United Kingdom Travel Guide
What You Need To Know: The Bare Bones
Population. 60 million
Area. 245,000 km2
Religion. Mainly Christian but with significant Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Jewish populations.
Currency. Pound Sterling
Passports, Visas etc.
US citizens need only take a passport for stays less than six months. US citizens are restricted to this three-month period before they need to get a visa. Passports can be used as ID but it is advisable to carry a photocopy and leave the real thing safely at your hotel.
Safety Advice
England is a safe place to visit overall. The main concern is crowded tourist areas that attract small time pickpockets and bag snatchers. Never openly carry anything of value and be careful of possessions at all times. Follow normal common sense rules, avoid badly lit areas, and try not to travel alone, tell someone what your itinerary is, and don't leave things on display in vehicles.
The Roads
Roads are good quality and cover the country comprehensively. Cities can be congested and parking may be a problem. Other drivers can be a little on the aggressive side. In the UK drive on the left-hand side of the road
Stay Healthy
There are no more worries here than in any other European country, no inoculations are required and the water is clean. EU citizens can get free medical help. US citizens should ensure that they have ample insurance.
Take sensible precautions against the effects of the sun.
Insurance
Take out adequate insurance to cover health, accident, and theft of money and possessions.
Law and Order
Do not traffic or pedal drugs of any kind. Penalties for drunk driving are very stiff.
Cash and Plastic
Traveller's cheques are easily changed, credit cards are readily accepted and ATM machines are widely available.
Climate and When to Go
In Britain the weather can change very quickly, a glorious sunny morning can soon change to a drab wet afternoon. Winters tend to be chilly and damp but never really cold, except in the hills and mountains of the north.
If the rain holds off, the weather in spring and summer is gorgeous.
The summer months are the tourist high season and many of the main attractions can get very crowded.
Shopping around Christmas time can make it hell to travel in London.
Life Outside the Capital
There is so much to see it is almost impossible to know where to begin.
Many visitors will head for Oxford or Cambridge, world famous seats of learning that have traditions stretching back for 800 years. Perhaps a more modern, livelier place is more to your liking? If so, try Manchester with its sophisticated club scene and home to the worlds most famous football (soccer) team. Alternatively, there is Birmingham, England's second city and not far from Shakespeare's birthplace in Stratford upon Avon. Visit Newcastle for a truly wild time!
If towns and cities aren't to your taste then try the villages and market towns that cover the country, although the sleepy 'Cotswolds' is probably the most popular area for this.
Then there is the countryside. Check out the Yorkshire Dales or the Lake District in the north. More central lies the Peak District whilst in the Westcountry there is the rugged Cornish coast and the beautifully desolate Dartmoor, Exmoor and Bodmin Moor. There are big houses and stately homes all over the country.
England is a modern country with a rich heritage and glorious scenery.
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