Guide:

• United Kingdom Travel Guide
• The Basics
• Attractions
• Events
• Public Holidays
• Health
• Contacts
• Climate
• Currency
• Visa & Passport
• Photos
• Expat guide to United Kingdom

United Kingdom Map

Directory

• Tour Operators
• Hostels
• Hotels

Breaking News

• Scotland voted best golf holiday destination
  04 February 2009
  Scotland has been boted best golf holiday destination for 2009 at Today's Golfer magazine's industry awards ahead of the Algarve in Portugal and Ireland, which were ranked second and third respectively. Malcolm Roughead OBE, director of visitor engagement at VisitScotland, said he was "delighted" that Scotland had received the award. He added: "Scotland is the home of golf and it provides golfers with the ultimate golfing experience that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Scotland boasts more than 550 golf courses which are located all over the country. close
• British adulterer jailed
  08 June 2009
  The British man, who was surprised to find himself sentenced to jail in the UAE for several month after being charged with adultery, says he won't be returning to Dubai for holiday again, reported the Telegraph. He had come to see a woman he thought in a divorce proceeding who was also sentenced to jail for her role in the affair after her husband alerted the local authorities. close
• Swine flu death in Scotland
  15 June 2009
  A Scottish woman died of the swine flu in the first death attributed to the virus outside of the Americas, reported the Telegraph. The virus outbreak was upgraded to a pandemic by The World Health Organization last week. There are 30,000 reported cases worldwide and while most people suffer from mild symptoms there have been 164 deaths. close
• Iberia Airline loses
  23 June 2009
  Iberia Airlines loses more luggage than any other European airline according to a study, reported the Telegraph. The airline lost 19.2 bags for every 1000 flown, although Air France came a close second with 18.9 misplaced bags. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic were among the best. close
• Heat Wave in Britain
  29 June 2009
  The Met Office has issued a health notice because of the heat. Temperatures are expected to reach 32C by the week's end, reported the Guardian. A heat wave in Britain in 2003 killed around 2,000 people. The elderly need to particularly careful. close
• More lost luggage
  02 July 2009
  The Telegraph reports 50 million luggage bags a year could go missing as air traffic increases by 2011. The number seems to be worsening as 42 million bags were mishandled in 2007 and only 34 million in 2006. Often the replacement payouts are far below the actual value of lost items. close

Overview

Leeds Castle © raindog

It may seem hard to believe that this small, cold, wet island once held dominion over three quarters of the globe. The pomp and circumstance of previous centuries may have dwindled and the monarchy takes daily batterings in the local press, yet the UK and its people remain a fiercely proud nation. The past 100 years have seen a vast transformation as the country came to terms with its diminished role on the world stage, from colonial empire to a member of the EU.

The United Kingdom is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the geography sweeps from mountainous highlands, to green and pleasant rolling countryside and vibrant cities. The country is jam-packed with two millennia of heritage, making visits of any length of time feel too short.

London is the UK's biggest city, a fantastic and frenetic metropolis teeming with people of all races, creeds and walks of life. Here the old contrasts spectacularly with the new, offering some of the world's most famous sights and an unrivalled nightlife. Travelling through the country will reveal its diversity, from quiet country lanes and inland waterways to majestic stately homes and castles. Thatched cottages in the Cotswolds paint a picture-postcard quaintness, where life appears to revolve around the village pub.

The medieval cathedral cities of York and Durham reveal a rich history of a bygone age, while the industrial cities of Liverpool and Newcastle both harbour an exciting nightlife. The beauty of the Lake District remains almost untouched, and Edinburgh's International Arts Festival draws talent from around the world.