As to “using your accent to your advantage”, my boyfriend and I are from Dallas, Texas. He’s a cowboy, so on our two London trips last year, people kept asking him to say “y’all” and “howdy”. It got us a lot of free drinks

Another very important thing to remember if you’re going to drive when you’re in Britain. When you reserve your car rental be very sure to specify that you want an automatic transmission. The default will be a manual transmission if you do not specify this. Even if you are familiar with driving a manual transmission, get an automatic transmission. You are already going to be driving on the left side of the (very narrow) road sitting on the right side of the car the last thing you want to have to do is try and figure out how to shift using your left hand while you’re navigating all those differences.

I love that the Welsh basically agree with us that it’s “yield” and not “give way” haha

We're tough in Australia - our electricity is 240 volts. We like our cup of tea NOW 😋

I'm glad you mentioned about the turn signals being called indicators. When I rented a car after a long overnight flight and was served by an Indian man speaking British English with a strong accent, I was totally confused when he pointed and said "There are your indicators." In the US, we use that term to mean lights on the dash that indicate something is wrong (low oil, engine trouble, etc.). After several times going back and forth with me asking "my what??", he finally reached in to the turn signal and said "What do you call this?"

Regarding trains. First time we went to Britain. We did not know that the doors on many train cars do not automatically open. When you’re on the platform, you have to push a button to open them. Also, be careful that the open seat you see in the train car hasn’t been previously reserved by somebody who booked online.

Thanks to you, "Ooh, Lawrence" is part of my vernacular.

Last time we were in the UK my cousin took us to Stonehenge, which was cool, but the real unexpected treat was on the way back to London we went to Bath just because we had time and it was sort of on the way. It is a really lovely town. The Roman baths are better preserved than any I have been to in Italy. We had a really nice afternoon. I would recommend it to anyone.

I found the steering wheel being on the other side of the car much more disconcerting than driving on the other side. I had no intrinsic feel for where the rest of the car was; looking into the rear view mirror felt like staring off into space. I _highly_ recommend getting a no-fault no-questions insurance policy on the rental car. I returned a slightly more dinged-up car than I took out and just walked away from it.

Two additions, both of which are to stop you from accidentally antagonising the locals: 1) When on an escalator, the right hand side is for standing still on; the left side is to be kept clear for those overtaking you. 2) Public transport is a shared space, so be considerate of others, particularly when it comes to volume of speech. If someone down the far end of the train carriage can hear your conversation, you're treating the shared space like it's your own living room.

When we went to England in 2017 we did 5 days in London and 2 days each in the Cotswolds and the Lake District! Totally worth it! Beautiful!

If you go to the UK and don't visit Tyddewi/St. David's at the tip of the southernmost peninsula in Wales, you will endure a blot upon your immortal soul because it and the cathedral therein comprise the most gorgeous place on Earth.

My last trip (2019) was with a BritRail pass. London - Birmingham - Sheffield - Liverpool - London. Seamless. Buy before you leave the US for lowest prices. Well worth the money.

I'm seeing lots more roundabouts here in America, even in small towns. I go through 3 of them going from my current residence in WV to visit my family in Virginia. I think they're wonderful. Traffic flows much faster when no one is waiting for the light to turn green. Everyone pays more attention, and there's usually not a problem with everyone waiting their turn if it's a busy time.

When I first moved the UK as a US Service Member in 1999 I was kind of adopted by my landlords. They have me a copy of Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain, 1942 as was issued by the US Army for troops during the war. It was as relevant in 1999 as it was in 1942!

We americans may not have a sign for elderly pedestrian crossing, but we do have ones for general pedestrian, children, deaf pedestrians, and deaf children.

Americans visiting the UK should also be aware that the standard for switches in the UK is inverted. down is on and up is off.

I took my wife to London years ago and I decided to rent a car. Sounds good so far I'm a great driver who had driven in multiple countries throughout the world. Well I go to get the car and unfortunately for me the lorry carrying my car broke down or something. The car agent is cool and upgrades me to the luxury class and I'm thinking this is going to be awesome. He then informs me that the car and well as the cars he has are all manuals. Not a problem I think. I've driven a manual car. It shouldn't be an issue. I get in the car and realize immediately that I'm screwed. I'm sitting on the right side of the car and the shifter's on the left. At least the pedals where in the same place. However I'm an American. So I say f'k it hold my beer and take off down the streets of London. I dare say that there are a number of Londoners who have PTSD after witnessing my first days driving. Especially that poor lady walking when I entered my first round-a-bout. I did get the hang of it by day two.

My daughter drives us around like a boss every time we are in the UK.

I have spent a lot of time visiting the UK, including extended time living in Wrecsam, Wales for a while. I learned just enough Welsh to read the road signs, and say "Yes", "thank you" and "you're welcome". When I am over there, I usually let my host do the driving, and when my British friends visit me in America, they let me do the driving.

Many years ago I visited London and was on a bus going to some tourist attraction. A middle aged woman looked at me with a bit of suspicion and announced to all and sundry, "you're Italian!". I just gave her a sweet smile and began a lengthy explanation of my U.S. heritage which does indeed include being half Italian. With the first words out of my mouth she said, oh, you're American, and thereafter seemed to wish she hadn't said anything because I was just chattering away.

As an American who doesn't get much time to travel, I am extremely grateful that from time to time my cheese board can visit Gloucestershire. The Double-G is hands-down my favorite British food import.

I finally went to London and Edinburgh and I absolutely loved them! I'm a solo traveler and I was treated well there. People were kind, helpful and friendly. I didn't run into any troubles except for the cobblestones and loose pavement trying to sprain my ankles a few times in the beginning. I even loved the ducks in St James Park 😁. I can't wait to go back. I'm already going through withdrawal from Gregg's steak bakes.

On the subject of plugs, one thing I would mention is, don't put an American hairdryer or similar in a UK socket. If you put a 120V into a 240V hairdryer, it is not going to do a good job of drying your hair. But if you put 240V into a 120V hairdryer then it will likely blow up and burn out. Same for things like hair straighteners if they are mains operated. I have a set of USB-rechargeable hair straighteners, so for them, I just need to pick up a new USB charger suitable for the country I'm visiting.

My first trip to the UK was in 1977 while stationed in Germany. My wife & I drove and camped 30 days around Britain & Ireland. Basically it was Dover > Canterbury > Stonehenge > St. David's, Wales > Rosslare, Ireland > Cashel > Lough Derg > Tara > Dún Laoghaire > Holyhead, Wales > Edinborough, Scotland > Loch Ness > Coventry > Straford-upon=Avon > Sulgrave Manor, Northamptonshire > Oxford > London. I later had two more assignments to Germany so every 3-day weekend we would fly to London. We took day trips from there to York, Shrewsbury, Hastings, Brighton, Portsmouth, etc. Sorry, we missed Grimsby. It was only in out last couple of year in the late 1980s that we started repeating sites in London.

I'm an American and I LOVE Derbyshire and the Peak district. I spend more time there than I do London, because it is so gorgeous and different than anything here. I've found the residents to be very friendly and helpful, too, when I ask for directions etc.

I've been to the UK 3 times, and each time I got a Britrail pass and absolutely loved it. The only thing I would recommend against is upgrading it to 1st class. I tried that once and found it wasn't worth it, since a good percentage of trains don't even have 1st class compartments and your first class pass won't necessarily qualify you for specialty cars (like the sleeper car from Edinburgh to London and vice versa).

My local pub is two Tube stops and then two bus stops away from central London. We sometimes get Americans turning up who have either thought to explore a bit further and find how real London people live or Americans who are staying around here because the lodgings are cheaper. They're usually good company. Your advice is excellent.

Would love to have the health and money to visit Britain & go see canals, and railway museums, and aircraft museums.

Since it was one of your mentions in this video: I watch a LOT of English KZfaqr's and I don't think a stone should be thrown either way with the improper use of the English language. It seems many of the people I watch cannot stand the letter "T" or the "TH" sound. I didn't fink I should mention it but I've heard it a fousand times. I probably shouldn't go any furver, a-shoe-ming (assuming) it might upset somefink. Observation only folks.

In Britain, you never want to see a train in the subway. 😂

I’m heading to Britain for the first time in three weeks. I needed this!

Americans don't like that American governments is in everyone's business, including our own.

Bring a raincoat & umbrella, skip Brighton, visit Kent, and you can never go wrong with fish and chips or a good curry, although the latter tends to linger. While the roundabouts are a bit daunting, compared to the ones in Rome, with microscopic cars whizzing about at breakneck speed and drivers who think yielding will cost them their first born, they're rather tame.

This is perfect. My wife and I are planning a trip to London in June. I want to head out to the Cotswolds and Devon where my ancestors were. Planning to take the train to Paris as well. So excited.

5:40 RICK STEVES MENTIONED :O!!! He is a local treasure to my city!

I live in Michigan and have 3 roundabouts with a mile of my home... I love them!

Whenever I hear your advice I feel really sophisticated for an American. Just FYI we have plenty of roundabouts in NJ and they’ve been there since I remember going anywhere in a car - and I’m old. They used to be called “circles” but now the Waze lady calls them roundabouts. Come to NJ if you miss them. Also, did you ever watch Chevy Chase’s National Lampoon European Vacation? Hilarious roundabout scene. You could have put it in this video!!

I loved getting to Britt rail pass when I went! You can get the one that lets you do non-consecutive days or consecutive days... So if you're going for a 2-week visit, you can get the one that will give you 7 or 8 days which allows you to be off going through a city, taking local transport and then hop on at your convenience. I also found the London pass exceptionally a good value for hopping on all transport for preset price for set period of time

When I was driving in GB I had no problem driving on the proper side, but I did have trouble remembering that the bulk of my vehicle was on the other side.

I just can't get enough of Lawerence telling us to do something NOW! Here in Canada we have many roundabouts and we still forget how to use them. Most of them are only one lane so it's not that big of an issue.

We do have a similar road sign in the US to the stooped elderly couple sign. But they're for " "children present" and usually only found near schools and daycare and such. I secretly think the stooped elderly couple is a really quaint sign. We also have a "running people" silhouette sign that is posted around the border w/ Mexico and along major freeways near the border, usually at freight weigh stations and customs checkpoints.

A very crucial thing to understand before visiting Britain is that they have the best ice cream. And the sausages are great too. So just put your diet on hold until you return home.

My friend was in a bad car crash decades ago while in England, he awoke to see a Rabbi sitting next to his bed. The hospital staff saw that he was circumcized and assumed he was Jewish. They were unaware that pretty much all Americans are circumcized and have been for a long time😂

About street signs I have seen sign warning for Ducks, Geese, Squirrels, wild Horses, Burros and Cattle --- Oh and Big foot [Only in the US. LOL] Tipping -- depending on the restaurant in London u go to and how often they don't ignore u. I tipped way above and beyond because of excellent food and service and I was treated exceptionally well, even given extra things not on menu they came by asked if I needed anything etc. Bus tours are great too and a lot of fun

very diplomatic of you, Lawrence! very diplomatic!

Would love to visit the UK someday.

5:06- It’s your wife that’s good at planning, is it, Lawrence? 🤣

When I was stationed in Newbury, a cabbie described their attitude toward Americans perfectly. He said, “you Americans are over. Oversexxed, overpaid and over here.”

It's a sin that you're not at 1 million subs yet. This year! Let's do it! Big love from your fan in Florida!

Traveled to Exeter numerous times for work. I found that I got more interested reactions to “where are you visiting from” questions by saying New York (which was true) rather than America or the US. I mean interested in the sense people asked me follow on questions. Also, being a New Yorker I always look both ways twice before crossing a road, because New York, so I never did the classic American mistake of looking the wrong way before stepping into the street. But my fellow Americans I warn you to take care in this regard.

Thanks for the tips, Laurence! We’re visiting in June.

When I visited the UK last year and rented a car, I thought the roundabouts would be the main issue to overcome. I adapted to them quite quickly (except the really complex ones). One thing I had trouble with are the extremely narrow roads in the countryside. There are no shoulders on the side of the road. Usually just a muddy ditch. I found myself gripping the steering wheel whenever I met a large vehicle going the other way. I just learned that the driver can't sightsee. Those narrow roads require 100% of your attention!

Here's good advice: Get out of the cities your international flight lands in to see the better parts.

I loved the view of street traffic that you shot through the windscreen of your Roller. Yes, Lawrence, I did see the Flying Lady.

It makes me so happy to see your subscriber number keep climbing higher and higher😃 Been following you since the low numbers and your humor and wit are unmatched 😂😂😂😂

I'll be the roundabout🎼 The words will make you out 'n' out🎶 I spend the day your way Call it morning driving thru the sound and in and out the valley🎵

If you get particularly good service in a UK Pub, tell the barkeep 'and one for yourself...' when you order another round. They'll usually add the price of a half pint to your order and 50/50 will join you for a drink. It's best to do this at slow times and strike up a conversation to make it feel like your very own 'local'.

A jet-lagged American driving on the left side of the road, from the right side of the car, and encountering roundabouts was a bit frightening, as I experienced many years ago. Aside from that, the trip to the land across the pond was wonderful, and I want to go back some day.

We just got back from a two week trip through the UK and Ireland, and had an amazing time! We took your previous advice and brought plug adapters. I really liked the efficient use of roundabouts. We spent a little more time in London than I would have liked, but we did make it to Stonehenge, Bath, amd Glastonbury in the south, a couple days in and around Edinburgh, half a day in the Lake district, and three days in Ireland. We had less than a full day in Wales, unfortunately, and never got to visit anywhere else in Scotland. I'd have traded a day or two from London for one of those two regions. We would love to go back sometime!

My ancestors came to Australia from middlesex, yorkshire, birmingham, penzance, from 1836 through to 1878 give or take, I would love to visit those parts of England, one day... I want yo visit further north up to scotland since I have ancestors from up there too and Ireland... I never been utside the country before so when I finally do take that leap it'll be my very first time...

I didn't have much trouble driving on the other side of the road, however, remembering that the traffic in the near lane was going to be coming at me from the other direction when crossing the street after leaving the pub was often a challenge.

I’ve watched a few of your videos - all of which I enjoyed very much, especially your style of delivery. But, but I never knew you were from Grimsby!!!!! Me too, and now I live in Maryland, and can relate to everything you comment on, on both sides of the pond. Keep up the good work.

At 7:13 I spit out my beer as I started laughing..you owe me a beer!

My ancestors came to the US from Bristol, England in 1865. So, that's where I want to go.

You posted this less than a week after I got back from my first trip to Britain. Sometimes playing the part of the confused tourist was quite helpful.

Mrs and i visited for two weeks in sept/oct 2022 and after a week in London rented a car, road tripped from Heathrow to Gaydon to Bath to lyme regis to london over 5 days. Was easy to adjust to the right hand drive standard transmission rental car, and acting as navigator and reninder service, my wife woukd say "traffic on the right, and pulling into the far lane, make a right turn..." Or onconing traffic to the right, pulling into the near lane to turn left" regularly and we got through it just fine. Helps that im pretty comfortable with stick shift and little British cars.

Cop: Ma'am, you have to exit the roundabout. Me: ... I'm having fun. WweeEeeEeeeEeeew...

In Florida I hear more people referred to roundabouts as traffic circles. In Tampa, there is quite a few of them.

Thanks for these tips.

Laurence, back when I was across the pond in '86, I used a BritRail Pass (as well as a Eurail Pass), and both were very useful, as well as, I'm sure, a huge money saver.

Advice for Canadians visiting Britain: Tell them you're not American

Considering my family and I are about to leave for a 10 day trip to Ireland and Scotland on Monday, this is fantastic timing! Are you psychic?

Your videos are very informative, entertaining and funny! Keep it up man! I’m a New England American by the way.😎

Very good video. Thanks!

Any electronic device made in the last 10 or 15 years is just fine with any plug voltage in the world. You can't use motorized devices at a voltage for which they weren't designed. So, no hair dryers. Also you can't move heaters around the world.

It's not the Volts that will kill you, it's the Amps. Using water flow as a metaphor for electricity, the voltage is the amount of water in a pipe, but current (ampage) is how quickly the water flows; a slow steady trickle may flood your house over time but being hit by a fire hose will knock you on your behind. Every UK plug/socket has its own fuse so the higher voltage is largely irrelevant.

The elder pedestrian crossing signs usually have a number on them in America, you can understand what the number is about if you look into Death Race 2000.

I had the opportunity to visit England for 3 weeks several years ago and really enjoyed it. Because I was there primarily for work, I used the weekends to explore London and the surrounding countryside. Beautiful.

Speaking of roundabout oh my gosh Ohio's got roundabouts popping out of nowhere well thank goodness that I've been disabled for 10 years so I don't drive

We were in Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day with teens who performed in Dublin’s Parade. On two occasions, adults came up to our kids and said “at least you don’t have to worry about being shot” Uhhh… not something American children find reassuring or funny. But, with over 650k people there, we found the Irish to be warm, welcoming and wonderful to our American kids. 2 comments doesn’t represent the majority of the people there. The people were engaging and interested in learning about the kids. I didn’t once get the impression they don’t like Americans.

The Brit Rail pass is awesome and a great way to ride the train system without the pain of constantly booking tickets. I also have driven all over the UK and it's really fine - just a bit tough within London.

One thing I would add: in many UK hotels, the key card is used to activate the power in the hotel room. This is a power (and money) saving measure, but can be a concern if you’re leaving a device in your hotel room (like a laptop) to charge up while going about your business.

in 2000, I was asked if I was a celebrity (!?) when I was in London because I was using the (at that time) new Amex Blue card which was clear and nobody had ever seen one before so I was asked more than once if I was famous because I had one. I guess they thought it was an upgrade of the black card. LOL hardly.

3:25 Laurence this may be true in a lot of states but Wisconsin is loaded with roundabouts. They are built in such a way that they're more challenging because the road crew builds a big berm in the center and loads it up with trees, shrubs, boulders, large "welcome to city" signs and the like. You can't see the traffic coming around the right of way which makes it more exciting to dart into the circle. Snow's a plus since it makes it harder to tell when you're about to end up curbing your car. I'd rather have the British style where I can see and anticipate traffic instead of "surprise, enjoy the honking".

Carmel, Indiana is a great place to practice driving roundabouts!

This is good advice. Thanks!

Dual language signs are also here in the Scottish Highlands, Gaelic roadsigns are a thing up here

Well there must be a 3rd kind because I've never thought either. I've enjoyed all my trips to the UK. Everything has always been great and the people wonderful. It was easy to drive ourselves and use all public transportation to travel all around the UK.

I don't know how common this is, but I was shocked when I visited an apparently moderately priced restaurant to find they added a fairly hefty "cover" charge to the food bill; I was told it was for the unasked for plate of small appetizers, like olives and bread sticks. (This was a sit down restaurant with no entertainment, though it was in a heavily touristed area -- Picadilly Circus, if memory serves.) Maybe it was just this one place, and this was at least 15 years ago.

Oh I looked up Grimsby..... near the water.... very cool

In Australia even the Government don't know how runabouts work, the regulations basically say "First in best dressed" instead of the correct "Giveaway to the right" (which would be Giveaway to the left in America)

UK is certainly on my Bucket List.

I learned about the voltage difference the hard way during a vacation in Iceland. I had brought a tiny desk fan which I needed for sleeping, and made sure to get the correct plug adapter. I confidently plugged it in and turned it on, whereupon it revved up to jet engine speed and promptly burned out. Born in the USA and fried in Iceland...RIP, little friend!

Another thing worth mentioning (That may be obvious) is use of the Metric System alongside the Imperial System for weights and measures. This can be confusing since some people will use these systems interchangeably or favor one over the other. So be forewarned, and maybe look into having a conversion app on your phone! This can be also very handy if you decide to REALLY get out of London an go to Paris or somewhere else in mainland Europe!

If you are in Wales look out for the Araf. These creatures may dart out into the road at any time; luckily local authorities will clearly mark the roads in rural areas where they live.

Re tipping in Britain: a lot of restaurants now add a discretionary 12.5% to your bill. You are not obliged to pay this (despite what some of them might tell you*), but if you do, you can treat it as the tip. * By law, you are only obliged to pay the price of the items as given on the menu.

I'll remember this when I get around to my bucketlist of visiting Duxford and Bovington.

Helpful video, as we’re heading back to the Big Smoke in a week, and need to get rail tickets to (possibly) go to Manchester or Bolton.

I have visited the UK twice in my life, once as young US sailor in the mid-90s on an MWR tour (Morale Welfare and Recreation) and again in 2008, where I hired a car and drove everywhere for four weeks. Started by flying into RAF Mildenhall (I’m now retired US military), drove to the SE of England*, skirted intimidating London*, then all the way into the NE Highlands, then onto northern Wales, popped over to Dublin to drive through the entirety of Wales, to the SW of England and eventually into London for the last week. Stayed in B&Bs and hostels, ate at pubs, stayed away from most tourist attractions, talked with locals A LOT. Met a lot of great people. A different experience than my one or two night trip in the mid 90s where I did the Londony touristy things. The month-long trip allowed me to feel the culture, the way of life. Side note: Loved that I shocked many Brits, Scots, Welsh and Irish when I steadfastly requested tea instead of coffee. Give me tea or water over coffee any day. Still makes me smile…with tea-stained teeth. Hmm…need to do something about that. I did research road signs, driving/street laws and that helped a lot before I got there, to see the similarities, but also the differences. Want to do it again. The one thing I forgot to take into account was the exchange rate and in 2008 it was a particularly nasty rate. Ouch! After currency ($/£) and measurement (L/Gallon) conversions, UK petrol/fuel prices are downright scary. I vowed to NEVER complain about our gas prices ever again, with the one exception of stations in/around airports, because they definitely jack up their prices. * Oh boy…. Driving on the other side of the road, on the other side of a car that happens to have a manual gearbox in city/village centers that are effectively a maze if one is not used to them was a steep learning curve. This was before GPS/SatNav on our phones in 2008. Nearly turned around and went home, but promised to try again the next day, to stick to M roads and stay the eff away from city centres. Soooo, what’d that next morning bring me? Driving toward the largest city centre you have: London. I was heading toward Canterbury from Winchester (I think). Wooo, tested myself by sticking to the Ms, which are no different than our Interstates. Did well, then hit A roads. Lessons were learned (love paper maps!!), but eventually I gained confidence and didn’t have much problems, even in B and one-lane country roads…until London. In London, I began panicking a little as I inched closer and closer to the centre, but found a car park a few yards/meters away from the city center line in Shepards Bush and walked everywhere and took the underground. Whew! And yes, I learned how to navigate UK roundabouts the first day of driving. Lots of circling until I could get a feel for how to navigate in a different direction that I’m used to. I should note that I have been able to drive vehicles with manual gearboxes, or sticks as we call them, since I was 12. Clutches and sticks don’t bother me. However, I was soooo thankful the shifting pattern was the same as what I was used to and not opposite. That would’ve been a problem…for a bit.