United Kingdom Flag of United Kingdom

countryEurope

United Kingdom is a COUNTRY in Europe.

The United Kingdom, a captivating blend of history, culture, and natural beauty, is a must-visit destination for every traveler. From the iconic landmarks of London, such as Big Ben and the Tower of London, to the rugged landscapes of the Scottish Highlands and the charming villages of the Cotswolds, the UK offers something for everyone. Immerse yourself in the rich history of castles like Edinburgh and Windsor, or explore the vibrant arts scene in cities like Manchester and Bristol. Don't miss the chance to experience traditional British pubs, afternoon tea, and the world-famous fish and chips. Whether you're a history buff, a nature lover, or a foodie, the UK promises an unforgettable adventure.

Best time to visit United Kingdom

The best time to visit the UK is during the late spring (May to June) and early autumn (September to October) when the weather is mild, and the tourist crowds are thinner. Summer (July to August) is peak season with warmer weather and numerous festivals, but it can be crowded and more expensive. Winter (November to February) is ideal for those who enjoy festive markets and cozy pub visits, though the weather can be cold and wet.

October

Now

Typical for October

Weather
Cool 8-14°C, autumn colors

Travel notes

Crowds
Moderate
Prices
Moderate

Halloween events, cozy pubs

Know before you go

Getting there

LHR

London Heathrow

International

25 km away

LGW

London Gatwick

International

45 km away

MAN

Manchester Airport

International

15 km away

EDI

Edinburgh Airport

International

13 km away

BHX

Birmingham Airport

International

13 km away

Getting around

"The UK offers a variety of transportation options. Trains are a fast and efficient way to travel between cities, with services like the National Rail and the London Underground. Buses and coaches, such as National Express, provide affordable travel across the country. In cities, taxis and ride-sharing services like Uber are widely available. For more flexibility, renting a car is an option, though driving is on the left side of the road. Cycling is also popular, with many cities offering bike-sharing schemes."

Stay connected

WiFi speed

35 Mbps

Mobile data

Excellent

WiFi

Widely available in cities, cafes, hotels, and public transport

Local SIM

Local SIM available at airport or shops from $10 (e.g., EE, Vodafone, O2)

Calling code

+44

Stay safe

Overall

8/10

Petty crime like pickpocketing is common in tourist hotspots. Violent crime is low.

Night safety

7/10

Petty crime like pickpocketing is common in tourist hotspots. Violent crime is low.

Transport

9/10

Scam risk

6/10

"The UK is generally safe for travelers, but it's wise to stay aware of your surroundings and keep an eye on your belongings, especially in crowded areas."

Entry and health

Visa requirements

"Visa requirements vary by nationality. Citizens of the EU, EEA, and several other countries can enter the UK for short stays without a visa. Others may need to apply for a visa in advance. Check the UK government website for the latest information."

Health information

"No specific vaccinations are required for travel to the UK. However, it's always a good idea to be up-to-date on routine vaccines. The UK has excellent healthcare facilities, and travelers from certain countries may be eligible for free emergency treatment under the NHS. It's advisable to have travel insurance that covers medical expenses."

Culture

Local customs

"In the UK, it's customary to queue (wait in line) politely and to say 'please' and 'thank you' frequently. Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory; 10-15% in restaurants is standard. When visiting someone's home, it's polite to bring a small gift, such as wine or chocolates. Punctuality is valued, so try to be on time for appointments and social gatherings. In pubs, it's common to take turns buying rounds of drinks for your group."
English (official)WelshScottish GaelicIrishCornishEnglish

Costs and practicals

Currency

British Pound Sterling (GBP) · £

Cost level

Mid-range

Meals

$15-25 | a mid-range three-course meal for one costs around $20-30

Hotels

$80-150 | budget hotels $60-100/night, mid-range $100-200

Local transport

$3 | single bus fare in London ~$3, train from London to Manchester ~$40

Cost notes

London is significantly more expensive than the rest of the UK.

Timezone

Europe/London +00:00 (GMT)

More facts

Population

66,488,991

Area

244,820 km²

Government

Constitutional Monarchy

ISO code

GB, GBR

Type

country

Frequently Asked Questions

Also known as: Fanjakana Mitambatra, Regipäts Viensiçat, Ngeretha, Legliz, Britania Mari, ສະຫະລາດຊະອານາຈັກ, ᱥᱮᱞᱮᱫ ᱫᱤᱥᱚᱢ, Nagkaykaysa a Pagarian, Keyaniya Yekbûyî, Reginavel Unì, Keyaniya Yekbûyî ya Brîtaniya Mezin û Bakurê Îrlandê, Verênigd Keunienkryk van Grôot-Brittannië en Nôord-Ierland, გაერთიანებული სამეფო, Apvienotā Karaliste, Y Deyrnas Unedig, Велика Брітанія, בריטניה, Reinu Unidu, Մեծ Բրիտանիա, Verênigd Keunienkryk, ዩናይትድ ኪንግደም, Midowga boqortooyada Britan, ယူနိုက်တက်ကင်းဒမ်း, যুক্তরাজ্য, Stóra Bretland, Reeriaght Unnaneysit, ब्रिटन, Regno Unìo, Yunaayitid Kingidem, Aupuni Mōʻī Hui Pū ʻIa, యునైటెడ్ కింగ్‌డమ్, Wielka Brytania, Pisanmetung a Ka-arian, မိူင်းႁူမ်ႈတုမ်ႁေႃၶမ်း ပရိတ်ႈတဵၼ်ႇ, Уједињено Краљевство Велике Британије и С́еверне Ирске, Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο, ꑱꇩ, Уједињено Краљевство Велике Британије и Северне Ирске, Coniunctum Britanniae Maioris et Hiberniae Septentrionalis Regnum, Spojené kráľovstvo Veľkej Británie a Severného Írska, Teyrnas Unedig Prydain Fawr a Gogledd Iwerddon, Tavetã Joaju, یُنایٹِڑ کِنٛگڈَم, ܡܠܟܘܬܐ ܡܚܝܕܬܐ, Briṭanya, Matanitu Cokovata, Велика Британія, Vereenigt Königriek, Unitit Kinrick, Marea Britanie, ಯುನೈಟೆಡ್ ಕಿಂಗ್ಡಮ್, እንግሊዝ, Regno Unite, Keurajeuën Inggréh, Rennu Auniadu, Wiôlgô Britanijô, Regn Unì, Nagkakaisang Kaharian, Vương quốc Liên hiệp Anh và Bắc Ireland, Vaeinigts Kinireich, එක්සත් රාජධානිය, Renju Unit, Birləşmiş Krallıq, Jruußbrettannije, ޔުނައިޓެޑް ކިންގްޑަމް, Их Британи, Feriind Kiningrik, Ingriskondre, Vereinigtes Königreich Großbritannien und Nordirland, Rweyåme-Uni, Соединённое Королевство, Улуу Британия жана Түндүк Ирландия, Reinu Naklibur, Rweyåme-Uni di Grande Burtaegne et d' Irlande do Nôr, لمملكة لمتحدة, Roéyôme-Uni, برطانیہ;برطانیہ عظمی;سلطنت متحدہ, Britania, Reinos Unidos de Gran Britania y Norte Irelandia, Reino Unido, Rouantelezh-Unanet, Regno Unito di Gran Bretagna e Irlanda del Nord, Ingɛlɛ́tɛlɛ, Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo, Réinu Uniu, Feriene Keninkryk, Yinghgoz, بريتانيا, Reinu Xuníu, Groussbritannien an Nordirland, Régn Unî, Bretland, Verëënichtes Kìnnigrëich, Unuiĝinta Reĝlando de Granda Britio kaj Nord-Irlando, Злучанае Каралеўства Вялікабрытаніі і Паўночнай Ірландыі, Birlashgan Qirollik, Õhttõõvvâm koonǥõskåʹdd, यूनाइटेड किंगडम, ЧIехибритания, Британиэшхуэ, ᑐᓗᐃᑦ ᓄᓈᑦ, Unuiĝinta Reĝlando, യുണൈറ്റഡ് കിങ്ഡം, དབྱིན་ཇི་མཉམ་འབྲེལ།, Бөйөк Британия, Verenigde Koninkryk, Mbretëria e Bashkuar, Böyük Britaniya, Ĭng-guók, Baritania Rayo, Ушымо Королевстве, Tlacetilīlli Huēyitlahtohcāyōtl, Yhdistynyt kuningaskunta, برطانیہ, Ullı Britaniya, ಯುನೈಟೆಡ್ ಕಿಂಗ್‌ಡಂ, Regne Unit, Ilẹ̀ọba Aṣọ̀kan, Britio;Britujo, Британиа Ду, Yunitid Kingdum, संयुक्त अधिराज्य, Orílẹ́ède Omobabirin, Regno Unito, Ködörögbïä--Ôko, Нэгдсэн Вант Улс, Вєлика Британїꙗ, Ик Бритишин болн Ар Гәәлгүдин Ниицәтә Нутг, ಬ್ರಿಟನ್/ಇಂಗ್ಲೆಂಡ್, Rouoyaume Unni, Royaume-Uni, Nguur-Yu-Bennoo, Великобритания, Unionita Rejio, Tannapta Umialgutia, Reyatu Unit, Reino Unito, Sameinaða konungsveldi Stóra-Bretlands og Norður-Írlands, Britän, Rena Unida, Кӏудабиритан, பிரிடிஷ் கூட்டரசு, Vereenegt Kinnekräich, Jrußbritannie, Jongtėnė Karalīstė, Ruvaneth Unys, Erresuma Batua, Tótaʼ Dineʼé Bikéyah, Tanaragazaxo, 英国, Ream Unît, Ұлыбритания, פאראייניגטע קעניגרייך, Regne Unit de Gran Bretanya i Irlanda del Nord, Verenigd Koninkrijk, Уллу Британия, დიდი ბრიტანეთი, Аслă Британи, Велика Британија, Birleşen Patyşalyk, Ingilterra, Britania Raya, Združeno kraljestvo, Groot-Brittanje, Amatnhom Mäcŋaknhom në Britain Dït ku Parut Ireland, הממלכה המאוחדת, યુનાઇટેડ કિંગડમ, Rwéyonm-Ini, Paratāne, ബ്രിട്ടൻ, Yunaitet Kingdom, Biritaani-Mawndi, Lelbrytaneja, ចក្រភព​អង់គ្លេស, Amatnhom Mäcŋaknhom, An Rìoghachd Aonaichte, Йоккха Британи, Ahendiman Nkabom, 영국, 大不列顛暨北愛爾蘭聯合王國, Reyno Unido, Uingereza, Laamateeri Rentundi, 大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国, Det forente kongeriket Storbritannia og Nord-Irland, Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande du Nord, ଯୁକ୍ତରାଜ୍ୟ, Egyesült Királyság, युनायटेड किंग्डम, Yuunaytidi Kinggidem, Соединенное Королевство Великобритании и Северной Ирландии, Peretānia, Britania Agung, Büyük Britaniya, Velká Británie, Inggris, برتانیه, Bungereza, Wayòm Ini, ߡߊ߲߬ߛߊ߬ߟߊ߫ ߘߍ߬ߣߍ߲, イギリス, 英國, Regnu Unitu di Gran Britagna e Irlanna dû Nord, ꯌꯨꯅꯥꯢꯇꯦꯗ ꯀꯤꯡꯗꯝ, যুক্তৰাজ্য, Büük Britaniya, สหราชอาณาจักร, Angɛlɛtɛ́lɛ, ΗΒ, Storbritannien, بۈيۈك بېرىتانىيە, Zjednoćene kralestwo, بریتانیا, Zjednoczone Królestwo Wielkiej Brytanii i Irlandii Północnej, ཡུ་ནའི་ཊེཊ་ཀིང་ཌམ, Wielgŏ Brytanijŏ, ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਬਾਦਸ਼ਾਹੀ, Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, Regno Unïo, Sur' Britanii, Обединено кралство Великобритания и Северна Ирландия, Tuluit Nunaat, УК;У.К., Birtaniya, Уједињено Краљевство, Aupuni Mōʻī Hui Pū ʻia, Y DU, Reialme Unit, Ovttastuvvan gonagasriika, དབྱིན་ཇི་, Kīngitanga Kotahi o Piritana Nui me Airangi ki te Raki, Spojené království, Ream unît, UK, Kīngitanga Kotahi, Кого Британи, ཡུ་ནཱའི་ཊེཌ་ ཀིང་ཌམ, ᎩᎵᏏᏲ, Regnu Unitu, Hiniusang Gingharian, Бирлашган Қироллик, Angletera, Yîn-koet, Wjelika Britaniska, Ovtâstum kunâgâskodde, Združeno kraljestvo Velike Britanije in Severne Irske, Storbritannia, Velika Britanija, Вялікабрытанія, Mbretëria e Bashkuar e Britanisë dhe Irlandës së Veriut, Стыр Британи, مملکت متحدہ, Вялікая Брытанія;Брытанія;Злучанае Каралеўства, RU, ᎡᎵᏏᎯ, Ütiskuningriik, Vereinigtes Königreich, Pilitānia, Nagy-Britannia és Észak-Írország Egyesült Királysága, المملكه المتحده, شانشینی یەکگرتوو, Regän Pebalöl, Liân-ha̍p Ông-kok, Britanniarum Regnum, Vereineg Keuninkriek, Obodoézè Nà Ofú, ବ୍ରିଟେନ୍, Reino Uni, Royômo-Uni, Unionati Regia, i-United Kingdom, Unaeted Kingdom, ritygu'e, Roéyôme-uni éd Grande-Bretagne pi d'Irlinde-du-Nord, រាជាណាចក្ររួម, ஐக்கிய இராச்சியம், ສະຫະຣາຊອານາຈັກ, Холбоhуктаах Хоруоллук, Angilɛtɛri, Yunaitid Kindom, Suurbritannia, Fereeniged Köönichriek fon Groot-Britannien un Noudirlound, 英国;英國, Ufalme wa Muungano, Didžioji Britanija, Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο της Μεγάλης Βρετανίας και της Βόρειας Ιρλανδίας, Соединённое Королевство Великобритании и Северной Ирландии, Ыджыт Бритму, Rywvaneth Unys, گڏيل بادشاھت, Geāned Cynerīce, Verenigd Koninkrijk van Groot-Brittannië en Noord-Ierland, Lielbritānija, Verienigd Keuninkriek, Gran Vretagna, Vereênigd Konienkriek, Qraliya Yewbiyayiye, Spojené kráľovstvo, Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo Velike Britanije i Śeverne Irske, Tagelda Yedduklen, Оцю Британия, তিলপারাজ্য, Инебритания Мастор, ब्रितन, Regne Aunìte, Сполучене Королівство Великої Британії та Північної Ірландії, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Hukllachasqa Qhapaq Suyu, გოართოიანაფილი ომაფე, Birleşik Krallık, Phandlo Thagaripen la Bare Britaniyako thai le Nordutne Irlandesko, VK, بیرلشمیش شاهلیق, Umbuso Ohlangeneyo, ma Juke, Rouantelezh-Unanet Breizh-Veur ha Norzhiwerzhon, المملكة المتحدة, युनायटेड किंगडम, Regn Ünì, Reino Ounido, బ్రిటన్, Ingerand, Regatul Unit al Marii Britanii și al Irlandei de Nord, Միացյալ Թագավորություն, An Ríocht Aontaithe, Подшоҳии Муттаҳида, Jungtinė Karalystė, EK, Spojené království Velké Británie a Severního Irska, Бөекбритания, United Kingdom, Ыджыд Британия, Обединето Кралство, United Kingdom nutome, Vương quốc Anh, Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo Velike Britanije i Sjeverne Irske, Vương quốc Liên hiệp Anh, ယူနိုက်တက်ကင်းဒမ်းနိုင်ငံ, Обединено кралство, Ubwongereza, Nagy-Britannia, Великобритани, Vereenigt Königriek vun Grootbritannien un Noordirland, Британиешхо Пачъыхьыгъо, 大不列顛暨北愛爾蘭聯合王國;大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国

Historic CityMuseumCastlePub CultureShoppingTheatreCountrysideCoastal