United Kingdom

Language

Everybody in the United Kingdom speaks English although there are many regional accents. In Wales, some people also speak Welsh and in the cities immigrant communities speak their own languages as well as English.

Best travel time

England, Scotland and Wales are the three countries that comprise the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom includes Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands. Consequently, The United Kingdom has one climate in Scotland, another in Wales and another in the south east of England. Thanks to the warm waters of the gulfstream, the weather in the winter can be wet and windy but it is rarely really cold. In the last couple of years, the UK has experienced snow, but countries in Europe are usually much colder. In the summer, the average daytime temperature in the UK is around 20C but it can climb to 28C on particularly hot days.

Communication

The United Kingdom is a sophisticated country with an excellent mobile phone and landline network. Wireless broadband is also readily available in town and cities. Police/Fire/Ambulance number is 999

Traditions and Culture

The United Kingdom is multi-cultural and each area has its own culture whether it’s Scotland, Wales or the great cities such as Liverpool, home of the Beatles and London, home of the oldest democracy in the world. Most towns have art galleries, museums, theatres and concert halls, and Victorian libraries still exist despite the growth of the Internet. Although many of the United Kingdom’s traditions have disappeared, people still like to eat traditional fish and chips, go and watch a football match and have a few pints of traditional English beer in their local pub. To be born British, it is said is to be dealt the Ace of Spades and although the United Kingdom is in the grip of the longest post-war recession, life is still pretty good. Many services are readily available including excellent medical support, where money is only requested after treatment. In other words, the United Kingdom is an appealing country, which is why it attracts so many visitors and immigrants.

Religion

The official religion is Christian Church of England but in most of the cities there is a wide choice of synagogues and mosques. People in the United Kingdom have complete freedom of worship.

By bus

The United Kingdom is served by a comprehensive network of trains, complemented by coaches travelling between cities and local buses serving towns and cities. Airports are plentiful, especially in the south east of England.

By plane

The United Kingdom is an international hub with almost every city served by an international airport. Public transport between airports and the cities is usually very good and car rental available, often without pre-booking.

Sights

The United Kingdom is justly proud of its heritage and throughout the three countries of England, Scotland and Wales there are natural sights and monuments to be admired. For example, there are the stones at Stonehenge that were dragged from Wales to central southern England thousands of years ago. In the north, the Romans built Hadrian’s Wall, to keep out the Scots and in Wales there is Pembrokeshire National Park, which is one of the most beautiful places to visit on earth.

Food

The United Kingdom is all about choice when it comes to eating out. The UK has an ill-deserved reputation for poor eating and yet the choice of fantastic restaurants especially in London should be envied by Paris and Rome. The cultures that the United Kingdom welcomes is reflected in the superb cuisine that can often be enjoyed for reasonable prices, save for in London where eating out is expensive.