Shoes, however are a different story. If you wear a size 12 in America, you wear an 11 in England. The banks are closed on the following days, but most shops and attractions are open, except those run by the government. There is no blanket policy, however, so if you plan on visiting a particular attraction, we recommend that you call to check on hours. North Americans will need a transformer and an adapter for appliances such as electric razors, hair dryers, etc.
Some hotels supply hair dryers in the bathroom.
They are unavoidable. In Britain there is the VAT which stands for Value Added Tax. The VAT is built into retail prices and is not broken out for your convenience. If you are visiting for less than 90 days, from North America, you can get the VAT back by showing your passport and filling out a form in the store. You will have to show a copy of the form to customs when you leave the country and they may ask to see your purchases.