Travel to the UK

Find travel inspiration for the best things to do if you would like to visit, move to or go travelling in the UK.

  • Currency: Pound £ (GBP) 
  • Country Area: 243,610 km2
  • Population: 62,000,000 (approx)
  • Capital: London (population 6,000,000 approx)
  • Language: English, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Irish / Ulster-Scots 
  • International Dailing Code +44

 

Top Reasons to Visit the UK

There are so many reasons why you might want to travel to the UK, here are just some of the highlights:

  • History around every corner, learn about the lords and ladies, nobility and more.
  • So many different cities and places you can visit
  • London is one of the greatest cities in the world with so much to see and do
  • World famous tourist sights like Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, London Eye, Hyde Park
  • Spectacular countryside and nature especially in North Wales and Scotland
  • International cuisine
  • Vibrant music scene
  • Lots of things to see and do here all year round
  • Amazing transport connections to the rest of Europe

 

How to Get to the UK

The UK has a large number of airports connected to international airports with thousands of flights arriving everyday. You can also cross into the UK from France via the channel tunnel, Eurostar or via ferry from destinations worldwide. If you are travelling from mainland Europe you can often find special promotions on flights with low cost airlines like EasyJet and Ryan Air. There is also a bus and ferry service connecting the UK to Europe which is usually cheaper than flying. 

 

Weather & Best Time to Visit the UK

The UK has a variable climate changing from day to day and this country is well know for getting lots of rain. It is difficult to predict the weather. In general, the summers are warm and winters see snowfall. Summers never really reach boiling hot.

England
Compared to other places in UK, England is sunnier throughout the year. On some occasions there can be strong winds. Also the rains are unpredictable and it could rain at any time during the year. London, Manchester, Birmingham are some of the popular cities. The average temperature in summers is around 25°C to 15°C; in winters it is around 7°C to 0°C.

Scotland
The climate of Scotland is temperate and can be very unpredictable. Rainfall is not uniform across Scotland, with the western parts getting a lot more rains than the eastern parts. Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen are the major cities. The average temperature in summers is around 19°C to 10°C; in winters it is around 6°C to -1°C.

Wales
In Wales, most of the rain tends to fall between October and January. Days in winters are shorter and the region experiences snow. Summers are warmer than other parts of UK. Cardiff, Newport, Swansea are some of the popular cities here. The average temperature in summers is around 23°C to 12°C; in winters it is around 8°C to 1°C.

Northern Ireland
This region has relatively mild winters and cool summers. Northern Ireland is cloudier than England and gets less sunshine comparatively. Belfast, Lisburn, Newry are some of the popular cities here. The average temperature in summers is around 19°C to 10°C; in winters it is around 8°C to 0°C.

 

Travelling & Backpacking in the UK

Getting Around
If you would like to travel independently there is an extensive bus and rail network connecting the whole country. Buses and services like the Megabus and National Express are one of the cheapest ways to get around and both offer a reliable service to all the major destinations.

Accommodation
Finding somewhere to stay will usually be your biggest expense. Hotels and hostels in the UK are expensive especially during summer so you will need to book in advance to get the best deals. Affordable accommodation can be searched for on comparison websites.

Budget
The UK is one of the most expensive destinations in Europe and it really depends on what you want to do as to how much money you will spend. London is the most expensive destination in the country based on accommodation and sightseeing. There are lots of ways to save money when travelling in the UK including avoiding eating and drinking out too much, travelling by bus and also staying at hostels. Buying food at supermarkets will drastically cut your outgoings.