Guidelines for Visiting/Living in the UK (a work in progress)

1) It is colder than you think it is. Take an extra layer. (Trust me, I didn't and I might never be warm again.)
2) It is probably going to rain. Take an umbrella. If the weather forecast calls for rain, anticipate rain- but be aware that there's maybe 50/50 odds that it doesn't start until after dark, regardless of what the forecast says. If the weather forecast calls for no rain, it will still probably rain at some point. So just save yourself some trouble and lug the umbrella everywhere.
3) Learn to love sandwiches; they're practically their own food group here. Just don't expect many combinations you are used to. BLTs and ham and cheese are about the only one's you'll be familiar with. But chicken and bacon is delicious! :)
4) Don't expect to find much non-cheddar or brie cheeses. Even mozzarella hasn't really caught on here (exhibit a: "cheese sauce" instead of melted mozzarella on top of lasagna)
5) Trains are the way to travel. Unless of course it is close enough to take a bus. And be on the lookout for cheap overnight bus fares if you have to go cross country.
6) The airport will likely be a pain to get to and from if you're going by public transit.
7) Learn 24-hour time (i.e. 21:30 instead of 9:30)
8) For the females in the audience: everyone will probably call you some variation of luv, pet, dearie, etc. They don't mean anything by it. (And I think I'm going to miss it when I leave!)
9) "Cheers" is a wonderfully useful word that can serve a variety of purposes including: the way we think of it as while clinking drink glasses together, to thank someone for something (particularly for salespeople/food servers), to bid someone goodbye, acknowledging something someone has said, etc.
10) Expect cramped quarters. This is particularly true for B&Bs and hotels, but holds true just in general.
11) You can in fact get decent coffee here, but the tea is totally better. ;)
12) You don't want Hersheys, you want Cadbury.
13) Embrace the fruity flavored waters. They're yummy. Ditto fruity flavored sparkling water, but it HAS to be cold or else ick.
14) "Breakfast" encompasses a whole bunch of things you didn't realize, including stewed tomatoes and beans.
15) You have to slice your own pizza. Exception: American pizza chains.
16) Shepherd's pie. Do it.
17) Perhaps the most important rule here, and one that I continue to struggle with. Do not attempt to convert UK prices to the value in US dollars and evaluate whether it is a good deal or not. It won't be. If the # of pounds is comparable to the # of dollars you would spend on such an item, unfortunately that's probably as good as you're going to get.