Get creative
Organize your art supplies and get to crafting. Consider recreating the Keep Calm and Carry On poster, which was produced by the British government in 1939 in preparation for World War II. Or, brush up on your acting skills with a Shakespeare monologue.
Need more inspiration? Check out these virtual tours of famous English museums and more.
Pick a film
Watch a movie that relates to your destination. Some ideas for England include:
- The King’s Speech (2010)
- Notting Hill (1999)
- Skyfall (2012)
Study some history
Dive deep into the history of specific sites you’ll visit on tour. Study the Windsor Castle and see how the Queen relaxes at this weekend estate, originally built as a fortress in the 11th century under William the Conqueror.
Then, tour some of London’s most well-known (and maybe some not so well-known) sites with this virtual reality video.
Choose a book
Read and discuss a book that takes place in your destination or describes the local culture. Pick from classic English titles like:
- Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Fill up your plate
Arrange a potluck and encourage your friends to bring a traditional dish from your destination. Know a chef? Hold a virtual cooking class with your travel group, or support a local restaurant that offers delivery/take-out of your destination’s cuisine. Try fish and chips, Shepard’s pie, mushy peas, or a classic full English breakfast (don’t forget the baked beans!).
Learn the language
Call up a friend or set up a group video chat and practice speaking like a local. Try incorporating some fun British slang to use on the phone or throughout your travels (think about ordering at restaurants, buying souvenirs, and chatting with locals).
Did you know?
There’s an annual cheese rolling competition in Gloucester. The first written evidence of the competition is a message from 1826, but it’s said that the cheese roll tradition is significantly older than that. Nowadays, even international visitors can take part in this fascinating event.
Meet Your Partner in Travel
Alyssa always had a fascination with English history, the royals, and pop culture, so when she had the opportunity to go to Europe, London was her first destination. Throughout her week in England, Alyssa visited mysterious landmarks like Stonehenge and the Roman baths and spent three marvelous days in London looking on Buckingham Palace and exploring the city. Since returning, Alyssa is on the lookout for the most authentic fish and chips to transport her back to her time in England.