England, Wales & Scotland

Airfare:

Karen Brown’s Guides have long recommended Auto Europe for their excellent car rental services. Their air travel division, Destination Europe, an airline broker working with major American and European carriers, offers deeply discounted coach- and business-class fares to over 200 European gateway cities. It also gives Karen Brown travelers an additional 5% discount off its already highly competitive prices (cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions). We recommend making reservations by phone at (800) 835-1555. When phoning, be sure to use the Karen Brown ID number 99006187 to secure your discount.

Transportation:

If you are coming from overseas, it is frequently less expensive to arrange and prepay a car rental before arriving in Britain. If you plan on a visit to London, we strongly recommend that you make it either at the beginning or end of your trip. One option is to fly into London, pick your car up at the airport, tour the countryside, drop the car back at the airport, and take public transportation or a taxi into the city. If you are starting your vacation with sightseeing in London, collect your car from the airport at the end of your stay in the city. The trick is to avoid driving in London.

We always use Auto Europe—a car rental broker that works with the major car rental companies to find the lowest possible price. They also offer motor homes and chauffeur services. Auto Europe’s toll-free phone service, from every European country, connects you to their U.S.-based, 24-hour reservation center (ask for the Europe Phone Numbers Card to be mailed to you). Auto Europe offers our readers a 5% discount (cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions) and, occasionally, free upgrades. Be sure to use the Karen Brown ID number 99006187 to receive your discount and any special offers. You can make your reservations online via our website, www.karenbrown.com (select Auto Europe from the home page), or, as we prefer, by phone (800-223-5555).

Currency:

The pound sterling (£) is the official currency of Great Britain. An increasingly popular and convenient way to obtain pounds is simply to use your bankcard at an ATM machine. You pay a fixed fee for this but, depending on the amount you withdraw, it is usually less than the percentage-based fee charged to exchange currency or travelers’ checks. Be sure to check with your bank or credit card company about fees and necessary pin numbers prior to departure.

Driving:

Just about the time overseas visitors board their return flight home, they will have adjusted to driving on the “right” side which is the left side in England. You must contend with such things as roundabouts (circular intersections); flyovers (overpasses); ring roads (peripheral roads whose purpose is to bypass city traffic); lorries (trucks); lay-bys (turn-outs); boots (trunks); and bonnets (hoods). Pedestrians are permitted to cross the road anywhere and always have the right of way. Seat belts must be worn at all times.

MOTORWAYS: The letter “M” precedes these convenient routes for covering long distances. With three or more lanes of traffic either side of a central divider, you should stay in the left-hand lane except for passing. Motorway exits are numbered and correspond to numbering on major road maps. Service areas supply petrol (gas), cafeterias, and “bathrooms” (the word “bathroom” is used in the American sense—in Britain “bathroom” means a room with a shower or bathtub, not necessarily a toilet—“loo” is the most commonly used term for an American bathroom).

“A” ROADS: The letter “A” precedes the road number. All major roads fall into this category. They vary from three lanes either side of a dividing barrier to single carriageways with an unbroken white line in the middle indicating that passing is not permitted. These roads have the rather alarming habit of changing from dual to single carriageways at a moment’s notice.

“B” ROADS AND COUNTRY ROADS: The letter “B” preceding the road number, or the lack of any lettering or numbering, indicates that it belongs to the maze of country roads that crisscross Britain. These are the roads for people who have the luxury of time to enjoy the scenery en route and they require your arming yourself with a good map (although getting lost is part of the adventure). Driving these narrow roads is terrifying at first but exhilarating after a while. Meandering down these roads, you can expect to spend time crawling behind a tractor or cows being herded to the farmyard. Some lanes are so narrow that there is room for only one car.

Electricity:

The power supply is usually 240 volts although most bathrooms have razor points (American style) for 110 volts. If you are coming from overseas, it is recommended that you take only dual-voltage appliances and a kit of electrical plugs. Hotel rooms come equipped with hairdryers and they are provided by most of our bed and breakfasts.

Shopping:

Visitors from non-EU countries can reclaim the VAT (Value Added Tax) that they pay on the goods they purchase. Not all stores participate in the refund scheme and there is often a minimum purchase price. Stores that do participate will ask to see your passport before completing the VAT form. This form must be presented with the goods to the customs officer at the point of departure from Britain within three months of purchase. The customs officer will certify the form. After having the receipts validated by customs you can receive a refund in cash from the tax-free refund counter. Alternatively, you can mail your validated receipts to the store where you bought the goods. The store will then send you a check in sterling for the refund.

Tourism:

The British Tourist Authority is an invaluable source of information. You can visit their website at www.visitbritain.com. You’ll find information centers in a great many towns and villages—always handy for local maps and sightseeing information. If you visit London before going to the countryside pick up information for your trip from the British Visitor Centre at 1 Regent Street, London SW1Y 4PQ (near Piccadilly Circus tube station) you can also reserve a coach tour or theatre tickets. It is open 9 am to 6:30 pm, Monday to Friday; 10 am to 4 pm, Saturday and Sunday, with extended hours from mid-May to September.

Weather:

Britain has a tendency to be moist at all times of the year. The cold in winter is rarely severe; however, the farther north you go, the greater the possibility of being snowed in. Spring can be wet but it is a lovely time to travel: the summer crowds have not descended, daffodils and bluebells fill the woodlands, and the hedgerows are filled with wildflowers. Summer offers the best chance of sunshine but also the largest crowds. Schools are usually closed the last two weeks of July and all of August—this is the time when most families take their summer holidays. Travel is especially hectic on the weekends in summer—try to avoid major routes and airports at these times. Autumn is also an ideal touring time: the weather tends to be drier than in spring and the woodlands are decked in their golden fall finery.

Itineraries:

For England, Wales and Scotland we have nine recommended Karen Brown driving itineraries with routes through the various regions. At the beginning of each itinerary, we suggest our recommended pacing to help you decide the amount of time to allocate to each region. Often all, or a large portion, of an itinerary can be enjoyed using one hotel as a base and staying for several days.

 

Icons Description Summary:

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Air conditioning in rooms,

Beach nearby,

Breakfast included in room rate,

Children welcome,

Cooking classes offered,

Credit cards accepted,

Direct-dial telephone in room,

Dogs by special request,

Elevator,

Exercise room,

Mini-refrigerator in rooms,

Some non-smoking rooms,

Parking available,

Restaurant,

Spa,

Swimming pool,

Tennis,

Television with English channels,

Wedding facilities,

Wheelchair friendly,

Golf course nearby,

Hiking trails nearby,

Horseback riding nearby,

Skiing nearby,

Water sports nearby,

Wineries nearby.