The United Kingdom of Great Britain is a union of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. However visitors who travel within the U.K. will notice few differences among these regions.
Great Britain's diverse social customs, rolling geography, extensive history and numerous attractions make it a popular destination. Americans in particular enjoy traveling to the United Kingdom in part because of the common English language and historical ties. From in the allure of the rocky coasts and rural countryside to the quaint towns and bustling cities such as Bath, Birmingham, Bolton, Bradford, Brighton, Bristol, Buckingham, Coventry, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Plymouth, Sheffield, Stoke and York (Yorkshire area) visitors find England a charming and inviting vacation destination.
Historical ties between the U.K. and mainland Europe are reflected in daily life: Customs, dialects and the economy have been influenced by the diverse cultures that have passed through or settled in Britain over the centuries. The cities are populated by a wide range of people hailing from different regions of the world, leading to a variety of languages, cultures and religious beliefs.
The government, infrastructure and economy have evolved since the 1980s with reforms in economic, education, transportation and environmental policies. The current government has continued a policy of privatization in the national telephone, rail and steel industries.
Weather in Great Britain is mixed and the climate is temperate. The winters are cool and wet while the summers tend to be warm. Weather varies daily depending on the part of the country. Some parts of the U.K., particularly the west coast and mountains, have high rainfall much of the year. Areas such as Cornwall in the southwest have moderate weather much of the year.
The sights in Great Britain span history and offer something for everyone: from pre-historic Stonehenge to ancient Roman cities such as Bath to Medieval castles in York to Shakespeare’s Stratford-Upon-Avon to displays of Victorian England’s Industrial Revolution to 21st century attractions such as the Millennium Eye. The history of kings, queens and knights seems to come alive around every corner. Visitors can see everything from Viking villages to Tudor houses to ancient cathedrals and the pageantry of Buckingham Palace.
The British love sports and vacationers have many opportunities to see sporting events. Make plans to see a football (soccer), tennis at Wembley or a cricket match. If you’d rather participate, be sure to play a round of golf on one England’s beautiful courses.
The primary trans-Atlantic gateways into London are Heathrow (LHR) and Gatwick (LGW) international airports. Cardiff is the only major airport in Wales. Britain is serviced by dozens of airlines. Some of the most popular British carriers include British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. International carriers from the United States include Continental, Delta, US Airways, United Airlines and American Airlines.
Transportation to and throughout Britain is well developed, with rail, local and regional bus services, and domestic and international ferry services. Road travel within the U.K. can be slow, as some roads are narrow and even major motorways are commonly very congested. Rental cars are available and some popular agencies include Hertz, Alamo, Thrifty, Auto Europe and UK Enterprise. Driving is on the left side.
Public transportation is well developed, accessible and used extensively, particularly in large cities. Air, train and ferry service to nearby countries, including the European mainland, are becoming increasingly cost-effective and are used extensively.
The overall crime rate in Great Britain is moderate, though violent crime is not common despite an increase in recent years. Petty crime, such as theft, is particularly common in the tourist areas of London, Glasgow and Manchester and in transportation hubs throughout the country. Personal crimes, including robbery and assault, occur most frequently at night outside pubs and bars, at train stations and on trains.
The communications infrastructure is well developed throughout the country. Cell phone and internet service is widely available. Google, Yahoo and MSN are available for searches.
The cost of goods and services varies widely nationwide but is very high in London, one of the world's most expensive cities. Prices for food, accommodations and transportation are significantly lower in other cities than in London.
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