Glasgow Travel Information

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The Basics

Time: Local time is GMT (GMT +1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Electricity: 230 volts, 50Hz. Flat three-pin plugs are standard.

Money: The currency is the pound (GBP), which is divided into 100 pence. ATMs are available in all towns and Visa, MasterCard and American Express are widely accepted; visitors with other cards should check with their credit card companies in advance. Foreign currency can be exchanged at bureaux de change and large hotels, however better exchange rates are likely to be found at banks. Travellers cheques are accepted in all areas frequented by tourists; they are best taken in Pounds Sterling to avoid additional charges.

Currency Exchange Rates

£ 1.00 =

A$ 1.80

C$ 1.75

€ 1.11

NZ$ 2.22

US$ 1.64

R 12.68

Note: These currency exchange rates are not updated daily and should be used as a guideline only.

Language: English is the official language, though visitors will be astonished by the variety of regional accents.

Entry requirements:

Entry requirements for Americans: US travellers must hold a valid passport; a visa is not required. UK Immigration officials will decide on length of stay up to six months depending on reason for travel.

Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadian nationals must hold a valid passport; a visa is not required. UK Immigration officials will decide on length of stay up to six months depending on reason for travel.

Entry requirements for Australians: Australian nationals must hold a valid passport; a visa is not required. UK Immigration officials will decide on length of stay up to six months depending on reason for travel.

Entry requirements for South Africans: South Africans require a valid passport and a visa for entry or transit through the UK. The visiting visa will cost £65 while a transit visa will cost £45. South Africans may no longer travel to the UK on a temporary passport.

Entry requirements for New Zealand nationals: New Zealand nationals must hold a valid passport, but no visa is required. UK Immigration officials will decide on length of stay up to six months depending on reason for travel.

Passport/Visa Note: If a visa is not required, travellers should hold a return or onward ticket, or proof of funds for the duration of stay. Passports must be valid for the period of intended stay in the UK; nationals of the EU require a passport valid on arrival.

Travel Health: There are no specific health risks associated with travel to the UK and food and water can be considered safe. The British National Health Service is excellent; emergency treatment is free to visitors, but charges are made for routine medical care. A number of countries have reciprocal health agreements with the UK including Australia, New Zealand and EU countries. Visitors from other countries (including Canada, South Africa and the US) are advised to take out good medical insurance.

Tipping: Tips of 10 to 15% are expected in restaurants and upmarket hotels if a service charge hasn't been included. Hotel service staff receive an optional amount. Taxi drivers are usually given 10 to 15% of the fare. Other services are discretionary.

Safety Information: It is generally safe to travel throughout the UK, although travellers are advised to take special care of their personal belongings in central London, where pick-pocketing is often reported. There is a risk of international terrorism, as demonstrated by the deadly terrorist bomb attacks in central London on three tubes and a bus in July 2005 that killed over 50 people and injured about 700. Later that same month four attempted bomb attacks on three underground tube stations and a bus mirrored the earlier attacks, but no injuries were reported. Security at all UK airports has been tightened and restrictions on hand luggage introduced; security has been increased at transport hubs throughout the country.

Local Customs: Handshaking is customary when introduced to someone new. Smoking is banned in all enclosed public spaces, including pubs and restaurants, and on public transport. The ban is also in effect in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. There is a strict etiquette on escalators - stand on the right, walk on the left. Visitors will find Londoners more rushed and less friendly than Brits in other parts of the country, particularly on London transport where tourists are generally the only people who talk.

Business: The four countries of the United Kingdom, although culturally and historically different, generally keep to the same practices in business. Politeness and punctuality are key to good business relations, and initial meetings are often conducted formally and impersonally, becoming more open and social as things progress. Business cards are exchanged at introductions. Dress is formal, with dark suits preferred. Business hours are generally 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday with an hour taken at lunch.

Communications: The international country dialling code for UK is +44. The outgoing code is 00, or 048 for Northern Ireland, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 001 for the United States). There are a wide range of city/area codes in use. Mobile phones work throughout the country; the network operators use GSM 1800 networks, which may not be compatible with some dual-band US cell phones. Internet cafes are available in major towns and cities, train stations and airports.

Duty free: When arriving from a non-EU country, travellers can bring the following goods into the UK tax or duty free: 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco, 4 litres of still table wine, 16 litres of beer, 1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs or 2 litres of fortified wine, sparkling wine or other alcoholic beverages of less than 22 per cent volume, £340 worth of all other goods including perfume and souvenirs. When travelling from another EU country to the UK visitors do not have to pay tax or duty on goods purchased in said EU country provided tax was included in the purchase price, the items are for personal use and have been transported to the UK by the visitor, and do not exceed 3200 cigarettes, 400 cigarillos, 200 cigars, 3 kg of smoking tobacco, 110 litres of beer, 10 litres of spirits, 90 litres of wine and 20 litres of fortified wine. Note: Visitors arriving from Estonia may carry 200 cigarettes or 250g of smoking tobacco and those travelling from Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia may bring 200 cigarettes.