photo blogs.warwick.ac.uk.

Well, only the lazy did not speak about double English taps. I also mentioned them earlier in my articles. For some reason, subjects of the British Crown take great pleasure in the discovery of their compatriot Joseph Bram, who introduced a system of screw taps - with hot and cold water - back in 1783, but at the same time they do not welcome the next, no less valuable, invention of another Englishman - Sir William Thomson, who guessed to add a mixer to the water supply system.

Over the years of my life in England, I sincerely tried to understand how separate taps could be beneficial in the household - after all, there must be a practical meaning for such a long resistance to progress. And here's what I can say with confidence today: guys, there is no advantage in using two cranes, it's just a total inconvenience. Perhaps this reflects the famous English stoicism: only the British are able to withstand the torture of icy or, on the contrary, excessively hot water when washing their hands every day. Don't have English exposure? Look for housing with a faucet - this happens here too.

4. Left hand traffic

Photo: www.independent.co.uk.

This fact is well known to every motorist: cars of British assembly are equipped with a steering wheel on the right side. For reasons that are not entirely clear, in the UK and a handful of other "select" countries, cars drive from right to left. Of course, it has long been possible to realign and stand in line with the rest of the world, where pedestrians habitually look first to the left and only then to the right, but Britain has its own way and carefully guarded traditions. It cannot be said that in this circumstance there is any benefit for the British, rather the opposite: when they get into countries with "normal traffic", the English originals have to rebuild. In turn, for new immigrants in the UK, the need to relearn and get into a right-hand drive car causes annoyance and bewilderment.

However, the laws of left-hand traffic, as it turned out, do not apply to everyone: pedestrians - yes, unquestioningly walk on the left side of the sidewalk (except for unfortunate tourists doomed to crash into local residents). But the subway trains, oddly enough, move from left to right. Apparently, to completely confuse overseas guests.

5. Omnipresent small talk

The caption on the picture: "Sometimes I put on headphones, just so I don't start a small talk." Source: www.quickmeme.com

This insignificant play on words, generally accepted in British society, only irritates me personally. If you're looking for fast service at a cafe or shop, you might be in for some surprises. Perhaps you are in a hurry to an important event, but this does not bother the elderly lady in line in front of you, who decided to exchange a few words with the cashier. And that's all - write wasted: until they talk enough with each other, the queue will not move a millimeter.

6. Sorry as an indulgence

Caption on the picture: (play on words) "I don't always say sorry (=sorry), but when I do, I'm very, very sorry." Source: www.livememe.com

Sure, it's nice to know that you live in a civilized society. Any careless action or just an awkward intrusion into your personal space is usually accompanied by a polite "Sorry". I tried to count how many times a day I apologize to others without doing anything bad to them: more than a dozen times. Such behavior is quite natural and expected in a society with high cultural standards. Another thing is surprising: that the subjects of the British Crown are ready to use their "sorry" as an indulgence in everything and always. Have you been disconnected for weeks and your business suffered losses because of it? Almost certainly, the provider will get rid of your claims with the help of “sorry”.

Something worse happened, and you file a complaint against the medical facility? With your persistence, you have every chance of getting a letter with a formal apology in the form of the same word. In principle, the notorious “sorry” does not carry any emotional load. When an Englishman really feels guilty, he asks for forgiveness using other expressions (for example, please take my sincere apologies).

So, don't get too carried away. The use of "sorry" is nothing more than a formality for the English.

7. English obedience

Pictured: Former Prime Minister David Cameron is rarely angry. Photo www.dailystar.co.uk.

The British, who are not accustomed to rudeness, when faced with it, as a rule, are completely lost. Therefore, boors and impudent people feel quite at ease in the vastness of Britain.

If suddenly some daredevil decides to climb somewhere without a queue, then he is unlikely to meet active resistance: indignant glances - for sure, muffled mumbling - is very likely, but will that stop the shameless one?

However, occasionally the natives nevertheless “break through” and they begin to resent loudly, but, completely unable to “throw thunder and lightning”, the angry British look pitiful and unconvincing.

8. Public toilets

Photo: www.liverpoolecho.co.uk.

Following an old Russian habit, I avoided public toilets in England for a long time. My natural squeamishness and the memory of these buildings in Russia prescribed to avoid them if possible. But my fears turned out to be completely in vain: even the most ordinary "rest rooms" in the busiest places, whether it be hospitals or train stations, look well-groomed and clean in England. Many public toilets are equipped with sensitive flush buttons that respond to a handshake, so you don't even have to touch anything inside the stall.

9. Unwashed fruit

Photo: lifeunfold.com.

At first, I was baffled by advertisements in supermarkets telling me to rinse fruits before eating them. “Does anyone really know that fruits need to be washed?” I wondered. It turned out that there are many such unenlightened people here. I often see locals feasting on berries straight from the stalls as soon as they leave the store. The most monstrous thing is that no exception is made even for children, who can easily be fed unwashed blueberries from the package. Of course, I don’t go to anyone with my instructions, because it’s not customary to teach others in England, but I completely agree with the recommendations in stores.

10. Water from refrigerators

Photo: dishmag.com.

Sometimes I get the feeling that the British seem to consider their climate tropical, with all that it implies. At least in their view, drinking water should be as cold as possible - ideally ice cold.

If suddenly in winter you popped into the store for a bottle of water, then look for it in refrigerators, next to dairy products. There is practically no chance of finding a half-liter bottle that has not been brought to arctic temperatures.

11. No wild mushrooms

Photo: Prince Charles is not averse to picking mushrooms. Photo www.telegraph.co.uk.

Oh, if you knew how much I dream of picking mushrooms. I haven't done this since we moved to the UK and mushroom picking used to be one of my favorite things to do in the season. I am seriously considering the option of going on a paid tour for this - that's what my desperation has brought me to. In local stores, you will hardly find forest mushrooms, with the exception, perhaps, of Polish chanterelles in summer. For some reason, there are no canned or frozen wild mushrooms in England.

The saddest thing is that picking mushrooms here is allowed only in strictly defined places and strictly defined volumes, no more than 1.5 kg per person. It is believed that by clearing the forest, you thereby deprive the forest animals of food. I was shocked to the core by a story when one Lithuanian woman, who wanted to pick mushrooms in the forest and collected them a little more than the allowed norm, paid dearly for it: the court found the unfortunate guilty of violating the law and sentenced her to an impressive fine.

12. Love for football

Photo: www.telegraph.co.uk.

That the British real football fans - it is known, probably, to every football fan. But not everyone knows what epidemic proportions this hobby has. From an early age, as soon as the child has learned to walk, he learns to play with the ball. Football clubs for children of all ages thrive in England: they take kids from two years old, where they learn to pass and score goals under the strict guidance of coaches. The brightest kids, accustomed to daily drill, have a good chance of getting into the youth teams of world famous clubs such as Chelsea and Arsenal.

13. Addicted to unhealthy food

Photo: popular in England, coleslaw salad with a high content of mayonnaise. Photo www.recipeshubs.com.

In terms of the amount of mayonnaise consumed, the British can compete with the Russians (and, most likely, will win).

Potato salad, coleslaw, pasta salad and other types of salads popular in England consist of almost half of mayonnaise. Sandwiches, so beloved by the British, are necessarily smeared, again, with mayonnaise. Another popular snack here is potato chips called crisps, in addition to harmful trans fats, they contain (suddenly) vinegar, which is also hardly healthy.

It is surprising that with a huge variety of products from all over the world, British people choose frankly unhealthy food.

14. Long term planning

If you are reading this portal, I would venture to suggest that at least once in your life you seriously thought about moving to another country. Especially for those who have not yet realized their cherished dream, I am writing this note. Because I know from my own experience how long it can take from the idea “It would be nice to live in another country” to a plane ticket and a long-term visa in your passport. The more radical the planned changes, the longer the preparation process in every sense - from the psychological attitude to the collection of documents. So I am sharing with you what I have learned.

Be prepared for the fact that you will need at least a year to move.

The sooner you start preparing, the easier it will be for you. Start right now. For example, after reading this article. The motives to say goodbye to the Motherland forever or for a short time are different, but the main dragon on the way to the cherished goal, as a rule, sits in our head. It can be unfinished business, obligations, a sense of responsibility for parents / children / business. This is the fear of the new, unknown, unusual, alien. Uncertainty in their abilities. This is a whole complex of sensations, quite justified, and it is not so easy to get rid of them. It takes time to put your thoughts and deeds in order, during which you will have time to watch more than one video and read more than one article about life in another country, weigh all the pros and cons, talk with experienced people, set life priorities. For those who have a very strong desire to live abroad, but it seems that the dream is too far and unattainable, there are specially trained consultants, coaches who help to reach the intended goal without turning off.

It is useless to try to force things.

Give yourself as much time to reflect as you need, but do not part with your idea in the face of doubts and fears. You still won't leave before you're ready. Better say to yourself - "I'll try!" A simple phrase that encourages you to take a chance, to try, but at the same time does not set the bar too high. Don't burn bridges ahead of time. It will be much easier for you if you leave yourself an escape route. I know people who received citizenship on the second or third attempt. Adaptation is much easier for those who first go to the country “for exploration”, gradually increase the length of stay: the first step is long-term language courses, then a study visa for several years, and then a job search. If studying is too old for you, do your skills allow you to work remotely for at least the next six months? In a world of rapidly developing technologies, there are many opportunities to transfer business to the Internet. Having a minimum income in your homeland, it is much easier to establish yourself in a new place. And you will always have time to sell the apartment and throw away the old passport.

You will inevitably lose something.

Of course, by crossing the border with the intention of staying on the other side of the red line for at least a year, you not only open the door to new opportunities and development, but also close the door to what could be waiting for you at home. It’s not worth dissembling here, no matter what age you leave, you always lose something - whether it’s a year of study at school / university, or a whole year of communication with friends who during this time will have time to give birth to children and get bogged down in family life. This could be a time when you could rise up the corporate ladder dramatically if you stayed with your company, and more. You will inevitably yearn for your loved ones and for what you left behind. Whatever one may say, you will have to do some psychological work and understand what you are losing and what you will gain, and whether you are ready for such sacrifices.

In fact, there are not so many long-term visas to Britain.

When the first question is resolved, you need to decide which way you want to move. Each country has its own visa policy, so if the previous paragraphs applied equally to any type of emigration, then I write specifically about moving to the UK. It is no secret that Britain is one of the most difficult countries for emigration. Year after year, the government promises to reduce the flow of immigrants, complicate visa procedures and cut off unwanted candidates. Being law-abiding citizens, options like “leave on a tourist visa and remain an illegal immigrant” are immediately dismissed. I will not consider investments in the economy in order to obtain a residence permit as the least probable. I have no doubt that people with such amounts can afford to hire a personal assistant who will thoroughly study this topic for them. As for us mere mortals, there are not so many legal ways to move: work, study, relatives, marriage to an EU citizen and all sorts of specific options like a refugee visa. I will not talk about each visa separately, I will dwell only on some points. And I'll start with a stereotype that for some reason many people believe, including the British themselves, who for some reason gave me such "bad advice".

Children do not automatically acquire British citizenship

A popular scheme in America to come to give birth in the country so that the child has a visa, in the U.K. does not work. A child born to non-citizens in the territory of the United Kingdom does not receive citizenship, but receives only a temporary visa, which is canceled when the child leaves for the first time abroad. Therefore, if you, for example, came to give birth in London, and then take the child home to show grandparents, you will have to get a regular visa back on a general basis. The second stereotype is the typically Russian idea of ​​finding a handsome prince with a British accent. You can move on a fiancé visa, and such cases are not uncommon, but in this case you will have to show proof of love, including correspondence and bills for living together in a hotel. The embassy screens out fictitious marriages quite quickly.

At school it was necessary to teach physics with mathematics.

This is for those who decide where to send their children to study. Moving puts everything in its place. Believe me, there are so many economists, designers, photographers and architects here that even the British themselves have a hard time. In the UK, they are considered to be in a job crisis, with their own citizens first in line, then the rest of the EU, and only then everyone else. Even in immigrant countries such as the United States and Canada, categories of workers who are not too numerous always have an advantage - these are programmers, doctors, teachers, nuclear physicists and other specialists that the country needs. The lists of the most demanded workers who are allowed to enter the country are updated every year and posted on official websites. If you have found your profession or the profession of your spouse in them, you are already halfway to success. This does not guarantee a warm paid place, but it will significantly add points to you when applying for a work visa. Our traditionally strong technical background is still appreciated abroad. Not every company will be willing to act as a sponsor for your visa. This should be a fairly large organization that is in great need of such a unique specialist as you, and it will still have to prove that none of the Europeans will suit them for this position. But if you are worth it, the company will provide you with the necessary financial and legal support.

Transfer within the company: rely on the employer, but do not make a mistake yourself

Here I would like to mention such a fashionable way of moving now as a transfer within the company, that is, when your organization appreciates and loves you as an employee so much that it is ready to offer you a job in another country and take on all the expenses and all the paperwork for moving you together with the family from one office to another. We are talking about high-class specialists, and not every large international company is ready to do this. In addition to the largest players in the IT sector like Google and Microsoft, the famous consulting four are fond of transferring employees. Such an honor must be earned through hard work and high loyalty to the company. I know several people who chose their place of work precisely on the basis of the most likely prospect of being appointed to a post in one of the European offices. An absolute plus is the financial support of the company, you arrive at a ready place, sometimes they even help you find an apartment. Of the minuses - as with any promotion, you can wait for a convenient opportunity for many years, and there are many applicants for a place. In addition, you will be bound hand and foot by a contract with a corporation. Quarrel with the authorities and want to quit - you have to return home.

The easiest way to move is with a student visa.

Education not only opens up new opportunities in a foreign country, but also contributes to a softer adaptation. Students make friends more easily, get acquainted with a new culture, social norms, finish learning the language and leave the university almost on an equal footing with the British. And it doesn’t matter if you are 20 or over 30. It is not considered shameful to go to study at any age, especially for one-year programs similar to our Postgraduate or MBA master's programs. Studying is also the most fun way to move. It is enough to remember your student years. Now remember well, because this is how your life will look like in a new place. You are waiting for endless term papers, exams, early classes, a lot of coffee in the cafeteria and beer in the bars opposite, as well as the eternal lack of free money.

How much does it cost to study in England

All higher education in Britain is paid, but it is believed that it is worth it, as diplomas from leading British universities are highly valued all over the world. On average, a year of study at a university costs £6,000-9,000, which is more expensive than the average hospital in the US, but the master's program lasts only a year, and in the end it turns out to be more economical. Don't forget that you still have to set aside money for rent, accommodation, and tickets home at least once a year. Housing for students costs about 400-600 pounds per month (in London - from 600 pounds), which is about 6000 pounds per year, but you can, of course, find it for less money, depending on how modestly you are willing to huddle. And at least £300 a month for food, transport and other expenses. Considering that it is extremely difficult to study and earn money at the same time, before such a responsible decision, you need to understand whether you are ready to cut down on expenses for the sake of a diploma and tighten your belt for a year or two, forgetting about vacations at sea three times a year and buying expensive phones.

There are grants that pay part or all of the tuition.

If you feel that you are not ready to say goodbye to an imposing lifestyle, look around, suddenly there will be a rich relative who is ready to support your craving for knowledge with a ruble, well, or a sponsor with a grant just for your needs. Information about financial support will have to be scrupulously collected on the Internet. The most popular grants for Russian speakers in England are Chevening Scholarship and Erasmus. To win a scholarship, you may need remarkable abilities, as well as perseverance and brilliant academic performance. But such a scholarship can cover not only the cost of study, but also living expenses. Having entered an educational institution, you will receive a visa to live in the country from a year to 4 years, and in the future this process can be extended by continuing to gnaw at the granite of science. The path through knowledge to British citizenship is thorny, but remarkable in that students, as a rule, are helped in many ways. You will be able to use student discounts and special offers, have time to complete an internship in your specialty and even get your first work experience in the country. And after graduation, you will be entitled to a simplified procedure for reissuing a work visa.

Of course, there are still a lot of details that did not fit in my note, the topic can be developed endlessly. I hope for someone this article will serve as a "magic kick" to move to the UK. Believe me, everything is possible, and if your cherished dream is to live abroad, you need to take just a few steps towards it.

It is advisable for a tourist planning a trip to Europe to get acquainted with the features of the country he intends to visit. Anyone who is familiar with local customs, mentality and realities of life feels much more comfortable in a foreign country, easier to find a common language with its inhabitants. Each country has its own color, traditions and customs.

You probably already know that with a UK visa you can visit not only Foggy Albion (Great Britain), but also Ireland. The Irish government has specifically simplified the entry procedure for owners in order to significantly expand the influx of tourists.

British customs and traditions

Everyone has long known that the British do everything the other way around: they drive on the left side, they put the forks on the table with their points up and work without straightening their backs, 44 hours a week. At the same time, they have only 20 days of paid vacation. Therefore, it is not surprising that when the British are asked what is the most valuable thing for them, the majority answers that it is money (the attachment to money among the British is twice as high as, for example, among the Germans).

But in relation to children, they are very generous! Compared with residents of other countries, the British are the record holders for issuing pocket money to children. True, 16% of children under 16 in the UK live with one parent. For comparison, in France this figure is 9%. In terms of education, this is the only European country where respect for other people comes first, and good manners come second. The world-famous English composure is combined in the English with great eccentricity.

Let's get acquainted, briefly, with what is customary to do during a visit to England, and what not to do.

Accepted in the UK

• Keep your hands under the table: that's etiquette!
• Take it for granted if a restaurant serves dessert before cheese.
• If you are invited for a cup of coffee, come not at the end of breakfast, but by 11.00.
• Wherever the situation requires it, you need to patiently stand in line (at the ticket office, at bus stops, at the vending machines).
• Men are required to take off their hats in any room.
• It is worth being extremely polite, and, even if you do not feel guilty, always say first: “I'm sorry”, “I'm sorry”. And the word "thank you" should generally become familiar in your vocabulary.
• Always try to smile, even to strangers!

Not worth it

• When looking for a toilet, use the word "Water closet". It is a pseudo-English term and will not be understood in England. They say "toilets".
• Don't litter. Keep clean and be careful in public places, and not only.
• Don't listen to loud music, even if it's on your headphones. This is a sign of bad taste.
• Do not stare at strangers, do not ask personal questions. It is not polite.

Customs and traditions of Ireland

If you intend to visit Ireland, you would do well to know that:

• Most people in Ireland are young, and the country is proud of it.
• The Irish are as touchy as they are friendly and open.
• In family life, the Irish are not supporters of equality. Only 7% of men in Ireland do housework (42% in the UK) and only 16% of men shop (91% in Greece). But they have an excuse: Ireland has the largest number of housewives in Europe.
• Religion plays a very important role in this country (95% of Irish people are Catholics).

During a visit to Ireland

• Go to pubs regularly. Unlike England, in Ireland it is considered quite decent to go to pubs from 11.00 to 23.00.
• The Irish drink about the same amount of beer as the Belgians, only the atmosphere is different. The Irish love to sing in chorus over beer.
• A must pay tribute to the famous Irish coffee: a mixture of whiskey, brown sugar, and black coffee with cream.

Never in Ireland

• To call the Irish English, and in general often mention the latter in their presence.
• Compete with the Irish in the amount of alcohol consumed.
• Count on good weather.

Summing up, we can say that if you always follow the accepted rules of conduct and respect the customs of the country you want to visit, the trip will develop in a safe and enjoyable way. It will certainly turn into an informative, positive and interesting adventure for you!

“I first came to the UK through work,” says Pavlova, “and spent four delightful months there. After a while, she returned there to travel around the country with her daughter. The voyage on the border of spring and summer was wonderful: we never saw either the notorious fogs or English stiffness. However, in order for the British tour to leave you with a rich palette of vivid emotions, in no case should you do some things in the United Kingdom.

Can't miss London. In England and Scotland, in Northern Ireland and Wales there are many places that delight the traveler. However, it is from London that it is generally worth starting the knowledge of the United Kingdom. When you walk along the banks of the Thames and see with your own eyes Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey or Buckingham Palace, all this finally takes on real features and staggers the imagination. All of us have been cramming these names for so many years in English classes at school - once, finally, we need to see it! However, among my favorites are London parks, like the famous Saint James, Kensington or Regens, as well as less well-known, but invariably well-groomed, comfortable and democratic.

You can't hug the queen. This is not allowed by the protocol. However, you can see the head of the United Kingdom quite close. It is only necessary to know in advance the time of her exit from Buckingham Palace and take the most advantageous observational position among the crowd of sufferers. I succeeded! But I was impressed not so much by Elizabeth II herself, but by the sincere popular love of the British for her.

Don't miss Sting's concert. This rock musician, composer and actor has long become one of the symbols of his country. I did not regret at all that I gave 40 pounds for a ticket to his concert at the Albert Hall. Sting turned a grandiose and pompous place into a real extravaganza! By the way, I, like many others, had the cheapest ticket. But all the audience from the gallery, including me, flocked right to the stage in unison and danced to the songs of Sting right in front of those who bought expensive tickets closer to the stage.

You can not try on knightly armor. They are very heavy, and it is impossible to imagine how noble Britons of all ages walked in such vestments some 500 years ago. But you can consider the iron wardrobe of previous generations in any of the British castles. In general, the ancient castles of foggy Albion are very attractive to me. Somewhere in Warwick or Leeds you literally feel the breath of time on your skin. And there are organized real knightly tournaments for the entertainment of the public. And the knights not only allow you to touch their armor, but also talk about them with enthusiasm.
You can't go past the strawberry field. Traveling around the UK, we stopped at strawberry plantations more than once: you can and should pick, eat and take a berry with you. So say the inscriptions on the field tablets. You will have to pay only for the strawberries that you take away. Everything that fits in your stomach while still on the field is free. And tastier strawberries than in the United Kingdom, we have not tried.

It is impossible not to take a photo with sheep. The fact that Great Britain is the birthplace of the woolen manufactory is evident to this day. The blond-haired herds are an integral part of the rural landscape. Especially a lot of sheep had to be seen in Wales, and we could not resist a photo shoot with cute and well-groomed animals.

Can't help but get drunk on a Friday night if you respect British customs. For more than a century, the tradition has been alive: friday is waning, and the sea of ​​​​people flows from offices or parks to pubs. There everyone, both men and women, get drunk literally to hell with beer. There is no music in pubs. She simply would not be heard there. The British, crammed into the institution like herring in a barrel, create an unimaginable hubbub. It is useless to refuse a trip to the pub with English friends on a Friday night. Otherwise, your behavior will be perceived as a terrible bad manners.

Can't follow the rules even if you are unaware of their existence. This applies to everything, and first of all - the rules of the road. Great Britain is a vivid example of a country where ignorance of the laws does not exempt even “misguided” foreigners from responsibility. Once on the subway, I missed my stop by mistake. Of course, it was not possible to bypass the controllers. They did not leave me until they issued a fine for "free passage of several stations." I had to pay and continue to be very careful.

You can't help but feel sorry for that that every normal Briton knows about the existence of Vladivostok. True, not everyone accurately represents the coordinates of the city of Nashensky on the globe. But in any case, Vladivostok is associated with the concept of pacific, which is very nice.”

Recorded by Olga SHIPILOVA

NUANCES

HOW TO GET THERE? The two best options are Korean Air with a transfer in Seoul (in this case, you will have to spend the night at the transfer point on the way there and back) or Aeroflot via Moscow (connections without overnight stays). The cost of a ticket is approximately the same - "round-trip" about 52 thousand rubles. in economy class.

UK VISA is an extremely troublesome business. In connection with the latest innovations, documents for it must be submitted in person at the Moscow consulate, attaching fingerprints. Then wait a few weeks (and in practice, it happens even three months) for a consular decision.

Pounds sterling remains the CURRENCY of the United Kingdom. 1 British pound = 47 rubles

England is a country famous for its world-famous sights, picturesque coastlines, green hills and numerous universities.

What to do in England?

• See the main attractions (Stonehenge, Shakespeare's house-museum, Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire, suburbs of London);
• Great to spend the evening in theaters, nightclubs, concerts, restaurants, pubs, opera, ballet;
• Get in a punt boat and go for a walk along the River Cam to admire the views from the river to Cambridge;
• Visit any English cafe / pub and visit the famous Five o'clock afternoon tea ceremony;
• Check in at the zero meridian (the reference point of time on the entire planet) at the Greenwich Royal Observatory.

What to do in England?

You can get acquainted with England by going on a bus tour (flight routes pass through all the important points of England).

Those who are going to England for shopping will be able to buy new clothes in any city (London, Chester), everywhere there are all kinds of shops, large supermarkets, malls. In England, you can buy both souvenirs and branded and vintage items at affordable prices (several times cheaper than in Russia).

It is better to go shopping in June and after Christmas (seasonal sales). And well-known brands and premium items are best purchased at the Bicester Village discount center, located near Oxford.

Major English cities offer their guests a lot of entertainment. Active tourists can go horseback riding, golf, tennis, football, rowing.

Leisure

• Hikers will love England, with untouched countryside, beautiful hills and heathland. So, you can go to the Northumberland National Park or to the Lake District, where Mount Scafell is located.
• Cycling enthusiasts can rent a bike and set off on one of the cycle routes laid out in England. It is better to plan a bike ride in East Anglia (its flat landscape and picturesque villages contribute to this).
• Fans of everything unusual will be able to see artifacts, stalactites and stalagmites on an excursion to the Kents Cavern caves in Devon. Here you can organize a celebration of a birthday, anniversary or even a wedding!
• If you wish, you can go on a boat trip along the underground river that flows in Peak Covern Cave in Derbyshire. Everyone who goes on this journey will swim through man-made tunnels, and at the end of the journey will fall into a huge underground lake.

A vacation in England means an unforgettable time spent and a lot of vivid impressions.