General

General:

Get an updated map; this 1927 road map of London is interesting only as a historical document (Photo by mikeyashworth)

Get a good map

A good road map can save you time and help you discover places and things not in your guidebook

Get active
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Get active—walk, bike, hike, paddle, ski, sail, swim, ride a horse, or play a local sport
Ancient
Ancient site
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Roman-era remains other ancient ruins
Apartment
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Rent a flat on vacation and you can often get more space and more facilities for a lower cost that at a hotel (though less maid and concierge services)
Architecture
Art
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All about the fine arts
Artist
B&B
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Bed and breakfasts are the quintessential British lodging: Small, family-run, with a proper English breakfast and often a lovely afternoon tea.
Brewery
Bridge
Building
Bunkhouse
Cafe
Camping
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Have tent, will travel... to these shady spots to pitch a tent or park the campervan
Castle hotel
Castle
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Many of those medieval castles you came to see will actually rent you a room—often for the same or less than local hotels charge. You can even stay in the Royal Family's Scottish castle (when they aren't at home).
Cemetery
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Cemeteries, tombs, funerary monuments, and other graveyards are the final resting places for the famous and commoner alike
Church
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From magnificent cathedrals to humble parish churches, holy sites are often also temples of art, architecture, music, and deep history—and where the mighty and famous are buried
College
Communication
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Using mobile phones, how the postal system works and other communications issues
Concern
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From safety and crime to any issues concerning race, gender, orientation, etc.
Convent
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Get thee to a nunnery! A save money by shaking up in convent-run pilgrims' hospices. No, they are not fancy, but they are cheap and they come with a side of piety.
Cottage
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Rent a cottage of your own and live life like a local for a few days or weeks
Couchsurfing
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Sleep for free in the spare bedrooms and fold-out sofas of friendly folk around the world
Cruise
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From river cruises to powerboat rides to relaxing lake cruises
Culinary
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Cooking classes and market walks, guided pub crawls and food tours—plus visits to vineyards, breweries, and distilleries
Culinary experience
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From cooking classes to market walks, foodie tours to vineyard visits, special meals to pub crawls, these are the best culinary experiences
Diffuse hotel
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This intriguing new lodging concept manages a number of rooms and apartments scattered all around a small town or village —the best of local living and centralized service
Dining norm
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How they eat in Britain—meal times, dining customs, and other national quirks
Factory tour
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Industrial sightseeing can be fascinating, from movie sets to manufacturing plants
Farm stay
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Stay on a working farm for country-comfy lodgings, low rates, and unique cultural insight (also: usually fabulous breakfasts)
Fish and chips
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Fish and chips are Britain's original fast food
Garden
Gastronomy
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Everything to do with food, wine, beer, spirits, and other typical comestibles
General
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Topics of general interest
History
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Topics of historical interest
Home swapping
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Trade places with someone in Britain and you both get a place to stay for free and someone to watch the house while you're gone
Hospitality club
Hostel
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Hostels, shared dorms, backpacker hotels, bunks beds, and other cheap lodgings
Hotel
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Hotels are the most familiar (but rarely the cheapest or most interesting) places to stay
House sitting
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Opportunities abound to stay for free at someone's home or apartment while they, themselves, are on vacation (often pet sitting or plant-watering are the only requirements)
Info and paperwork
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Tourism information offices, helpful websites, and passports and other travel bureaucraies
Itinerary
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How to see the most and the best even if you only have 1, 2, or 3 days in town (or 1 or 2 weeks in Britain)
Learn
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Get some skills on vacation, from cooking classes to tours conducted by PhDs
Legend
Library
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Repositories of the most beautiful and precious books, from first editions to illuminated manuscripts to the handwritten pages that became literary classics
Local culture
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British culture in all its wonderful quirks, traditions, and oddities
Lodging options
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Where to stay: From hotels and B&Bs to alternative accommodations—castles, cottages, college dorms, campgrounds, and nearly two dozen other options that don't even start with "c"
Market
Monastery
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Stay in a monastic cell (well, in the monastery's hospice for pilgrims) and get an amazing cultural experience along with your huge savings
Money and shopping
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Currency conversions, credit cards, ATMs, VAT tax refunds, bargaining, and everything else to do with spending money
Monument
Motel
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Just like in America, these cookie-cutter, cut-rate lodgings by the sides of the motorway (and in the cities) offer cheap, reliable rooms—if not a particularly memorable stay
Mountain hut
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Mountain huts range from staffed lodges to honor-system cabins and the chance for walkers, trekkers, and hikers to sleep cheap or for free in the backcountry
Museum
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Art galleries, collections of antiquities, historic homes, and museums devoted to history, culture, personalities, and other themes
Notable neighborhood
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Sometimes an entire neighborhood is a sight in and of itself
Other
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A potpourri of random experiences
Overnight train
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Overnight trains offer an inexpensive berth and the chance to cover long distances while you sleep, saving valuable vacation time
Packing and gear
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From packing lists to luggage requirements, how to pack light and how to deal with electronics and converters
Palace
Park
Party
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From pubs and clubs to festivals and discos
People
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Historical figures and modern celebrities, pop cultural icons and famous fictional characters, artists and writers and composers and more
Performing Arts
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From the theater (er, theatre) to the concert hall, the opera house to the church organ recital
Play
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Rides and theme parks, local sports and getting in the game
Pubs
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Public houses, taverns, and bars—places to drink, yes, but also to eat and meet the locals (families are welcome in most pubs outside the big cities)
Reid's List
Relax
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Spas, beaches, and other ways to kick back and relax on vacation
Rental room
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Renting a room in someone's flat or house is a wonderful way to save money and get to know a local in ways you never could at a hotel
Residence hotel
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ApartHotels, townhouse suites—whatever you call them, these modular rental flats with a front desk balance some degree of hotel-like services (concierge, housekeeping) with the benefits of having your own apartment
Resource
Restaurant
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Reid's favorite restaurants and other places to eat
River
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The ancient watery arteries around which many of the world's cities were built offer deep historical insight and scenic beauty
RVing
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Rent a campervan to explore Britain and take car of your transportation and lodging all at once
Scenic ride
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From Ferris wheels and cable cars to scenic drives and river cruises
Shop
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The best in British shopping, from souvenirs to handicrafts, everyday needs to haute couture
Sidetrip
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Get out of town and explore the nearby sights
Spa
Square
Tea
Tip
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Travel tips, hints, and advice
Tour
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The best guided walks, bus tours, escorted excursions, and private guides to help turn deepen your vacation experience
Transport
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Everything from airfares to public transit, train stations to taxis
Typical dish
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Local favorites, seasonal specialties, and traditional dishes
University
University dorm
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Colleges and universities across Britain offer inexpensive lodging in the student dorms when school is not in session
Viewpoint
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Panoramas and scenic views
Villa or house
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Renting a house or villa can easily save money for groups of four or more—plus you get all the comforts of home away from home, including a kitchen
Vineyard
Winery
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Learn how the humble grape becomes fine wine—with plenty of chances to taste the outcome
Work exchange or barter
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Swap manual labor to live on a farm or your handiman or other talents to stay in a B&B for free
Zoo

General

General:

Related pages

Related pages

The Royal flag never flies at half mast