Useful Information

Telephones and mobile phones

Public phones are easily found throughout the United Kingdom.  
Landline phones - UK telephone numbers are 10 or 11 digits long.  The first part of a phone number is the area code and can range from three digits to six.  If a number starts with 08 then it is a freephone or toll free number and you will not be charged, however you may be charged if calling from a mobile phone.

To make an international call – the dialling code from the UK is 00, after which you need to input the international code for the country you require.

Mobile network providers – in main network providers in the UK are Orange, O2, Virgin, Vodafone and T-mobile.  You will need to activate your international roaming if you are using a mobile phone from another country.

Driving in the UK

You are required to adhere to the speed limits, which can be 20, 30 or 40mph in built up areas.  The speed limit on motorways is 70mph.  The United Kingdom mostly uses “roundabouts” as a means of controlling the flow of traffic.  A roundabout is a circular junction where all drivers give way to traffic on their right.  Traffic is on the left hand side, however one can park on either side of the road in an opposite direction.

Roads are classified by letters followed by numbers e.g. A34:-
A Roads – an A-road with a number after it (A1) is a main route
B Roads - these are local routes which usually carry less traffic than A-roads
C, D and U Roads – these are alternative routes and will carry less traffic than a B road
Motorways (highways/freeways) – this is a high capacity road with a minimum of two lanes in either direction.  Motorways are prefixed with an “M”, and the signposts are blue.

Weather in the United Kingdom

Weather in the UK is very variable and unpredictable, and has a climate which can reach well into the negative in winter with highs reaching around 28/29°C in the summer months.
The weather differs between the north, south, east and west.  Scotland and Northern England are known to have slightly cooler temperatures with some snow in winter.  In contrast, the south of England experiences warmer temperatures with small chances of snow in winter.  The west of England and Wales has a higher rainfall than the east.

Daylight saving

Daylight saving is practised in the UK – at the start of the spring/summer usually end of March, clocks are moved forward by an hour from GMT, and then moved an hour back at the end of October as the country moves into winter.