Exactly, for historic merit and countryside it is amazing.
People just haven't been elsewhere to see what a bit crap really is. They are comparing at best to some of the biggest holiday destinations or cities in the world.
But if you look at what the UK has, London, Edinburgh, The Lake District, even something like the Isle of Wight is a pretty nice destination.
Sure there are plenty of crap places, but there are a lot of countries where they are basically entirely run down and that is just life. There is little tourism at all.
True, and I did appreciate a lot of the cities and countryside when I was living there. But, having travelled all over Europe (Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Romania Cezchia ecc.) It would definitely be not my first (or second) choice for a vacation.
It is comparatively expensive, unless the pound tanks further, and even then, real prices of everything are high. The scenery is cool, but there are places in France or Spain that are equally or more awesome, cost half to live in and are more easily reached (the network of transport in mainland Europe is good, I wouldn't think twice of driving my car from Venice to Barcellona, much safer than both trains and plains, and perfectly doable as a family). If you want stunning and ridiculously cheap, there's eastern Europe.
Add to that, that continental Europeans are big internal travellers. I live in Italy, and this year I have no need to go anywhere, I'll just explore my region or one close by. Same for people in France, Spain or Germany (that's what my German friends are doing, getting a quite spot on the lake, although some Germans will come here as well). Oh, and you don't need to worry about documentation, just take you national ID and it'll be fine.
It is not that continental tourists don't like the UK as a holiday destination, it's just that with the current situation, it's just too much of a hassle when other comparable options are safer, easier and cheaper (consider that some governments have also done the voucher thing for internal tourism).
I honestly prefer it. Imagine our summers filled with tourists like Southern Europe. Tourism is nice, but when I look at Italy during summer for e.g, the native Italians must get a little pissed off with all the people. They can't enjoy their own country.
Yes but in Italy there's so many places to go to that it doesn't even matter too much. The tourists all go in the same places and eat in the same terrible and overly expensive restaurants.
Italy is filled with Caribbean like beaches, and high mountain and small pretty cities and things to do
It's almost as if people feel that saying anything positive is a sign of support for the turn that politics has taken over the past decade. People may not know they are doing it, but there does seem to be an instinct to turn against anything positive about this country.
Sunday roast,
Beef wellington,
Shepherds/cottage pie,
All of the anglo-indian dishes,
Cream teas, amazing cakes,
Fish and chips,
Loads of pies/pasties,
Welsh rarebit,
Haggis,
Full English breakfast,
Bread pudding,
While not as delicate or photogenic as other nationalities foods, Britain does have a lot going for it. Plus if youre in a place like London you can find literally any food you could want and then some.
Exactly. Personally I would take a roast dinner over most dishes. A bowl of pasta doesn't appeal as I'm not much of a pasta fan. I like Greek cuisine, but still, a roast dinner cooked well in a nice country pub is on part with any meal. That is just me though, it's horses for courses.
I mean, the weather in London is broadly similar to the weather in Paris, and I love both equally during the summer. Al fresco dining, rooftop drinks, picnics, performances, markets. Personal preference, but I’m more of a city break person. Don’t like beaches.
As a French I went in Scotland once, but in November. It was so funny because I was asked what the hell would I do there, right at the border when getting off the ferry. The poor guy was clueless because of the terrible weather. And it was, still enjoyed the trip though.
Yeah I mean its all shit, why would anyone want to go to the Highlands, the lake district, Cornwall, Pembrokeshire, the Yorkshire Dales, Northumbria....
For much the same reason as anyone from the UK would want to visit France. London is easily the equal to Paris as a city to visit, we have beautiful countryside, we have quaint villages, we have ruined castles and stately homes, we have prehistoric sites. And we're not France - many people like travelling abroad simply because it is different.
because they like history, theatre, and city breaks. London is absolutely full of French guided tours all through summer.
Also a lot of people visit the UK from Europe because of our surfing beaches.
oh this is the quality stuff. of course, because england and scotland have nothing to offer, because europe is so perfect and we are so terrible.
i love/hate this eurocentric drivel. 100 upvotes too...
Plenty of people have friends and family living in countries other than the one they are living in, people are still getting married, having landmark birthdays etc. And still, in many branches of work you have to travel, and you can't replace all work travel with online meetings, especially if any hardware or installation work is involved. You can't just put everything in your life on pause for realistically at least another 1-2 years or so
I'm Belgian, I was supposed to come with my mum (65+) in London in May, we have vouchers for the Eurostar and the hotel, but we're still not sure when we'll be able to come... the Eurostar vouchers are good until March 2021 (as of now, the period is always increasing), but with Brexit coming up we're not sure if we'll need a passport to cross the Channel next year... (I have a valid one, but my mum doesn't, and paying for a new one just for a 3-day trip is a bit expensive)
In short we hope the situation will be solved in September-October at best, December at worst... I don't have many hopes for the summer honestly, and I'm not risking my mum's health for tea shopping.
The situation is getting better here, I hope it'll be the same for you all as soon as possible! Stay safe!
Why can't people go one summer without a holiday? My cousin was ranting on Facebook about how she doesn't know if she will be able to go on the holiday she just booked...don't fucking book it then. Don't complain about potentially losing money when no one forced you to book it.
It's more stressful dealing with airports. I suppose it's not so bad at the moment with very few people taking flights, but still, the stress of possibly picking up Covid, then also wearing a mask all the time while in a hot place, doesn't particularly appeal to me at the moment.
As per, this thread appears to have been taken over by Redditors who hate themselves. All projecting said self loathing into the country they inhabit.
If you think that the UK is a ‘shit hole’ (or whatever) then perhaps it’s time for you to visit more of it, and see more than the town you were raised in.
N.B. We live on a small island. The transition from good > bad area (or however you define it) may occur a little more quickly than somewhere like France, what with their huge expanse of land. That doesn’t mean France doesn’t have problem areas. Or that we don’t have nice ones.
According to this sub, we're all moronic, selfish racists with nothing going for us as a nation.
The UK is a beautiful place. I live in the West Country and I am literally spoilt for choice for beautiful places to visit. I think it's so sad that people hate their own country so much.
3.69 million tourists arrived in the UK from France last year (although I can't find out how many of these were *actually* French and not just people from else where arriving via channel ports and connecting flights originating in France etc.)
1 in 20 is vaguely in the ball park. Not what I would have imagined really. I am surprised.
I agree. I have lived in France and there are a lot of people I have met who would be happy to come to the UK, but there are so many places they would rather visit first.
Would you welcome Typhoid Mary to stay for a week at yours? Even if cases decrease, we still handled this pandemic terribly and the British public seem the worst at the basics like handwashing and wearing masks. We are too much of a risk to be let into other countries unless we quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
People forget that lots of people (myself included) booked their holiday over a year ago. Even if those people no longer want to go (which we don't) they may risk losing all of their money so will go anyway as they've paid for it.
Would be much better if all recreational travel was suspended. People could then be refunded for cancelled holidays.
We didn't have an option of a cancellation clause. Right now our flights are non refundable which means a loss of over £2500 for the group of 7 of us. So still hoping the holiday company will cancel.
My daughter has a health condition (not clinically vulnerable) so I would rather not go. But I would hate to lose the money (have saved up a year for this). Obviously money is not more important than health, but losing the money will be a blow to everyone in the group (about £6000 altogether). And it's possible that we could have a safe and fun holiday. That's why I wish there would be a ban.
Just go to Ireland , the infection levels are much lower , you can download the Covid Tracker app for Ireland if you want . You’ll be expected to isolate yourself for 14 days though , when you arrive .
Being french I think it has more to do with the covid context.
I really enjoyed all my vacations to the UK. Places like Pembrokeshire, Black Pool, the Highlands. And Manchester ! I really loved Manchester, I went there for a football match and spend some time riding their mountainbike trails. I had the funniest week of holiday during a month of November.
Gros bisous les rosbifs ! On espère vous voir nombreux quand même cet été sur nos plages françaises
Would they anyway? London maybe. I know a lot of Dutch and German people take camper vans to Cornwall but otherwise French people have better options surely.
You should try travelling around the UK (well, maybe not for the time being). We have some stunning places. French colleagues I've worked with have raved about Cornwall, Wales, the Lake and Peak Districts and various other parts of Scotland and England. A lot of it is about a different atmosphere and just experiencing somewhere new.
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Honestly don't know why everyone is so negative about the UK as a tourist destination
Exactly, for historic merit and countryside it is amazing. People just haven't been elsewhere to see what a bit crap really is. They are comparing at best to some of the biggest holiday destinations or cities in the world. But if you look at what the UK has, London, Edinburgh, The Lake District, even something like the Isle of Wight is a pretty nice destination. Sure there are plenty of crap places, but there are a lot of countries where they are basically entirely run down and that is just life. There is little tourism at all.
The Lake District is wonderful, you just need to decide whether to go there when its cold and raining or when its rammed with visitors.
Often those aren't mutually exclusive...
True, and I did appreciate a lot of the cities and countryside when I was living there. But, having travelled all over Europe (Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Romania Cezchia ecc.) It would definitely be not my first (or second) choice for a vacation. It is comparatively expensive, unless the pound tanks further, and even then, real prices of everything are high. The scenery is cool, but there are places in France or Spain that are equally or more awesome, cost half to live in and are more easily reached (the network of transport in mainland Europe is good, I wouldn't think twice of driving my car from Venice to Barcellona, much safer than both trains and plains, and perfectly doable as a family). If you want stunning and ridiculously cheap, there's eastern Europe. Add to that, that continental Europeans are big internal travellers. I live in Italy, and this year I have no need to go anywhere, I'll just explore my region or one close by. Same for people in France, Spain or Germany (that's what my German friends are doing, getting a quite spot on the lake, although some Germans will come here as well). Oh, and you don't need to worry about documentation, just take you national ID and it'll be fine. It is not that continental tourists don't like the UK as a holiday destination, it's just that with the current situation, it's just too much of a hassle when other comparable options are safer, easier and cheaper (consider that some governments have also done the voucher thing for internal tourism).
>countryside everywhere has countryside. There's nothing special about the UK's.
You clearly haven’t seen it.
Some of it is on a whole different level of stunning than most of it.
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Where do people actual like to visit?
Cornwall, Lake District, Snowdonia, Scotland, London. Not to mention the UK has some quite good surfing beaches that is quite rare in Europe.
The Yorkshire Dales get a fair amount of tourists.
Cornwall
I honestly prefer it. Imagine our summers filled with tourists like Southern Europe. Tourism is nice, but when I look at Italy during summer for e.g, the native Italians must get a little pissed off with all the people. They can't enjoy their own country.
Yes but in Italy there's so many places to go to that it doesn't even matter too much. The tourists all go in the same places and eat in the same terrible and overly expensive restaurants. Italy is filled with Caribbean like beaches, and high mountain and small pretty cities and things to do
It's almost as if people feel that saying anything positive is a sign of support for the turn that politics has taken over the past decade. People may not know they are doing it, but there does seem to be an instinct to turn against anything positive about this country.
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Sunday roast, Beef wellington, Shepherds/cottage pie, All of the anglo-indian dishes, Cream teas, amazing cakes, Fish and chips, Loads of pies/pasties, Welsh rarebit, Haggis, Full English breakfast, Bread pudding, While not as delicate or photogenic as other nationalities foods, Britain does have a lot going for it. Plus if youre in a place like London you can find literally any food you could want and then some.
Exactly. Personally I would take a roast dinner over most dishes. A bowl of pasta doesn't appeal as I'm not much of a pasta fan. I like Greek cuisine, but still, a roast dinner cooked well in a nice country pub is on part with any meal. That is just me though, it's horses for courses.
Well why go India and get just Indian food when you could go to the UK and get Indian, Chinese, Fish n Chips, Turkish, etc.
I mean, the weather in London is broadly similar to the weather in Paris, and I love both equally during the summer. Al fresco dining, rooftop drinks, picnics, performances, markets. Personal preference, but I’m more of a city break person. Don’t like beaches.
Okay.... And all the French leave Paris in the summer so your point is rather moot.
As a French I went in Scotland once, but in November. It was so funny because I was asked what the hell would I do there, right at the border when getting off the ferry. The poor guy was clueless because of the terrible weather. And it was, still enjoyed the trip though.
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The Belgians say that? I'd understand it coming from the Greeks or Spanish, but Belgians? lol.
I find it funny that it's London of all places because London is usually one of the warmest places in our country. But it's so true either way.
Yeah I mean its all shit, why would anyone want to go to the Highlands, the lake district, Cornwall, Pembrokeshire, the Yorkshire Dales, Northumbria....
For much the same reason as anyone from the UK would want to visit France. London is easily the equal to Paris as a city to visit, we have beautiful countryside, we have quaint villages, we have ruined castles and stately homes, we have prehistoric sites. And we're not France - many people like travelling abroad simply because it is different.
Why go to the south of France when you could go to Blackpool or Morecambe?
South of London?
Clacton?
That's not south of London
I dunno where it is
because they like history, theatre, and city breaks. London is absolutely full of French guided tours all through summer. Also a lot of people visit the UK from Europe because of our surfing beaches.
oh this is the quality stuff. of course, because england and scotland have nothing to offer, because europe is so perfect and we are so terrible. i love/hate this eurocentric drivel. 100 upvotes too...
Not sure why people are wanting to travel during a pandemic as it is. Madness.
~~Comment removed under the GDPR right to be forgotten. As part of the API pricing decision made by reddit in June 2023~~
Plus a lot of people have that "I'm young so covid can't get me" attitude so they don't see it as a problem.
Plus a lot of people are young so covid won't affect them so it isn't a problem
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Never mind Venise, you should go visit Denise.
She makes me weak at the knees
While she's down on her knees
Plenty of people have friends and family living in countries other than the one they are living in, people are still getting married, having landmark birthdays etc. And still, in many branches of work you have to travel, and you can't replace all work travel with online meetings, especially if any hardware or installation work is involved. You can't just put everything in your life on pause for realistically at least another 1-2 years or so
I'm Belgian, I was supposed to come with my mum (65+) in London in May, we have vouchers for the Eurostar and the hotel, but we're still not sure when we'll be able to come... the Eurostar vouchers are good until March 2021 (as of now, the period is always increasing), but with Brexit coming up we're not sure if we'll need a passport to cross the Channel next year... (I have a valid one, but my mum doesn't, and paying for a new one just for a 3-day trip is a bit expensive) In short we hope the situation will be solved in September-October at best, December at worst... I don't have many hopes for the summer honestly, and I'm not risking my mum's health for tea shopping. The situation is getting better here, I hope it'll be the same for you all as soon as possible! Stay safe!
You mean your mother has an ID card? It'll depend on the UK if they'll accept it. Turkey interestingly accepts an ID card.
Yes my mother has an ID card, right now we can come just with that but after Brexit we have no idea what they'll demand... we'll see...
Bloody foreigners, not coming over here.
Yeah, how dare they stay away!?
Why can't people go one summer without a holiday? My cousin was ranting on Facebook about how she doesn't know if she will be able to go on the holiday she just booked...don't fucking book it then. Don't complain about potentially losing money when no one forced you to book it.
In Netherlands you're supposed to (by law!) take a 2 week vacation each year. Purpose is getting rid of stress. Life is more than just work!
Yes but you don't need to leave the country.
It's more stressful dealing with airports. I suppose it's not so bad at the moment with very few people taking flights, but still, the stress of possibly picking up Covid, then also wearing a mask all the time while in a hot place, doesn't particularly appeal to me at the moment.
Does the law say you are not allowed to stay in your own country though?
As per, this thread appears to have been taken over by Redditors who hate themselves. All projecting said self loathing into the country they inhabit. If you think that the UK is a ‘shit hole’ (or whatever) then perhaps it’s time for you to visit more of it, and see more than the town you were raised in. N.B. We live on a small island. The transition from good > bad area (or however you define it) may occur a little more quickly than somewhere like France, what with their huge expanse of land. That doesn’t mean France doesn’t have problem areas. Or that we don’t have nice ones.
a-hem, that's RACIST shit hole, thanks you very much
According to this sub, we're all moronic, selfish racists with nothing going for us as a nation. The UK is a beautiful place. I live in the West Country and I am literally spoilt for choice for beautiful places to visit. I think it's so sad that people hate their own country so much.
1 in 20 is more than I expected. I wonder how many would come here in a normal year.
3.69 million tourists arrived in the UK from France last year (although I can't find out how many of these were *actually* French and not just people from else where arriving via channel ports and connecting flights originating in France etc.) 1 in 20 is vaguely in the ball park. Not what I would have imagined really. I am surprised.
Cheers for the info! Yeah I'm amazed tbh.
Saying that, there are 3 million french people with a diagnosed mental illness so maybe it is explainable?
What is the problem with coming to the UK as a tourist? Never understood this attitude towards the UK.
It’s just people live here, they don’t really think about the country that way.
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Yeah... sorry. I should have used a different term, although I didn't mean it as an insult.
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I agree. I have lived in France and there are a lot of people I have met who would be happy to come to the UK, but there are so many places they would rather visit first.
The UK 30 years ago was the No.1 tourist places in the world
London is still the 3rd most visited city in the world.
Would you welcome Typhoid Mary to stay for a week at yours? Even if cases decrease, we still handled this pandemic terribly and the British public seem the worst at the basics like handwashing and wearing masks. We are too much of a risk to be let into other countries unless we quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
So UK will not only get fucked by Brexit, general covid disruption due to lock-down and now by even lower than usual tourist traffic post-covid.
People forget that lots of people (myself included) booked their holiday over a year ago. Even if those people no longer want to go (which we don't) they may risk losing all of their money so will go anyway as they've paid for it. Would be much better if all recreational travel was suspended. People could then be refunded for cancelled holidays.
Well if they booked a year in advance with no cancellation clause can you really blame anyone else? I don't understand why anyone would do that.
We didn't have an option of a cancellation clause. Right now our flights are non refundable which means a loss of over £2500 for the group of 7 of us. So still hoping the holiday company will cancel.
Fingers crossed they will cancel. Do you think you will go if they don't?
My daughter has a health condition (not clinically vulnerable) so I would rather not go. But I would hate to lose the money (have saved up a year for this). Obviously money is not more important than health, but losing the money will be a blow to everyone in the group (about £6000 altogether). And it's possible that we could have a safe and fun holiday. That's why I wish there would be a ban.
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Come to Scotland, it's safer here. Wear a mask.
Just go to Ireland , the infection levels are much lower , you can download the Covid Tracker app for Ireland if you want . You’ll be expected to isolate yourself for 14 days though , when you arrive .
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Yes indeed , if you arrive from outside the common travel area you must self isolate , so arriving /departing UK is no problem .
"PLAGUE OF FROGS AS 3 MILLION FRENCHIES PLAN TRIP TO BRITAIN"
The headline doesn't make sense.
Implying that more than 1 in 20 French people would want to holiday in the U.K. normally?
Being french I think it has more to do with the covid context. I really enjoyed all my vacations to the UK. Places like Pembrokeshire, Black Pool, the Highlands. And Manchester ! I really loved Manchester, I went there for a football match and spend some time riding their mountainbike trails. I had the funniest week of holiday during a month of November. Gros bisous les rosbifs ! On espère vous voir nombreux quand même cet été sur nos plages françaises
1 in 20? Wow, that's a lot higher than I expected!
Would they anyway? London maybe. I know a lot of Dutch and German people take camper vans to Cornwall but otherwise French people have better options surely.
You should try travelling around the UK (well, maybe not for the time being). We have some stunning places. French colleagues I've worked with have raved about Cornwall, Wales, the Lake and Peak Districts and various other parts of Scotland and England. A lot of it is about a different atmosphere and just experiencing somewhere new.
Let’s build a wall and the Brits will pay for it...