Helpful tip #3

Buy food and drinks at a supermarket.
I learnt this particularly in places like London or Paris where eating at restaurants can be expensive. Rather find a supermarket and buy something there. Not only will your lunch be cheaper, but you could also enjoy it in a beautiful park or on top of the Eifel Tower.
In places like Rome, cold-drinks and water outside touristy places such as the Colosseum can be ridiculously expensive because it is so hot and one quickly becomes dehydrated. Rather buy your cold-drinks and water from a supermarket and then take it along in your backpack. If your hostel or hotel has a fridge, freeze one bottle to ensure you have something cold for later in the day. Also make sure you have an empty bottle that you can fill with water (if you are happy to drink the water as I was).
By doing this you are able to choose from a wider variety of food and drink for a fraction of the price.

The rest of England…

After leaving London I headed for the beautiful cities of Cornwall and Plymouth by bus (or rather “coach”). I found the coach great - very clean and efficient when compared to South Africa. I stayed with family, so it may be a biased view, but I found the English people extremely warm and hospitable. While in the area I visited a number of small places such as Looe which feels like a village from Goodnight Mister Tom or somewhere Harry Potter would visit. I also got to experience things such as proper Cornish Pasties, the Pizza Hut’s Ice-cream Factory, Starbucks Hot Chocolate (delicious), the Pound Shop and a mini shopping spree at Primark. These were all new places and experiences for a South African. Primark has awesome fashion and even better prices. The Pound Shop is just that, everything for a pound – from chocolates to make-up. The area itself is beautiful and there is lots to see. After spending just short of week there I headed off to Manchester on the coach and then took the train to Wigan for a night. Wigan is quite pretty and very historical from what I was told.

I soon headed to Holyhead in Wales where I then took the ferry across to Ireland. Wales is absolutely beautiful. Although I only saw it through train windows, it looks lovely, and I couldn’t help noticing the incredible use of wind turbines. I would definitely love to visit Wales again.

Overall England was a lovely experience and somewhere I will definitely visit again in the future.

Looe - Cornish Pasties

Looe

Starbucks Hot Chocolate

Plymouth

Plymouth

Wigan

Wigan

Wigan

Crewe Station

Helpful tip #2

Pick pockets are real!!! I am sure you've been warned, and whilst luckily I was not a victim, I like to believe it was because I was careful and prepared. Provided you are aware of your surroundings, and don’t act stupidly you should manage to avoid anything being stolen.

#1 Put locks on your backpack. I found it easiest to use a combination lock on the pocket access most often, and then key locks on the rest. This is much easier as you avoid having to scratch for the key every time you want something from your bag.
#2 When you are in a train or bus try to sit or stand with your back against something especially if it’s busy. If you can’t and are stuck in the middle, move you bag onto your front and keep your arm around it. This will limit access to it.
#3 Keep your valuables locked in a safe/locker at your Youth Hostel or hotel. Rather pay a little extra for the locker than risk expensive things getting stolen. Some hostels even include the locker in your fee.
#4 Be aware of your surroundings, particularly in busy, tourist filled places.
#5 Wear a money belt – yes, one of those terrible things we always mock other “tourists” about and swear we’ll never wear. They are essential. Use the one that goes under your shirt and keep your passport, money, cards and keys in there.

Sleep with this on! I thought my dad was joking when he told me to do this, but I realised why when I was overseas. Things like your passport are extremely important and if lost or stolen can be a nightmare to replace in a foreign country. Whilst I found the youth hostels extremely safe, there are certain things you just don’t risk.

#6 If possible, take an old/cheap small cell phone. It will be less of a loss if it gets stolen and you can fit it into your money belt without it being too bulky.

Basically it boils down to being careful and alert. Avoid dodgy areas and looking like a tourist as this makes you stand out as a target.