Know before you go
United Kingdom
General Information
Slovenia is located in Western Europe. The UK includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands. Its capital and largest city is London. The United Kingdom used to be a member of the European Union, but decided to leave it in 2017 (Brexit). They are not part of the Schengen Agreement and drive on the left side of the road.
Visa
Holders of a EU passport don’t require a Visa. For holders of a different passport check out this link to see if you are required to apply for a visa or not or contact your ministery of foreign affairs.
Power
The United Kingdom uses Type G plug outlets. The voltage is 230 Volt and the frequency is 50 Hz
Language
No surprise, the official language of the United Kingdom is English.
Weather Forecast
Climate
The United Kingdom has a temperate climate, with plentiful rainfall all year round. The temperature varies with the seasons seldom dropping below −11 °C (12 °F) or rising above 35 °C (95 °F). Temperatures are warmest in the south-east of England, being closest to the European mainland, and coolest in the north.
Average Temperature in London
Average Precipitation in London
Transportation
How to get there?
Flying to the United Kingdom is easy as London has the busiest airport in Europe: London Heathrow Airport. Heathrow is not the only Airport of London though. There are 6 in total: London City Airport (LCY), Gatwick (LGW), Luton Airport (LTN), Stansted (STN), London Southend Airport (SEN) and Heathrow (LHR). Check which one is closest to the place you are staying in London as travel times between parts of the city and an airport can be several hours. Each airport is easily accessable with public transport. Follow the respective link to find out how to get to the airport: Heathrow, City Airport, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, Southend.
Many budget airlines like Ryanair fly to destinations in the United Kingdom. EasyJet is even based in London Luton. To find a full list of airports in the United Kingdom follow this link.
To travel to the UK, it is also possible to take the train from Paris to London or a bus or train from Ireland to Northern Ireland. But from pretty much everywhere else you will have to take a plane.
How to get around?
Larger cities have an excellent public transportation system. London, Newcastle and Glasgow have Metro systems.
When travelling to London it’s best to get yourself an Oyster Card. You can buy them directly at tube stations and top it up with money. Whenever you enter or exit a train, tap the card to one of the readers and the ticketprice will be deducted from your balance. Don’t forget to tap at the exit though. If you do, the price can’t be calculated and thus the maximum will be charged. Don’t worry if you don’t use up all your balance. You get a refund when you return the card.
How to get from town to town?
Going from one city to another I recommend taking the train. It’s more relaxing than driving yourself and you can enjoy watching the landscape rolling by. You can book the tickets online in advance or buy them at train stations.
Money, Money, Money
Currency
The currency of the United Kingdom is Pound Sterling. Check out the currency converter to find out about current exchange rates.
Accommodation
Depending on where you are staying prices will vary of course. Expect to be paying around 55€ per person per night.
Cash
Even though credit cards are widely accepted, you should still withdraw Pounds at an ATM. How much you will need of course depends on your spending habits. Expect to need around 80€ per day for food, transportation, activities and souvenirs.
