# Traveling to England, need some tips
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traveling-to-england-need-some-tips/228071
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [February 8, 2004, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traveling-to-england-need-some-tips/228071 "2004-02-08T02:38:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@ouisey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouisey)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2004, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traveling-to-england-need-some-tips/228071/21 "2004-02-09T03:38:02Z")
> [@Uncivil](#):
>
> I don’t mean to scare you, but have a look at this - [The Magic Roundabout in Swindon](http://www.swindonweb.com/life/lifemagi0.htm) . I can only assume whoever designed it was on drugs at the time. Don’t worry, you aren’t going to encounter anything as complicated as this, its unique in the country.
Look at that Swindon roundabout. We had a roundabout near where I lived called Fiveways…because it had five exits. It looked a little like that Swindon one!
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### Author:  [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2004, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traveling-to-england-need-some-tips/228071/22 "2004-02-09T11:16:11Z")
> [@audilover](#):
>
> Work is sending me to Bedford, England for a week. This is just about two weeks from now.
Pop up to London and have a few drinks with us LonDopers. We insist 😃
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### Author:  [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2004, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traveling-to-england-need-some-tips/228071/23 "2004-02-09T12:40:25Z")
> [@ouisey](#):
>
> Look at that Swindon roundabout. We had a roundabout near where I lived called Fiveways…because it had five exits. It looked a little like that Swindon one!
Yeah, but without the scary mini-roundabouts. What am I saying?? Fiveways roundabout is flipping scary enough!!
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### Author:  [@MaddyStrut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaddyStrut)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2004, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traveling-to-england-need-some-tips/228071/24 "2004-02-09T12:45:21Z")
Most US ATM cards will work in UK ATMs. Use this to get most of your cash–you’ll usually get the best exchange rates.
Likewise, when shopping your credit card companies offer the best exchange rates so use them. Also when shopping, see if you can get the VAT removed or refunded. Often if you have items shipped back, you can sometimes get the VAT removed from the price right there. If not, you’ll have to mail something back to get the VAT refund.
I’ve never rented a car with a manual transmission over there, but I usually end up driving alone and the thought of trying to work the shift and handle the map with my non dominant hand is overwhelming.
Learn to wash your face with two water faucets in the sink: one for hot water and one for cold. I’ve never properly mastered the technique though I’ve tried two. One way is to get a little cold water in your hands, then add a little hot water on top and splash that on your face. It works if you can cup a large enough amount of water in your hands–but I can’t. The other way is to fill the sink with water at the right temperature and use that. The problem is you have to either constantly refill the sink or rinse your face with soapy water.
As for food, I agree that curry is great! Wonderful stuff. Get used to the fact that most portions (even down to the size of soda cans) are smaller. But that’s good since smaller meal portions can leave room for really fun stuff–like tea with scones! Do try orange marmelade with your breakfast toast. I just love the stuff and can’t find anything as good over here.
Do get lots of the plug adaptors. Last time I brought one thinking that I’d only be using one electronic item at a time–that worked until I lost the darn thing!
Bring comfortable shoes. I’ve always ended up doing a lot of walking. Getting places on foot is usually pretty easy. Plus there are wonderful country walks that are just beautiful and a lot of fun (and burn off those scones I adore).
Other than that, follow the standard travel rule of bringing half as much clothing as you think you’ll need and twice as much money!
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2004, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traveling-to-england-need-some-tips/228071/25 "2004-02-09T13:06:37Z")
> [@MaddyStrut](#):
>
> Also when shopping, see if you can get the VAT removed or refunded. Often if you have items shipped back, you can sometimes get the VAT removed from the price right there. If not, you’ll have to mail something back to get the VAT refund.
Not true. You can get a VAT receipt from most large retailers which you then take to a ridiculously small office at Heathrow or Gatwick and they’ll process the refund there, I’m fairly certain.
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### Author:  [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2004, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traveling-to-england-need-some-tips/228071/26 "2004-02-09T23:38:59Z")
Just another thought - if you’re interested in seeing a football match (ahem, ‘soccer’), the closest team to you is [Luton Town](http://www.lutontown.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Home/0,,10372,00.html), who are playing at home on 21st Feb, 2nd March and 13th March.
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### Author:  [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2004, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traveling-to-england-need-some-tips/228071/27 "2004-02-10T00:41:37Z")
> [@Uncivil](#):
>
> I don’t mean to scare you, but have a look at this - [The Magic Roundabout in Swindon](http://www.swindonweb.com/life/lifemagi0.htm) . I can only assume whoever designed it was on drugs at the time. Don’t worry, you aren’t going to encounter anything as complicated as this, its unique in the country.
Well, unique apart from the one just like it in Hemel Hempstead. There is one difference - Swindon’s is made up of five mini-roundabouts, Hemel’s has six.
The cool thing about these roundabouts is that you can legally navigate the large roundabout in either direction: clockwise or anti-clockwise.
To go clockwise, enter the first mini-roundabout at 6 o’clock, drive to 10 o’clock and turn onto the next mini, entering it at about 4 o’clock. Repeat.
To go anti-clockwise, enter the first roundabout at 6 o’clock, stay on until exiting at 2 o’clock. Exit onto the next mini, entering it at about 10 o’clock. Repeat.
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