Expert: David Stewart White - 11/9/2008

Question
I am trying to travel to England for a month or 2 (as many months as possible) I will have between 6,000-10,000 USD. What sort of areas can I have a comfortable life in without paying tons of money? I'd like a city that has some nice tourism life, and bang for my buck. Also, I'd like to know about life in general in England. As an American passport holder, I believe I have visa-free entry to the UK that is valid up to 6 months. Anyway, I'd like as much information as you can offer to me.

Answer
Hello,

Well, your question is fairly broad...but I'll give it a try:

Let's assume that you have $8,000 and you stay 45 days.  That's $177 per day--unless, of course, your $8,000 has to also cover your flight over and back between the US and UK.  But, depending upon your lifestyle, $177 per day would be a limited, but doable, budget.  At that rate you could stay in B&B's or tourist class hotels, pay for meals at pubs or fast food restaurants, and perhaps take buses and other public transportation to get around the country.

Within England, London is one of the most expensive cities, but it also is where many of the important tourist attractions are located.  Smaller cities in England, such as Bath, Oxford, York, Liverpool, etc. are sometimes less expensive.  But make no mistake, England is not an inexpensive place to visit or live.  The US dollar is making a bit of a comeback against the British pound right now, which will help you somewhat.

You can save money, even in London, by staying in an apartment (flat), a hostel (if that's within your comfort zone), or student housing (during times when schools are closed).

You are correct about your tourist visit limitations:  no visa, stay up to 6 months.  Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months past your travel time, to avoid any entry issues.  

For some general information about visiting England (and all of the United Kingdom) I'd start with books and online resources such as:

http://www.visitbritain.com

For London general visitor info:

http://www.visitlondon.com

My own websites are geared towards families and others visiting London:

http://www.kidstolondon.com

http://londontravelnews.blogspot.com


I hope this helps get you started on your planning for your trip.

Dave White