Need to Know

Currency

Pound; also called 'pound sterling' (£)

Language

English; also Scottish Gaelic and Welsh

Money

Change bureaux and ATMs widely available, especially in cities and major towns.

Visas

Not required for most citizens of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada.

Mobile Phones

The UK uses the GSM 900/1800 network, which covers the rest of Europe, Australia and New Zealand, but isn't compatible with the North American GSM 1900. Most modern mobiles can function on both networks – but check before you leave home just in case.

Though roaming charges within the EU are due to be entirely eliminated in December 2015, other international roaming charges can be prohibitively high, and you'll probably find it cheaper to get a UK number. This is easily done by buying a SIM card (around £10 including calling credit) and sticking it in your phone. Your phone may be locked to your home network, however, so you'll have to either get it unlocked, or buy a pay-as-you-go phone along with your SIM card (around £50).

Pay-as-you-go phones can be recharged by buying vouchers from shops.

Driving

Traffic drives on the left; steering wheels are on the right side of the car. Most rental cars have manual gears (stick shift).

When to Go

High Season (Jun–Aug)

AWeather at its best.

AAccommodation rates at their peak – especially for August school holidays.

ARoads are busy, especially in seaside areas, national parks and popular cities such as Oxford, Bath, Edinburgh and York.

Shoulder (Mar–May & Sep & Oct)

ACrowds reduce. Prices drop.

AWeather often good; March to May is a mix of sunny spells and sudden showers; September to October can feature balmy Indian summers. For outdoor activities in much of Scotland, the very best times to go are the months of May and September.

Low Season (Nov–Feb)

AWet and cold. Snow falls in mountain areas, especially up north.

AOpening hours reduced October to Easter; some places shut for winter. Big-city sights (particularly London's) operate all year.

Useful Websites

BBC (www.bbc.co.uk) News and entertainment from the national broadcaster.

Visit Britain (www.visitbritain.com) Comprehensive official tourism website.

Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com/great-britain) Desti­nation info, hotel bookings, traveller forum and more.

Traveline (www.traveline.org.uk) Great portal site for public transport in all parts of Britain.

British Arts Festivals (www.artsfestivals.co.uk) Listing hundreds of festivals – art, literature, dance, folk and more.

Important Numbers

Area codes vary in length (eg 020 for London, 01225 for Bath). Omit the code if you're inside that area. Drop the initial 0 if you're calling from abroad.

Exchange Rates

For current exchange rates, see www.xe.com.

Daily Costs

Budget less than £55

ADorm beds: £15–25

ACheap meals in cafes and pubs: £7–11

ALong-distance coach: £15–40 (200 miles)

Midrange £55–120

AMidrange hotel or B&B: £60–130 (London £100–200) per double room

AMain course in midrange restaurant: £10–20

ALong-distance train: £20–80 (200 miles)

Top end more than £120

AFour-star hotel room: from £130 (London from £200)

AThree-course meal in a good restaurant: around £40 per person

ACar rental: from £35 per day

Arriving in Britain

Heathrow airport Train to central London (London Paddington station) every 15 minutes (from £18).

Gatwick airport Train to central London (London Victoria station) every 15 minutes (from £16).

Eurostar trains from Paris or Brussels Arrive at London St Pancras International station in central London.

Buses from Europe Arrive at London Victoria Coach Station in central London.

Taxis from airports Trips to central London from Heathrow £40 to £50; from Gatwick £70 to £90 (more at peak hours).

Great Britain on a Shoestring

If you're on a tight budget, there's no getting away from it – Britain isn't cheap. Public transport, admission fees, restaurants and hotel rooms all tend to be expensive compared with their equivalents in many other European countries. But with some careful planning, a trip here doesn't have to break the bank. You can save money by staying in B&Bs instead of hotels, or hostels instead of B&Bs. Motels along motorways and outside large towns are soulless, but who cares? Most of the time you’ll be asleep. You can also save by prebooking long-distance coach or train travel – and by avoiding times when everyone else is on the move (like Friday afternoon). Many attractions are free (or offer discounts on quiet days, such as Monday). And don't forget that you won't have to stump up a penny to enjoy Britain's best assets: the wonderful countryside and coastline.