First time in Britain?
Search Heathrow
Heathrow is the UK’s only hub airport and an important economic asset. But today Heathrow is full and vulnerable to foreign competition.
First time in Britain?
Whether you're taking a holiday, visiting friends and family or travelling on business, these handy tips can help.
Need more? See our in-depth destination guides:
English is spoken everywhere and non-speakers can have a difficult time – a recent survey found that only 10% of British workers spoke a foreign language. However, even if you only know a little English, people will try to work out what you mean, and won't usually correct you.
Welsh is widely spoken in Wales (road signs are bilingual) and Gaelic is spoken in parts of Scotland.
WeatherTalking about the weather is the time-honoured way to start a conversation in Britain – the climate is changeable and it's always a good idea to be prepared for rain. Summers are cooler than in mainland Europe but winters are milder. The average temperature in London is just above freezing in January and rises to around 22C (71F) in July.
DrivingVehicles use the left side of the road in Britain, and manual gear-change is standard - if you're used to driving on the right, using an automatic shift gives you one less thing to worry about.
For details of speed limits, visit the Highway Code website.
Most filling stations are self-service - if you're hiring a car, check whether it uses diesel or unleaded petrol.
Doing businessIn business the British value politeness, courtesy and punctuality, and you shouldn't underestimate the importance of humour. Shake hands when you meet someone for the first time. Exchanging gifts is not common. Do make eye contact, but keep it to a minimum or you may appear impolite.
Opening hoursShops in UK towns and cities generally open six or seven days a week. Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 17:30 is normal, and many shops trade on Sundays, typically from 10:00 to 16:00. Many, but not all, close on public holidays.
Banking hours are usually from 09.30 to 15.30, Monday to Friday, but some branches open until 17:30 and on Saturday mornings. Most banks have cash dispensers (ATMs).
Public holidaysKnown as bank holidays in Britain – banks and many shops will be closed, whilst public transport may be reduced or stop altogether.
- January 1: New Year's Day
- January 2: Bank holiday in Scotland
- Friday before Easter Sunday: Good Friday
- Day after Easter Sunday: Easter Monday (England and Wales)
- First Monday in May: May Day
- Last Monday in May: Spring Bank Holiday
- First Monday in August: Summer Bank Holiday (Scotland)
- Last Monday in August: Summer Bank Holiday (England and Wales)
- November 30: St Andrew's Day (Scotland)
- December 25: Christmas Day
- December 26: Boxing Day
Britain's unit of currency is the pound (£), divided into 100 pence (p). Credit and debit cards are accepted in almost all shops and restaurants, though some may be reluctant to accept non-chip and pin cards.
Some stores and pubs don't accept £50 notes because of their rarity and the risk of forgery.
You may hear the slang word "quid" used to mean pounds.
Time zonesBritain uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Daylight saving time (British Summer Time or BST) operates from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, and is one hour ahead of GMT.
DistancesDistance is measured in miles (1.6km), made up of 1,760 yards (1.9m). From northern tip to southern, the British mainland measures just over 683 miles (1,100km). By car, the distance would be 835 miles and take about 16 hours, according to the AA.
Measurements and sizesSince the 1970s Britain has been gradually moving from imperial to metric measurements, but in practice both systems are used. Packaged food is often marked with both metric and imperial weights. Petrol and bottled water are sold by the litre whilst milk and beer come in pints.
Clothing and shoe sizes differ from those used in the USA and Continental Europe. There are plenty of charts and converters available online.
Food and drinkBritain is a cosmopolitan place and that's reflected in the variety of food available – in major cities you can find pretty much every world cuisine, and restaurants priced from budget to top class.
Famous British culinary traditions include fish and chips (white fish, battered, deep fried and served with fried potatoes) and the classic Sunday roast (meat served with roast potatoes, vegetables, gravy and Yorkshire pudding).
If you're looking for something a little more upmarket, the Michelin guide has online listings. Vegetarian food is widely available.
The pub is the most popular venue for drinking and socialising in Britain. You order drinks by going up to the bar and it's usual to pay separately every time. Tipping isn't required.
TippingAs a rule, tip 10% to 15% in cafes and restaurants (unless a service charge is included in your bill), and for taxi drivers or hairdressers, whilst £1 or £2 is fine for hotel porters or room service staff.
ElectricityUK mains electricity is 240V, 50Hz AC, and plugs have three square pins.
TelephonesThe UK's international dialling code is 44. To call from abroad, dial the international dialling code for your country (eg 011 for the USA), then 44, then the phone number without the first zero.
To call abroad from the UK, dial 00 followed by the country code (eg 1 for the USA), then the phone number without the first zero.
Payphones are widely available and many accept payment by card as well as coins.
For emergency calls only, dial 999 (or 112) for the police, fire service, ambulance, coastguard, or mountain rescue – these calls are free. For non-emergency calls, find the number in the local telephone directory.
If you bring your mobile phone, check with your service provider if it can be used in the UK. And remember you will pay to receive calls as well as to make them, so it is worth checking the tariffs.
Your transport
-
Help Book parking
-
Underground and trains
Please select from the links below
-
Buses and coaches
Please select from the links below
-
Car and bikes
Please select from the links below