Great Britain is one of the most densely populated countries of Europe, with the southern parts of the country reaching the highest density figures of Europe as a whole. The main mountain regions are the Cornish Heights, the Cambrian in Wales, the Cambrian Mountains (in Lake District) and the Pennies. The highest mountain in Great Britain is Ben Nevis in Scotland.

There are many rivers in Great Britain. Among the most important rivers is the Thames, which flows into the North Sea. Its length is 336 km and it is the deepest rive in Britain. It is navigable as far as the capital of Great Britain – London. The longest river in Britain is the Severn. Its length is 354 km (220 miles). Other important rivers include the Trent, the Tay and the Tweed.

The capital and largest city, London, is in the southeast and is situated at both sides of the River Thames. Greater London has a total land area of 1,580 square kilometres with a population of 6.6 million inhabitants. It is divided in 32 boroughs.

This information has been compiled for your reference in good faith but please use this only as a general guide. We advise you to check with relevant authorities with regard to the latest requirement for passport, visa, travel advisory, entry restrictions, health requirements, local currency etc as these are subjected to change with without prior notice and our information given below may not be as updated.

Best time to go: The best time to visit United Kingdom is from early July to Mid September considered to be peak season, where temperatures are highest and very popular around this time for travellers. It is overall year around destination as it depends on the purpose of travelling. Climate is relatively temperate and, in general, doesn’t experience extremes during either summer or winter. Winter (December to February) can also be an enjoyable time to visit. Although some attractions close in mountainous areas and in the north, where there’s likely to be snow, the main cities remain fully open and will be quieter for sightseeing.

There are over 300 languages spoken in England.

Visa: New Zealand passport holders may generally enter the UK for six (6) months without a visa on a visa waiver if they are in UK for a holiday.  However, you will still need to satisfy a Border Force officer when you arrive that you meet the requirements of your visitor category, and aren’t in the UK for any other purpose. And whilst New Zealander's generally do not need a visa before entering the UK on holiday, there are circumstances when you may need to obtain one before you travel (please contact British High Commission or British Consulate for more details)

James Bond’s code “007” was inspired by the author Ian Fleming’s bus route from Canterbury to London.

Currency: The official currency of the United Kingdom is the pound sterling, known as the pound (£, GBP). The most common banknotes are £5, £10, £20, £50 and £100. It is also possible to find £1 notes, but these are extremely rare, since they are printed in Scotland.The coins in circulation are 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p and £1 and £2. Sometimes, special editions of £5 coins are released, but their circulation is merely theoretical.

ATMs can be found in large towns especially in all the tourist areas. If you’ve got MasterCard or Visa/Access, there are plenty of places to withdraw money. Foreign currency can be exchanged for local money in hotels, banks, post offices and exchange offices.

The Queen of the UK is the legal owner of one-sixth of the Earth’s land surface.

Health: UK does not have any particular health risk. Non-EU nationals are advised to purchase medical insurance. Foreign visitors should check at home whether you need vaccinations or not, but the general rule is that you won't. All travellers should be up to date on routine vaccinations when travelling to UK.

Buckingham Palace has its own chapel, post office, swimming pool, staff cafeteria, doctor’s surgery and cinema.

Food and drinks: Well known traditional British dishes include full breakfast, fish and chips, the Christmas dinner, the Sunday roast, steak and kidney pie, shepherd's pie, and bangers and mash. People in Britain however eat a wide variety of foods based on the cuisines of Europe, India, and other parts of the world. British cuisine has many regional varieties within the broader categories of English, Scottish and Welsh cuisine and Northern Irish cuisine. Each has developed its own regional or local dishes, many of which are geographically indicated foods such as Cornish pasties, the Yorkshire pudding, Cumberland Sausage, Arbroath Smokie, and Welsh cakes.

There are 28 world heritage sites in the UK and London is home to 4 World Heritage Sites

Clothing: As the UK is very much a western society, wear very much the same as any other modern western society ranging from Jeans and Tee shirts to full business suits for office work (if required). Special clothers for the climate include heavy overcoats or anoraks for cold wintry weather to raincoats and umbrellas, for weather rain. Materials used cover every type and colour of fabric available, especially consider that Britain is a multi cultural society and in certain cities you will find many stores with very colourful silk available for making in Sari's and other ethnic clothes.

UK remains the only country not required to name itself on its postage stamps because it was the first country to issue national stamps.

Language: English is the official language in UK, On top of English, there are a number of officially recognised native languages – the languages for which the UK has signed the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. These can be split into the Celtic and Germanic.

London is the first city in the world to have an underground subway system.

Gratuities: Tipping is appreciated but not always appropriate. There are some situations where it is customary, for example in restaurants. It is customary to leave 10-15% of the bill as tip when eating out, though some restaurants add on service charge instead. Most hotel bills also include a service charge, if it is not added it is customary to tip 10-15% of the bill. People often tip porters. It is polite to tip 10-15% of the taxi fare to black cabs and licensed minicabs.

In the UK, accents change noticeably about every 25 miles (40km).

Safety & security: Generally speaking, there is not much to worry about when it comes to safety and security in the United Kingdom. Much to the relief of the nation’s residents, crime in the UK is usually low key. As long as you adhere to a number of standard precautions, chances are you won’t see much in the way of crime in the UK.

If you reach your 100th birthday, you get a personalized card from the Queen.

Airport tax: Generally your international air ticket should include airport tax on international departure.

If London were a country, it would be the 8th largest in Europe.

Internet: Internet facilities are available at almost all places. Most hotels have it and internet cafes are commonly found in all major cities and tourist places.

Great Britain’s coastline stretches for 11,073 miles

Telephone: United Kingdom has a dialling code of +44 from New Zealand. While calling New Zealand from United Kingdom, you will need to dial +64…Pre-paid calling cards are sold in many shops and kiosks. If you want to call internationally, ask for an international calling card.

Every day UK people drink 165 million cups of tea! Over 20 times more than the average American

Time Difference: UK is 11 hours behind New Zealand from April to September and 12 hours from October to March.

The Queen owns all the sturgeons, whales and dolphins in the waters within 3 miles from the UK.

Photography: It is normally forbidden to take photographs of government buildings, airports and buildings of military importance. Many museums prohibit photography without a permit; some prohibit only flash or tripod photography.

In 1811, nearly a quarter of all the women in Britain were named Mary.

Electricity: British standards have proliferated throughout large parts of the former British Empire. BS 546, Two-pole and earthing-pin plugs, socket-outlets and socket-outlet adaptors for AC (50-60 Hz) circuits up to 250V is a British Standard for three pin AC power plugs and sockets. Few Hotels have adapters available which you could borrow free of charge during your stay but it might be a good idea to carry one from home. Please visit this website for more information on plugs : http://kropla.com/electric2.htm

There is nowhere in Britain that is more than 74.5 miles from the sea.

Postage: The United Kingdom postal service and mail delivery is mainly handled by the Royal Mail service.

‘Big Ben’ doesn’t refer to the famous clock at London’s Houses of Parliament, but to the bell inside. The building itself is called the Elizabeth Tower.

Cities of interest

London

London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom, is a 21st-century city with history stretching back to Roman times. At its centre stand the imposing Houses of Parliament, the iconic ‘Big Ben’ clock tower and Westminster Abbey, site of British monarch coronations. Across the Thames River, the London Eye observation wheel provides panoramic views of the South Bank cultural complex, and the entire city.

The name London originally referred only to the once-walled "Square Mile" of the original Roman city. Today, London has taken on a much larger meaning to include all of the vast central parts of the modern metropolis, with the city having absorbed numerous surrounding towns and villages over the centuries, including large portions of the surrounding "home counties", one of which - Middlesex - being completely consumed by the growing metropolis.

Manchester

Manchester is a major city in the northwest of England with a rich industrial heritage. The Castlefield conservation area’s 18th-century canal system recalls the city’s days as a textile powerhouse, and visitors can trace this history at the interactive Museum of Science & Industry.

Browse the hundreds of top Manchester attractions that offer great things to do for children and adults alike. A huge number of attractions in Manchester are free including Manchester Museum, Manchester Art Gallery, the Museum of Science and Industry, Imperial War Museum North, and the People's History Museum, as well as the fantastic National Football Museum. For something different, why not head to The Lowry at Salford Quays, home to three stunning theatres and galleries, or Knowsley Safari Park for an amazing Safari Drive. For a masterpiece of Victorian Gothic architecture, The John Rylands Library is not to be missed. Grab a slice of the action at one of Manchester's world-famous football clubs, with a stadium tour at either Manchester United or Manchester City, or check out world-class cricket at Emirates Old Trafford.

Birmingham

With one of the youngest populations in Europe, Birmingham is a dynamic, creative city constantly evolving. Many tourisits visit Birmingham during last few years, to sample the metropolis’ authentic cultural offering, superb shopping and fantastic food. Birmingham boasts something for everyone. For culture vultures, shopaholics, food enthusiasts, party animals and sports fanatics it’s a destination of limitles opportunity.

With a compelling and varied arts scene, Birmingham is home to inspirational organisations and venues right across the cultural spectrum. Critically acclaimed independent festivals, year-round world-class sporting events and a growing reputation as a foodie haven, it’s all happening in Birmingham. Central location is an ideal base for visitors; The Black Country and Solihull are just a short journey from the city centre and offer an eclectic mix of things to do for families, couples and groups alike.

Glasglow

Glasgow is Scotland's largest city and is renowned for its culture, style and the friendliness of its people. It offers a blend of internationally-acclaimed museums and galleries, stunning architecture, vibrant nightlife, fantastic shopping and a diverse array of restaurants and bars.Vibrant and energetic, Glasgow enjoys a year-round buzz with an arts scene that regularly produces cutting-edge productions and attracts high-profile exhibitions that led to the city being crowned European City of Culture in 1990.

Glasgow was also the UK's City of Architecture and Design in 1999 and its architecture is an attraction in itself. The city centre has countless impressive Victorian structures and then there are the unique masterpieces of one of the city's most celebrated sons, the legendary architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The city has a long-standing reputation for its live music scene and is very well off too in terms of city parks.

Edinburg

Edinburgh is Scotland's compact, hilly capital. It has a medieval Old Town and elegant Georgian New Town with gardens and neoclassical buildings. Looming over the city is Edinburgh Castle, home to Scotland’s crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny, used in the coronation of Scottish rulers. Arthur’s Seat is an imposing peak in Holyrood Park with sweeping views, and Calton Hill is topped with monuments and memorials.

Edinburgh’s Old Town is home to Scotland’s thoroughly modern Parliament building.  Open to visitors Monday-Saturday, why not take advantage of a free tour and learn about its history, work and contemporary architecture?  You can even visit a debating chamber and if Parliament is in session, view proceedings from the public gallery.

Cardiff

Cardiff is a port city on the south coast of Wales, where the River Taff meets the Severn Estuary. It was proclaimed the nation’s capital in 1955. The revitalized waterfront at Cardiff Bay includes the Wales Millennium Centre, home of the national opera, orchestra, theater and dance companies, plus shops at Mermaid Quay. Architect Richard Rogers’ strikingly modern Senedd building houses the Welsh National Assembly. Rich in ancient history, sporting excitement, romantic ambience, eclectic culture and ‘out of this world’ activities, Cardiff is the perfect holiday destination for families, couples and groups. Cardiff is a thriving city, just 2 hours by train from London.