The UK is both one nation and four – the English may casually switch allegiance between Britain and England but ask a Scot his nationality and he will always say he is a Scot. Moreover, the UK is teeming with Poles, Indians, Aussies, Jews, Turks, Saffers and hundreds of other races, while restaurants serve everything from Chinese to Argentine to Eritrean.
Beneath this influx, British stereotypes have fallen by the wayside. The bowler-hat-bedecked, cricket playing gentry has been replaced by a fashionable, fast-paced society where class means less and less. The ‘stiff upper lip’ survives as reserved stoicism, but the reputation for bad food is refuted by restaurants such as Hibiscus, St John and renowned Fat Duck which rank among the finest in the world. Most of all, legends like Monty Python and Billy Connolly are tribute to a kingdom now famed as much for its surreal and creative sense of humour as its once glorious empire.
Today, you can catch jaw-dropping views from the London Eye or sup a pint in the historic pubs of Derry; explore the rugged wilderness of the Scottish Highlands or take tea and scones in an English country house; enjoy a festival in the beautiful city of Edinburgh or relax on the sandy beaches of the Gower Peninsula. Whatever you do, don’t miss out on the walking cities tours, where tales of war, conquest and Empire mingle with ghosts, murder and intrigue on some of the oldest streets in Europe.
Getting there
There are several international airports; Heathrow and Gatwick are most commonly used. The Channel Tunnel connects London and Paris by train. Eurolines run coaches between London and several European cities. Ferries from several ports link the UK with Scandinavia, mainland Europe and Ireland.
Getting around
You can get almost anywhere in the UK by bus, coach and train; be-warned however that tickets are generally expensive. Coach is cheaper than train, while discounts are available for advance bookings.
Local information
Language: English
Time: UTC
Climate: Temperate: Warm summers, cool winters, rain all year round. Temperature: Max 22°C (July), Min 4°C (January). Rainfall: Max 60mm (November), Min 30mm (April).
Currency: British Pound (GBP)
Business etiquette: Business suits are the norm. A standard greeting is a handshake. Meetings tend to be formal and little emotion is usually displayed.
Tipping: 10 percent service tip is standard in restaurants.
Duty free: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 1l of spirits or 2l of beers, wines or cider; 50g of perfume; 250ml of eau de toilette; 500g of coffee; 100g of tea; medication for personal use.
Safety: Risk of terrorism is relatively low, and there is some civil unrest in Northern Ireland. Serious crime incidence is low but credit card/ATM fraud are all dangers in urban areas.
Laws: Smoking in public buildings is illegal. Antisocial or drunken behaviour may result in arrest.
Healthcare: Vaccinations required for diphtheria and tetanus. Emergency treatment for all is free; the cost of ongoing treatment depends on whether a patient’s country of residence has a reciprocal health agreement with the UK.
Socket type: Type G
