Overview

Country Overview
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of England (including the Channel Islands), Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The British landscape can be divided roughly into two kinds of terrain - highland and lowland. The highland area comprises the mountainous regions of Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and north Wales. Sandstone and limestone hills, long valleys and basins such as the Wash break up the lowland area on the east coast. Despite its small size, England is a country of much diversity. London, the capital, draws increasing numbers of visitors, not only to the well documented attractions of the West End with its theatres, cinemas, shopping streets, restaurants, hotels and nightclubs, but to its historic treasures such as Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace. In addition, London has the vast green spaces of Hampstead Heath, Hyde and Richmond parks; vibrant street markets in Camden, Brick Lane or Portobello Road and many distinctive old pubs. A short drive away from London, are the elegant southern coast resorts of Eastbourne and Brighton; the beautiful villages of the New Forest; historic religious centres such as Winchester, Canterbury or Salisbury. Cornwall and Devon continue to draw visitors with their rolling hills, beautiful stretches of coastline and picturesque fishing villages. Similarly, the honey-stoned cottages of Moreton-in-Marsh or Bourton-on-the-Water are picture postcard material. Cumbria, more popularly known as 'The Lake District', has the stunning lakes of Windermere or Derwent Water and the cathedral city of Carlisle, close to Hadrian's Wall. Scotland is a beautiful and sparsely populated country with rolling lowland, dramatic mountains, lochs and many offshore islands. Edinburgh is the capital and its Castle is not only Scotland's number one tourist attraction but also home to the Scottish Crown Jewels. Its vast profile sits at the head of the Royal Mile which stretches down to the Palace of Holyrood House, the Queen's official residence in Scotland. Edinburgh's cultural life, with its Festival as the highpoint of the year, features much theatre, music and dance unrivalled outside London. The Scottish highlands – the towns of Oban and Fort William and the islands of Skye and Mull – are a stunning wilderness of mountains and moorlands, lochs and rivers. Wales is a country of great geographical variation with many long stretches of attractive and often rugged coastline. Cardiff is the principality's capital and principal seaport. The castle, much of which dates back to the Middle Ages, was extensively added to during the 19th century, thus creating a strongly Victorian Gothic result. Much of Wales has a strong non-conformist 'chapel' tradition. Llandudno, Rhyl, Pembrokeshire and Porthmadog are among the better known resort areas. Northern Ireland contains some beautiful scenery, from the rugged coastline in the north and north-east to the gentle fruit-growing regions of Armagh. To the southeast of the province, Belfast provides shopping and city entertainment in the shape of theatres, cinema, a wide range of restaurants, the Grand Opera House and all the other attractions of any capital city. The rest of the British Isles comprises the Channel Islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney (lying off the coast of Normandy)


General

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Although they form one administrative unit (with regional exceptions) they have had separate cultures, languages and political histories. Within this section are also the Channel Islands (excluding Guernsey and Jersey which have their own separate entries) and the Isle of Man which, although only dependencies of the British Crown, are included for convenience of reference. The United Kingdom section consists of a general introduction (covering the aspects which the four countries have in common), sections devoted to the four constituent countries, and sections dealing with the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

Area: 242,910 sq km (93,788 sq miles).
Population: 59,236,522 (1998).
Population Density: 243.9 per sq km.
Capital: London. Population: 7,187,300 (Greater London, 1998).

Geography: The British landscape can be divided roughly into two kinds of terrain – highland and lowland. The highland area comprises the mountainous regions of Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and north Wales. The English Lake District in the northwest contains lakes and fells. The lowland area is broken up by sandstone and limestone hills, long valleys and basins such as the Wash on the east coast. In the south east, the North and South Downs culminate in the White Cliffs of Dover. The coastline includes fjord-like inlets in the northwest of Scotland, spectacular cliffs and wild sandy beaches on the east coast and, further south, beaches of rocks, shale and sand sometimes backed by dunes, and large areas of fenland in East Anglia.

Note: More detailed geographical descriptions of the various countries may be found under the respective entries.

Government: Constitutional monarchy. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II since 1953. Head of Government: Prime Minister Tony Blair since 1997.

Language: English. Some Welsh is spoken in parts of Wales, Gaelic in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland, and French and Norman French in the Channel Islands. The many ethnic minorities within the UK also speak their own languages (eg Hindi, Urdu, Turkish, Greek, Cantonese, Mandarin, etc).

Religion: Predominantly Protestant (Church of England), but many other Christian denominations also: Roman Catholic, Church of Scotland, Baptist, Methodist and other free churches. There are sizeable Jewish, Muslim and Hindu minorities.

Time: GMT (GMT + 1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50Hz. Square 3-pin plugs are standard and the visitor is unlikely to come across the older round 3-pin type.

Communications:  

Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 44. Outgoing international code: 00. There are numerous public call boxes. Some boxes take coins, others phonecards or credit cards. There are a number of suppliers of telecommunication networks, chiefly British Telecom and Cable & Wireless.

Mobile telephone: GSM 900 and 1800 networks. Network operators include BT Cellnet (web site: http://www.btcellnet.co.uk), Orange (web site: http://www.orange.co.uk), Vodafone (web site: http://www.vodafone.co.uk) and One2One (web site: http://www.one2one.co.uk).

Fax: There are many high-street bureaux in all cities. Most hotels and offices have facilities.

Internet/E-mail: There are Internet cafés and centres in most urban areas. ISPs include Freeserve (website: www.freeserve.com), AOL (website: www.aol.com) and BT Internet (website: www.btinternet.com). Some multimedia phone booths, often located at main railway stations and airports, offer touch-screen access.

Telemessage: These may be sent from a post office or from a private telephone (tel: (0800) 190 190).

Post: Stamps are available from post offices and many shops and stores. There are stamp machines outside some post offices. Post boxes are red. First-class internal mail normally reaches its destination the day after posting (except in remote areas of Scotland), and most second-class mail the day after that. International postal connections are good. Post office opening hours are 0900-1730 Monday to Friday and 0900-1230 Saturday, although some post offices are open much longer hours.

Press: Dominated by about ten major newspapers, UK circulation figures are amongst the highest in the world. The most influential newspapers are The Times, The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, The Financial Times, The Observer and The Independent. The more popular ‘tabloid’ newspapers are The Sun, The Daily Mirror, The Daily Express and The Daily Mail. Most papers have an associated Sunday newspaper, though there are some independents. There are also daily regional newspapers, particularly in Scotland and the north. The London Evening Standard is produced in several editions daily, the first being at midday.

Passport/Visa

PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond intended date of departure from the UK required by all except:
(a) 1. nationals of EU countries with a valid national ID card for tourist visits not exceeding 3 months;
(b) nationals of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway and Switzerland holding a valid national ID card for touristic/social visits of less than 6 months and in possession of a British Visitor’s Card available from travel agencies.

Note: (a) A passport is not required for travel between Great Britain and Ireland, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. (b) Passengers transiting the UK destined for the Republic of Ireland are advised to hold return tickets to avoid delay and interrogation.

VISAS: Not required by citizens of countries listed in the chart above.
Citizens of the following countries do require visas: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China (PR), CIS, Colombia, Comoros, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Congo (Rep. of), Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Korea (DPR), Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macau (SAR), Macedonia, Madagascar, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Authority, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, São Tomé e Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Surinam, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) and Zambia. All other nationals do not require visas.

Note: Nationals not requiring visas are advised to be in possession of either a return ticket or, if arriving on a one-way ticket, proof of sufficient funds to accommodate and support themselves for the duration of stay.

Types of visa and cost: Visitor, Business and Transit. £33 (single entry). £44 (mulitple entry for 6 months). Visa prices may vary according to the country in which Consulate is located but must be paid in local currency. Enquire at nearest High Commission/Embassy.

Validity: Visitor visas: 6 months (single-entry); 6 months, 1-, 2- or 5-years (multiple-entry). Transit visas are not required by those continuing their journey to a third country by the first connecting aircraft within 24 hours, provided possessing confirmed onward travel documentation. Travellers who do not qualify for this exemption must possess a Transit visa, which is valid for 7 days. These countries are Afghanistan, China (PR), Colombia, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Croatia, Ecaudor, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Macau (SAR), Nigeria, Slovak Republic, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Uganda.

Application to: Nearest British Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy or High Commission).

Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) 2 passport-size photographs (some nationals may require 3 photographs). (c) Fee. (Postal applications must be accompanied by bank draft, postal or money order only.)

Working days required: Dependent on nationality of applicant. Applications that are referred to the Home Office may take 6 weeks or more.

Temporary residence: Enquiries can be made at nearest British Consulate, Embassy or High Commission.


Money
Currency: Pound (£) = 100 pence. Notes are in denominations of £50, 20, 10 and 5. Additional bank notes issued by Scottish banks are legal tender in all parts of the UK. Coins are in denominations of £2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 pence.
Currency exchange: Money can be exchanged in banks, exchange bureaux and many hotels. The exchange bureaux are often open outside banking hours but charge higher commission rates. All major currencies can be exchanged.

Credit & debit cards: MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club and Visa are all widely accepted. Check with your credit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travellers cheques: Widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in Pounds Sterling.

Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of Sterling against the US Dollar:

Currency restrictions: There are no restrictions on the import or export of either local or foreign currency.
Banking hours: 0900-1700 Monday to Friday (there may be some further variation in closing times). Some branches of certain banks are open Saturday morning.


Duty Free

Note: The Channel Islands are treated as being outside of the EU for the Duty Free section.
The following items may be imported into the UK without incurring customs duty by travellers aged 17 years and over arriving from non-EU countries:
200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 1 litre of alcoholic beverages stronger than 22% or 2 litres of fortified or sparkling wine or other liqueurs; 2 litres of still table wine; 50g of perfume and 250ml of toilet water; other goods including souvenirs up to the value of £145.

Prohibited/restricted items: The UK is one of the few regions of the world completely free of rabies, and all cats and dogs imported into the country must spend 6 months in quarantine. To bring animals and birds into the UK, an import licence must be obtained at least 6 months in advance. Severe penalties are imposed on persons attempting to smuggle domestic animals into the country. An illegally imported animal is liable to be destroyed. Other prohibited items include firearms, drugs and pornography.
For further information about importing animals contact the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food, Peach Street, London SWIP 4PQ (tel: (020) 7904 6000); or the nearest British mission abroad.

Abolition of duty free goods within the EU: On June 30 1999, the sale of duty-free alcohol and tobacco at airports and at sea was abolished in all 15 EU member states. Although there are now no limits imposed on importing tobacco and alcohol products from one EU country to another, travellers should note that they may be required to prove at customs that the goods purchased are for personal use only.


Health

Health care: The National Health Service provides free medical treatment (at hospitals and general surgeries) to all who are ordinarily resident in the UK but requires payment for dental treatment, prescriptions and spectacles. Immediate first aid/emergency treatment is free for all visitors, after which charges are made unless the visitor’s country has a reciprocal health agreement with the UK. The following have signed such agreements: all EU countries (but Danish residents of the Faroe Islands are not covered), Anguilla, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Bulgaria, Channel Islands (applies only if visitor is staying less than three months), CIS countries, Falkland Islands, Hungary, Iceland, Isle of Man, Liechtenstein, Malta (for visits up to 30 days), Montserrat, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, St Helena, Slovak Republic, Turks & Caicos Islands and Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). The agreements provide differing degrees of exemption for different nationalities; full details of individual agreements are available from the Department of Health. See also the Health appendix.


Travel – International

AIR: The principal national airline is British Airways (BA).

Approximate flight times: From Birmingham to Amsterdam is 1 hour 15 minutes; to Dublin is 1 hour; to Düsseldorf is 1 hour 20 minutes; to Frankfurt/M is 1 hour 35 minutes; and to Paris is 1 hour 10 minutes.
From Glasgow to Paris is 2 hours 50 minutes.
From Manchester to Amsterdam is 1 hour 20 minutes; to Brussels is 1 hour 20 minutes; to Copenhagen is 1 hour 50 minutes; to Dublin is 1 hour; to Düsseldorf is 1 hour 25 minutes; to Frankfurt/M is 1 hour 50 minutes; to Milan is 2 hours 15 minutes; to Nice is 2 hours 20 minutes; to Paris is 1 hour 20 minutes; to Rome is 2 hours 55 minutes; and to Zürich is 2 hours 5 minutes.
 
International airports: Heathrow

London Heathrow International Airport
Maps and Driving Directions to London Heathrow International Airport

Driving Directions

Heathrow is situated west of London on the M4, the airport is signposted from all relevant junctions on the motorway.

Heathrow access from the M4 and M25:
Terminals 1, 2 and 3
- Turn off the M4 at Junction 4
Terminal 4
- Turn off the M4 at Junction 3
- From the M25 exit at Junction 14
When travelling to London Heathrow it is always advisable to allow for delays, especially when travelling at peak times.
Train Services

Heathrow Express
LHR provides travellers with Heathrow Express, a non-stop train service that runs between Paddington and Heathrow Airport. The Heathrow Express trains run every 15 minutes, 365 days a year and provide a reliable service to the centre of London. The Express station is located 15 minutes walk from terminals 1, 2 and 3 and 20 minutes from terminal 4.

Railair

There is a Railair service operating from London Heathrow providing links to stations in Feltham, Reading, Woking and Watford Junction. For more information on this service call National rail enquiries: 08457 484 950

THE CHANNEL TUNNEL: -

Road vehicles: All road vehicles are carried through the tunnel in Le Shuttle running between the two terminals, one near Folkestone in Kent, with direct access from the M20, and one just outside Calais, with links to the A16/A26 motorway (Exit 13). Each shuttle is made up of 12 single- and 12 double-deck carriages, and vehicles are directed to single-deck or double-deck shuttles depending on their height. There are facilities for cars and motorcycles, coaches, minibuses, caravans, campervans and other vehicles over 1.85m (6.07ft). Bicycles are provided for. Passengers generally travel with their vehicles. Heavy goods vehicles are carried on special shuttles with a separate passenger coach for their drivers. Terminals and shuttles are well equipped for disabled passengers, and Passenger Terminal buildings contain duty-free shops, restaurants, bureaux de change and other amenities. The journey takes about 35 minutes from platform to platform and about one hour from motorway to motorway. Services run every day of the year, and there are between two and five an hour, depending on the season and time of day. There is a reservation system and a turn-up-and-go service. By contacting Eurotunnel Customer Services in Coquelle (tel: (3) 21 00 61 00) as they approach the French terminal, motorists can find out when the next shuttle leaves and how busy the service is. Motorists pass through customs and immigration before they board the shuttle without further checks on arrival. Fares are charged according to length of stay and time of year. The price applies to the car, regardless of the number of passengers or size of the car. The fare may be paid in cash, by cheque or by credit card. The fares that follow are valid at the time of going to press. Day Returns, if booked a day or more in advance, are £69 if travelling Mon-Sat, or £49 if travelling Sun. If not booked in advance, fares are £209. A return ticket (valid from 1 to 5 days) is £219 or, if booked in advance, £193. A standard return ticket is £339 or £310 if booked in advance. Fares are lower if departure time is before 0600 or after 2200 (this does not apply to day trips). Early Bird Returns can be pre-booked for £49 (if leaving before 0700 and returning after 1600; or if leaving after 1200 and returning after midnight). Lower rates apply to motorcycles. Tickets may be purchased in advance from travel agents, or from Eurotunnel Customer Services in France or the UK with a credit card. For further information, contact Eurotunnel Customer Services in the UK (tel: (0990) 353 535; fax: (01303) 288 786; e-mail: callcentre@eurotunnel.com; web site: http://www.eurotunnel.com).

Direct Rail links: The direct Eurostar train link through the Channel Tunnel between London and Lille, Brussels or Paris started operating on November 14 1994. Eurostar is a service provided by the railways of Belgium, the United Kingdom and France, operating direct high-speed trains from London (Waterloo International) to Paris (Gare du Nord) and to Brussels (Midi/Zuid). It takes three hours from London to Paris. When the high-speed rail link from London through Kent to the tunnel is operational (expected to be in the year 2002), the travel time between the two capitals will be reduced to two and a half hours. It takes 2 hours 40 minutes from London to Brussels. Trains depart approximately 12 times a day from Waterloo to Paris, and approximately nine times a day from Waterloo to Brussels. Services, including overnight sleeper trains, will also run from major regional centres. Access to the entire British railway network will be provided, bringing many British business centres within a comfortable day’s journey of the continent. Plans also envisage the use of London’s St Pancras station by Eurostar travelling north of London, and also as a second London terminus. The Eurostar trains are equipped with standard-class and first-class seating, buffet, bar and telephones, and are staffed by multi-lingual, highly trained personnel. Pricing is competitive with the airlines, and there is a large range of different tickets and prices. Children aged between 4-11 years benefit from a special fare in first class as well as in standard class. Children under 4 years old travel free but cannot be guaranteed a seat. Wheelchair users and blind passengers together with one companion get a special fare. For further information and reservations contact Eurostar (tel: (01233) 617 599 (travel agents) or (08705 186 186 (public; within the UK) or (01233) 617 575 (public; outside the UK only); website: www.eurostar.com); or Rail Europe (tel: (08705) 848 848). Travel agents can obtain refunds for unused tickets from Eurostar Trade Refunds, 2nd Floor, Kent House, 81 Station Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 1PD. Complaints and comments may be sent to Eurostar Customer Relations, Eurostar House, Waterloo Station, London SE1 8SE (tel: (020) 7928 5163). General enquiries and information requests must be made by telephone. Enquiries in France should be made to Eurostar in Paris (tel: (8) 36 35 35 39; only available from within France). Information about package deals, inclusive of accommodation and travel on Eurostar can be obtained from Eurostar Holidays Direct (tel: (0870) 167 6767; fax: (0870) 010 0284).

SEA: There are many ports offering ferry connections between the UK and mainland Europe, Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Wight, the Scilly Isles and the Isle of Man.
UK ferry operators include: Stena Line (tel: (01233) 647 022; web site: http://www.stenaline.com); P&O Stena Line (tel: (0870) 600 0600; web site: http://www.posl.com); P&O European Ferries (tel: (0870) 242 4999; web site: http://www.poportsmouth.com); Hoverspeed (tel: (08705) 240 241; web site: http://www.hoverspeed.co.uk); Norse Irish Ferries (tel: (01232) 779 090; web site: http://www.norse-irish-ferries.co.uk); Condor Ferries (tel: (01305) 761 551; web site: http://www.condorferries.co.uk); Brittany Ferries (tel: (0990) 360 360; web site: http://www.brittany-ferries.com); Isles of Scilly Travel (tel: (08457) 105 555; web site: http://www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk); Red Funnel (tel: (023) 8033 3042; web site: http://www.redfunnel.co.uk); DFDS Seaways (tel: (08705) 444 333 or 333 000; web site: http://www.dfdsseaways.co.uk); P&O North Sea Ferries (tel: (01482) 377 177; web site: http://www.ponsf.com); Fjord Line (tel: (0191) 296 1313; web site: http://www.fjordline.com); P&O Scottish Ferries (tel: (01224) 572 615; web site: http://www.poscottishferries.co.uk); Swansea–Cork Ferries (tel: (01792) 456 116; web site: http://www.commerce.ie/cs/scf); Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. (tel: (01624) 661 661; web site: http://www.steam-packet.com); Irish Ferries (tel: (08705) 171 717; web site: http://www.irishferries.ie); Caledonian Macbrayne (tel: (01475) 650 100; web site: http://www.calmac.co.uk); and Wightlink (tel: (08705) 827 744; web site: http://www.wightlink.co.uk).

RAIL: Trains meet connecting ferries at Dover, Newhaven, Portsmouth, Weymouth and Folkestone, sailing for France, Germany and Belgium (board at Victoria Station in London); and at Harwich, sailing for The Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavia (board at Liverpool Street). See also Direct Rail Links above.

ROAD: Few formalities are encountered when driving between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.


Climate

Owing to its being an island, the UK is subject to very changeable weather. Extremes of temperature are rare but snow, hail, torrential rain and heatwaves can occur almost without warning. For detailed descriptions, see Climate in the respective country sections.

 

Contact Addresses

Location: Northwest Europe.

Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
3100 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008
Tel: (202) 588 6500 or 588 7800 (consular section). Fax: (202) 588 7870 (chancery) or 588 7892 (passports) or 588 7850 (visas). Website: www.britainusa.com
Consulates general in: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New York (tel: (212) 745 0202).

British Tourist Authority
551 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, Suite 701, New York, NY 10176-0799
Tel: (212) 986 2266 or (800) 462 2748 (toll free in USA). Fax: (212) 986 1188. E-mail: travelinfo@bta.org.uk
Website: www.travelbritain.org

British Tourist Authority
625 North Michigan Avenue, 10th Floor, Suite 1001, Chicago, Illinois IL 60611-1977
Tel: (800) 462 2748 (toll free in USA). Fax: (312) 787 9641.
E-mail: travelinfo@bta.org.uk
Website: www.travelbritain.org

Embassy of the United States of America
24-32 Grosvenor Square, London W1A 1AE
Tel: (020) 7499 9000. Website: www.usembassy.org.uk
Opening hours (for telephone enquiries): 0830-1730 Mon-Fri.
Consulates in: Belfast (tel: (02890) 328 239) and Edinburgh (tel: (0131) 556 8315).

American Embassy Visa Services
Tel: (09068) 200 290 (24-hour visa information line; calls cost 60p per minute) or (09055) 444 546 (operator-assisted visa information; calls cost £1.30 per minute; lines are open 0800-2000 Mon-Fri and 1000-1600 Sat).
 

Country dialling code: 44.