Our travel partner Albion Journeys has compiled their top insider tips for traveling to the UK to help you get more out of your stay
Do your research
If you want to get the most out of a trip to the UK, put a bit of time and effort into carrying out some research ahead of time. Thanks to the wonders of the internet you can read up on all the places you might want to visit, and plan the very best use of your time. Even if you aren’t computer savvy, ask your friends who have visited the UK recently to give you some tips. Make sure you read your tour itinerary before you travel, and if you are sent a reading list, try to look at one of the suggested books for some helpful background.
England is a small country but it is bigger than you think so don’t try and pack too much into your stay, take time to enjoy the places that you visit. Getting around on the roads can take a while as when traveling in the countryside to historic properties roads can be very narrow and winding.
Before you travel
Make sure that you take copies of all your travel documents, insurance and passport details stored somewhere away from your actual travel documents, so you have some back-up if the worst happens. Remember that when you arrive in the UK you will be tired and a bit disorientated, so make sure you have a wallet with some British pounds, your phone and all your travel documents stored where you can access them easily.
How to cut down on jet lag
We have found that overnight flights work best for cutting down on jet lag. Flying out of the US in the evening means you will arrive in the UK in the morning. Do try to sleep on the plane, take ear plugs and an eye mask if this will help you. When you arrive in the UK, try to stick to UK time rather than listening to your body clock. As you are arriving in the morning try your best to keep awake all day, rather than napping. You can freshen up at the airport on arrival, or when you arrive at your hotel, which should help you feel more awake. Get an early night in the evening, and the next day you should be starting to adapt to British time with minimal jet lag.
Arriving in the UK early in the morning
Hotels usually start their check in process at 2:00 or 3:00 pm. While you might sometimes be able to access your room slightly earlier than this, to guarantee a room for a morning arrival you will need to book and pay for this with the hotel as an extra night. Alternately, the hotel should let you store your bags with them so that you can go out to explore the local area while you are waiting for your room to be made ready.
The best time to visit the UK
The best time to visit the UK is in the Spring and Summer, particularly between May and September due to the warmer weather at this time of year. The month of October is also a lovely time to visit, although the weather is getting chillier, the autumnal colors will make a simply beautiful backdrop to your stay.
Albion Journeys are one of the leading heritage travel provides in the UK & Ireland and provide Royal Oak members with custom itineraries that include visits to National Trust properties. To travel to the UK with the Royal Oak Foundation visit www.albionjourneys.com.
