The UK comprises four exciting countries: England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. TRAVELBOOK has summarized the most important tips and information for your first trip to Europe’s largest island state.
Crowds flow in all directions through the bustling capital of London. Locals and tourists are always around in its center. Stroll through Hyde Park, try to catch a glimpse of the royal family at the gate of Buckingham Palace, crane your neck to Big Ben and end the day in one of the many pubs. Elsewhere, many kilometers to the north, the roaring waves rush in, mixing with the sound of the wind and thick fog to create an almost unreal and mystical natural backdrop. Hardly anyone is out and about here, and travelers often have the rugged country to themselves.
These two extremes are just two of many exciting contrasts to discover on Europe’s largest island nation. The United Kingdom (English: United Kingdom, abbreviated: UK) comprises four countries, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and they have something to offer for every type of traveller. City travellers, friends of the British way of life and Beatles fans will be as happy here as nature lovers and sports enthusiasts. Only sun worshipers have a hard time, the UK averages 1387 hours of sunshine a year. But the coasts offer many beautiful things to discover even without exceptional sunshine and sometimes invite you to beautiful days on the beach.
Characteristics
| region | Northern Europe |
| Capital | London |
| time shift | – 1h time difference; UTC+0 |
| Surface | 242,495 km² |
| population | 68.207 million |
| Tongue | English |
| currency | Pound Sterling (GBP) |
| Visas and Immigration | Tourists and short-term business travelers generally do not need a visa for a stay of less than six months. In many other cases, a visa is required from 2021. Anyone entering the country must present a passport; Since 1 October 2021, ID cards are generally no longer recognized as travel documents for EU citizens. |
Top 10 travel destinations in the UK
The UK is an island country comprising four countries and therefore brings with it various cities that are worth a trip. The UK capital, London, is obviously number one here, but the Scottish and Northern Irish capitals of Edinburgh and Belfast are also among the top visitors to the UK. And not only the capitals are popular, cities such as Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool or Cornwall bring their own charm with them. Click through our image gallery of the top 10 travel destinations in the UK.
Top 10 attractions in the UK
London alone has countless places that visitors will want to see on a holiday to the English capital, some of which you’ll find in this list. Add to that the many other exciting cities in England and the other three countries of the UK and the list of interesting attractions is endless. To begin with, we have therefore created this ten-point overview. Click through our photo gallery of the top 10 things to do in the UK.
Top 10 things to do in the UK
In addition to the diverse attractions of London and other cities, there are countless exciting activities to do in the UK. In Scotland, for example, this is an immersion in the myths and legends of the Highlands. In Northern Ireland you can delve into Northern Ireland’s history on a Black Taxi Tour. And in England, with the sites of the ‘Beatles’, the venerable university cities of Cambridge and Oxford and many other attractions, there is still something for each area of interest. And then there are the various filming locations and inspiration for Harry Potter in England and Scotland. Click through our image gallery of the top 10 things to do in the UK.
Editor’s Reading Tips
Map of United Kingdom
Weather
The climate in the UK is temperate, with sometimes cooler temperatures and lots of rain. There can be significant fluctuations in temperature and rainfall between seasons. Winters in the UK are cool and wet, with Scotland and northern England being particularly cold. In spring it often rains, sometimes it is very windy. Summer is mild and sometimes hotter, but rain can also be expected between June and August. It gets cooler in the fall. In the UK, cold polar air from the north, warm tropical air from the south and moist air from the Atlantic Ocean combine to create low pressure rain areas, which is why it rains so much in the UK. Also, the location on the edge of the Gulf Stream contributes to this.
