As I’m sure you’ve determined by now, this is not one of my 101 reasons to go to the UK.

This is just an expression of some thoughts I’m tossing around at the moment to keep my mind off of other things.

As of late, I’ve been debating how I could/should plan to go to the UK.  I have determined three ways that I would likely be quite content with, and I know that all three methods have their advantages and disadvantages.  I apologize for these late night ramblings, but it is something that has crossed my mind and that I think should be evaluated for future consideration.

(1) Free travel

Unfortunately, I don’t mean “free” as in no-expenses-all-inclusive travel, but “free” as in no itinerary, no restrictions, nothing to hold me down.  Essentially this would allow me to move around as much and as often as I please, because I wouldn’t have to stay with a tour group. 

Advantages

• Freedommmmm!!
• More excitement and spur-of-the-moment behaviour
• It would be a great way to meet both locals and other tourists
• Would gain travel experience that I’ve never had before
• Would have a great experience meeting locals and other tourists

Disadvantages

• Expensive! (Being spontaneous would likely equate to purchasing train tickets, bus tickets, and ferry tickets on the spot, thus no discounts)
• Uncertainty of expenses
• Uncertainty about where I’ll be
• Could experience difficulties finding a place to stay for the night
• Could be disappointing if I couldn’t see as much as intended, perhaps due to difficulties getting around or unexpected expenses
• Unlikely to receive group discounts or discounts of any sort (besides ISIC discounts)

(2) Tours

The company I saw that seemed most interesting to me was Haggis Adventures (England, Wales and Scotland) and Shamrocker Adventures (Ireland), both offered through Radical Travel.  Each tour runs between 3- and 10-days.  All tours have a discounted fee for students, and can be further discounted for ISIC card holders. 

Advantages

• Discounts! (ISIC card holder; booking multiple tours saves 10%; groups of 4+ save 5%..)
• For an extra cost, the tours guarantee a place to sleep each night
• Several hostels have some history behind him (i.e. castles!)
• Ireland tours include breakfast
• Taking several tours could be a great way to see more sights and travel further in less time
• Tours begin on specific dates (i.e. Mondays or Saturdays) which would allow for some free travelling in between different tours
• Total cost includes fees for ferry rides and any entry fees
• It would be a great way to meet other travellers

Disadvantages

• It could be difficult to meet locals
• If booking multiple tours, it would be important to line up the dates properly to allow adequate time for travel between depature towns (i.e. Dublin to London or London to Edinburgh)
• May have a strong “tourist” feel
• Tours may not include sites that I want to see

(3) Working Abroad

The company I am most interested in for this would be SWAP: Student Work Abroad Programme, which allows students (or non-students up to 30 years old) have the opportunity to work abroad throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, or Africa. 

Advantages

• Three options:
  1. Work visa for the Great Britain programme (up to 2 years)
  2. Work visa for Ireland programme (up to 1 year)
  3. Combined Great Britain-Ireland programme available (up to 2 years) 
• SWAP assists in obtaining a work visa, temporary accomodations, providing support throughout the experience, and providing resource material about the country
• Incredible (and even life-changing) experience 
• Would still allow time for travel (and could still have money rolling in in that process!)
• Would gain a true experience of what it’s like to live in the UK

Disadvantages

• Can not guarantee that I would be able to find employment or a place to stay
• Significantly longer trip, which would make it much more difficult to convince my parents to allow me to go
• It could be rather lonely in the beginning
• I would probably get really homesick (family, friends, pets)

Your thoughts?
Leave a comment on this post or e-mail me at 101reasonstogototheuk@gmail.com

Oh! what a tangled web we weave
When first we practise to deceive!

By Sir Walter Scott
from Marmion, Canto VI. Stanza 17.

Photograph from EdinburghGuide.com 

In all my years, I’ve spent neither pounds nor euros.

Photograph from Cafebabel: No change in British public opinion on euro.

It’s like Times Square but with few fewer billboards, more historical buildings, and beautiful statues.
And it’s located a bit further away.

Photograph credit:  OldUKPhotos.com

Because I really really really wanna zig-a-zig ahhh
Photograph from fanpop.com

Several streets in London are named after the rivers that into the River Thames. Wharfs were built along many of these rivers, and slowly became more and more built up to the point that many decreased significantly in size. These rivers were (and still are) used for sewage and were built overtop of to create more room within the cities.

Tyburn
Fleet
Westbourne
Walbrook
Stamford Brook
Parr’s Ditch
Counter’s Creek
Black Ditch
Falcon
Effra
Neckinger
Peck
Ravensbourne

I want to stand overtop of as many of the hidden rivers as possible.

Irish history and Celtic mythology choreographed in a variety of routines to Irish step dancing.

Photograph from Kinzchat4real at WordPress.com

I’d like to know if playing the bagpipes is a legitimate street act in Scotland.
Better yet, I’d like to try it out for myself.

Photograph from GreatScotland.co.uk

Johnny Bagpipes

I was going to say that I like putting names to faces, but Big Ben is actually the name of the bell, not the clock.

Photograph from easyart.com

Information from Official Killarney National Park website
Photograph from cosmos.com