Find everything that women travelers in England need to know about health, romance, women’s rights and safety.
All the information below is provided by Pink Pangea community members based on their experiences abroad. Add your voice!
Health
Feminine Hygienic Products
Monika says: The supermarkets (like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Waitrose) as well as the main drugstores (Superdrug and Boots) located all over London are well stocked with feminine needs.
Birth Control
Monika says: Drugstores (Boots, Superdrug) all over London.
Romance
Dating Locals
Monika says: Don’t go to pubs by yourself. Talking to men in pubs or clubs usually makes the statement that you are looking to become romantic. Americans can be very touchy and engaging, which can sometimes be misconstrued by less-social/extroverted Brits as flirting or romantic interest.
Men
Monika says: Several types: Love soccer, love going to pubs, like to complain, make political and dry humored jokes, will pick on you if they like you, like to start debates.
Women's Rights
Tips for Women Travelers in England
Women’s Rights
Monika says: England could be seen as very egalitarian.
Local Women
Monika says: It’s considered okay for American women to be more outgoing and flirty. They may also be seen as less educated or wealthy. Kokes about eating fast food or not being athletic often come up. Many Brits consider Americans to be looser, but also more attractive than British women.
Women-Specific Environments
Monika says: Women are not recommended to go to pubs or a soccer-screenings by themselves at night. These arenas are very concentrated with males and any women present can be seen as looking to meet guys.
Perception of American Women
Monika says: American women are seen as nonathletic, uneducated, and overweight. American women are expected to love movies, reality tv, hip hop music, to be unaware of global politics, to think America is the greatest country in the world, and to be flirtatious, smiley, and outgoing.
Safety
Transportation
Monika says: Don’t sit on the upper level of the double decker buses at night.
Clothing
Monika says: Anything goes. But stay away from “Pro-America” t-shirts/conversation tees.
8 British Phrases You’ll Want to Know By Stephanie Morgan
Living in England hasn’t quite sunk in yet, but just as I feel like England is becoming home, someone points out my accent or says “pardon” when I say a word or a phrase she just doesn’t understand. I can’t really help what my accent is like, but I have tried really hard to change some of my vocabulary to make things a little easier while trying to converse with the locals.
I find myself saying things like, “It’s bloody freezing out” in order to emphasize how cold it is but also because there is no conversation topic the British love as much as the weather. No, really. When someone “toots” me while I am driving (on the wrong side no less), I think to myself, “What a wanker!”
You get the point–there are a lot of words the Brits use that us “Yanks” just don’t. Here is a compilation of some of my favorite new words and some examples of how they are used:
All Right?
This is the British way of asking how you are. The only issue I have with this is that I find that someone is simply always asking me if I’m all right. When people ask you so many times if you’re all right you start to wonder if you are indeed not all right.
Needless to say, the Brits I know are not allowed to ask me more than once in one visit if I’m all right because if I’m not all right, I will be sure to let them know.
Chat Up
The American equivalent to using pick-up lines. You can use a “chat-up line” or you can simply chat up a guy or girl (lad/bloke or lass/bird).
Chuffed
One of the cutest words in my opinion. If something makes you really happy, you would say, “I’m well chuffed!” I especially loved when someone told me that I must be “chuffed to bits” about learning to drive a manual so quickly. Chuffed, indeed.
Fit
“That bird is well fit” means “That girl is hot.” The Brits use the word fit for all around good looks and not just a fit body.
Tips for Women Travelers in England
Gutted
This is to be very upset or disappointed, as in, “I am so gutted that I didn’t get the job.”
Knackered
This is such a handy word. It means exhausted and for the Brits, it is the word of choice to describe how they feel after yet another night of heavy drinking. Can anyone say hangover (I think that’s a universal word)?
Moreish
Synonymous with cookies (biscuits), pizza, cake, chips (crisps), and any other delicious (scrummy) snack. Moreish is that sensation of just not wanting to stop eating something, when one serving just won’t do!
Pissed/Smashed/Sloshed
All words for being completely wasted. Someone told me that you can pretty much come up with any combination of words to describe being drunk and Brits will understand. Having a pint is a huge part of the culture and having fun always starts with a drink.
There are tons of words I have learned while living here but these are just a few of my favorites. If you make it to this side of the pond at least you’ll be sorted with a few phrases. And if all else fails you could always just talk about the weather…
10 London Experiences You Won’t Want to Miss by Maaike van Kuijk
Big Ben, Tower Bridge, and Covent Garden are some of the headline attractions among London sights, but myriad treasures lie beyond them. During my second week as an intern in London, I felt the familiar travel jitters kick in and decided to explore the city I would call home for the next six months.
Samuel Johnson once said, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life,” and I certainly felt this to be true as I hopped on the Tube to spend every weekend at a different place in the vast metropolis. Now I return as often as possible to the place I completely fell in love with.
Here are 10 of my favorite London experiences you won’t want to miss:
1. All the world’s a stage
The world of London theatre is like a big bubble of excitement that drags you in, whether you like it or not. As a huge theatre afficionado, I’m always curious about everything that goes on behind the red stage curtains. One of my personal favorites is a guided tour I attended a few times at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. There’s always something new to discover!
2. London’s beauty at night
The Southbank features many attractions like the London Eye, the National Theatre, and Tate Modern. But the views at night are especially stunning. The pictures you take during a walk from London Eye to Tower Bridge during nighttime are the ones you can really brag about to your friends and family at home.
3. Flamingos on the roof
Flamingos on a London rooftop? Right on top of 99 Kensington High Street, you can find three different types of gardens: a Tudor-style garden, a Moorish-style garden, and an English-style garden. In this latter garden you can most definitely find flamingos. Four actually, called Bill, Ben, Splosh and Pecks.
The gardens are open to the public, unless pre-booked by a private party.
4. Afternoon tea in style
Nothing beats the English classic that is afternoon tea, and what’s better than having your afternoon tea in the Duke and Duchess’ back garden?
The Orangery at Kensington Palace was built especially for Queen Anne in the 1800s as a location for her to entertain the upper class, but nowadays we ‘normal’ folks can enjoy a delicious afternoon tea in here.
I treated my cousin to a delicious tea for her birthday at the Orangery once, and we both felt like princesses!
5. Ghosts of the past
Highgate Cemetery is one of the most beautiful cemeteries I have ever seen. I joined a guided tour of the west cemetery, and although it was a little bit creepy, I was constantly in awe while walking through the jungle of gravestones. And a literal jungle it is because all of the gothic statues, tombs and mausoleums overgrown with branches, leaves and bushes.
6. Shopping and stadiums
Tips for Women Travelers in England
In 2012, the spotlights were on London sights, and, more specifically, on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford. Three years have passed since the Olympic events, but it’s still a lovely place to visit. A large shopping centre at the entrance is now home to shops, a sumptuous food court, a cinema, and bowling alleys.
The park itself is also a great place to visit on a sunny day, as you can lie on the grass taking in the views of the enormous stadiums that surround you. Or, take the lift all the way up to the observation deck of the ArcelorMittal Orbit and admire East London from above.
7. Vintage markets, curry and graffiti
I originally visited Brick Lane because I wanted to see firsthand if all the stories about the vintage markets, food halls and music events were true. I can assure you: all the rumors are true, and Brick Lane is a great place to visit (especially on a Sunday when all the markets are in full operation).
I didn’t expect, however, to find so much incredible street art during my stroll through the streets. The places where you can find amazing works of graffiti stretch from Brick Lane to Shoreditch in the east.
8. Cinema extravaganza
Several organizations in London organize outdoor cinema events during the summer months. My friend and I decided to book tickets to the Greenwich Park viewing of ‘Gravity’. The experience itself was even more spectacular than I had imagined.
From our position high up on the hill in Greenwich Park, we saw the sun set over London and the city lighting up at night. Honestly and absolutely incredible.
9. Market of yesteryear
Leadenhall Market is a covered market that dates back to the 14th century. It’s hidden between some of the most modern buildings of London and is home to several shops and restaurants. The arcades of the market are beautifully decorated, and it’s a place I really like to go for lunch.
10. World of magic
I’ve never been a true ‘Potterhead’ myself to be honest, but to be able to visit the studios where the ‘magic was brought to life’ was an offer I just couldn’t refuse. And I am so glad I decided to go, because there was so much of what was used in the movies: costumes, props, wigs, special effects, you name it!
It’s even possible to sit in the original flying Ford Anglia, buy butterbeer, and walk through Diagon Alley, where the students of Hogwarts bought their broomsticks and owls.
3 Oddball Attractions in London by Elina Pedersen
ondon is a diverse city with a population of eight and a half million and fantastic tourist attractions all over town. The popular sites–such as the London Eye, Big Ben and Tower Bridge–are definitely worth visiting, but some of us prefer to explore lesser-known places. The city is one of the biggest and most historic in all of Europe, so has a lot of secrets and mysteries unknown to the average tourist. Try these three quirky attractions in London for starters.
1. The London Noses
If you like spotting small objects and an have excellent eye for details, this playful attraction in for you. Scattered throughout London (especially Soho) are nose reproductions that British artist Rick Buckley made from bronze. The noses are life-size and attached to different buildings and monuments.
Sometimes they’re high above the ground, sometimes low and at eye-level. The artist installed the noses in 1997 as a protest against all the CCTV cameras installed around London. There were originally 35 noses, but now only seven noses remain, so you better find them all before it’s too late! Start with the one located at Admiralty Arch, as it’s the easiest to spot.
2. Sewer Lamp Next to the Savoy Hotel
Next to the 5-star luxury Savoy Hotel remains the last Sewer Lamp powered by the methane produced from the human sewage of Londoners. Initially invented to burn off the smells of 19th century London, sewer lamps were a low-cost way of producing light.
They were were installed in many smaller towns and counties around the UK. However, it wasn’t possible to turn the lamp off, so they produced light day and night. The last sewer lamp of London remains on Carting Lane (called Farting Lane by locals!)
3. The Royal Cockpit
The royal cockpit, or the cockpit-on-court, was a theatre located next to St. James’s park mainly used for cockfights (a blood-sport where roosters fight to the death). People would place their bets on different fighting cocks, and won money depending on the winning odds for each bird.
In the 19th century, cockfights were banned in England, followed by Scotland six years later. Although not much is left of the original arena, the steps where spectators used to sit and watch the fights remain intact.
Tips for Women Travelers in England
Have you traveled to England? How was your trip? Email us at [email protected] for information about sharing your experience and advice with the Pink Pangea community. We can’t wait to hear from you.
Photo credits for Tips for Women Travelers in England by Jodi Marie K.