Sightseeing Vibrant cities, lively seaside resorts and peaceful countryside just beyond the cities. England’s Lake District, Scotland’s Highlands, the Welsh mountains and valleys, Northern Ireland’s spectacular coast. Almost wherever you go, you will find ancient castles, stately palaces, historical treasures, amazing architecture, entertainment parks and fascinating museums and galleries.
Accommodation
Conveniently located city and airport hotels, apartments and historic castles in Scotland.
Family activities
Madame Tussauds (London), London Eye, Thorpe Park (Surrey), Alton Towers (Staffordshire), Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Our Dynamic Earth (Edinburgh), Glasgow Science Centre, National Space Science Centre (Leicester), Warwick Castle (Shakespeare’s Stratford), Legoland (Windsor), and Chessington World of Adventure (Surrey).
Shopping
What you can buy – Designer clothes, high street fashion, arts and crafts, woollen and woven goods, souvenirs, jewellery, luxury foods, chocolates and antiques.
Where you can buy – Large shopping malls; small stores and boutiques; street and flea markets and factory outlets.
Entertainment
Plenty of entertainment facilities are available throughout the country. British food and drink is best sampled at a local level. Visit a producer or chef at his place of work or try food and drink at a farmer’s market, country fair, pub or hotel and discover the real taste of Britain. London is famous for its opera, ballet, concerts and theatre. This is the home of Shakespeare after all. For those who come alive after dark, Britain’s nightlife – in bars, clubs, discos and casinos is second-to-none. Throughout the year you will find festivals of cinema, jazz, dance, plays, live music, opera, fringe theatre, comedy and cabaret.
Sports and leisure
Famous cricket, rugby and football stadiums; motor racing circuits and golf courses throughout the country.
Honeymoon
Whether you enjoy the buzzing cities or would like to discover the picturesque countryside, quaint towns and villages, Britain offers a great destination for honeymooners.
Exploring by road
With excellent road and motorway networks, Britain is ideally suited for self-drive car rental. Driving is on the left-hand side of the road.
Glasgow Art Fair (April); London Marathon (April); Chelsea Flower Show (May); Trooping the Colour – The Queen’s Birthday Parade (June); Royal Ascot (June); Wimbledon Tennis Championship (June/July); Tour De France (July); Farnborough Airshow 2008 (July); Notting Hill Carnival (August); Grand Prix Silverstone (June); Glasgow International Piping Festival (August); Edinburgh Military Tattoo (August); London Fashion Week (September).
Visas:
Most Gulf and Middle East nationals, including United Arab Emirates nationals, require a visa.
Visas are not required for nationals of the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands and United States of America. Nationals of all other countries require a visa.
Health requirements:
No compulsory vaccinations are required. However, you are advised to check if your polio and tetanus immunisations are valid.
Travel insurance:
Adequate holiday and travel insurance is vital. Emirates Holidays offers a comprehensive insurance package to enable you and your family to travel with peace of mind. Please contact your nearest Emirates Holidays office or your travel agent for details of our HolidayGuard Travel Insurance cover.
Currency:
Pound Sterling (GBP) divided into 100 pence.
Notes in denominations of GBP50, 20, 10 and 5.
Coins in denominations of GBP2 and 1 and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 pence.
Approximate exchange rate:
AED1 = GBP0.15
EUR1 = GBP0.68
USD1 = GBP0.54
Please check the rate of exchange prior to travel.
Banking hours - 0930 to 1530 hours, Monday - Friday.
Some banks are open on Saturday mornings - 0930 to 1300 hours.
There are no restrictions on the import of local and foreign currencies, however, payment in foreign currency is not accepted in the United Kingdom, except for payment in Euros which is accepted in some high street department stores as well as some restaurants. Currency exchange is offered in all banks. You can also find exchange bureaus in luxury hotels, large department stores and at major United Kingdom airports.
All major credit cards such as American Express, Diners Club International, Eurocard, MasterCard and Visa are accepted in most large shops, department stores, hotels and restaurants. MasterCard and Visa credit cards can be used to withdraw local currency from the numerous automated teller machines (ATMs) in all major cities and airports. Travellers cheques, whether issued in Pound Sterling or in other currencies, can be encashed in banks and exchange outlets.
Clothing:
Mediumweight clothing is advisable throughout the year, although lightweight clothing is useful for summer and warmer clothes for winter. Rainwear is usually required throughout the year.
Airport information:
London - London Heathrow International Airport is approximately 24 kilometres west of London city centre. You can travel from the airport by bus, train, the ‘Underground’ or the ‘Tube’, or by taxi. The airport telephone number is 0870 000 0123.
London Gatwick International Airport is approximately 45 kilometres south of London city centre. You can travel from the airport by bus, train or taxi. The airport telephone number is 0870 000 2468.
Manchester - Manchester International Airport is approximately 16 kilometres south-west of Manchester city centre. You can travel from the airport by bus, train or taxi. The airport telephone number is 0161 489 3000.
Birmingham - Birmingham International Airport is approximately 13 kilometres south-east of Birmingham city centre. You can travel from the airport by bus, train or taxi. The airport telephone number is 0870 733 5511.
Glasgow - Glasgow International Airport is located 13 kilometres west of the city centre. You can travel from the airport by bus, train or taxi. The airport telephone number is 0870 040 0008.
Edinburgh - Edinburgh International Airport is approximately 10 kilometres to the west of the city. You can travel by bus or taxi. The airport telephone number is 0870 040 0007.
Customs:
Duty free allowance for goods bought outside the European Union: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco; two litres of still table wine; one litre of alcohol of more than 22 per cent volume; 60 cubic centilitres of perfume; 250 cubic centilitres of eau de toilette; and other goods worth GBP145.
Value Added Tax (VAT) Refund Scheme:
VAT is charged on most goods (with the exception of food and books) bought in shops. Please note that not all shops offer the Retail Export Scheme (often referred to as tax-free shopping), and those that do, often set a minimum purchase level. The minimum purchase level differs from one store to another, but is normally around GBP75. Visitors leaving the United Kingdom for a final destination within the European Union are not eligible to receive VAT refunds under the scheme.
How to claim your VAT refund:
The shop will provide you with a tax-free shopping form or voucher. When finally leaving the European Union, take the goods and the form to the customs desk to be checked and stamped. The stamped form may either be posted back to the shopkeeper or to the VAT refunding company for a cheque or credit card refund; or handed to a cash refund booth at London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Manchester International Airport.
Driving licence:
Driving is on the left-hand side of the road. A valid international driving licence as well as a driving licence from your country of residence is required. The minimum age for driving is 17 years.
Emergency telephone numbers:
Ambulance, fire department and police - 999.
Hours of work:
Business: 0900 to 1700 hours,
Monday - Friday.
Shopping: 0900 to 1800 hours,
Monday - Friday.
1000 - 1800 hours, Saturday,
1200 - 1700 hours, Sunday.
Public holidays (fixed):
01 January - New Year’s Day
05 May - May Day Bank Holiday
26 May - Spring Bank Holiday
25 August - Summer Bank Holiday
25 December - Christmas
26 December - Boxing Day
Public holidays (moveable):
Good Friday
Easter Monday
Time zone:
Winter - GMT.
Summer - GMT + 1 hour.
Language:
English is the official language.
Tipping:
A service charge of 10 - 15 per cent is included in bills at most restaurants. Extra tipping is optional. A 10 - 15 per cent tip is usually given to taxi drivers and hairdressers. For porterage, 50 - 75 pence per suitcase is the norm.
Electricity:
240 volts, 50 cycles AC.
Safety tips:
It is advisable to carry minimum cash on you, in smaller denomination bills. Keep a photocopy of your identification documents handy. We recommend you keep your valuables and passports in the hotel safe. While walking around, beware of pickpockets.