Ever since that "Revolutionary War" thing, the United States has always had a chip on its shoulder when it comes to Great Britain. We make fun of their funny accents, their bad food, and the fact that they still revere a queen. But without the English, we never would have had James Bond, The Beatles, or Gwyneth Paltrow movies. All we are saying… is give England a chance.

England is the perfect place for you to travel to if you're thinking about taking your first out-of-the-U.S. trip. It's relatively close, they speak English, and there's tons of stuff to do. So much, in fact, that you probably need a little bit of help organizing yourself. That's where we come in, matey. (Wait, that's not English. That's pirate. Sorry.)

1. GET YOUR PAPERWORK DONE

Get a passport

If you already have a passport, congratulations: you've just saved yourself $65. If not, then go down to your local copy center and get two passport-sized copies of your mug. Bring your pics and some proof of your citizenship - a birth certificate, a certificate of naturalization, or a certificate of citizenship - to a post office (or if you prefer, a state or federal courthouse). Fill out an application, and in a month you'll have your passport. Make sure to plan in advance, or you'll have to shell out an extra $35 - $95 for expedited service.

Americans with questions about passports may refer to the U.S. State Department's Passport Service page. Those of you who need can't wait a month and need your passport NOW should call Passports and Visas.com at 1-800-860-8610. If you're Canadian, then check out the Canadian Passport Office site for information, eh?

Get a visa

If you are an American or Canadian citizen planning to stay in England for less than six months, you do not need to get a visa. But anyone who is in England for more than 6 months needs to get one. They don't cost much - depending on how long you're staying, it'll probably cost you $50-$100 - and you can get the forms online.

You can get a visa from any British Embassy; here's a list of addresses and phone numbers to find the one nearest you. It might also help you to read our infamous article "SYW get a visa?"

2. PLAN YOUR TRIP

Decide when you want to go

We're going to tell you what you probably already know: the weather in England is continually awful. It rains almost every day (though most of it is drizzle-y), so there's no sense avoiding the rain season. Nonetheless, before committing to a travel date, you should check the forecast to see if there are any impending storms.

Our advice is that you plan your trip to England in early- to mid-October or in mid- to late-March. This is because:

  1. That's when flights are the cheapest.

  2. During the winter, the days grow very short; sunlight is sometimes limited to less than eight hours per day.

  3. The summer (especially July and August) brings in record-breaking numbers of tourists. If you want to get any sense of the "authentic" English experience, it will be very hard to do so with camcorders continuously whirring in your face.

Fly there

How else are you going to get to Enland? Canoe? The good news is that a flight to England is not as much of a financial strain as you might think. If you book a flight far enough in advance, you should be able to snag a roundtrip flight for about $400 (from the east coast, that is… bump that price up a little for a west coast departure).

Be sure to check the travel sections in major newspapers for any special deals or featured advertisements that might just want to send you an extra-cheap ticket. Organizations like STA Travel offers relatively inexpensive bookings for students, moochers, and other young people.

Our best advice, though, is in our article "SYW buy cheap airline tickets?," so we suggest you check that out. Some other sites to consider:

Virgin Atlantic
British Airways
If you are really close to broke (like "eating Spaghetti-Os out of an old shoe" broke), we're sorry to tell you that you probably shouldn't go to England quite yet. Stuff in England is crazy expensive, and even just backpacking through Europe - the cheapest way to go - can cost thousands of dollars. But if you're determined, you might consider flying as an air courier. That'll knock a couple hundred dollars off your ticket price.

Prepare your money

You might as well prepare your cash before you go, because you won't have any when you come home. Anyway, banks generally boast better exchange rates that airport traders, so you'll be doing yourself a favor. Rates may fluctuate slightly and are actually more favorable now than they were in 1999. Still, $1 US is currently equivalent to approximately .64 pounds. So do the math, and you'll figure out that a McDonald's lunch that costs $5 at home will cost about $8 in England.

As for getting cash while on the island, ATM machines are usually prepared for Cirrus, Maestro and Plus cards. If you're lucky enough to bank at a chain with branches in London (like Citibank), your ATM balance will let you know how broke you are in dollars AND in pounds. Then you'll have the cultural experience of being poor in TWO monetary systems!

3. SETTLE YOURSELF IN ENGLAND


Find accommodation

We suggest staying in hostels. It's just too darn expensive to stay anywhere else. Hostels vary in shapes, forms and sizes, but generally provide affordable housing with minimal amenities. You'll have a shower, a bed, and… well, that's it. Some hostels provide meals (or serve them at minimal costs) while others offer lounges packed with overstuffed chairs and pool tables. Some places require advance reservations - and advanced payment. But the best advice you can get is this:

  • Shell out $25 and buy a Youth Hostel International Card (YHIC). Some hostels only allow card-carrying members to stay there. Sure, you can buy one there, but they might give you a hassle. A YHIC makes it all much less stressful. You can also consider purchasing a $16 Hostels of Europe card, good at over 250 independent hostels.

  • Get to the hostel you'll be staying at as early in the day as you can. They fill up quickly, and this'll give you a place to put your stuff (as long as you can lock it up).

  • Get a guidebook that will let you know where all of the hostels in England are. We suggest Hostels UK or Cheap Sleeps in London (no, it's not about finding a hooker).

  • Some websites to look at are: Youth Hostels Association of England and Wales and London Hostels.

  • If you can afford a hotel (bastard!), then check out Places to Stay in the UK for lodgings all over England, or the London Hotel Guide London lodgings.

Get around

Definitely bring comfy sneakers with you, but know that to get around you'll have to use a bit more than your feet. Public transportation is very reliable in England (and the buses are double-deckers! How cool is that?).

To get around all of England, the most common methods are by bus or by rail:

  • Buses: First of all, remember that in England, buses are called "coaches." Fancy shmancy. National Express runs most of the show and helps out your wallet with student discount cards and tourist passes.

    (Note: many irate natives of England have informed us that they actually call buses "buses," not "coaches." If they ever use the term "coach," it's reserved for the buses that take you into other cities, but never for the buses that are used locally within London. We'll keep referring to them as coaches within this SYW because it sounds more exotic.)

  • Rail: England has a special train system called Britrail. The bad news is that it's expensive (at least $200). The good news is that with a Britrail ticket, you can take the train wherever you want around England an unlimited number of times (that is, if you have an 8 day pass, you can travel as much as you like over those 8 days). Go to their website for more details, but a travel agent may be able to score you a special student deal. But we recommend that you stick to the buses.

To get around London, there are several options available:

If you're there and you're lost and you need to know how to get home, call mom and cry. When she doesn't help you, reach a hotline for 24 hour information on London's public transportation at 0171-222-1234. And check out London Daily's advice on getting yourself around the town:

  • The Tube: London may have an outrageous club scene, but the Underground actually refers to the city's (mostly underground) local transportation system. Think Gwyneth Paltrow in Sliding Doors. You will love the Underground, from its frequent scheduling, to its neat and safe interior, to its conductors' "Mind the gap" warnings. But remember to rid your vocabulary of the word "subway" and replace it with the word "Tube." Good, now you're ready to go.

    The system operates on 12 interlocking lines that travel throughout zones based on distance from central London. Most of the tourist-y stuff is in Zone 1, but we recommend that you venture further out for more museums, parks, neighborhoods, and historical sites. Passes for a full day, week, or month are a must if you're going to take the Tube for even a few stops, as these options can save you a bunch of cash. Also, remember that the Tube closes a few minutes shy of 1 a.m., after which you will need to take a taxicab, a night bus from centrally located Trafalgar Square, or a long walk.

  • The bus: In London, you'll find the famous double-decker buses you've breathlessly awaited to ride. Go soon, since many have already been replaced by single-deckers. Tube passes also work on buses, and the same zone system governs the cost of your travels.

Or you could always take a taxi or rent a car. Just don't forget that "other side of the road" thing.

Know what to do in an emergency

We don't want to scare you, but things might go slightly (or even more than slightly) awry. To keep the chances of this happening to a minimum, travel smart. Pickpockets love tourists, especially in crowded places like Tube stations.

If severe trouble arises, go to the American Embassy in London, which is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Or, you could call for help in the States: the Bureau of Consular Affairs' Overseas Citizen Services (OCS) offers a 24-hour travelers' hotline at (202) 647-5225. After U.S. working hours (from 8:15 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. EST, Monday-Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday), call (202) 647-4000 and ask for the OCS duty officer.

4. FIND THE BEST THINGS TO DO

The guy on the corner introduces himself and the 'blokes' to his left. Before you can ask, he swears that he's 'bloody thirsty' and invites you to the 'pub.' You're fairly sure that you're not in Kansas anymore. Thank God. So if you're ready to take in some of the more 'smashing' sites and experiences, follow our lead.

First off, you should buy a budget travel book. But we're nice, so we'll help you start planning your trip with a few suggestions.

London
Bath
Cambridge
Oxford
Canterbury
Leeds
Wimbledon

London

At some point in your trip, you WILL stop in London; chances are you'll start your travels there. So we suggest that you start off in Royal London, where the historical sites are.

Start at the very center of London: Trafalgar Square. You'll see hustle, bustle, and tons of those double-decker tour buses. Head a few steps north to the famed National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery, where you will find treasures by the greats (Botticelli, Seurat, Turner, Velazquez, daVinci) and portraits of the greats (all the Henrys, Johns, and Elizabeths that you can shake a stick at). And guess what: both of these museums boast free admission!

Then make your way over to Buckingham Palace, where kings and queens have lived since Her Majesty Victoria left Kensington Palace in 1837. The palace boasts 600 posh rooms, and the public has been allowed to walk in wonder though the state rooms from August through October.

More exciting than what you may find inside the palace is what you can see and hear right outside. At 11:30 am, watch for the Changing of the Guard, a tradition that dates back to 1660. The Queen's Guard hands over keys to his replacement, accompanied by music, parades, and tons of hoopla. You'll also see those guards in the big black hats that aren't allowed to react to anything you do or say.

Next on your hit parade should be Westminster Abbey, where most of the English monarchs received their crowns. While there, check out the Poets' Corner and the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.

Next, remember to take a gander at Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and 10 Downing Street. They're all near each other, so it's easy on the feet.

If you have more than a day or two to spend in London and want to see more than all the biggest tourist attractions, here are some interesting suggestions:

  • Portobello Market: A mile of vintage clothing, antique furniture and jewelry, music, art galleries, and trendy restaurants. You can go during the week, but the best time to go is Saturday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., when the most stuff is around. And remember to negotiate the prices. That's the best part.

  • Theatre district: It's not Broadway, but it may be even better. Big name venues line the West End streets, so look for entrance bargains with student IDs and at discount ticket windows in the Piccadilly Circus area. If you have the time and you're visiting from May through September, you should really take in an outdoor performance at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.

  • Tower of London: The chapels and towers are oozing with history, as costumed tour guides offer tales of the royal families and courts, their lives, their fortunes, and their executions. This is where the history lies.

  • Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum: The world's most famous wax museum, it features startling replicas of hundreds of celebrities, from Elvis Presley to Al Roker.

Bath

Jane Austen wrote that she would always talk of Bath, and the city itself seems to pay her and other Victorians equal tribute with its charming design and tea-time elegance. Take a day to see the Pump Room and Roman Baths built as a tribute to the goddess Minerva.

Jane Austen fans will also want to visit the Assembly Rooms she made famous, which house the amazing Museum of Costume. And after you've toured the Bath Abbey, the Pulteney Bridge, and the Circus, you've probably worked up an appetite. Good, because you must make a stop at Sally Lunn's for a foot-long tea biscuit piled high with clotted cream.

To reach Bath, take a train from Paddington Station for one hour and 25 minutes, or a three-hour coach rise from Victoria Station.

Cambridge

Now thirty-one colleges strong, Cambridge has produced the likes of Thackeray, Byron, and Wordsworth, to name a few. Take a long walk and breathe in the country air, or read poetry under a tree like artists and scholars of yore.

Travel there by train from London's King's Cross Station or Liverpool Street Station in an hour, or by coach from Victoria Station in two hours.

Oxford

The "other" site of genius, Oxford University is the older of England's upper-crust institutions, dating back to the 11th century. Yes this is where all of those Rhodes Scholars (including a young Bill Clinton) head. While Oxford is more industrial than Cambridge, it too boasts of charming gardens and gorgeous scenery. Rent a bike at the Magdalen Bridge, and join those who travel across the lush landscape. To gain a sense of the city's history, stop at the Oxford Story, where you'll take a Disney-style ride through the eyes of a medieval student. Also check out Britain's oldest public museum, the Ashmolean Museum, for some rare artifacts and Michaelangelo drawings.

Trains to Oxford leave Paddington Station and take 55 minutes, while coaches travel in one hour and 40 minutes from Victoria Station.

Canterbury

In Canterbury lies the famed Cathedral where Thomas a Beckett met his death. The cathedral has welcomed visitors like yourself for 1,400+ years or more; the stained glass will amaze you, as will the beautifully imposing architecture. If you arrive before late afternoon, you will hear "Evensong" performed by the Church's musicians.

Trains for Canterbury leave from Victoria and Dover Priory.

Leeds

Leeds is one of those smaller cities that is every bit the more fantastic because of its huge culture. If you do stop in Leeds, make sure you're there for a night of fun, as pubs and clubs are famed. Also, if you're traveling during the autumn, consider Leeds so that you can catch the annual International Film Festival.

Hop on a coach at Victoria Station, and you'll arrive in Leeds in 4-5 hours, depending on which route you take.

Wimbledon

If you happen to be in England during the last week of June or the first week of July, you owe it to tennis fans everywhere to put on your snappiest sun visor and head to the Wimbledon championships. After a short trek on the London Underground, a shuttle bus will take you straight to the venue, The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club. Just be sure to secure your tickets beforehand.

5. CONSIDER FUTURE VISITS

Decide if you want to stay longer

So you love it. You've started calling your friends "bloke," and you got "pissed" after three pints of Guinness in Leeds. While this SYW is really for people who want a quick vacation, you may be interested in a longer stay. Once your 6 months of visa-less stay are up, you can try to get a job so that you can stay. TNT Magazine or The Evening Standard might help you find employment listings. And if you're an American college student, getting a visa is not too difficult; you can apply for work permits through organizations like BUNAC or the Council on International Educational Exchange. But if you know that you're going to stay for more than 6 months, remember what we said earlier and get yourself a visa from a British Embassy in your city.

Useful links

Whether or not you've traveled there before, the best way you can squeeze the most excitement out of your trip to England is by researching. Here are our recommended links to make the job easier:

Websites:

Alcohol/Pub Scene
http://www.britishpubguide.com/
http://www.britishtours.com/tours-britain/intro.html"

Nightlife & Tourist Attractions
http://www.timeout.com/london/