Affordable Flights
Have a look at the travel websites, and you may be surprised at how cheap transatlantic flights are at the moment. There are some great deals to be had. A year ago, $800 was a good price for a ticket to London. Now, you may be able to get a round trip for $500.
The Weak Pound
The pound sterling is weak against the dollar at the moment, after many years of being strong. A year ago, a dollar bought you x pounds. Now, it will buy you y. This means that England is no longer prohibitively expensive for American visitors, and if you fancy bringing home some English goodies, you can shop without busting your budget.
It’s Springtime
The English are a nation of gardeners, and there’s no prettier time of year to visit. Flowers bloom almost everywhere, from large city parks to tiny window boxes. You will catch a mood of optimism, as people sniff summer round the corner and say goodbye to a long grey winter.
Of course it may well rain if you go in spring. But it will probably rain if you go in summer, or autumn, or winter. Take an umbrella, and think of the spring showers as part of the authentic English experience.
The Cotswolds
You know those pictures you see on calendars, of cute little cottages with thatched roofs and flower gardens in front? People really do live in houses like that. A trip to the Cotswolds, less than two hours from London by car, will take you through quaint villages nestling in beautiful green countryside. Stop for a fish and chips lunch in a traditional stone-built pub, hundreds of years old. Stop again for afternoon tea, including scones and jam, in a teashop. Which brings us to…
Tea
The British love their tea. Remember that when tea is on the menu, it will be hot black tea, with milk. If you want any other kind of tea, you will have to explain carefully. Coffee-lovers, don’t worry. There are plenty of Starbucks over there too.
The Ocean
Nowhere in England is far from the ocean (but call it “the sea” as they do). There is a wonderful variety of coastal scenery: fishing villages where you can watch small boats land their daily catches, dramatic cliffs watched over by historic lighthouses, windswept dunes and great expanses of sand. Remember that this is the North Atlantic, and unless you’re very hardy, don’t bother to pack your swimsuit.
Trains
Roads are busy and congested, so why not let the train take the strain? Routes between major cities (particularly into London) are quick, and you’ll be able to relax and appreciate the beautiful English countryside as you travel through on comfortable high-speed trains. Train travel can be expensive, unless you book in advance, so make reservations before you go. Why not take the classy Eurostar train for a day trip to Paris or Brussels, and get a flavor of continental Europe?
Cathedrals
You would have to be very stone-hearted not to be moved by the architectural beauty and majesty of these historic masterpieces. They have stood for hundreds of years, places of worship, of refuge, of inspiration, of prayer. Give yourself time to sit and drink in the atmosphere, and leave refreshed and uplifted.
Cadbury’s Chocolate
What? You haven’t ever tasted Cadbury’s chocolate? That in itself is reason enough for a trip to England. I’m afraid Hershey’s will never quite satisfy you again. But don’t worry: you can buy Cadbury’s at World Market and even some Dillons stores in Wichita, if you’ve developed a habit you can’t kick.
The Obama Effect
The American election generated huge interest in Europe, and dominated the media for months. The majority of Brits wanted to see Obama in the White House; George Bush was not a popular President, in spite of his good relationship with the Prime Minister Tony Blair. So there was great excitement when Obama was elected, and people are watching his early presidency with interest.
Whatever your own political inclinations, you will feel the benefit of this new American-friendly atmosphere. If you want to talk politics, you’ll find it easy to draw people into conversation. And talking of conversation…
The English Accent
Can you imagine being in a place where everyone has that cute accent? You’ll sit next to people who sound like Hugh Grant, Kate Winslet, or the Queen. Just walking along the ‘pavement’, you’ll feel like you’re in a ‘film’.
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