Entering the UK

Everybody who comes into the United Kingdom will need a valid passport which should also remain valid for a minimum of three months after your visit. In general, visitors from Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand & South Africa are able to enter the UK without a visa & have an entitlement of up to six months stay. People from the EU member states may also enter without a visa
To ensure that you comply with entry requirements, take a look at the UK Visa site before planning your journey

For a guide on exactly what can and can't be brought into the UK click here


To work in the UK

Only nationals of EU member states are allowed to work without a permit in the UK
All other people must first obtain an official work visa. If the main purpose of your stay here is to work, you must have prior sponsorship by a UK organisation before arrival

Working Holiday Visas are available to citizens of commonwealth countries aged between 17-30. These can be valid for as long as two years but come with many stipulations. The main point being that it is aimed to help with funding your travels and not to be used simply to come here to work
If you have a relation from the UK you may also be entitled to work here. Please consult this site for full details in relation to all UK visas

Embassies


Australia - Australian Embassy
New Zealand - New Zealand Embassy
Canada - Canadian Embassy
USA - US Embassy
Germany - German Embassy
France - French Embassy
Japan - Japanese Embassy
South Africa - South African Embassy
Full List - All foreign embassies in the UK

Money

British money is pounds sterling. One hundred pence(p) makes up each pound(£). Coins in circulation are £2, £1, 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, and 1p. Notes to the value of £50, £20, £10 and £5 are also in issue

Visa, MasterCard or American Express credit cards are widely accepted in the UK, however you should check with the provider before leaving that it will work in the UK

Generally, bank weekday opening hours are 9.30am to 4.30pm, some banks also open all day Saturday and some even on Sundays. All banks are closed on public holidays. Most banks have 24 hour banking lobbies even if the branch is closed. These can be used to do most routine transactions. It has become harder of recent years for visitors to open a UK bank account, it is still possible but may take some time

If you need British currency when the banks are closed, you can obtain it at larger high-street travel agents, in the exchange offices in large department stores, at counter desks in larger hotels or at one of the many independent Bureau de Change. Regulations require all Bureau de Change to clearly display all exchange rates and full details of any fees and rates of commission.

Currency Converter

TV / Radio

TV - TV Guide | Radio - Radio Guide

Phone / Internet

For a full list of dialling codes to call abroad from the UK, click here

Mobile phones have been coming down in price over the past few years so you can pick up a prepare phone for as little as £30. If you are going to bring your existing mobile phone to the UK you should first check that it will work here; it may need to be chipped

For a great price click here for a wide range of Mobile Phones

Internet cafes are growing fast in number across the UK and you can expect to pay anything between around £1-£7 per hour. Its worth checking out a public library first though as you can often find internet access here for free

UK Postal System

Post Offices are located everywhere and generally open 9am – 5.30pm in the week. Saturday 9am-12.30pm. For details on postal costs etc please consult the Royal Mail website

Electric

The standard electrical voltage in the UK is 220/240 AC, 50HZ. A three square pronged adapter plug and/or electric converter for appliances is required. Takes fuses of 3, 5 & 13 amps

Medical Treatment / Emergencies

The emergency telephone number in the UK is 999 (112 can also be used)

Before travelling to the UK you should take out a suitable insurance cover and whilst here as a general safety rule, keep a note on you at all times of any medical condition affecting you and the names of any medication that you are taking

Overseas visitors who become ill while in the UK can get free emergency treatment in the Accident and Emergency departments of National Health Service hospitals Nationals or residents of countries which have reciprocal health care agreements with the UK are exempt from charges

The first point of call if you feel ill in the UK would be to go to a pharmacist. They can give you sound advice and often give you suitable treatment without the need to see a doctor first. There are many NHS walk in centres that give healthcare advice, information and treatment for minor injuries and illnesses. You can turn up without an appointment and assessments are carried out by experienced NHS nurses. NHS walk in centres can be used by anyone who would have normal access to the NHS, overseas visitors can also use the service but may face a resultant charge

UK Road Distances

UK mileage chart

Time
The UK works at Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Please see the calendar section for Bank Holidays, Daylight Saving adjustments etc

World Time Zones


Want to easily see what the current time is around the world? Simply click here

The highest ever temperature recorded in the UK was in 2003 when it reached a max of 38.5 degrees. The lowest recorded was back in 1982 when it plummeted all the way down to -26 degrees!

Other

Royal Family - Check out this site for all the information on Britain's monarchy that you could ask for!
UK Statistics - Do a bit of research into the UK with this comprehensive site of official statistics
Yellow Pages - Looking for a service, shop, company? Look no further
Streetmap.com - Need a accurate map of anywhere in the UK? This is the site to visit
Route Planner - Everything to do with UK roads is here, check out the useful route planner first before you set of on a road trip

Useful Links - Check out Backpack UK's selection of various useful links here