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Introduction to United Kingdom
United Kingdom, or UK for short, is a union of four nations, namely England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is itself a short form of its formal name, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain itself refers to the three nations of England, Scotland and Wales. United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy, and Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state. The people of the United Kingdom are called the British, or Britons.Fast Facts about United Kingdom
Getting into United Kingdom
The main entry point for tourists to United Kingdom are London, Mancester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Glasgow and Edinburgh.United Kingdom Entry Requirements
Nationals of Australia, Canada and US only need to bring their passport with over 3 months validity, visa is not necessary if staying not more than six months. Nationals of EU countries need to show proof of EU nationality. For more details, visit the government-run UK Visas website, http://www.ukvisas.gov.ukGetting around in United Kingdom
There is numerous possibility including domestic flights, trains, rented car or even hiking.By plane
There is a network of domestic flights linking the major cities in the United Kingdom, namely London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh. British Airways, www.british-airways.co.uk, has flights to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Manchester and Newcastle, from both Heathrow and Gatwick, and fare starts from as low as 60 pounds. BMI or British Midlands Airways, www.flybmi.com, is a low cost carrier with flights from Heathrow to Aberdeen, Belfast, Durham Tees Valley, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Leeds-Bradford and Manchester.
Flying domestic might not be the ideal option for visitors as it is often time consuming for the short distance involved, and not practical. Most British airports do not have rail connections. You only option are buses to the cities, and these are often quite expensive. To get the best fare, book as early as possible.
By train
There is a plethora of trains connecting all the cities and countryside of the United Kingdom. You can often enjoy cheaper fare by booking as early as possible, at least 7 to 14 days earlier or more. Multi-day passes are also available to visitors from outside UK. There are no high-speed trains like the TGV of France of ICE of Germany in the United Kingdom, but still, it is often faster to take the train than to drive. For details of the trains, visit the National Rail website, www.nationalrail.co.uk.
By driving
The United Kingdom drives on the left side of the road, the same as Australia, New Zealand and Japan. While driving gives you the freedom to explore, it is also expensive. Parking space is also hard to find, especially in big cities. Petrol is also expensive, at around 1.41 pounds per litre. There is a levy, or congestion charge, of 8 pounds for driving into central London. The M25 Motorway is notoriously congested, and is often called "London's car park", because all traffic often comes to a standstill. It should be avoided during rush hour, between 7:00-10:00am and 4:00-7:00pm.
By bus
The three main bus operators in the United Kingdom are National Express, www.nationalexpress.com, CityLink, www.citylink.co.uk, and Megabus, www.megabus.com/uk/. National Express is the largest, and has services to all the major destinations on the UK mainland. CityLink is big in Scotland. Megabus offers super low fares - as low as £1- if booked well in advance, that is to say, a week or two ahead.
By taxi
The distinctive taxis of London are called Black Cabs - though they are not always black. Officially called hackney carriage, these taxicabs are licensed by the Public Carriage Office of Greater London, or by the local authority in other parts of the UK. They are manufactured by one company, LTI or London Taxis International. Drivers must pass a tough exam on the geography of London, called "The Knowledge" before given a taxi driver's license. Other cities in UK often use similar taxis.
For information about Taxis in London, the first place to go is the Transport for London website, www.tfl.gov.uk, for numbers to call for taxis in London. In addition to that, visit Connect2Taxi, www.connect2taxi.co.uk, the firm to call for minicabs in UK. In London, call 0871 750 3333. Note: calls are charged 10p per minute from BT landlines. Visit also London Taxi, www.london-taxi.co.uk, and London Taxicabs, www.londontaxicabs.net, to find out about pre-booking a taxi.
Renting a car in United Kingdom
If you need to rent a car any time you are in the United Kingdom, get in touch with Auto Europe for discounted car rentals.Where to stay in the United Kingdom
The following are hostels and budget accommodation which you can book in various cities and towns in the United Kingdom:England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
Sightseeing Tours of the United Kingdom
The following are the local tours that you can book, arranged according to town.Things to see and do in United Kingdom
EnglandScotland
Sightseeing Tours of the United Kingdom
The following are local tours that are available for you to book:Money matters in United Kingdom
The currency used in the United Kingdom is the Pound Sterling (GBP, symbol £), which is divided into 100 pence (p). Coins are available in denominations of 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p and 1 pound, while notes come in denominations of £5, £10, £20 and £50. English banknotes show the Queen on the front and a historical figure on the reverse side. The banks of Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own banknotes at parity value to the English banknotes. While English banknotes find acceptance throughout the UK, some shops may in England may refuse Scottish and Northern Irish notes. Avoid £50 banknotes, as its high value causes some shopkeepers to be reluctant to accept it.United Kingdom is an expensive country to visit. Expect to spend roughly £50 per day on a budget, and more if you want to enjoy luxuries such as taxis, 3-star hotels and meals in restaurants. London and the South East of England is three times as expensive as the rest of the country.
At time of writing (Oct 2007), US$1.00 = £0.49, €1.00 = £0.70. For the latest exchange go to the Oanda Currency Converter.
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