The English winter, ending in July
To recommence in August.
Lord Byron, Don Juan, 1819-24
United Kingdom holiday experts at WEXAS will tailor-make all aspects of your itinerary to create a United Kingdom holiday, personal to you.
The British weather may appear to be one long rainy season, but fortunately holidaymakers have a lot of other things to enjoy here. There’s countless historical sites to visit, some dating back more than 5,000 years in the case of stone circles such as Avebury and the younger, more famous Stonehenge; numerous Roman monuments, like Hadrian’s Wall – which should only be walked in the summer – or the city of Bath; and the Tower of London – nearly 1,000 years old and once a prison to Elizabeth I – to name very few.
For more contemporary attractions, you can take time to explore the burgeoning London arts scene at Tate Modern or The Saatchi Gallery, visit the vibrant nightlife of Liverpool – Europe’s Capital of Culture in 2008 – or Manchester, or head further north to Edinburgh for its unrivalled series of summer festivals.
If it’s the great outdoors you want to discover, there are numerous walks, hikes and cycle routes to try out. Head for the South Downs, the Lake District, Wales’ Pembrokeshire Coast, the Norfolk Broads, or for the more active, try surfing at Newquay or rock climbing in Snowdonia or the Peak District.
Contact a UK expert to prepare a personal itinerary and a no-obligation quote.
United Kingdom facts
Capital: London
Language: English.
People: European descent (96%), non-European descent (4%).
Religion: Protestant and other Christian denominations. Jewish, Hindu and Muslim minorities.
Size (sq km): 242,514.
Population: 60,775,500.
Population density/sq km: 244.2.
Etiquette
Handshaking is a customary greeting. Normal courtesies apply when visiting someone's home and it is polite to wait until everyone has been served before eating. A smoking ban in public places is in force. Be prepared to queue and remember to maintain that famous stiff upper lip.
Shopping
Tweeds, china and porcelain, antiques, foodstuffs, clothes.
Food & drink
International cuisines can be found all over the country. There are regional specialities, based on local produce, such as black pudding in Lancashire and Yorkshire, sausages in Lincolnshire. English cheese enjoys a growing reputation. Excellent meat, fish, game and the famous haggis (a sheep's stomach stuffed with oatmeal, spiced liver, onions and offal) can be found in Scotland. Welsh specialities include laver bread, a seaweed and oatmeal cake, and dishes based on local lamb and the national vegetable, the leek. You will either love it or hate it: Marmite. Scotch whisky is in a class of its own.
International Airports
Principally Heathrow (LHR) and Gatwick (LGW) which are 1 hour from the capital. Also regional airports.
Internal travel
Good road and rail network. Flights limited but efficient. All cities have bus services, some have underground railways.
Red tape
Visas
Not required.
Vaccinations
Not currently required.
Driving requirements
National driving licence, Third Party insurance and vehicle registration documents.
Reps in UK/US
UK: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, tel (202) 588 7800, fax (202) 588 7870.
UK/US reps in United Kingdom
US: 24 Grosvenor Square, London W1A 1AE, tel (020) 7499 9000, fax (020) 7495 5012.
Currency
Pounds sterling (£) = 100 pence.
Finance
Credit cards widely accepted.
Business hours
0930-1730 Mon-Friday
Safety & life expectancy
Safety information
Safe.
Life expectancy
Life expectancy: M 76.00, F 81.00.
Useful websites for travel
www.visitscotland.com, www.visitwales.com, www.discovernorthernireland.com, www.ukvisas.gov.uk, www.britainusa.com, www.britannia.com, www.visitbritain.com, www.bbc.co.uk, www.nationaltrust.org.uk, www.24hourmuseum.org.uk, www.thisislondon.co.uk.
Local media
Ten major papers, including The Daily Telegraph, The Financial Times, The Guardian, The Daily Mail and The Sun. There are also daily regionals. International press widely available.
Tourist boards
UK: 1 Regent Street, London SW1Y 4XT, tel (020) 7808 3807, email blvcinfo@visitbritain.org. US: 551 Fifth Avenue, Suite 701, New York, NY 10176, tel (800) 462 2748, fax (212) 986 1188, email travelinfo@visitbritain.org. Or, 551 Fifth Avenue, Suite 701, New York, 1-800-462-2748
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Changeable climate, rainy all year. Cold wet winters (November-March).
GMT Precisely.
Pounds sterling (£) = 100 pence.
Get foreign currency online
