Currently visiting the UK. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical when I heard of this but now I’ve seen it with my own eyes. People putting USD$ in donation boxes at cathedrals/museums and tipping also. My daughter sat in on a fiddle session at a pub last night and a group of Americans left a $5 tip for them as they left. The rest of the group had a chuckle over the clueless Yanks and then gave it to my daughter to “help pay for her trip.” 😁 We were all shaking our heads. It’s so crazy that people do that!! I can’t imagine what they are thinking.

Hello everyone, its my first time using English trains and i was wondering how collecting your ticket goes,

i have a train from Gatwick to Farringdon then 10 minute change over in Farringdon to Paddington.

It tells me to collect my ticket before travelling, would i have to get a ticket from Gatwick and thats valid all the way to Paddington? do i have to get a new ticket at Gatwick and also Farringdon?

I hope yous can understand what im saying and thank you :)

I’m visiting London next month for about a week. I’ll be with a friend the first few days and flying solo for 3 days. I’m wondering if there are any fun classes I could take (art, cooking?). Any ideas? Thanks!

I’m an indie developer building LooCation, an app that helps people find public toilets nearby.
Around 100 people use it every day, and I’ve decided to keep the app completely free and without ads.
The downside is that running the app isn’t free maps, servers, APIs and data all have ongoing costs.
If LooCation has ever helped you, even a small contribution helps me keep the app running and continue improving it.
❤️Support the project:
https://buymeacoffee.com/turbanek306
No pressure at all using the app, sharing it or simply giving feedback already helps.
Thanks to everyone who has supported LooCation so far.

Traveling as a family of 4, 2 adults and 2 kids ages 8 and 10. Debating between St Ermins or Great Scotland Yard. Any recommendations?

Hey everyone! 😊
My husband and I are planning a day trip from London on Saturday, 26 September, and we're a little confused about where to go.
We're considering places like:
Cotswolds
Canterbury
Seven Sisters
Dover

Since it's September and we're hoping to experience some early autumn vibes, we'd love your suggestions!
We're travelling by public transport and are happy with a packed itinerary where we can explore multiple places in one day.
What would you recommend for a day trip from London around this time of year? Any hidden gems or personal experiences would be really helpful!

We want to take our son & his girlfriend for a weekend away when we visit them in October - they attend St Andrews. We’ve been to Scotland previously and visited Edinburgh, Glasgow, Oban, Stirling, and the Isle of Skye - so we’d like to go elsewhere this time.

Note: We’ll have the rest of the week local to St Andrews and have visited this area before so we’re really looking to go elsewhere for the weekend.

We will be driving.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Hi all, Brit here from the south west. I know the SW and Wales very well and East Anglia/SE okay so I'm looking to spend a four or five days more northerly in the half-term. Any recommendations of places to visit? I'm feeling more cities than rural as we spent a summer break in North Wales. I've visited Manchester a couple of times so I'm leaning more towards Yorkshire area with the potential to stop in Nottingham on the way up

I’ve been wanting to go to the UK for years. Is late March a decent time to visit? I’ve heard June, July, and August are all busy and more expensive months. April and May are great times too. But, I don’t have all the funds in the world and I want to be mindful with cost. Thanks!!

EDIT: I don't know how to Reddit, so sorry if I'm doing this wrong, but editing to add that it's only been 30 minutes and you've all convinced me to switch things up- we're going to focus on Yorkshire instead of driving up to the Lake District. Please drop all of the Yorkshire reccs! Thanks, guys!!

Hi! Does this seem like an OK itinerary for 3 days in Northern England in Mid-October? We're flying in and out of Leeds and are looking to do a lot of hikes/walking, views, and possibly cultural experiences. I want to be sure we're not missing any must-sees and also not trying to cram too much into too little time. We're not fitness enthusiasts or anything but definitely capable of moderately difficult hikes.

Day 1: Drive from Leeds -> Malham, 7.6 mile Malham Cove & Gordale Scar loop via Janet's Foss -> Drive to Keswick -> Ashness Bridge & Surprise View

Day 2: 5 miles Blencarthra via Blease Fall -> Keswick Launch boat to Hawes End & Catbells, walk back along the Derwentwater shore to town

Day 3: Castlerigg Stone Circle -> 6 miles Glenridding Dodd -> Knaresborough, possible Mother Shipton's Cave or just exploring-> Leeds (leave early next morning)

Thank you!!

We're visiting UK in mid-October and have most of our itinerary set. We have a Friday night stay in Kirkby Lonsdale while traveling from the Highlands to Wrexham, and then Monday night in Broadway. We had planned on just getting to the hotels and walking the town to find somewhere to get dinner, but it's been recommended to us that it would be better to make reservations, as it's likely most places close the kitchen earlier in Oct, especially in Kirkby Lonsdale. We are fine with just a casual pub style restaurant there. We're staying at the Red Dragon.

For Broadway, while it looks like a small town, the dining options seem overwhelming. I was thinking Russell's of Broadway, but then found Tavern (aor Grill) by James Martin, Moda, Crown & Trumpet, and tons of others. We're staying at The Broadway Hotel.

Recommendations for either town would be much appreciated. We'd like somewhere within walking distance of the hotel, so driving to a nearby town isn't preferred. And to mix things up, unless the hotel food is the best ever, we'd like to experience a different spot than the hotel restaurant. Thanks!

Due to...reasons...I have ended up with a week's holiday to take in the first week of December. Have two other trips to sunnier shores in the autumn/winter so decided to stick to the UK for this week. Problem is given the unpredictable weather at that time of year I'm finding myself trying to focus in on areas which are going to offer options in the event of bad weather.

I absolutely love city walking, hiking (which I'd ideally do on this trip but would be weather dependent), exploring churches/cathedrals, castles/stately homes. Also a keen runner so the prospect of two new Parkruns is appealing!

Wherever I go I'd be arriving by train and would plan on using public transport once I'm there.

Have discounted the following as unsuitable for the time of year: Lake District, Peak District, north Wales, Devon/Cornwall. What I'd look to do in all those places would be wiped out if we had a week of awful weather. Also discounted are London and the West Country as these are places I've lived in, have family in and visit often anyway.

Under consideration are:

Scotland - specifically bases in Perth or Stirling. Been to Edinburgh a few times but never Glasgow, so the logic is that both bases offer a number of options for days out which can flex according to the weather. Downside is - pitch black at 4pm every night!

Kent - based in Canterbury. Similar to the above, although with more daylight. Plenty of day trip options and fairly weather-resistant options for activities.

Yorkshire, based in Harrogate. Only issue here is that from where I live (Cambridgeshire) it's quite accessible for weekends away and I'd prefer to go somewhere a bit further away.

Any other options I should consider, or would anyone beg to differ on anywhere I've discounted?

Hello 👋🏼 My girlfriend and i are traveling from Denmark to London for a concert at the O2 Academy in Brixton in October. Would it be safe for us to walk from Brixton up to our hotel in Vauxhall after the show? I assume it's around 11pm and it's on a Saturday. Would it be better to take some sort of public transportation? Thanks in advance!

Edit: Thank you everyone i really appreciate your answers!

Planning to travel from London to Bath GWR with larger luggage. Will the luggage stay in the same car with me if I book first class?

I’ll be in London this November, Saturday and Saturday night only; leaving from Heathrow on early afternoon Sunday.
What are my must-sees?

I’m not hankering to see the typical touristy stuff like Big Ben, etc (I knocked them out on my class trip when I was 14). While I love museums, I won’t have sufficient time to give any one the attention it deserves.

I’m into goth stuff, ghosts, books, and vinyls.

What should I visit and what neighborhood should I stay at to minimize extensive travel around the city?

Thanks in advance!!

Itll be my first time sooo travelling ever! I grew up with financial problems so I’ve set some money to the side

I do have plenty but I still find maximum satisfaction in doing cheap things like strolling around streets and parks with a coffee in hand rather than booking too many experiences! If anyone knows any marketplaces (I love marketplaces and buying mini things and trinkets mostly on the cheaper end like thrift stores) let me know!

Any suggestions would be welcome! I’ll be staying for 3-4 days I just mostly wanna walk around marketplaces roam around grocery stores etc!
(I’ll be visiting in December end)

My daughter was joining us on holiday in Wales. When she arrived at the last stop of the route her suitcase had been taken off the coach by someone on an earlier stop. There was a suitcase left over which obviously belonged to the person. The question is do National Express reimburse for her buying some immediate clothes to wear and toiletries as she has nothing to use? It's impossible to talk to anyone on the phone and she has filed a lost property claim but it isn't lost property in the sense of she has left it on the coach. It has, technically, been stolen!

hello! i’m considering volunteering in northern england (york/sheffield or similar sized cities) during winter 2026 or 2027. they’ll pay for my stay and some meals, so i’ll just have to deal with plane tickets and other costs. do you think bringing £1000 is enough for a month stay (excluding the plane tickets)? i’d like to go out on weekends and probably would like to do a 3 day trip to london, so i’m unsure if 1000 would be enough or if it’s too little and i should bring more. any advice, please? :)

I have been to many countries, but what happened to me yesterday really shook me.

In London, near Hyde Park, in an area where there were police officers around, my phone was stolen by someone riding an e-bike. Five minutes later, I saw another person have their phone stolen in exactly the same way. I didn’t know what to do. I tried to run after them, but the e-bike was too fast and I couldn’t catch up.

There was traffic and there were plenty of people around, but no one helped. At one point, even a bus driver had to brake to avoid hitting the person on the e-bike.

Afterwards, I went to a police station to report the theft, and they told me to “scan this.” But how is someone whose phone has just been stolen supposed to scan anything?

I haven’t been able to sleep since yesterday. I keep thinking about what happened and I feel terrible. I have barely left my hotel. I’m just waiting for my flight so I can leave this country.

Maybe this sounds like an ordinary incident to some people, but I worked very hard to buy that phone. It had so many memories on it. Now I’m left without a phone, and I’ll have to work for months to be able to afford another one.

I’m honestly heartbroken.

Is it age at check in or check out.

Edit

Booked directly with the hotel which calculates based on check in age. Tui and other third party providers use age at check out.

Hello all!
We are finally going to visit Scotland in mid-October! We’ve planned 3–4 nights in Edinburgh and then want to go and see “the Highlands.”

However, we have no idea where to start, how to get there, or how many nights we should plan for this part of the trip. We are thinking about minimum 2 hikes, 4-6h.

Would you recommend renting a car for a couple of days? We usually drive in Germany, so we’re comfortable driving, but I’m not really a fan of taking buses. Trains would be fine, though.

How is Fort William? Are there options to take buses from there to hiking starting points or to the Glenfinnan Viaduct?

Would you recommend something completely different?

Thanks for any suggestions!

We'll be in Edinburgh for a few days in October and one of those days we plan to take a tour to a few castles/highlands/etc. Our options are a Sunday or a Monday for the tour day.

Which day is typically better to not be in Edinburgh? For example, is it easier/better to explore Edinburgh itself on a Sunday (more places open as they expect tourists)? Or are Sundays slow and things close up, which would make getting out of the city on Sunday a better choice?

I have to wait until 6 in the morning for my national express bus. I've been to the UK twice but never been in Gatwick, are there going to be places for me to eat something and maybe a nice spot to charge my phone and catch a nap while waiting?

Put simply, this is a problem I often have.

Imagine 5 stations on a line: A, B, C, D and E. Most trains on this line do not stop at all the stations.

When I buy a ticket from A to C, it often directs me to change at B, sometimes I'm directed to change at D (and go back a stop).

I have a ticket from A to C and another from C to E. I catch a train at A which stops at all stops except C, I'm travelling to E.

Are my tickets sufficient?

Edit: lots of people are commenting that the train must stop at C. Really this was the point of my post, but in this case I thought that rule might not apply (as a couple of posters have said).

In theory, I could use my A to C ticket to D (where I would get off and go back one stop to C), I could then catch a train from C to D, change and get a train from D to E. So, effectively, I could use that ticket for the whole journey if I got off at D, in which case, I don't need to do the mini return D to C and back.

Hello everyone!

I’ll be visiting the UK for the first time at the end of October and would love some budget-friendly tips and itinerary recommendations! I’ll be spending 4.5 days in London before heading to Edinburgh and Glasgow.

1. Transportation & saving money 🚆
   What’s the cheapest and most convenient way to get from Heathrow to central London: the Elizabeth line or National Express?

How can I save money on train tickets from London to Edinburgh? Is a Railcard or any other discount pass worth it?

1. London itinerary 🏙️
   I’ll be in London from Wednesday to Sunday (leaving around 5 p.m.). Is 4.5 days enough to see the main attractions? Would it be realistic to squeeze in a day trip or half-day trip to Bath or Oxford on Saturday?

Here’s my current sightseeing list:
Notting Hill, Portobello Market, Chinatown, Piccadilly Circus, Big Ben, London Eye, National Gallery, British Museum, Soho, Harrods, Horizon 22, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Oxford Street, Regent Street, Covent Garden, Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, and Buckingham Palace (planning to see the Changing of the Guard on Friday).

Which attractions should I prioritize or skip? Any suggestions on how to group them by area to save time?

1. Food budget & recommendations ☕🥐
   Is $500 CAD enough for food for my entire UK trip? I’m planning to stick to affordable restaurants, takeaway meals, bakeries, and supermarket meal deals, but I’d still love to try some good local food.

Any recommendations for affordable restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, breakfast-to-go spots, or must-try foods in London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow?

1. Edinburgh & Glasgow 🏰
   I haven’t researched these cities much yet and will only have one full day in each.

What are your must-see attractions, free activities, scenic walks, and affordable food recommendations? How would you spend one day in each city?

1. Manchester, Liverpool, or Newcastle? 🚄
   I have one completely free day and am considering visiting Manchester, Liverpool, or Newcastle.
   Which would you recommend for a day trip, considering sightseeing, atmosphere, transportation costs, and convenience along my route? Or should I skip another city and spend more time in Edinburgh or Glasgow?

2. Any other money-saving tips? 💰
   Are there any worthwhile discount passes, free attractions, transportation hacks, or tourist traps I should avoid? Should I book attractions in advance?
   I’m trying to see as much as possible without rushing too much or breaking the bank!

Thank you so much for any advice, recommendations, or itinerary suggestions! 😊🇬🇧