United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth’s surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK’s strength seriously depleted in two world wars and the Irish Republic’s withdrawal from the union. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a founding member of NATO and the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1998.
The UK has been an active member of the EU since its accession in 1973, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union. However, motivated in part by frustration at a remote bureaucracy in Brussels and massive migration into the country, UK citizens on 23 June 2016 narrowly voted to leave the EU. The UK is scheduled to depart the EU on 31 January 2020, but negotiations on the future EU-UK economic and security relationship will continue throughout 2020 and potentially beyond.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom Tourism Information…
🏴 The Best of England
Southern England
East of England
- Counties: Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk
- Cities: Cambridge, Ely, Norwich, Peterborough, St. Albans
- Towns: Acle, Ampthill, Bedford, Biggleswade, Chatteris, Chelmsford, Colchester, Dunstable, Flitwick, Leighton Buzzard, Luton, Shefford, Tilbury
- Villages: Blakeney, Harlington, Stansted Mountfitchet, Woburn
- Others Sights & Attractions: The Broads, Cambridge University, Epping Forest, Foulness Island, Thetford Forest
London – For more detailed information go to our ➾ London page.
South East England
- Counties: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey, West Sussex
- Cities: Brighton, Canterbury, Chichester, Dover, Eton, Hastings, Oxford, Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester
- Towns: Battle, Brexhill, Brighton, Crowborough, Eastbourne, Guilford, Hailsham, Lewes, Midhurst, Neathfield, Newhaven, Newport, Reading, Robertsbridge, Rye, Seaford, Uckfield, Windsor
- Villages: Bosham, Brey, Hartfield, Mayfield, Wye
- Others Sights & Attractions: Ashford Forest, Beale Park, Blenheim Palace, Bracklesham Bay, Chiltern Hills, The Cotswolds, The Cuckoo Trail, Hayling Island, New Forest, North Downs, Oxford University, South Downs, Surrey Hills, White Cliffs of Dover, Whitehorse Hill
West Country
- Counties: Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Isles of Scilly, Somerset, Wiltshire
- Cities: Bath, Bournemouth, Bristol, Exeter, Gloucester, Plymouth, Salisbury, Truro, Wells
- Towns: Amesbury, Bodmin, Bridgewater, Bude, Cheltenham, Dorchester, Falmouth, Fowey, Glastonbury, Hayle, Helston, Launceston, Looe, Seaton, Torquay
- Villages: Abbotsbury, Avebury, Berkeley, Boscastle, Cawsand, Charlestown, Cheddar, Exmoor Villages, Mousehole, Mevagissey, West Bay, Weymouth, Woodbury
- Others Sights & Attractions: Avebury Henge, Cape Cornwall, Clevedon Pier, Clifton Suspension Bridge, The Costwolds, Dartmoor National Park, Glastonbury Tor, Isle of Porrtland, Jurassic Coast, Land’s End, Lizard, Madron and Sancreed, Stonehenge
Midlands
East Midlands
- Counties: Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northhamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland
- Cities: Derby, Lincoln. Nottingham
- Towns: Eastwood, Grantham, Matlock
- Villages: Bonsall, Donington-on-Bain, Edwinstowe, Sudbury
- Others Sights & Attractions: Lincoln Cathedral & castle, Lincolnshire Wolds, Peak District National Park, Sherwood Forest
West Midlands
- Counties: Herefordshire, Shropshire, Satffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire
- Cities: Birmingham, Coventry, Hereford, Lichfield, Stoke-on-Trent, Warwick, Wolverhampton, Worcester
- Towns: Bedworth, Bromyard, Dudley, Ellesmere, Kenilworth, Shrewsbury, Stafford, Tenbury Wells
- Villages: Feckenham, Kilpeck, Stourbridge, Wellesbourne, Whittington
- Others Sights & Attractions: Eastnor Castle, Hartlebury Castle, Ironbridge Gorge, Kenilworth Castle, Warwick Castle
Northern England
North East England
- Counties: Durham, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear
- Cities: Durham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
- Towns: Hexham, Gateshead
- Villages:,
- Others Sights & Attractions: Durham Cathedral & Castle, Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland National Park, Tyne Valley
North West England
- Counties: Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside
- Cities: Blackburn, Blackpool, Carlisle, Chester, Lancaster, Liverpool, Manchester, Preston, Salford
- Towns: Birkenhead, Bowness-on-Windermere, Knutsford, Ravenglass, Stockport, Windermere
- Villages: Holmes Chapel, Marple, St. Bees, Wirral
- Others Sights & Attractions: Forest of Bowland, Hadrian’s Wall, Lake District National Park, Yorkshire Dales National Park
Yorkshire
- Counties: East Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
- Cities: Leeds, Scarborough, Sheffiled, York
- Towns: Malton
- Villages: Malham, Queensbury
- Others Sights & Attractions: Alton Towers, North York Moors National Park, Stafford Castle, York Minster, Yorkshire Dales National Park
The Best of Northern Ireland…
Northern Ireland
- Counties: Antrim, Armagh, Down, Derry, Fermanagh, Tyrone
- Cities: Belfast, Derry, Lisburn
- Towns: Portrush
- Villages: Bushmills
- Others Sights & Attractions: Fair Head, Giant’s Causeway, Titanic, Ulster Museum
🏴 The Best of Scotland
Borders
- Towns: Coldstream, Eyemouth, Galashiels, Hawick , Jedburgh , Kirk Yetholm, Melrose, Peebles, Selkirk, St Boswells
- Others Sights & Attractions: Jedburgh Abbey, Kelso Abbey, Melrose Abbey,
- Long Distance Trails: Berwickshire Coastal Path, Borders Abbeys Way, Pennie Way, St Cuthbert’s Way , Sir Walter Scott Way, Southern Upland Way
Central Belt
Edinburgh – For more detailed information go to our ➾ Edinburgh page.
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The Hebrides
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The Highlands
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North East
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Orkney Islands
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Shetland Islands
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South West
- Towns: Ardrossan, Ayr, Brodick, Girvan, Irvine, Largs, Prestwick, Troon, West Kilbride
- Others Sights & Attractions: Scottish Distilleries
- Islands: Isle of Arran, Allsa Craig, Great Cumbrae, Kilbirnie, Kilmarnock, Kilwinning
- Golf Courses: Royal Troon, Old Course Prestwick, Turnberry North of Girvan
🏴 The Best of Wales…
Mid Wales
- Counties: Ceredigion, Powys
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- Towns: Aberystwyth, Brecon, Builth Wells, Cardigan, Hay-on-Wye, Lampeter, Llanidloes, Llanwrtyd Wells, Machynlleth
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- Others Sights & Attractions:Brecon Beacons National Park, Devil’s Bridge waterfall, Powis Castle, Strata Florida Abbey
North Wales
- Counties: Anglesey, Clwyd, Conwy, Gwynedd
- Cities: Bangor
- Towns: Caernarfon, Colwyn Bay, Conwy, Dolgellau, Denbigh, Llandudno, Llanfairfechan, Tywyn, Wrexham
- Others Sights & Attractions: Isle of Anglesey, Caernarfon Castle, Clwydian Range, Conwy Castle, Llŷn peninsula, Snowdonia National Park
South Wales
- Counties: Carmarthenshire, Glamorgan, Monmouthshire, Pembrokeshire
- Cities: Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, St. Davids
- Towns: Barry, Carmarthen, Chepstow, Monmouth, Tenby
- Others Sights & Attractions: Afan Forest Park, Gower peninsula, Pembroke Castle, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
United Kingdom Dependencies …
🇬🇮 Gibraltar
🇬🇬 Guernsey
🇮🇲 Isle of Man
🇯🇪 Jersey
🇬🇧 United Kingdom Country Information…
Travel Facts
US State Dept. Travel Advisory:
The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to the United Kingdom due to COVID-19. Exercise increased caution due to terrorism. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country.
Passport/Visa Requirements:
US citizens should make sure their passport is valid at the date of their entering the country and during the length of their entire visit. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as you do not stay in the country more than 6 months.
US Embassy/ Consulate:
[44] 20 7499-9000; Embassy of the United States of America, 33 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW11 7US (mailing postcode), SW8 5DB (driving/GPS postcode), United Kingdom; SCSLondon@state.gov; https://uk.usembassy.gov/
Telephone Code:
44
Local Emergency Phone:
112, 999
Internet TLD:
.uk
Vaccinations:
See WHO recommendations at http://www.who.int
Climate
Temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one half of the days are overcast
Currency (Code)
British pounds (GBP)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s):
230 V / 50 Hz / plug type(s): G
Major Languages:
English, Scots, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Irish, Cornish
Religions:
Christian (includes Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 59.5%, Muslim 4.4%, Hindu 1.3%, none 25.7%
Time Zone
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March, ends last Sunday in October; note: applies to the United Kingdom proper, not to its crown dependencies or overseas territories
Potable Water
Yes
International Driving Permit
Suggested
Road Driving Side
Left
Tourist Destinations
London (includes the Tower of London, British Museum, Parliament, Trafalgar Square); Windsor Castle; Stonehenge; Roman Baths & Georgian City of Bath; York Minster & historic Yorkshire; Chester Zoo; Cotswolds & Lake District; Hadrian’s Wall; Edinburgh; Cardiff
Major Sports
Soccer, cricket, rugby, badminton, tennis, netball, field hockey
Cultural Practices
It is considered rude to wave one’s hand or to call when summoning a waiter at a restaurant.
Tipping Guidelines
It is customary to leave 10-15% of the total bill as a tip when eating out, although some restaurants add on a service charge instead. Tip bartenders 1 pound. It is polite to tip 10-15% of the taxi fare, or round up to the nearest pound as a convenience. Tip porters 2 pounds to bring luggage to your room.
Government
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II
Government:
Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy
Capital:
London
Largest City:
London
Legislature:
London
Judiciary:
London
Ambassador to US:
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d’Affaires Michael Tatham
US Ambassador:
Ambassador Robert Wood “Woody” Johnson IV
Geography
Area:
Total: 243,61km world rank 80th, land: 241,930km, water: 1,680km
Natural Resources:
Coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land
People & Society
Population:
64,430,428 (July 2016 est.) world rank 23rd England 84%, Scotland 8%, Wales 5%, Northern Ireland 3%
Population Growth:
0.51% (2018 est.)
Ethnic Groups:
White 87.2%, black/African/Caribbean/black British 3%, Asian/Asian British: Indian 2.3%, Asian/Asian British: Pakistani 1.9%, mixed 2%, other 3.7% (2011 est.)
Urbanization:
Urban population: 83.7% of total population (2019)
rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Economy
Economic Overview:
Leading trading power and financial center; third-largest economy in Europe after Germany and France; large coal, natural gas, and oil resources; banking, insurance, and business services, drive GDP growth
GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)
$2.92 trillion (2017 est.)
GDP per capita
$44,300 (2017 est.)
Exports:
$441.2 billion (2017 est.)
partners: US 13.2%, Germany 10.5%, France 7.4%, Netherlands 6.2%, Ireland 5.6%, China 4.8%, Switzerland 4.5% (2017)
Imports:
$615.9 billion (2017 est.)
partners: Germany 13.7%, US 9.5%, China 9.3%, Netherlands 8%, France 5.4%, Belgium 5% (2017)
🇬🇧 Holidays and Observances in United Kingdom in 2021…
Date | Name | Type | Details | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jan 1 | Friday | New Year’s Day | Bank holiday | |
Jan 4 | Monday | 2nd January (substitute day) | Local Bank Holiday | Scotland |
Jan 5 | Tuesday | Twelfth Night | Observance | |
Jan 6 | Wednesday | Epiphany | Christian | |
Jan 7 | Thursday | Orthodox Christmas Day | Orthodox | |
Jan 14 | Thursday | Orthodox New Year | Orthodox | |
Jan 25 | Monday | Burns Night | Local observance | Scotland |
Jan 28 | Thursday | Tu B’Shevat (Arbor Day) | Jewish holiday | |
Feb 12 | Friday | Chinese New Year | Observance | |
Feb 14 | Sunday | Valentine’s Day | Observance | |
Feb 16 | Tuesday | Carnival / Shrove Tuesday | Christian | |
Feb 17 | Wednesday | Carnival / Ash Wednesday | Christian | |
Feb 26 | Friday | Purim | Jewish holiday | |
Mar 1 | Monday | St. David’s Day | Observance | Wales |
Mar 11 | Thursday | Maha Shivaratri | Hindu Holiday | |
Mar 11 | Thursday | Isra and Mi’raj | Muslim | |
Mar 14 | Sunday | Mothering Sunday | Observance | |
Mar 17 | Wednesday | St Patrick’s Day | Local Bank Holiday | NIR |
Mar 20 | Saturday | March Equinox | Season | |
Mar 28 | Sunday | Palm Sunday | Christian | |
Mar 28 | Sunday | First day of Passover | Jewish holiday | |
Mar 28 | Sunday | Daylight Saving Time starts | Clock change/Daylight Saving Time | |
Mar 29 | Monday | Holi | Hindu Holiday | |
Apr 1 | Thursday | Maundy Thursday | Christian | |
Apr 2 | Friday | Good Friday | Bank holiday | |
Apr 3 | Saturday | Holy Saturday | Christian | |
Apr 4 | Sunday | Last day of Passover | Jewish holiday | |
Apr 4 | Sunday | Easter Sunday | Observance, Christian | |
Apr 5 | Monday | Easter Monday | Observance | Scotland |
Apr 5 | Monday | Easter Monday | Common local holiday | ENG, NIR, WAL |
Apr 8 | Thursday | Yom HaShoah | Jewish commemoration | |
Apr 13 | Tuesday | Ramadan Start | Muslim | |
Apr 15 | Thursday | Yom HaAtzmaut | Jewish holiday | |
Apr 22 | Thursday | Stephen Lawrence Day | Observance | |
Apr 23 | Friday | St. George’s Day | Observance | |
Apr 23 | Friday | Shakespeare Day | Observance | |
Apr 30 | Friday | Lag B’Omer | Jewish holiday | |
Apr 30 | Friday | Orthodox Good Friday | Orthodox | |
May 1 | Saturday | Orthodox Holy Saturday | Orthodox | |
May 2 | Sunday | Orthodox Easter | Orthodox | |
May 3 | Monday | Orthodox Easter Monday | Orthodox | |
May 3 | Monday | Early May Bank Holiday | Bank holiday | |
May 8 | Saturday | Laylatul Qadr (Night of Power) | Muslim | |
May 13 | Thursday | Ascension Day | Christian | |
May 13 | Thursday | Eid ul Fitr | Muslim | |
May 17 | Monday | Shavuot | Jewish holiday | |
May 23 | Sunday | Pentecost | Christian | |
May 24 | Monday | Whit Monday | Christian | |
May 30 | Sunday | Trinity Sunday | Christian | |
May 31 | Monday | Spring Bank Holiday | Bank holiday | |
Jun 3 | Thursday | Corpus Christi | Christian | |
Jun 12 | Saturday | Queen’s Birthday | Observance | |
Jun 20 | Sunday | Father’s Day | Observance | |
Jun 21 | Monday | June Solstice | Season | |
Jun 22 | Tuesday | Windrush Day | Observance | |
Jul 12 | Monday | Battle of the Boyne | Local Bank Holiday | NIR |
Jul 18 | Sunday | Tisha B’Av | Jewish holiday | |
Jul 20 | Tuesday | Eid ul Adha | Muslim | |
Jul 21 | Wednesday | Eid ul Adha | Muslim | |
Aug 2 | Monday | Summer Bank Holiday | Common local holiday | Scotland |
Aug 10 | Tuesday | Muharram/Islamic New Year | Muslim | |
Aug 15 | Sunday | Assumption of Mary | Christian | |
Aug 19 | Thursday | Ashura (Tentative Date) | Muslim | |
Aug 22 | Sunday | Raksha Bandhan | Hindu Holiday | |
Aug 30 | Monday | Janmashtami (Smarta) | Hindu Holiday | |
Aug 30 | Monday | Janmashtami | Hindu Holiday | |
Aug 30 | Monday | Summer Bank Holiday | Common local holiday | ENG, NIR, WAL |
Sep 7 | Tuesday | Rosh Hashana | Jewish holiday | |
Sep 10 | Friday | Ganesh Chaturthi | Hindu Holiday | |
Sep 16 | Thursday | Yom Kippur | Jewish holiday | |
Sep 21 | Tuesday | First day of Sukkot | Jewish holiday | |
Sep 22 | Wednesday | September Equinox | Season | |
Sep 27 | Monday | Hoshana Rabbah | Jewish holiday | |
Sep 28 | Tuesday | Shemini Atzeret | Jewish holiday | |
Sep 29 | Wednesday | Simchat Torah | Jewish holiday | |
Oct 4 | Monday | Feast of St Francis of Assisi | Christian | |
Oct 7 | Thursday | Navaratri | Hindu Holiday | |
Oct 14 | Thursday | Dussehra | Hindu Holiday | |
Oct 19 | Tuesday | Milad un Nabi (Mawlid) | Muslim | |
Oct 31 | Sunday | Halloween | Observance | |
Oct 31 | Sunday | Daylight Saving Time ends | Clock change/Daylight Saving Time | |
Nov 1 | Monday | All Saints’ Day | Christian | |
Nov 2 | Tuesday | All Souls’ Day | Christian | |
Nov 4 | Thursday | Diwali/Deepavali | Hindu Holiday | |
Nov 5 | Friday | Guy Fawkes Day | Observance | |
Nov 14 | Sunday | Remembrance Sunday | Observance | |
Nov 28 | Sunday | First Sunday of Advent | Observance | |
Nov 29 | Monday | First Day of Hanukkah | Jewish holiday | |
Nov 30 | Tuesday | St Andrew’s Day | Local Bank Holiday | Scotland |
Dec 6 | Monday | Last day of Hanukkah | Jewish holiday | |
Dec 8 | Wednesday | Feast of the Immaculate Conception | Christian | |
Dec 21 | Tuesday | December Solstice | Season | |
Dec 24 | Friday | Christmas Eve | Observance | |
Dec 25 | Saturday | Christmas Day | Bank holiday | |
Dec 26 | Sunday | Boxing Day | Bank holiday | |
Dec 27 | Monday | Substitute Bank Holiday for Christmas Day | Bank holiday | |
Dec 28 | Tuesday | Substitute Bank Holiday for Boxing Day | Bank holiday | |
Dec 31 | Friday | New Year’s Eve | Observance |