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Why visit the United Kingdom?
Best known for architecture, art, birdwatching, castles, churches, cricket, culture, fashion, golf, history, lakes, landmarks, landscapes, mountains, music, pubs, royal family, spectator sports, and tennis.
Neist Point, Glendale, Scotland. Photo Credit: Katja S Verhoeven/Pixabay
At a Glance
- Souvenirs to Buy: Biscuits, Cadbury chocolate, Harry Potter goods, Paddington Bear, royal family goods, scarves, tea, teapot, and vinyl records.
- Local Cuisine to Try: Bangers & Mash (sausage dish). Bbara Brith (tea bread). Black Pudding. Cawl (soup). Fish & Chips. Glamorgan Sausage. Llaverbread. Shepherd Pie. Scones. Steak & Kidney Pie.Toad in the Hole (sausage dish). Trifle (dessert). Victoria Sponge Cake. Yorkshire Pudding.
- Local Drink to Try: Buckfast (wine). Cider. Dandelion & Burdock (fruity liquor). Earl Grey (tea). English Ale. Glayva (liquor). Lucozade (soft drink). Pimms (gin). Squash (cocktail). Vimto (tonic).
London Eye (aka: Millennium Wheel), London, England. Photo Credit: Dimitris Vetsikas/Pixabay
Fun Facts
- The 14th Century (1301 - 1400) English cookbook, the Forme of Cury, has recipes from the late Richard II (1367 - 1400) (aka: Richard of Bordeaux), King of England (1377 - 1399).
- Birthplace of the late William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616), English Poet.
- Home to the first passenger (1825) steam rail service, the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
- Liverpool and Manchester Railway (1830) was the first intercity railway service in the world.
- Musselburgh Links' Old Golf Course (Musselburgh) is the oldest golf course in the world (1874).
- Origin (1860) of tennis (Birmingham).
- Home to the oldest (1877) and most prestigious tennis tournament, Wimbledon Championships (London).
- Birthplace (London) of late Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (1899 - 1980), Filmmaker.
- Birthplace (Pinner) of legendary musician Sir Elton Hercules John (1947).
- Hosted the Summer Olympic Games (1908, 1948, 2012).
- Hosted the first (1950) F1 Grand Prix (Silverstone).
- Bands that formed in London include Fleetwood Mac (1967), Led Zeppelin (1968), One Direction (2010), Pink Floyd (1965), Queen (1970), The Police (1977), The Rolling Stones (1962), and The Who (1964).
- The longest reigning British Monarch (1952 - 2022) was the late Queen Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary 1926 - 2022).
- Liverpool was the birthplace of The Beatles (1960).
- Birthplace for famous musicians such as Adele Laurie Blue Adkins (1988), David Bowie (1947 - 2016), Edward Christopher Sheeran (1991), Eric Patrick Clapton (1945), George Michael (1963 - 2016), Harry Edward Styles (1994), and Sir Roderick David Stewart (1945).
- Crossrail (2022) is Europe's largest construction project (£15 billion).
- British Sign Language (BSL) is recognized by law (2022) as a language of England, Scotland, and Wales.
- Comprises England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
- England invented cricket.
- Capital (London) is considered a financial center.
- Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales have their own governments.
- UK has the oldest rail network in the world.
- Great Britain refers to England, Scotland, and Wales in combination.
- Citizens of the United Kingdom are known as British citizens.
- Channel Tunnel is the longest underwater tunnel in the world.
- Tallest mountain, Scafell Pike (3,209 ft), in England.
- Scotland has approximately 800 islands.
- London Heathrow Airport (LHR) ranks among one of the busiest airports in the world.
- The M25 (London) is considered the busiest and largest bypass in the world.
- Scotland is the most mountainous country in the United Kingdom.
- Slieve Donard is the highest mountain (2,795 ft) in Northern Ireland.
- Prime Minister is the head of government in the United Kingdom, appointed by the monarch.
- United Kingdom is ranked the 5th largest economy in the world.
- The red double-decker bus is a popular icon of England.
- Aerospace industry is amongst the largest in the world.
- The Beatles were considered the most influential band in music history.
- Northern Ireland has no established church.
- London bus network is the most extensive in the world.
- Edinburgh (Scotland) is UNESCO's 1st worldwide City of Literature.
- Tate Modern (London) is the most visited modern art gallery in the world.
- BBC World Service (London) ranks as the world's largest broadcaster.
Shaftesbury, England. Photo Credit: Albrecht Fietz/Pixabay
Special Holidays/Occasions
- Annual Events: (January) Burn's Night, Celtic Connections, Chinese New Year, Dydd Santes Dwynwen, London’s New Year’s Day Parade, (February) Dark Skies Festival, Great British Beer Festival, RBS Six Nations Rugby, (March) Bourne Festival, Cheltenham Festival, Glasgow Film Festival, Glasgow International Comedy Festival, St David Day, The Gemini Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race, (April) Camp Good Life, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Grand National, Highland Games, Liverpool Sound City, London Marathon, Spirit of Speyside Distilled Food & Drink Festival, TweedLove Bike Festival, (May) Birmingham Pride, Blenheim Palace Food Festival,Brighton Festival, Chelsea Flower Show, Hay Festival of Literature & Arts, RideLondon, Urdd Eisteddfod, Women’s FA Cup Final, (June) Appleby Horse Fair, Barnardo's Big Toddle, Britain in Bloom, Bristol Pride, Cazoo Derby Festival, Dance Master UK, Download Festival, Gardeners' World Live, Isle of Wight Festival, Jane Austen Regency Week, LodeStar Festival, Pride Cymru, Royal Ascot, Stonehenge Summer Solstice, Taste of London Festival, The Emirates FA Cup Final, The Royal Cheshire County Show, The Royal Highland Show, Trooping the Colour, Whole Earth Man vs Horse Marathon, (July) Alice’s Day, Birmingham Mela, Brazilica Festival, Bristol Harbour Festival, Buckingham Palace Summer Opening, Camp Bestival, Cowes Week, Edinburgh Art Festival, Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Formula 1 British Grand Prix, Kynren, Northern Pride,Pride in London, RHS Flower Show Tatton Park, RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, Round the Island Race, The BBC Prom, The Open Championship, The Royal Welsh Show, Wales Airshow, Wimbledon Tennis Championship, (August) Brighton’s Pride, Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, British Birdwatching Fair, Creamfields, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Eroica Britannia, Greenwich+Docklands International Festival, Jack Up The Summer Festival, Lakefest, Leeds Pride, Llŷn & Eifionydd National Eisteddfod, Northampton Balloon Festival, Notting Hill Carnival, Qatar ‘Glorious Goodwood’ Festival, Reading & Leeds Festival, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, World Bog Snorkelling Championships, (September) Blackpool Illuminations, Bristol Open Doors, British Science Festival, Heritage Open Days, Great North Run, Ironman Wales, Jane Austen Festival, London Design Festival,London Fashion Week, Open House Festival, The Braemar Gathering, The Great British Cheese Festival, York Food & Drink Festival, (October) Artes Mundi, BFI London Film Festival, Cardiff Half Marathon, Cartoon Art Trust Awards, Iris Prize Festival, Nottingham Goose Fair, World Conker Championships, (November) Bonfire Night, Downing Street Christmas Tree, FilmBath Festival, Kendal Mountain Festival, Leeds International Film Festival, London Jazz Festival, Longleat Festival of Light, Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park, (December) Christmas at Kew, Hogmanay, New Castle Gateshead Winter Festival, and The Great Christmas Pudding Race.
- Holidays: New Years Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Early May Bank, Coronation of King Charles III, Spring Bank, Summer Bank, Christmas, and Boxing Day.
Stonehedge, Wiltshire, England. Photo Credit: Alice_Alphabet/Pixabay
Good to Know
- Registered Traveller Service (RTS) may use the ePassport Gates upon arrival.
- Popular cities to visit in England include Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, and Manchester.
- South Wales is less mountainous than North Wales.
- Scottish cuisine is similar to France and Scandinavia.
- Northern Ireland during summer marching season (April - August) is known to experience isolated tensions.
- Only use ATM's located in the bank.
- Sidewalks can be narrow and uneven.
- Avoid demonstrations.
- Only use licensed Black Cabs or reserved car services.
- Legal United Kingdom drinking age is 18.
- Scotland considers driving after one alcoholic beverage as intoxication.
- United Kingdom has very strict gun control laws.
- London Underground and National Rail System is not considered accessible friendly.
- United Kingdom traffic moves to the left.
- Pedestrians do not have the right of way.
- Unless noted otherwise, the United Kingdom speed limit is 70MPH.
- Central London, a congestion charge is imposed on all drivers who pass through the congestion zone. Failure to pay will result in arrest and/or fine.
Westminster Abbey, London, England. Photo Credit: Alfred Derks/Pixabay
This international destination requires:
- A valid passport and one blank page for entry stamp.
- Tourist VISA not required for visits under 6 months.
Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster (aka: Big Ben), London, England. Photo Credit: Mary_R_Smith from Pixabay
- Best Time to Visit: March - June & September - November
- Coldest Months: December - February
- Hottest Months: June - August
- Peak Season: June - August
Edinburgh, Scotland. Photo Credit: Anthony Ashley/Pixabay
Your Must-See & Do
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Avebury, Bath, Blaenavon, Blenheim Palace, Caernarfon Castle, Canterbury Cathedral, Conwy Castle, Cornwall & West Devon Mining Landscape, Derwent Valley Mills, Durham Castle, Durham Cathedral, Edinburgh New Town, Edinburgh Old Town, Fountains Abbey, Gorham's Cave Complex, Great Spa Towns of Europe, Greenwich, Hadrian's Wall, Harlech Castle, Henderson Island, Ironbridge Gorge Civil Parish, Jurassic Coast, Liverpool, London, New Lanark, Old Royal Naval College, Palace of Westminster, Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Skara Brae Prehistoric Village, Saltaire, St Augustine's Abbey, St Kilda, Stonehenge, Studley Royal Park, Tower of London, and Westminster Abbey.
Malham Cove, Malham, North Yorkshire, England.Photo Credit: Tim Hill/Pixabay
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All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Subject to change without notice.
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