United kingdom - Travel Guide
Description
UK -- ENGLAND
The UK - the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to give its full name - consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each of these countries has its many highlights, although the capital of England, London, is usually the first destination for visitors. A city of immense history and culture, London is accepted as one of the top cities of the world. Here you will find the Mother of Parliaments, Buckingham Palace, the historic Tower of London, the BA London Eye which looks down on the River Thames, together with museums, art galleries and theatres of great repute. As Dr Johnson said some 300 years ago, "anyone who tires of London, is tired of life". Other major cities of England include Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool, while there are so many beautiful villages and countryside to visit between them. Stratford-on-Avon was the home of the Bard, William Shakespeare; Bath is a city of Regency splendour; Bristol still maintains its seafaring roots while offering modern facilities. The Lake District is often described as the most beautiful corner of England. Here you can see waterfalls cascading down ravines, ancient oak woods around sparkling lakes and centuries-old farmhouses. Stonehenge, situated on Salisbury Plain, is world famous for its 4,000 year old standing stones. So, England offers a mixture of the ancient and the modern, with something for everybody.
UK -- SCOTLAND
The UK - the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to give its full name - consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland is the most northerly of the countries, and is renowned for its Highlands, which offer rounded, snow-capped mountains, Scots pine forests, and spectacular coastal scenery. Many small islands lie off the coast of north Scotland, including the famous Isle of Skye, Mull and Iona, the home of Christianity. The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh. The 12th century castle dominates the city, and offers stunning views from its ramparts. The annual Military Tattoo takes place here. Leading down from the esplanade of the castle is the Royal Mile, dating from the 16th century, all the way to the Royal Palace of Holyrood House. The Old Town offers a maze of narrow streets and wyndes (winding lanes). The Edinburgh Festival and Fringe is an international attraction. The Scottish Borders represent most people's idea of the country - rolling heather-clad hills and wooded valleys leading unspoilt fishing villages and on to the sea. Covering a bare 150 square miles, the area was much admired by the novelist Sir Walter Scott, who is buried at Dryburgh Abbey. Scotland is the home of whisky; make sure you visit one of the distilleries for an informative tour and tasting! Did you know that over the 10 years of maturing, over a quarter of the whisky is lost to evaporation, known as the "angel's share".
UK -- WALES
The UK - the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to give its full name - consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The principality of Wales offers some stunning scenery and picture-postcard villages, as well as vibrant cities such as the capital, Cardiff. The city has come more to the fore recently with the opening of the Millennium Stadium, a venue for domestic and international events from rugby to football to speedway, music and concerts. Llandaff Cathedral rests on the site of a 6th century religious community founded by St Teilo. Extensively restored in 1882, the cathedral boasts a striking aluminium sculpture by Jacob Epstein. Cardiff is ideal for shopping, offering three indoor shopping malls and street artists to entertain visitors. Swansea is the second city of Wales, and is the birthplace of the country's favourite poet, Dylan Thomas. For a permanent exhibition of his life and work, visit the Dylan Thomas Centre at Somerset Place. Beyond Swansea is the beautiful Gower Peninsular. The Brecon Beacons National Park contains some of the most spectacular scenery in the UK. Snowdonia, in the heart of North Wales, is an area of heather moors, rolling hills leading to peaceful valleys and mountains such as the highest peak in Wales, Mount Snowdon. Wales has some superb castles, especially Carnaevon and Conway, which offer visitors an insight to the history of this Celtic land.
UK - NORTHERN IRELAND
The UK - the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to give its full name - consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland stayed loyal to Great Britain when the country was divided, and has now emerged from a dark time in its history to offer the visitor a wonderful time in a country which fairly sparkles with fun and pleasure. The way of life can be slow, with hours of fishing in the lakes and rivers or gentle strolls through the stunningly green countryside. Or you could go to the cities which offer fine shopping and a lively nightlife. Belfast, the capital, has theatres, concert halls and music venues to rival any in the world. Belfast Castle originally dates from the 12th century, but the present building was not completed until 1870 and has since been refurbished. It is now used for weddings, conferences and other events. The Mountains of Mourne are the best known in the country and have 12 summits rising to over 2,000 feet. The coast from Newcastle to Greencastle was notorious for smuggling, and the old coastguard lookout points recall the time when liquor, tobacco, tea, silk and soap were landed by boat from the Isle of Man. The famous Giant's Causeway is situated in County Antrim. Although created by volcanic eruptions and cooling lava, tradition has it that the Causeway was the work of the giant Finn McCool, commander of the ancient Irish armies.
Driving Guide
Visiting drivers to the United Kingdom should hold a current full driving licence or an international driving permit, and the minimum driving age is 17 years. Speed limits are as follows: 70mph on motorways and dual carriageways; 60mph on urban stretches of road and outside built-up areas; and 30mph in built-up areas. It should be noted that speed cameras are an important deterrent in the UK, and you can suffer a fine or even a complete ban if you are caught speeding. Driving is on the left side of the road, so priority should be given to traffic coming from the right. You are permitted to pass slower traffic only on an outside (right) lane. When approaching a roundabout, you must give way to the traffic already on it. You MUST give way to any emergency vehicle flashing its lights and sounding its siren. Seat-belts must be worn at all times while the vehicle is in motion. The driver is legally responsible for safe seat restraints for children under 14. Road signs in the UK must be observed - circular signs represent instructions which must be followed, while triangles are warning signs, which let drivers know what is ahead, such as road works. No parking is allowed at any time on double-yellow lines. Do NOT drink and drive - the legal limit is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, and there are strong penalties for exceeding this amount.
United kingdom - Key Facts
Timezone:Languages spoken: English.
Capital City: London.
Major Cities: Birmingham, Glasgow.
Mojor Airports: Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Guernsey, Jersey, Leeds/Bradford, Liverpool, London (London City, Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton & Stansted), Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Plymouth, Southampton, Teesside.
Population: 60 million
Area: 244,820 sq km - 94,530 sq miles.
Climate Guide: Temperate climate generally cool to mild with frequent cloud and rain throughout the year, but also spells of settled, fine weather. Summers can be quite warm. The S tends to be warmer and drier than the N, and the W wetter than the E. Most rain (snow in winter) is in the higher regions of Scotland, Wales and N England.
Currency: Pound Sterling (GBP 1 = 100 pence).
Notes: GBP: 5, 10, 20, 50. Scotland: 1, 5, 10, 20, 100.
Coins: GBP: 1, 2. Pence: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50.
Telephone Code: 44
Electricity: 240V AC 50Hz.
UK Tourist Information: English Tourism Council
Thames Tower, Black's Road, London W6 9EL
Tel: 020 8563 3000 (trade)
Fax: 020 8563 0302
Website: www.englishtourism.org.uk
VisitScotland
23 Ravelston Terrace, Edinburgh EH4 3TP
Tel: 0131 332 2433 Fax: 0131 343 1513
E-mail: info@visitscotland.com
Website: www.visitscotland.com
Hotel Class: There is no official hotel classification system in the United Kingdom. Two separate voluntary systems are used in England and Scotland. The English Tourism Council (ETC) awards star ratings (based on quality and facilities) from 1 star up to 5 star for full service hotels and 1 to 5 diamonds (based on quality) for B&Bs and guesthouses. The Scottish Tourist Board (STB) awards stars (based on quality) to all types of accommodation. The English scheme is harmonised with the stars and diamonds awarded by the AA and RAC. The Scottish scheme is not, so a property in Scotland may have different STB and AA/RAC star ratings. Hotels not subscribing to any voluntary system have been arbitrarily allocated our usual £ to £££££ categories based on rack rates, facilities and perceived quality. These equate to the 1- to 5-star system and serve only to compare relative standards within any given area.