Great Britain, England, Scotland and Wales offer unique natural landscapes as well as traditional cities and lots of ancient sites. Every England holidaymaker is fascinated by the Jurassic Coast, the county of Cornwall with its mild climate thanks to the Gulf Stream, the rugged cliffs and picturesque beaches, the unique Cotswolds and the lake and mountain landscape of the lonely Lake District. But the metropolises of Manchester, Birmingham or London, pretty small towns like Bath, Exeter and Cambridge as well as the country manors framed by wonderful gardens have their charm. And then there are monumental sites like Stonehenge that exert a tremendous fascination.
In Scotland, on the other hand, the barren Highlands and the rugged coasts are usually the focus of a trip. In addition, defiant castles, the Speyside region, famous for Scottish whiskey and, last but not least, cities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow or Inverness offer enough reason for a trip to the north of Great Britain.
Little Wales, on the other hand, is mainly characterized by mountains, moors and extensive hilly landscapes. Nature lovers should definitely visit the fantastic Snowdonia, Brecon Beacons and Pembrokshire Coast national parks.
Entry requirements
Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland) is a member of the EU, but not of the Schengen area. German citizens need an identity card or passport with sufficient validity to enter the country.
Currency
In Great Britain, the British pound (GBP) is used to pay.
ATMs are widespread, especially in the larger cities. To be able to withdraw money, you need a credit card or an EC card with the “Maestro” symbol. International credit cards are common. But you cannot necessarily pay with it in all hotels or in smaller shops. It is therefore advisable to always have enough cash with you.
Time zone
CET – 1 hour
Climate
Temperate, relatively humid and warm climate and, thanks to the Gulf Stream, much milder in many places than in comparable latitudes.
Language
The national language is English. However, Welsh is also spoken in Wales and the Scottish Gaelic language in Scotland.
Telephone / Internet
The international dialing code is +44
Electricity & mains voltage
The voltage is 230 volts, 50 Hz, so that all devices can be used without any problems. For Great Britain or the United Kingdom you need a socket adapter (type G).
Emergency numbers
Fire / Ambulance 999 or 112
Police 999 or 112
ARRIVAL BY AIR
The main international airport is London Heathrow. There are also a few other international airports such as London Gatwick and London Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow.
ARRIVAL by ferry
Great Britain is easy to reach by ferry due to its location by the sea. This is a good alternative to arriving by plane, especially for holidaymakers who want to travel in their own car.
There are different ferry connections with very different journey times. The fastest connections are those from Calais (France) or Dunkirk (Netherlands) to Dover on the English south coast. The crossing takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take the ferries from Amsterdam to Newcastle (9 hours) or from Hook of Holland to Harwich (7 to 10 hours).
ARRIVAL via the Eurotunnel
The so-called Eurotunnel connects the French with the English mainland and is about 50 km long. As “pedestrians” you use the high-speed trains, as drivers use the shuttle trains that transport cars, motorbikes and buses.
The following applies to traveling by car …
If you are traveling with your own car, you should definitely have your driver’s license and vehicle registration document with you. It is also advisable to have the green insurance card with you. If you are not traveling with a vehicle registered for you, we strongly recommend that you obtain a power of attorney from the vehicle owner.
Gasoline prices in Great Britain are relatively high by our standards. The fuel names are not necessarily identical to “ours”. It is important to choose the correct octane number, 95 stands for super, 98 for super plus. “Unleaded” means “lead-free”, it is sometimes indicated by the addition of an “E”.
Warning: there is left-hand traffic!
Maximum speed in urban areas: 48 km / h
Maximum speed in urban areas: 96 km / h
Maximum speed highways / national roads: 96/112 km / h
alcohol limit : 0.5
(information without guarantee, please inform yourself about the relevant regulations before departure)
Best travel time
Great Britain is in principle a year-round destination. While the summer is ideal for holidays close to nature, cycling and hiking trips as well as round trips, autumn and winter are ideally suited for city trips or cultural holidays.
Spring and autumn are good travel times for those who do not mind changeable weather and who want to benefit from cheap flight, ferry and hotel prices. These seasons are usually a little milder than ours. The further north you go, the summers are a little cooler than here. More precipitation is to be expected, especially in the west.
Health
The European health insurance card should be carried with you as proof of EU-wide insurance coverage. A private international travel health insurance is also recommended.
The supply of doctors and pharmacies is usually quite good. Of course, be sure to take with you any medication that you need to take on a regular basis. If you travel close to nature and in remote areas, you should stock up on the most necessary medication (for diarrhea, fever and pain, disinfectants, …) in advance.
Holidays and memorial
days In addition to Christmas, New Year and Christian holidays with changing dates such as Easter, the following holidays apply:
March 17th St. Patrick’s Day
1st Monday in May May day
Last Monday in May Spring holiday
Embassies & Consulates General
German Representation
23 Belgrave Square
London SW1X 8PZ
Tel: +44 (0) 20 78241300
Austrian representation
18 Belgrave Mews West
London SW1X 8HU
Tel: +44 (0) 20 73443250
Swiss representation
16-18 Montagu Place
London W1H 2BQ
Tel: +44 (0) 20 76166000