Rick Steves Calls This Popular Country In Europe A 'Minefield Of Tourist Traps'

Travel writer Rick Steves is known for his bevy of tips covering every corner of Europe, from Turkey to England. When it comes to England in particular, he raves about some of London's most iconic tourist attractions and England's best destinations, but he's also honest about a different facet of the country — and that's England's tendency to feature some of what he considers to be Europe's biggest tourist traps. There are so many in the country, in fact, that on his website, Steves calls England a "minefield of tourist traps."

Steves notes that "the British are masters at milking every conceivable tourist attraction for all it's worth" and specifically calls out southwestern England. In this small corner of England, you'll find places like the Devil's Toenail, which Steves comments is "a rock that looks just like a...toenail"; kitschy, tourism-focused villages; and attractions like Land's End, where "you'll pay, pay, pay." In the rest of England, Steves also cautions against newer, over-marketed attractions that have been popping up, saying in another article, "I've noticed more commercial ventures that advertise aggressively and are on sale all over town with various discounts and promotions." These include sites in England like the London Dungeon and the London Bridge Experience, which are inauthentic and arguably overpriced. Then there are places like Stonehenge, which many think have become too busy and too focused on making a quick buck rather than providing real value.

Of course, what makes a tourist trap is subjective. One person's horrible experience on the London Eye could be another's dream trip. However, as Steves says, time is a currency, especially during your travels, and you want to spend wisely. Avoid some of England's worst tourist traps and visit more authentic, unique places instead — so you don't waste your precious time or money.

Rick Steves is not a fan of England's Land's End on the cliffs of Cornwall in the southwest, calling it "a tacky tourist trap where greedy businesses have chewed up whatever small bit of charm or authenticity this place might once have had." He's also not a fan of the port town of Dover. Instead, head to Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters, which Steves' protege Cameron Hewitt calls "a less famous but drastically more pleasurable stretch of white cliffs than Dover's."

Then, consider swapping out Stonehenge for the lesser-known but equally impressive Avebury Stone Circle, just a stone's throw from Stonehenge. Avebury is also much more accessible, as visitors can wander throughout the stone circle, and the site is also free to visit (win, win). Back in the capital, Steves calls the London Dungeon "gimmicky, overpriced, and a terrible value." Instead, try the Tower of London, an actual historical prison with hundreds of years of history — as well as the British crown jewels. 

A surefire way to avoid many top tourist traps is to spend time in Europe's "second cities." In England, consider less-visited metropolises such as Canterbury or Bath. Not only will you avoid crowds, but you'll also spend your tourism dollars in places that need them more, which will help reverse the growing anti-tourist trend in Europe. Ultimately, seek out experiences that let you see the real side of England, Europe, and the world, and although you may leave with a lighter wallet, you'll be richer in all the ways that count.