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A Life Away

When is it summer in the UK?

Published 20 days ago • 2 min read

Summer in America vs. the UK

I was lucky to have a good friend come visit me last week. Her kids have just wrapped up the school year in California and are starting in on summer activities. My nieces and nephews in Florida and Texas have been out of school for a few weeks.

Meanwhile, my daughter still has over a month left in the school year. It's strange every year to see signs of US holidays while school is still on here. The differences between school calendars in the US and UK were so surprising when we moved here that I created a whole blog post explaining the differences - see it here.

Summer Travel Tip

If you're getting ready for a summer visit to the UK, we are heading into the best weather we'll see in the year. We are also heading towards the biggest crowds as peak tourist season kicks off.

I recommend pre-booking entrance tickets and tours for any of the major tourist attractions. This time of year you are much more likely to be turned away at the door because all available tickets for the day have been sold.

From tickets to tours, I use and recommend Get Your Guide to pre-book the best experiences across the UK.

Hidden Gem: Petworth House

Want to pretend you're on set for a new Pride and Prejudice movie, and also feel like you have the place to yourself? I just visited a gorgeous National Trust property that would be perfect.

​Petworth House sits in a 700 acre deer park, and features a medieval chapel, intricately painted grand staircase and enough art to stock a museum. The pleasure garden just outside Petworth House makes for a lovely stroll with vistas across the surrounding countryside.

After my visit to the house, I tucked into one of best fish and chips lunches I've ever had at The Star pub in the village of Petworth. Add this day out to your UK road trip bucket list immediately!

See you next week!

Victoria

PS - get a head start on planning with my favorite resources below!

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A Life Away

UK travel and expat life advice from an American living abroad

Thinking of traveling to the UK, or even moving here someday? I'm here to help. I’m Victoria, an American who’s made the leap across the pond not once, but twice. I created A Life Away to help fellow Americans experience the UK more confidently, whether you're planning a dream trip, a scouting visit, or a full-on relocation. If you want real-life advice, honest insights, and inspiration for your UK adventure delivered straight to your inbox, then this is for you.

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