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England
With a population of 51 million in a relatively small space
(130,000 square kilometers), bordered by Scotland and Wales,
England is the largest of the three countries that make up
mainland United Kingdom. England is well set up for the independent
traveller with a plethora of sights and experiences to offer.
From London - one of the most vibrant, expensive, hip,
cosmopolitan capital cities in the world - you can hop on
a bus, train or plane to reach gently rolling green countryside,
lakes, rivers, and beaches.
England has for thousands of years been a cultural melting
pot. The island's invasions from the Saxons, Normans, Vikings,
and Romans all left their mark on the landscape. Later, as
the powerful conquering British Empire, it created colonies
from which people from all over the world have settled in
a steady stream - the Afro-Caribbeans came in the 1950s and
the 1970s saw a wave of immigration from north-east Asia.
They brought with them colourful languages, customs, and foods
with. As you travel from one part of the country to another
you will encounter many different dialects and a whole mix
of cultural heritage. There are thousands of religious monuments
to see including the early stone circles such as Stonehenge
and cathedrals such as York Minster and Canterbury
Cathedral.
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Whitby Abbey,the gothic town in Yorkshire, Northeast England
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Wales
Wales is west of England and across the water from Ireland.
It has a population of less than three million and a land
mass of just over 20,000 square kilometers. Welsh culture
is more than just rugby and male voice choirs. It's a country
that has fought hard to retain its national identity in the
face of adversity, through good and bad economic times, and
has succeeded in preserving its own language and traditions.
Wales is replacing the gap left by a failed coal mining industry
with tourism.
Wales has much to offer the outdoor enthusiast, from beautiful
rugged coastlines to snow-capped mountains like Mount Snowdon,
the region's highest at a mere 3560 feet. Cycling, hiking,
kayaking (known as canoeing here), horse riding, rock climbing
and mountain biking are all activities on offer in the Welsh
countryside.
The beloved home of Hollywood's Catherine Zeta Jones, it
also has a landscape that passed for China in the latest Tomb
Raider film. Johnny Depp is said to have bought a round in
his 'local' whilst filming his latest film. Stars have put
the nation in the limelight, although these are not the only
glamorous things about Wales - capital city Cardiff's nightlife
is on the up and up and time traveler Dr. Who even parked
his Tardis here during another mission to save Earth.
Climate and When to Go
England and Wales have a temperate climate. Weather is changeable
and it's wise to be prepared for all eventualities. Between
November and March, the winter temperatures vary, rarely dropping
below freezing. Summer months (June to September) can bring
a mixture of sun, rain and winds so pack waterproofs and be
prepared for every eventuality. If you're lucky, temperatures
might peak above 25C. If you want to experience the outdoor
life, late June to early September is the period with fairer
weather.
The cities are lively all year round. Out of season, from
December to May, you can benefit from 2-for-1 entry into many
of London's main attractions with promotions organised by
London transport. There are fun events held year round like
the London Marathon in May, Glastonbury Festival
in June, the Notting Hill Carnival in August, or
Bonfire Night (one of the few remaining traditional festivals)
in November. June to August is the season for regional fairs,
music and arts festivals, and partying outdoors.
Visas
Visitors from member states of the European Union can enter
and work without a visa. If you are visiting from Canada,
USA, Australia, South Africa or New Zealand you can stay on
a short term basis without a visa. If intending to work you
will need to apply for a working holiday visa before arriving
in the country.
Cash
The British Currency is the Great British Pound.For up to date currency information, check the Currency
Converter.
Britain has one of the strongest currencies and therefore
economies in the world, which means that England and Wales
can be a very expensive place to visit or travel around. Living
expenses and accommodation in London and the southeast of
England tend to be much higher than in the north of England
or Wales. London is more expensive than Paris or New York.
As an average budget you should allow $40 to $80 a day depending
on where you are. Hostels will cost at least $18 a night,
a bed and breakfast can vary from $45 up to $100 and modest
hotels cost from $100 a night for a single room. Double your
budget for days spent in London and investigate lodgings in
the suburbs which can half your accommodation costs. All prices
marked including tax, and cafes and restaurants vary with
some including service charges. Check your bill carefully,
if no service is included allow 10% to 15% for tips. It is
a no bargaining culture but most business people are honourable
so you're unlikely to be ripped off just for being a tourist.
Food
England
Traditional English food tends to be stodgy and filling and
are either regional or post World War Two dishes. Fish
and chips is probably the most well-known and palatable
but also try toad in the hole (battered sausage), Yorkshire
pudding, Cornish pasty, chips and gravy, black peas, jellied
eels, or pie and mash. Indo-British and a British
version of Chinese cuisines have long been established in
England; in every small town you will find a Chinese takeaway
and an Indian restaurant serving anglicised version of curries
like chicken tikka masala - said to have been invented
in Britain and now the most popular dish here. England's food
scene is much criticised as lack lustre, however, insiders
know that what England lacks in national foods it makes up
for in the diversity and quality of foods from incoming cultures.
Food from many other countries are widely available in the
major cities and bigger towns; expect to find Italian, Malaysian,
Morrocan, French, Afro-Caribbean and Thai restaurants amongst
others. The breakfast fry-up is a British institution. Workman's
cafes have long been serving the dish - which includes bacon,
eggs, sausage, black pudding (blood sausage), baked beans,
tomato, bubble and squeak (fried leftovers) - long before
Dr. Atkins created his diet plans. For just a few dollars,
you can start the day the English way and it will probably
fill you up until teatime, where traditionally the British
stop at 4pm for tea and cake.
Wales
Welsh rarebit (grilled cheese sauce on toast) is probably
the most well known Welsh dish, whilst the leek is
their national symbol. Welsh national dishes tend to be 'hearty'
foods: cakes, stews or bread. barra claddu (cake),
welsh cakes (biscuits), laver bread (seaweed
and oatmeal cakes fried with bacon) are some of the dishes
that you can try.
Languages
English is the national language of England and although
other minority languages are also spoken, you will always
be greeted in English where ever you are traveling. Whether
or not you can understand the many diverse regional accents
is another matter all together!
Welsh, a complex Celtic language, is the national
language of Wales. Although only around 20% of the population
are fluent, there is a big move to bring Welsh back into the
classroom and home. Over the centuries the English have attempted
to assimilate the Welsh and so English is spoken by 99% of
the population.
People
England has a mixture of cultures, predominantly of Anglo-Saxon
and Celtic origins. People of Indian, Pakistani, African,
Chinese, and West Indian descent also make up a large proportion
(8%) of the population - mainly in the major cities with some
small towns in the north of England made up almost entirely
of Asians. More recently since the expansion of the European
Union more Eastern European immigrants have arrived in Britain.
Race relations are generally good between different peoples,
although occasionally there can be troubles in the northern
regions with high Asian populations. The population of Wales
remains dominantly white Celtic and Anglo-Saxon. This is perhaps
due to employment prospects not being quite as good as in
England. The English people, while not the most naturally
friendly people in the world, have a great sense of humour
and if you can get through the dry humour and accept that
customer service comes as optional, you should make a few
friends, particularly down the pub (drink house) where most
people go to socialise.
Travel
Traveling in England and Wales is easy. There are many tour
companies who offer hop-on hop-off bus tickets, Euro rail
tickets incorporate the UK, public transport is easy to navigate
(if not always that regular in rural areas) and cheap airlines
offer a fast effective way to fly between London and other
cities. Competition has brought the prices of travel down
dramatically in recent years, if you're happy to travel in
a little less luxury then Megabus
offers routes between major cities for as little as $2.
Car hire can be expensive but is perhaps the best
way to travel if you want to get off the beaten track and
the roads are very safe. Watch out for the congestion charge
(a hefty $14 charge per day which is very complex to pay)
if hiring a car from central London and forget about driving
within the cities. Hitchhiking is not really recommended.
Not so much because it is unsafe, more likely that you will
have to wait for hours in the rain before anyone will stop
for you!
Trains are somewhat unreliable and very expensive (and
more so since the network was privatised), particularly compared
to other Western European countries, unless you buy a ticket
a week or more in advance from National
Rail. However, trains prove the best way to get from
London to the northern cities or to travel around the southeast.
Coaches are ideal for short haul journeys. Tickets
cost generally half the price of train tickets for an ultra
reliable service, the main service provider being National
Express.
In the cities, use the expensive underground in London
and modern tram services in Manchester, Sheffield,
and Nottingham. Local buses are often comprehensive
and easier to navigate than in other countries although don't
expect to get around quickly - many of the cities are approaching
gridlock status and travel in London was quicker in the 19th
century Victorian era. Look out for the double-decker buses
in the cities - a British phenomena. In London they are painted
red and make for a great photo opportunity. The top deck offers
a great view and is much cheaper than a tour bus at $1 or
so.
Health
There are no major health risks associated with travelling
in England and Wales. Health services are free for nationals
and European Union members, water is safe to drink, and street
food is generally reliable. Make sure your travel insurance
covers you for all activities and bring waterproofs to protect
you from the ever-present rain.
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