United Kingdom practical information can help you when visiting, whether short term or for a longer stay. Have a look at these facts and figures before departing for your trip.

Formal Name:

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Also Known As:

United Kingdom, Great Britain, Britain, The UK

Countries:

The UK is made up of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are also dependant upon the crown, and there are 14 overseas territories under Britain's jurisdiction.

Capitals:

London is the capital of England and the capital of the entire United Kingdom. Other individual capitals include Belfast in Northern Ireland, Edinburgh in Scotland and Cardiff in Wales.

Languages:

English is the predominant language, with a large percentage of Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh and Cornish being spoken as well.

Size:

243,610 square km

Population:

61,113,205 people (as of 2009)

Population Density:

254.7 people per square km

Currency:

Pound Sterling (GBP)

Voltage:

230V; 50Hz

Outlets:

Type G (3 flat rectangular prongs)

Visas:

Members of the EU are required to show only an EU ID card. Nationals of the USA, Canada or Australia are permitted to stay for up to 6 months without a visa provided they hold a passport with validity up to 2 months after intended departure. Return tickets or evidence of funds are often required. Other nationalities can check with their local embassy for visa requirements, as they vary.

Country Code:

+44

Time Zone:

GMT (UTC+0); DST applies

Police:

Dial 999 or 112 in the event of an emergency that requires the police. Otherwise contact the local police department.

Hospital:

Dial 999 or 112 for an ambulance or head to the nearest emergency hospital.

Fire:

Dial 999 or 112 to report an emergency to the fire department.

Embassies:

Most foreign embassies are located in London, but they are also common in other large cities throughout the UK. Contact your nearest local embassy for assistance in emergencies.

Airports:

There are approximately 500 airports in the United Kingdom. The busiest international airport is London Heathrow Airport, with London Gatwick Airport also providing international travel. Other large UK airports include Bristol International Airport, Manchester Airport and Birmingham International Airport. In Northern Ireland there is Belfast International Airport, in Scotland is Glasgow Prestwick International Airport, and in Wales is Cardiff Airport. There are also many others, but these are the key airports in each region.

Transportation:

Buses are a great mode of transportation. You will find express buses, Park and Rides, city buses, tour buses and more. Many are the iconic double-deckers. They are cheap, regular and reliable. The train system operates through the UK, with travel also being possible from the UK into Europe or Ireland. The train is much more expensive than the bus. The metro only operates in London, Glasgow and a small part of northeast England.

Driving:

Be aware that in the UK you drive on the left side of the road.

Banking:

Banking is safe and reliable, with a large network of banks being available at most locations. They will exchange currency and traveller's cheques, and ATMs are readily available.

Tipping:

It is customary to tip a few pounds when provided good service at hotels, restaurants or other establishments.

Drinking Age:

18 is the legal age to purchase alcohol, but it is 16 when a young person is accompanied by an adult and having a meal at a public establishment.

-Tiffany M Parker

Camping in Scotland

Scotland is famous for its fantastic landscape - large forests, green hills and a lot of misterious lakes (the most popular one is Loch Ness) - and isn't very densly populated, so many people go there for wandering and camping.
Being one of them you should pay attention on these facts:
- the best time to to travel there is may, because weather is quite good and normally there are no flies
- a huge problem for campers are very small but annoying flies; a good tent, anti-fly products and fire could help you
- as long as you don't leave your rubbish behind, wild camping shouldn't be a problem; you don't have to stay on camping sites
- if you plan larger tours, you don't have to care about taking water with you. Scotland is rich of greater and smaller rivers whose water you can drink without any problem. If you're not sure, there exist special pills to descontaminate the water; you can buy them in any outdoor shop
- a good starting point for a lot of tours is Fort William (calling itself "the outdoor capital of the UK"), you can get there by train or bus from any bigger city
- there's a series of really great maps called "OS Landranger maps" which are very detailled; you also can buy them in any outdoor shop
Scotland offer tremedous activities and if you enjoy shopping then head for the City of Glasgow where the shopping experience is only bettered by London, visit the Buchanan Galleries Shopping Mall, St Enoch Centre Mall or the many international shops such as Gucci, JPG, Versace, etc..  and experience not to miss.