Tips for Americans traveling in the United Kingdom England Great Britain

Grocery Stores and Food 

1. Aldi is nearly the same as it is in the US, and it is the most economical. You will need a pound coin for the shopping cart as you need a quarter for the cart in the US.

2. Tesco is everywhere. It is reasonably priced.

3. Marks & Spencer has good food, but more expensive. Try their fresh carry out dinners at the front of the store. They are microwavable like our Healthy Choice, Banquet, etc, but they are never frozen...much fresher and oh so good. They also have a great selection of chocolate.

4. Eggs are not refrigerated in the UK but it doesn't seem to bother anyone, so look on the shelf rather than the freezer.

5. Fish and chips fish and chips fish and chips.

6.  You will find a wide variety of Indian food. Curry is everywhere.

7. Don't expect to find any Mexican or Tex-mex food, not even to prepare. There is one chain called Bar Burrito but it does not taste like our burritos.

8. Don't expect to find BBQ.

Clothing and other purchases

1. If you find yourself lacking in clothing items, shop at a Charity store. They are everywhere. They are like our thrift stores but usually well arranged more like a consignment shop. The prices will be way more reasonable than buying new clothes. You can even find shoes and jewelry and bags/ purses/ luggage. Some well known charity store names are Oxfam, Naomi House, Cancer Research UK. And you will feel great knowing your purchases go towards helping a charity.

2. The UK clothing sizes are different than US sizes. Women's sizes run smaller. If you wear a woman's 7 in US, you will wear a 9 or 10 in the UK. Shoe sizes are different...but usually they have the European and UK size on them, not the US size. I have found that UK women must have smaller feet over all because I wear a 10 in women's US and have not found many women's shoes to fit my feet in the UK. If you wear a women's 10 in shoes, it's a European 41 or 42.

3.  Most large cities have big chains like Primark, TK Maxx, and some you may even recognize like Nike.

4. Tax. The VAT or retail tax (sales tax) in the UK (and other European Union countries) is figured into the price of the items. Rick Steves, a well known European Travel expert tells how to get a refund for your VAT Rick Steves vat refund.

Odds and Ends

Remember that in the UK they drive on the opposite side of the road than in the US. When crossing the street look left/right/left. 

Rules for Pedestrians in the UK

The rules are different. Read the above link.