United Kingdom

Traveling

Entry requirements

Passport and visa service: UK Border Agency
Diplomatic representations: Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Organizing your trip

Means of transport recommended in town

Recommendation: In cities, due to traffic congestion, the use of public transport (Underground or buses) is recommended.
Taxis are widely available. Taxis drivers are highly trained but they speak mostly English. Pedestrians are injured and even killed every year in accidents, forgetting that traffic drives on the left. Extra care should be taken when crossing streets.
Maps of urban networks: Transport for London (Maps)

Means of transport recommended in the rest of the country

Recommendation: The country has a good rail network. Intercity lines provide fast services between London and major cities, and there are services to the southeast, to the Midlands, north and south Wales and between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Some rural areas are less well served.
The National Rail network is now operated by train operating companies. Internal flights depart regularly to major cities.
Rail companies: Rail.co.uk

Airlines

Name	Type	Domestic flights	International flights
British Airways	Traditional	Domestic	international
Virgin Atlantic	Traditional	No	International
Flybe	Low cost	Domestic	European
Ryanair	Low cost	Domestic	European + Northern Africa

Traveling by yourself

Recommendation: There is a good quality road and motorway network. Roads tend to be congested, particularly in the South. There are a lot of trucks on the roads; only the heaviest loads travel by rail. In London, avoid parking in the street, as parking spaces are reserved for those with a resident's permit.
Road maps: Multimap
Find an itinerary: The Automobile Association's route planning facility.

Visiting

Different forms of tourism

Historical: Roman remains, castles, palaces, Stately Homes. Museums of our maritime heritage or the Industrial Revolution. The UK has a wealth of historic places to visit.
Cultural: Painting, literature, theatre and music. Prestigious and leading-edge museums, galleries and centers for arts and crafts.
Nature: 49 designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, 40 National Scenic Areas, 14 National Parks and an amazing 27 World Heritage Sites, 5 of which have World Heritage status due to their outstanding natural features. The landscape is very varied. Scotland and Wales are mountainous with Ben Nevis (Scotland) the highest peak in the UK and Snowdon the highest peak in Wales.
Religious: Many thousands of beautiful churches, abbeys and cathedrals spanning 13 centuries of history. They are found in every city, town and village, and most are open for visitors to enter and explore freely. Canterbury Cathedral is one of the UK 's top destinations.
Consult Visit britain website.
Thermal: There are several spa towns in Britain, Bath Spa being a very popular destination because of its historic past (Roman remains).
Beach: Best areas are the South-East, the South-West, Wales, Norfolk, Northumberland and Scotland. Visit Goodbeachguide.
Winter sports: The natural snow resorts are in Scotland and all have invested heavily in recent years.
Outdoor activities: For a list of activities for all tastes, from walking, cycling, riding, golfing to sailing, visit Visitbritain.co.uk.
Shopping: Britain is a great place for speciality shopping, whether for souvenirs or luxury treats.

Top 10 highlights of the capital city
The London Eye
The British Museum
The Tower of London
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Kew Gardens
National Gallery, Trafalgar Square
Covent Garden and the West End
The Tate Modern Gallery
London pubs

Top 10 highlights of the country
Edinburgh Castle
Roman Baths in Bath
Lake District National Park
Beatles’ story, Liverpool
National Railway Museum , York
The Eden Project in Cornwall
The Isle of Skye in Scotland
King's College Chapel, Cambridge
Stonehenge
Shakespeare's birthplace

Tourism organizations: British Tourist Authority
Official on-line Guide to England

Living conditions

Health and safety

Health precautions: No health or vaccination requirements. However, immigration officers can refer individuals to a doctor for a medical examination: someone visibly unwell, intending to remain for more than 6 months or coming from a country with a high rate of tuberculosis.
International hospitals: For information for non-British citizens regarding the UK medical system, and for a list of hospitals, consult http://www.expat-medical-insurance.com/country/uk/
For further information on sanitary conditions: World Health Organization
Department of Health
For further information on safety conditions: Visit Britain
Travel information from the Canadian Foreign Office
U.S. Department of State travel information

Emergency numbers

Official UK emergency phone number	999
Official EU (and worldwide, via GSM) emergency phone number	112
Non-emergency health advice with NHS Direct	08 45 46 47
Gas leaks	0800 111 999
Non-emergency Police and Local authorities	101

Time difference and climate

Time and time difference: It is %T:%M %A in London (GMT in summer and GMT+ 1 in winter)
Summer time period: March to October.

Map of the time zone

Fuseau(x) horaire

Type of climate: As an island, the UK has very changeable weather. Extremes of temperature are rare but snow, hail, heavy rain and heat waves can occur. Average temperatures: January 2°C, June 22°C . Waterproof, warm clothing is advisable at all times, and is essential for any visits to upland areas. The best time to visit the UK is in the summer (June, July, August), but good weather cannot be guaranteed.

For further information: The Meteorological Office
British Broadcasting Corporation - Weather Section

Average annual temperatures and rainfall

Climate

Eating

Culinary specialties: Examples of traditional (family) English dishes include: Full English breakfast, Bangers and mash (sausages and mashed potato), Fish and chips (battered fried fish and chipped potatoes), Shepherd's pie or Cottage pie (minced meat and mashed potato gratin), Cornish pasty (potato, meat and vegetables in pastry), Bread and butter pudding, Apple pie, Treacle tart etc.
Typical dishes are listed and pictured on Woodlands
Drinks: England is famous for its beer (dark ale, served draught in pubs) and cider, and Scotland for its whisky. The south of England produces a very small quantity of wine. There is a wide range of waters, fruit juices and non-alcoholic drinks available.
Dietary taboos: None.

Paying

Domestic currency: Pound sterling
ISO Code: GBP
To obtain domestic currency: The Pound Sterling (£) is divided into 100 pence.
Banknotes: 5, 10, 20 and 50 GBP; Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 pence, 1 and 2 GBP.
Additional bank notes issued by Scottish banks (including 1 GBP notes) are legal tender in all parts of the UK.
Possible means of payment: Credit, debit cards and travelers cheques (preferably in GBP) are widely accepted. Cash can be obtained from the many ATMs available across the country.

Speaking

Official language: English. Welsh in Wales.
Other languages spoken: Welsh in Wales.
Business language: Yes.
Getting some knowledge: Useful English business phrases can be found at About.com
Free translation tools: WorldLingo - Free online language translator
Systran - Free online translation box
Promt - Free on-line translator