Needful Things

Things you might need on your travels. This page a work in progress, check back to see additions, amendments and corrections. Updated 21 July 2024

Dry weather gear

Don’t forget your Rain jackets. Bring water proof boots. We used Nikwax waterproofing wash on our jackets and hats before we left.

Warm Clothes

Summer in England (and Australia and New Zealand) is NOT summer in Raleigh, NC. It gets cold, wet and windy. Layers are essential, it can be warm and sunny one minute and fifteen minutes later the weather is cold and rainy.

Soft Sided Cooler

We picked one up in Australia and it is great for travel. Cooler packs are also necessary, and cheap enough to leave them behind of you are worried about weight.

Knife

We eat a lot of bread, cheese and apples as snacks when travelling. We bought a small knife with a sheath in Australia, but didn’t take it to the UK. Mistake. Knives over 3 inches long are illegal in the UK outside of the home. So we are struggling to find a legal knife.

Sim Card

We have been naive about buying sim cards. Do your homework for the country you are going to before you leave home. We were tired and jetlagged when we landed at Heathrow, and we (Anthony) purchased Lycamobile, the worst possible vendor in the UK. We changed to Vodaphone after a week and a half, they had a cheaper plan that seems to be working better.

Travel Cards

We got the English Heritage (£100 total) and National Trust/Royal Oak (£150 total) Cards. These cards give you access and parking to hundreds of historical sites in England, Wales, Scotland and N. Ireland. They may also allow a discount at other historical sites. We got 20% off admission to the Canterbury Cathedral.

The English Heritage card had a 20% discount if you applied on line. The cards are cheaper (per person) if you apply as a couple or Family. The folks at Dover and Pensevey Castle were happy to help us sign up and give us a card.

Even the site is not a member and gives free entry, they may give a discount.

Loyalty Cards

Grocery and Gas stations offer discounts if you have a loyalty card. The were easy to get in Australia and New Zealand. In the UK, they may also ask you to download an app, which you won’t be able to do on an American phone. At Tesco, I have to go to the human being to check out, so they can enter my membership number.

Implements of Phone Charging

We brought fast charging devices for our phone to plug into the adapters in the wall. We also have a fast charger that stays in the car, for long trips. Lots of buses have USB plugs for charges, so we take wires with us on tours.

On long days we often run out of juice on both phones, which means no Ghost Tour photos. We purchased a power brick for 18 pounds that claims to carry up to 40 hours of charge.

Power Convertors vs Adaptors

Before we left we bought a simple power convertor (220 to 110 volts). It has 3 3 prong plugs, 4 USB plugs and has done everything we have needed.

We also purchased adaptors which plug into the UK sockets and you can use for US 2 prong, 3 prong and USB plugs. These only work for appliances that can use 220 volts. Most computer convertors and USB plugs for phones and firesticks work for this. But don’t plug in your razor, hair drier, toothbrush charger.