London Tube etiquette
At the last count the tube consisted of 275 stations with 3,988 tube carriages carrying around 2.5 million passengers a day on 12 tube lines… phew! Firstly you’ll need to remember to stand to the right on the escalators (walkers to the left), if you get it wrong a grumpy commuter will probably set you straight… Once on the train stand clear of the closing doors, they can give you a pretty decent knock if they hit you. When getting on or off the train make sure you mind the gap! This varies from a few inches to a foot at some of the stations.

Eat-in, eat-out charges
You’ll find that some cafes will display two prices – a price to eat-in and a price to eat-out. If you’re trying to save cash go for the eat-out option.

English food
The myth that English food is boring and tasteless isn’t true! At least not anymore. You’ll find a huge variety of international restaurants, especially in London. Make sure you sample some of the old-fashioned traditional foods in pubs though, and wash it down with some local beer!

Hot and cold
Come prepared for any sort of weather – even if the day starts off well it’s likely that the temperature will change. The best thing to do is layer your clothes so you can add or subtract as necessary.

Being polite
The British are in general very polite people and will expect at least basic politeness from travellers. Pleases and thank you’s go a long way! At the same time they have a wicked sense of humour.

Name-calling
Don’t be surprised or offended if you’re called darling, dear, dearie, flower, love, chick, chuck, me duck, me duckie, mate, guv, son, ma’am or any other similar pet name by someone you don’t know. It’s quite normal.

After the summer holidays, when the kids are back to school, it is nice to be able to look forward to the October half term holiday. What makes any half term more special is if the whole family takes a short break together in the UK. Whatever the weather, there are destinations in the UK that can provide an exciting holiday.

Devon is a popular destination for families because of the family friendly area. Whether you visit north or south of Devon, there are beautiful beaches to spend the day on and the scenery can take your breath away. On top of that, there are plenty of attractions within driving distance. Visit Paignton Zoo and experience the thousands of interesting animals. Paignton isn’t far from Torquay town which provides a fantastic day out, whether you want to visit the Quaywest Waterpark, Paignton Pier, Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway.

Torquay which is another popular tourist attraction has a vast amount of shops and restaurants. If you’re looking for a great day out for the kids, why not visit the Waves Leisure Pool, Huntfun Torquay Treasure Hunt or AMF Bowling; these are guaranteed to keep them busy for the duration of your stay.

Cornwall is another family favourite holiday destination because it is home to fabulous surfing opportunities and intriguing coastal towns. Newquay is the surfing capital of the UK, and spending half term learning to ride the waves is an exciting experience for any child.

Scotland has everything a half term holiday could possibly need. Wonderful beaches, amazing views and beautiful woodlands surround the area so you’ll be spoilt for choice. Visit John O’ Groats, the furthest northern land marked point of the UK, and learn about its intriguing history. Or stay in the south of Scotland, where Culzean Castle is waiting for you to explore.

Whether you choose to visit John O’ Groats or Lands End, north or south, there are plenty of attractions to keep you busy over the October half term. Choose from one of the many UK holidays available, all with several holiday parks to stay at to suit you and your family’s holiday needs.