You might think you know England, but chances are you don’t know it like the locals. Here are a few interesting facts about England that most people don’t know and some vital info if you plan to visit this wonderful country anytime soon.
Speeding Ticket Cameras
No British cop is going to pull you over for speeding like a crazy prat. In England, all tickets are handed out via camera. So if you think you are going twice the speed limit with impunity, think again; those cameras are tracking you and stamping envelopes with fury to mail you tickets.
School Ages Vary
Children in England have a lot more freedom than state-side kids. Years 1-11 refer to ages 5-16 for school-aged kids. After ‘year 11’ the children are allowed to choose an optional two-year extension to their educations before college or university testing. It’s very complicated for outsiders, but it provides more flexibility for students in England.
Toilets Aren’t Free
This sounds pretty crazy right? But if you got to go, you got to pay. Public toilets could cost you as much as ten pounds, depending on where you need to go. When you put the money in the door unlocks: afterwards, it re-locks and auto-cleans the toilet. Keep this in mind if you plan to spend all day outside or sight seeing, and bring the appropriate change.
Accents Vary Drastically by Region
Outsiders might have a hard time distinguishing a rich accent from a poor one, or an educated dialect from an un-educated one, but locals know the difference. A Brit can often tell exactly what region another local is from without asking, as well as detecting his or her educational background.
Stones for Weight Measurements
If your math isn’t great (or “maths” in England) then this fact will be disappointing for you: Brits often use ‘stones’ to measure their weight, which can be hard to calculate because each stone is 14 pounds. Quick: how many pounds is a 15-stone man?
Tipping Isn’t the Norm
One is not required to tip in bars or pubs, even if they bring you food. People in England make minimum wage at least, so they don’t depend upon anticipated generosity. However, in restaurants it can be customary to tip 10% or more.
The Great British Heritage Pass Isn’t for Locals
You can skip the queues and get all of the necessary tickets and passes for a trip at one great price. Locals don’t have this option. It could save you enough to cover two nights in England hotels or take a trip outside the city. Definitely take advantage of this, so that you can spend your time and money seeing all there is to see.
The Best Sailing Isn’t on the Coast
One would think the beaches and ocean would offer the greatest place to spend the day sailing, but here’s a great tip you might not have heard. Lake Windermere offers great, affordable sailings all day long. People enjoy dinner cruises as well as booze-type voyages. While it’s not the poshest way to sail in England, it does give the visitor a chance to feel high brow.
Visit the Fabulously Wealthy for a Few Pounds
Many wealthy, fabulous families open their gardens to visitors for a small fee. This tradition has been long-held in Britain, and has appeared in novels such as Pride and Prejudice. While most families donate the fee to charities, some use the money to keep their households running.
Visit England this year and discover other fun facts that you’ve been missing about British people and England. The country has many secrets awaiting discovery for annual tourists.
