| location | |
 | |
| flag | |
 | |
| Short dates | |
| Capital | London |
|---|---|
| Form of government | Constitutional monarchy |
| currency | British pound (GBP) |
| surface | 244,820 km² |
| population | 63.7 million (as of 2012) |
| languages | English |
| power grid | 230V, 50 Hz |
| Phone code | 44 |
| Internet TLD | .uk |
| Time zone | ME (S) Z-1 (WE [S] Z) |
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (engl. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, short UK) is an island nation made up of the individual countries England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, all of which are located in the British Isles. Great Britain is also often referred to, a term that includes all countries except Northern Ireland. Between the islands and the mainland is the English Channel, which geographically separates the United Kingdom from other states in Western Europe delimits.
Regions
For an overview, the language rules again:
- The term United Kingdom includes all four countries.
- To Great Britain (Great Britain, Britain) only belong England, Scotland and Wales.
In the English part of the kingdom "England" is often used as a synonym for UK / Great Britain. In Northern Ireland one is careful to emphasize belonging to the Kingdom and therefore avoids the term "Britain" when including the Irish part. Outside Northern Ireland, the terms "UK" and "Britain" are used interchangeably. In any case, avoid using the word "England" for the whole kingdom when in the company of non-English people. Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish then feel their honor has been damaged and take these subtle differences quite seriously, as they all look back on their own history and culture.
Cities
Below is a list of ten of the main cities listed. More cities can be found in the region articles.
- Belfast - Capital of Northern Ireland; University town, seaport and seat of both a Catholic and an Anglican bishop.
- Birmingham - the most important city in Central England and the second largest in England; a lot of multiculturalism, great shopping opportunities as well as numerous theaters and art galleries.
- Brighton - Victorian seaside resort south of London; Gay scene and a lot of nightlife.
- Bristol - the second largest city in southern England after London; known for its music scene, seafaring and Georgian architecture.
- Cardiff - Capital of Wales; Castle and various cultural events.
- Edinburgh - Capital of Scotland; famous castle, many cultural highlights such as the Edinburgh Festival.
- Glasgow - Scottish city, new cultural melting pot, European Capital of Culture 1990.
- London - the capital of England and the United Kingdom; Metropolis with 7.5 million inhabitants and one of the most important cultural, financial and commercial centers in the world.
- Manchester - According to surveys, the second most popular city in England and competing with Birmingham for the place as “Second City”, Manchester is an important cultural center and home of well-known music groups.
- Newcastle - largest city in North East England with a bustling night life, revived cultural scene and the Hadrian's Wall.
See also the file Places in the UK.
Other goals
- Windsor - to the west of London is the royal residence
- Stonehenge - Millennia-old stone circles
National parks
England
- Dartmoor: Partly hilly moor with granite rocks, partly green valleys through which streams flow. Many prehistoric sites (e.g. Grimspond, Merrivale)
- Exmoor: Part of the park comprises a stretch of coast with steep valleys and cliffs plunging vertically into the sea, inland a plateau overgrown with heather.
- Lake District: Mountainous area (with the highest peaks in England) with 16 lakes and countless mountain lakes in northern England.
- New Forest: in the former royal hunting area the trees were preserved and were not cut down for shipbuilding as in many other places; Between the woods there are extensive pastures in which the New Forest ponies (half-wild, small horses) can move freely, they have right of way on all roads! (i.e. being able to stop at sight!)
- Norfolk Broads: Man-made wetland (peat extraction during the Middle Ages) with numerous rivers and lakes.
- Northumberland: The park consists of rolling moorland that lies between Hadrian's Wall, the Cheviot Hills and the Scottish border.
- Peak District: Varied landscape with raised bogs and rugged cliffs in Dark Peak and green hills in White Peak.
- South Downs: The "newest" (2011) national park. It consists of the limestone ridge South Downs and the Weald (sandstone and clay, overgrown with heather and dense forests). The park ends on the cliffs on the English Channel.
- Yorkshire Dales: The dales consist of several valleys, which have a very different appearance, the highlands are barren and overgrown with heather and bracken.
- Yorkshire Moors: Extensive heather highlands with some deeply cut valleys, in the east the park is bordered by the sea.
Wales
- Brecon Beacons: The park consists of 4 ridges with different appearances. The highlands are barren, but there are also wooded areas; the highest mountain is Pen y Fan (886 m).
- Pembrokeshire Coast: The park encompasses the spectacular Pembrokeshire coastline and a few areas in the hinterland. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path, a 299 km / 186 mi long hiking trail, runs through the park and includes the Preseli Hills.
- Snowdonia: The most famous of the national parks. It includes a 60 km wide stretch of coast and the Snowdon massif (Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales at 1,085 m / 3,560 ft)
Scotland
- Cairngorms: The park is located in the heart of the Highlands and is shaped by the mountains of the Cairngorms. The landscape is rough, the mountain slopes overgrown with heather. There are lakes, bogs and forests.
- Loch Lomond & The Trossachs: The park has a total of 22 lakes and 20 mountains that are over 3,000 ft / 914.4 m high, the so-called Munros, plus many lower ones. The park is best divided into 4 areas: Loch Lomond, Trossachs, Breadalbane and Argyll Forest.
background
The UK voted out of the 2016 referendum European Union (EU) to withdraw. The resignation took place on January 31, 2020, but the exact consequences will only become apparent over time.
Since numerous regulations in agreements with the EU have to be revised in a transitional period, there may be short-term changes to the travel conditions at any time, which should be checked immediately before the trip.
getting there
Entry requirements
For citizens of EU member states, the EEA (Norway and Iceland) or Switzerland, it is sufficient to carry a valid passport, national identity card or similar identity document with you until the end of September 2021. Furthermore, they can stay in the country indefinitely and pursue a job. Entry is unproblematic. Tourists out Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United States, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and South Africa can enter without a visa for up to 180 days per calendar year. A permit is required in any case to take up work. Many other citizens require a visa to enter the country.
From October 1, 2021, due to Brexit, entry will only be possible with a passport and no longer with an identity card.
Pets are subject to separate provisions. Since January 1st, 2012, blood tests are no longer required for dogs and cats from the EU. Microchip, rabies vaccination (no later than 22 days before entry), papers (EU pet passport), tapeworm treatment only for dogs 24-120 hours before arrival are still required.
This should stay that way even after Brexit. However, as of January 2020, it is unclear under which conditions the animals may then be returned to the EU. Corresponding regulations are still to be negotiated.
By plane
Most German airports have flight connections to one or more of the five international London airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, City) and in many cases to Manchester or Birmingham. There are also a large number of low-cost airlines that fly to other airports across the country. Early booking is recommended for these in order to receive favorable tariffs.
By train
The fastest way to get to the island is with the Eurostar from Brussels through the Channel Tunnel. Deutsche Bahn sells London special tickets from every German train station to London (with a change in Brussels) from 59 euros. However, depending on the time of booking and travel, it can also be significantly more expensive. Getting there by train and ship is sometimes much more complicated and not necessarily cheaper.
Even if the English railways don't have a particularly good reputation, you can come with one InterRail- or BritRail Pass (available in German travel agencies) but very far. For Ireland or Scotland in particular, a rental car is recommended if you want to travel to more remote areas.
In the greater London area there are train ticket shops at all ticket shops Tourist tickets available. These tickets cost around £ 10 and include round-trip travel to London and use of all underground trains and most bus routes. This offer is usually cheaper than buying individual tickets.
If you only want to make individual journeys on the British railways, information and tickets can also be obtained online (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk) to get.
By bus
The United Kingdom can be reached by long-distance buses from the long-distance bus stations in many major cities in Germany. The long-distance bus companies that travel from Germany to the United Kingdom are:
- National Express. The British company operates trips to and from Germany.
- Eurolines. The Europe-wide association of national bus companies offers trips from many German cities.
- Flixbus. Flix Mobility GmbH also operates direct long-distance bus connections to London.
- IC bus. The IC bus is a product of Deutsche Bahn AG and offers a connection from Essen to London via Düsseldorf.
The UK has an extensive network of long-distance buses that are an inexpensive alternative to rail. The largest operator of national long-distance bus connections is National Express.
In the street
There are two ways to get to the island from mainland Europe with your own vehicle, with the channel tunnel "Eurotunnel" or with the cheaper canal ferry.
The Eurotunnel is a 50 km long railway tunnel, cars and trucks are loaded onto car transport trains and transported through the tube in 35 minutes. Similar to a ferry, the crossing is best booked on the website before the start of the journey (payment only by credit card), prices vary depending on the time and demand (similar to air travel), you can "check in" with a ticket code at the terminal and after border / passport control be driven into the DB Autozug. It is also possible to book on-site at the machine; there may be waiting times if the next passages are fully booked. The vehicle can be left on the train, there are toilets, and not much can be seen through the windows in the dark.
In many cases, a cheaper option is to use a ferry, between Calais and Dover there is lively competition between the ferry companies and an equally brisk ferry traffic, the crossing takes about one and a half hours. On directferries.co.uk the ferry prices can be compared and booked. Another convenient connection is from Hook of Holland to Harwich in the east. Car ferries also run from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Kingston upon Hull, for example.
One that existed years ago Hovercraft - ferry traffic was discontinued in 2000
By boat
There are numerous connections to the UK. Most of them lead over the "Canal", the Dover Strait. Among other things, there are connections between Dunkerque (Dunkirk), Calais or Boulogne-sur-Mer and Dover. There are also connections between numerous other cities in northern France and southern England.
The Dutch ferry ports are particularly easy to reach for travelers from Germany (especially from North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony). There are overnight connections between Ijmuiden at Asterdam and Newcastle upon Tyne and between Rotterdam and Hull, as well as a fast ferry between Hook of Holland (near Rotterdam) and Harwich. Also from the Belgian Zeebrugge there is a ferry connection to Hull.
mobility
Public transport
In addition to the rail network for long-distance traffic, there is a close-knit bus network for local distribution, thanks to the websites of the operating companies, the timetable information is no longer that unfathomable. As a rule, bus tickets are cheaper than train tickets, thanks to additional loops to the nearest towns, bus journeys are more leisurely and take more time.
By car
Applies in the UK Left-hand traffic. Driving on the left is not as difficult as you might think, but an extensive test drive on lonely roads is highly recommended; However, caution is advised on the narrow streets, which are often lined with hedges; if the space to cross is tight and you instinctively pull to the right, it crashes.
Some traffic rules are also different. For example, there are sometimes a yellow line or two on the side of the road. One line means a restricted stopping ban, two lines an absolute stopping ban. Since the British authorities also use parking claws, these lines should be observed.
The road signs do not differ much from the German signs, but it is important that all distance information is given in miles (1 mi = 1.609 km) and all speed information is given in miles per hour (mph). Where no limits are specified, the national maximum speeds apply (figures for cars): 30 mph (48 km / h) in built-up areas, 60 mph (96 km / h) outside of built-up areas on roads without structural separation (single carriageway), 70 mph (112 km / h) on freeways (motorway) and roads with structural separation (dual carriageway).
It is also important that there is no "right before left". Anyone who has to give right of way has a corresponding sign and / or floor marking (in both cases with give way labeled). If both are missing, you have right of way - there are no signs indicating the right of way. Double-lane roundabouts are common, if you drive straight ahead or even make a three-quarter turn around the roundabout to turn right, you have to use the inside lane and only switch back to the outside lane before the corresponding roundabout exit. Vehicles on the roundabout coming from the right have right of way.
A yellow cross grid has been painted on the floor at some intersections. These intersections will be box junctions called. You may only enter this marked rectangle if you have made sure that you can exit again or if you want to turn right.
The provides extensive information about correct behavior in traffic Highway Codeissued by the UK Department of Transport.
Driving to London is not recommended as the traffic is very heavy and the few parking spaces are expensive. In addition, there is a daily fee of £ 15 (as of 2020) for the city center, the so-called Congestion Charge, due.[1] If your own vehicle does not meet the requirements of the Ultra low emission zone (ULEZ), additional fees are due.[2] Park & Ride is recommended, taking the numerous train connections to the center from the outskirts; however, there is also a shortage of parking spaces on the outskirts. Park & Ride offers with shuttle buses to the city center are available in many cities, including York.
On foot
Left-hand traffic in English is also not entirely safe for pedestrians, as the vehicles rush in from the right. In many English cities, pedestrians are warned with an inscription on the lane. At larger intersections, it is worthwhile to briefly consider which route the right-turners take before you start running - often turning left at red traffic lights is permitted, even though you should be careful when crossing lanes. English pedestrian crossings are marked with black and white poles and a flashing spherical yellow lamp.
language
In addition to the official language English Welsh and Gaelic are spoken in the UK. Welsh has been an official language in Wales since 1993, and there are a few British speaking Gaelic in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
to buy
The national currency is the Pound sterling (Symbol £, currency code GBP), often just Pound or colloquial quid called. One pound equals 100 pence (p). The exchange rate is currently (mid-2017) around £ 1 = € 1.14. € 1 = £ 0.87.
There are the following coins: 1p (small, copper), 2p (large, copper), 5p (small, silver), 10p (large, silver), 20p (small and square, silver), 50p (very large and square, silver ), £ 1 (twelve-sided, silver core and gold rim) and £ 2 (large, silver core and gold rim). The old £ 1 coin (thick, round, gold-colored) became invalid in 2017 and cannot be exchanged anywhere.
There are few bills: £ 5 (teal, Winston Churchill), £ 10 (orange-brown, Jane Austen), £ 20 (blue or purple) and £ 50 (red). Many shops do not accept £ 50 bills, and smaller shops sometimes take a closer look at £ 20 bills. In 2017 and 2018, the less forgery-proof £ 5 and £ 10 notes became invalid and can no longer be used for payments. If you have any left over from your last vacation, you can contact the Bank of England exchange for new ones by post or at the counter in London.
There is next to that Bank of England (British central bank) a few more central banks in the individual parts of the country that issue their own notes. These are valid means of payment, but shops do not have to accept these notes. Anyone who has received such a note can exchange it for the English notes free of charge in any British bank; You should definitely do this before your return trip, because very few German banks exchange non-English banknotes.
Credit cards are quite common in the UK and many credit card terminals support contactless payments. The limit per transaction for contactless payments is £ 20, from autumn 2015 it will be £ 30.
A German Maestro card (formerly EC card) is accepted in many shops, including ATMs in the UK cash machine or cashpoint Maestro cards with a chip can often be used without any problems. Depending on the bank, a transaction fee may apply. With many ATMs, but also often with card payments in shops or hotels, special care is required, as conversion rates are offered that are significantly less favorable than the official exchange rates.
kitchen
eat
The island cuisine is rather hearty, from the Scottish national dish haggis (sheep's stomach filled with sheep guts) to steak and kidney pie or fish & chips in England and Irish stew (a stew) in Ireland. Classic Sunday menu is still that Roast dinner with a Sunday roast (roast beef or lamb with peppermint sauce), vegetables, Yorkshire puddings and potatoes as a side dish.
Often times, the breakfast is plentiful (though always less than Full English breakfast with baked beans and ham), at noon there is a sandwich or a warm lunch (fish & chips; baked potatoes; increasingly salads), at "tea time" people drink black tea, often from Scones and lightly salted butter, the main meal is dinner. The salad is still often served without sauce, with a little luck you can get "French dressing" or "lime dressing" with it.
Full English breakfast
Roast dinner
Tea and scones
One of the most famous British dishes is fish and chips. Cod is often used as fish (cod) used some chippies (Colloquial term for the shops in which fish and chips are sold) but also offer other types of fish. The fries (chips) are always quite large and soft on the inside. Malt vinegar and salt are usually available for seasoning.
Scotch eggs (Scottish eggs) consist of hard-boiled eggs wrapped in sausage meat, breaded with breadcrumbs and then deep-fried. You can often find them on the refrigerated shelves of supermarkets. They are usually eaten cold out of hand. They were first manufactured in 1738 by Fortnum & Mason in London.
Fish and chips with sauce and peas
Scottish eggs
The large crumple white bread, which is mainly used for sandwiches, is also notorious.
In addition to traditional British cuisine, there are also the numerous cuisines that immigrants have brought with them from the former British colonies, especially Pakistan and India. Many of these Asian and partly spicy dishes are covered by the generic term curry summarized.
For friends of ginger, England is a paradise; Whether candied, pickled, as a cookie, jam, etc .: you will find all variations in every small and large shop. One of the sweets is "Fudge"known, soft caramel candies.
Jams are particularly good to buy (Jam) in unusual combinations, as "jam"is called bitter orange jam, concentrate can be bought in cans to cook yourself.
A souvenir are, for example, the large teacups ("Mugs"), England lovers appreciate English black tea, known are PG, Yorkshire Tea or Tetley's.
Drink
Great Britain has an international reputation as the country of tea drinkers. Indeed, the British drink quite a bit tea, Black tea or varieties such as Earl Gray are particularly popular.
Most pubs have either British or Irish ale, and in addition to the popular Guinness, many pubs also offer regional ales. Many ales are not served cold, just slightly chilled. Of course, the pubs also offer other types of beer and international beers. Another very popular alcoholic drink is Cider, an apple cider. Here, too, there are some well-known national varieties (such as Strongbows or Bulmers) and local specialties.
In the UK you can often see kiosks with a sign that says off-license wear. These shops are allowed to sell alcohol, but alcohol may not be consumed in the shop or in front of it. In contrast to this are the on-licenses, this includes most of the pubs and restaurants.
The minimum age for buying alcohol is 18 years. From the age of 16 you can drink beer, wine or cider in restaurants, provided you order it as a drink with a meal. The identity card is accepted as proof of age, often also a European driving license.
nightlife
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Cozy Pubs are actually everywhere. Until 2006 there was an early closing time (usually at 11pm or midnight, before that there was the call for "last orders"). However, this old regulation from the First World War was repealed in order to curb the notorious "combat drinking". Most pubs also offer small meals. Since the portions are usually quite decent, a starter is often enough, e.g. the soup of the day or a baked potato (baked / jacket potato), which is served with cheddar cheese, coleslaw or baked beans, among other things.
Lots Cinemas offer two tickets for the price of one on Wednesdays!
accommodation
In many cities, but also in rural tourism regions, can be found Youth hostels/Hostels, in which you can spend the night quite cheaply. For overnight stays in the youth hostels of the association Hostelling International a membership card is mandatory in Scotland. If you don't have one, you can buy the ID on site. This is then valid internationally. No ID is required in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but it does bring benefits. A youth hostel card costs in Germany at the DJH 7 € (up to 26, from 27 € 21) per year. The following prices apply in Austria: up to € 26 15, from € 27 25 per year. Switzerland: up to 18 22 CHF, from 18 33 CHF.
Up to the age of 18 you pay a reduced rate in most hostels, otherwise the price depends on the location, facilities, etc. Many hostels at least offer breakfast, which is usually not included in the price. An adult night in a dormitory usually costs between £ 10 and £ 20.
Campsites are another option for cheap overnight stays, in Scotland wild camping is sometimes also allowed, but you should ask if, for example, a farm is nearby. Of course, caution is also advised in nature reserves and when starting a fire.
A little to significantly more expensive than hostels B & B's (Bed & Breakfast)that can be found everywhere, often in private homes too. Here you have to calculate 25 to 50 pounds for a double room with breakfast, although much more expensive rooms are also offered. Similar prices and comfort as in the B&B can be found in the Guesthouse expect. The main difference lies in the size of the business: while a B&B usually only has a few rooms, in a guesthouse it can be a double-digit number.
At Inns are classic inns with overnight accommodation. Accordingly, one can expect that there will be a pub in the house, in which the breakfast, which is included in the price, is usually served.
Of course there is also in the UK Hotels. As elsewhere, these are larger houses, and there are hardly any upper limits to the prices.
Recommendations: The hostels "Pwll Deri" near by are particularly well located and therefore recommendable Fishguard (Ferry port to Ireland), and "Penn Y Pass" in Snowdonia / Wales, a great starting point to climb Snowdon, the highest mountain in England and Wales!
Learn
Work
Foreigners, who have also been citizens of the European Union since Brexit, need a visa to take up work in the United Kingdom.
public holidays
| Next appointment | Surname | importance |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 1st January 2022 | New Year's Day | New Year |
| Sunday January 2, 2022 | New Year's Day | New Year (Scotland only) |
| Thursday March 17, 2022 | Saint Patrick's Day | St. Patrick's Day (Northern Ireland Only) |
| Friday April 15, 2022 | Good Friday | Good Friday |
| Monday April 18, 2022 | Easter Monday | Easter Monday (except Scotland) |
| Monday, May 3, 2021 | Early May Bank Holiday | Labor Day bank holiday |
| Monday, May 31, 2021 | Spring Bank Holiday | Bank holiday |
| Monday, July 12, 2021 | Battle of the Boyne | Battle of the Boyne (Northern Ireland only) |
| Monday, August 2, 2021 | Summer bank holiday | Bank Holiday (Scotland Only) |
| Monday, August 30, 2021 | Summer bank holiday | Bank Holiday (England and Wales only) |
| Tuesday, November 30, 2021 | St. Andrews Day | St. Andrea's Day (Scotland only) |
| Saturday 25 December 2021 | Christmas Day | 1st Christmas Holiday |
| Sunday, December 26th, 2021 | Boxing Day | 2nd Christmas Day |
If a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday becomes a public holiday.
If the Christmas holidays fall on a weekend, the following working days are non-working.
security
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Especially in big cities like London one should be careful of pickpockets; Money and important documents should therefore be kept in a safe place or carried close to the body (e.g. inside jacket pocket). With a little mindfulness, however, you should be able to keep your possessions to yourself.
Every city has its less recommendable or dangerous corners and quarters. Most of the time, these areas are not relevant for tourism anyway.
health
The British health system National Health Service (NHS) is considered to be in need of renovation. Despite significant improvements in recent years, doctors and hospitals have to wait longer if the illness or injury is not serious. In non-acute cases, there is an information hotline at the number 111 ready, under which, for example, the nearest family doctor can be asked. Most medical services for EU citizens are covered by their health insurance companies. Most German health insurance cards are available as EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), recognizable by a blue back, the European flag and the lettering European Health Insurance Card. Prescriptions and medical certificates are often subject to additional payment. The United Kingdom has a well-developed system across the board for emergencies. The single emergency number is 999; the 112 (as an emergency number valid throughout Europe) can also be dialed.
In einer Übergangsfrist bis zum Jahresende 2020 werden weiterhin europäische Ausländer weiterhin in allen Praxen des National Health Service behandelt. Über das danach gibt es noch kein Abkommen. Es empfiehlt sich daher zur Sicherheit eine private Auslandskrankenversicherung.
climate
Großbritannien und Irland haben ihrer Lage gemäß ein Inselklima, das durch gleichmäßige Verteilung der Temperatur, durch trüben Himmel und große Feuchtigkeit charakterisiert wird. Meist kommt der Wind aus Südwesten, seltener aus Nordosten. Die Westwinde sind meist mild und regnerisch. Sie kommen über den Atlantik auf die Britischen Inseln, was eine höhere und relativ gleichbleibende Temperatur zur Folge hat. Die Ostwinde, die vom europäischen Kontinent her wehen, sind im Winter und Frühling häufig von großer Kälte begleitet. Da sie wenig Feuchtigkeit haben, versengt die Sonne im Sommer den Boden schnell. Daher kommt es, dass die östlichen Küsten, welche den ersten Eindruck von diesen Winden empfangen, durchgängig mehr am Kontinentalklima teilnehmen, während der entgegengesetzte Einfluss der Westwinde durch ihren Weg über die Inseln und die von den hohen westlichen Gebirgen hervorgebrachte Hemmung schon sehr geschwächt ist. Das Gegenteil davon gilt von der Westküste, welcher in höherem Grad insulares Klima zukommt, unter deren Einfluss auch besonders Irland steht.
In den Temperaturverhältnissen der Britischen Inseln zeigt sich nur ein Unterschied von 3 °C bei der Jahreswärme an der Süd- und an der Nordseite. Die Verteilung der Temperatur auf die Jahreszeiten ist so gleichförmig, dass der Unterschied zwischen Sommer und Winter nur 9 bis 11 °C. beträgt. An keinem Ort im flachen Land sinkt die mittlere Temperatur der drei Wintermonate auf den Gefrierpunkt herab. Die Britischen Inseln gehören zu den regenreichsten Gegenden von Europa. In der geographischen Verteilung der Regenmenge treten die zwei wesentlichen Unterschiede, dass sie am größten an den westlichen Küsten und auf den Gebirgen, am kleinsten an den östlichen Küsten und im flachen Land ist, sehr deutlich hervor.
respect
Briten verhalten sich Ausländern gegenüber normalerweise sehr freundlich und hilfsbereit. Fremde werden korrekt und höflich behandelt, allerdings nicht unbedingt herzlich. Von Gästen wird ein ähnlich zurückhaltendes, zivilisiertes Benehmen erwartet. Darüber hinaus wird die Kenntnis der englischen Sprache vorausgesetzt. Briten, die selbst über Fremdsprachenkenntnisse verfügen (meist Französisch, gelegentlich aber auch Deutsch), sind normalerweise aber durchaus bereit, diese auch einzusetzen. Die Kleiderordnungen bei öffentlichen und privaten Veranstaltungen unterscheiden sich zum Teil deutlich von denen im deutschsprachigen Raum. Gäste sollten sich daher vorsichtshalber im Vorfeld erkundigen, welches Outfit als angemessen angesehen wird. Deutschen gegenüber bestehen zwar nach wie vor einige Vorurteile, diese werden allerdings eher spielerisch angewendet und nicht sonderlich ernst genommen. Nichtsdestotrotz empfiehlt es sich für deutsche Großbritannien-Besucher, im Zweifelsfall das Thema „Zweiter Weltkrieg“ zu vermeiden. Das gilt vor allem in Gesprächen mit älteren Briten.
Practical advice
Touristeninformationen gibt es in praktisch allen größeren Städten, mit Schulenglisch kommt man meistens durch, Fremdsprachenkenntnisse sind nicht so verbreitet und englisch ausgesprochenes Französisch auch nicht hilfreich, da es kaum verstanden wird.
Zu vielen Sehenswürdigkeiten ist ein Eintrittsentgelt zu bezahlen, und wenn es sich um ein Naturschauspiel handelt, sind zumindest die Parkplätze in der Umgebung kostenpflichtig. Die Eintrittspreise erscheinen relativ hoch, es gibt oft Familienkarten, wobei im Gegensatz zu Frankreich die englische Familie maximal drei Kinder umfasst und für das vierte zusätzlich bezahlt werden muss. Viele Sehenswürdigkeiten werden vom National Trust (Naturparks) oder English Heritage verwaltet, Spezialangebote für Touristen machen den Besuch mehrerer Sehenswürdigkeiten erschwinglicher (z. Bsp. English Heritage Visitor Pass für 9 oder 16 Tage). Faltprospekte sind in englischer Sprache frei erhätlich, Informationsbroschüren in verschiedenen Sprachen stehen in den Shops an der Eintrittskasse zum Verkauf.
Etwas irritierend ist der Umstand, dass auch für die großen, im Unterhalt sehr aufwändigen Gotteshäuser Eintrittsgelder zu bezahlen sind - die Kosten zum Erhalt der Bausubstanz werden bei den im Besitz der Kirche befindlichen Kathedralen nicht vom Staat getragen.
In geschlossenen Räumen (auch Kneipen und Pubs) besteht generell ein Rauchverbot, oftmals ist auch eine Hundekotaufnahmepflicht mit drastischen Strafen ausgeschildert.
In Restaurants wartet man in der Regel, bis einem ein Tisch zugewiesen wird, zumindest, wenn dies mit "Wait here to be seated" angezeigt wird - in Selbstbedienungsrestaurants sieht die Sache anders aus. Am Wochenende sind viele beliebte Lokale ausgebucht, telefonische Anfrage und Reservierung empfiehlt sich, wenn man nicht abgewiesen werden möchte. Eine Möglichkeit bleibt dann manchmal, an der Bar zu verweilen, bis ein Tisch frei wird.
Großbritannien benutzt, genau wie Irland, die so genannten BS 1363-Stecker. Das Stromnetz verwendet wie im Rest von Europa 230V bei 50 Hz Netzspannung, sodass lediglich ein Stecker-Adapter, aber kein Konverter/Transformator notwendig ist. Aufgrund der Verkabelung britischer Haushalte ist darauf zu achten, dass ein Adapter eine Sicherung (fuse) mit mindestens 10A, besser noch 13A, hat.
Post and Telecommunications
Die traditionellen roten Telefonkabinen ("Phone Box") wurden großflächig durch eine modernere vandalismussichere Ausführung ersetzt, im Norden sind die roten Telefonzellen und auch die roten Briefkästen noch verbreitet zu sehen. Eine internationale Postkarte kostet 75p.
Es besteht flächendeckend eine gute Mobilfunkabdeckung, aufgrund der Verbreitung von "mobile phones" oder "cell phones" (das Wort "Handy" bedeutet auf Englisch so viel wie "praktisch") sind viele Telefonzellen ausgemustert worden.
Die großen Mobilfunkanbieter (EE (früher als Orange bzw. T-Mobile bekannt), O2, Vodafone, Three) bieten alle Prepaid-SIM-Karten an (die Briten sagen pay as you go, oft nur als PAYG abgekürzt, zu Prepaid); oft bekommt man in diesen Tarifen für rund £ 10 pro Monat mehrere Gigabyte an Daten sowie einige hundert Freiminuten und SMS.
Im vereinigten Königreich zahlt man seit dem 15. Juni 2017 keine Roaminggebühren mehr, sofern man über eine Simkarte aus einem EU- oder EWR-Land verfügt. Mit dem EU-Austritt 2019 wird sich das möglicherweise ändern. Außerdem ist zu beachten, dass weder die Isle of Man noch die britischen Kanalinseln zur EU gehören - dort gelten die EU-Regeln zum Roaming daher nicht.
Nach dem Austritt aus der EU kann die Regelung zu Roaminggebühren allerdings jederzeit fallen. Hier sollte man sich unmittelbar vor der Reise über den aktuellen Stand informieren, bevor es teuer wird.
Auslandsvertretungen
Federal Republic of Germany
- 1 Deutsche Botschaft London, 23 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PZ. Tel.: 44 (0)20 7824 1300, Fax: 44 (0)20 7824 1449, Email: [email protected].
- Ferner Generalkonsulat in Edinburgh
- Honorarkonsulate in Aberdeen, Barrow upon Humber, Bristol, Cardiff, Coventry, Dover, Glasgow, Hamilton (Bermuda), Kirkwall (Orkney), Leeds, Lerwick (Shetland), Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Plymouth, Hampshire, Jersey, Guernsey und Tortola (Britische Jungferninseln)
Republik Österreich
- 2 Österreichische Botschaft London, 18 Belgrave Mews West, London SW1X 8HU. Tel.: 44 (0)20 7344 3250, Fax: 44 (0)20 7344 0292, Email: [email protected].
- Ferner Honorarkonsulate in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Grand Cayman und Hamilton. Die letzten beiden Stellen befinden sich nicht auf den britischen Inseln, sondern auf den Kaiman- bzw. auf den Bermudainseln.
Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft
- 3 Embassy London, 16-18 Montagu Place, London W1H 2BQ. Tel.: 44 (0)20 7616 6000, Fax: 44 (0)20 7724 7001, Email: [email protected].
literature
- : England, glorious England. Ein Länderportrait. Berlin Links, 2011 (2. Auflage), ISBN 978 3861535478 .
- : England, mein England: Britische Begegnungen. insel taschenbuch, 2006 (3. Auflage), ISBN 978 3458348801 .
- : Very British! Unterwegs in England, Schottland und Irland. insel taschenbuch, 2006 (4. Auflage), ISBN 978 3458348795 .
Web links
- Eine offizielle Webseite ist nicht bekannt. Bitte auf Wikidata nachtragen.
- Deutsche in London -- Die deutsche Community in London mit Hinweisen zum Leben und Arbeiten in London und einem Forum für den Erfahrungsaustausch (deutsch)
- Schottlandgeschichte.de -- Neben allgemeinen Infos zum Land reichlich Fotos zur Urlaubseinstimmung und eine sehr detaillierte Zeittafel zur Geschichte des Landes (deutsch)
- Visit Britain -- Informationen rund um Reiseziele, Aktivitäten, Unterkünfte, Reisetipps, Land und Leute
- ↑: Congestion Charge (Official). Abgerufen am 19. August 2020 (en-GB).
- ↑: Ultra Low Emission Zone. Abgerufen am 19. August 2020 (en-GB).