PRACTICALITIES

Currency

British pound (GBP)

Official languages

English; regional languages: Scottish Gaelic, Ulster Scots, Scots

Time

GMT

Calling code

+44

Area codes

Edinburgh: 131, Glasgow: 141

Internet TLD

.uk

Shopping

Generally shops are open Monday–Saturday from 9am to 5:30pm. Some shops are open on Sundays.

National holidays

New Year’s Day	January 1
Easter	movable feast
Early May Bank Holiday	the first Monday in May
Spring Bank Holiday	the last Monday in May
Summer Bank Holiday	the last Monday in August
St Andrew’s Day	November 30
Christmas	December 25 & 26

National dish

Fish&chips – deep-fried fish with chips
Cockles – fresh cockles with vinegar and pepper
English breakfast – traditional breakfast which consists of toasts, sausages, bacon, scrambled eggs, baked beans and tomatoes
Cornish pasty – a baked pastry filled with beef, potatoes and onion
Shepherd’s pie (Cottage pie) – a baked dish made from minced meat and mashed potatoes
Roast beef – a cut of roasted beef
Yorkshire pudding – a dish made from batter
Steak and kidney pie – a pie with a filling of beef, lamb or pig’s kidneys
Sherry trifle – a traditional, very sweet dessert

Electricity

United Kingdom’s electricity runs on 230V or 240V/50Hz. Plugs need to have 3 pins (type G). Converters can be bought at the airports, shops dedicated to travellers and electronic stores (₤3–5).

Passport/Visa

Citizens of EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, Canada and USA do not need visa for entry into United Kingdom. Only a valid passport is required. EU nationals must have only a valid national identity card.

Useful numbers

Emergency: 999 or 112

Scotland