General Info
Some general info and tips on the UK:
- For all emergencies in the United Kingdom dial 999.
- The currency in the UK is pound sterling (£). £1 ~ $1.34 or €1.16
- Contactless (tap) debit/credit transactions are almost universally accepted and are often preferred.
- If bringing cash from abroad, avoid £50 notes if possible, they are rarely used in the UK and can be difficult to split.
- Banknotes in Scotland can be issued by several banks. These are widely accepted within Scotland alongside notes issued by the Bank of England. However, you may struggle to exchange Scottish banknotes internationally or elsewhere in the UK, particularly southern England.
- Tap water is drinkable (unless specifically marked otherwise).
- All restaurants and cafes are legally required to provide tap water free of charge if they are licensed to serve alcohol.
- Tipping is typically only done in restaurants and is not compulsory, but ~10% if you have received good service is appreciated. Some restaurants may apply a service charge (~10-12.5%), this is generally optional and you can ask for it to be removed.
- Prices as displayed in shops/restaurants/cafes will be inclusive of all taxes and fees.
- The UK uses type G electrical sockets; outlets are all individually switched at the wall. Check the outlet is actually on!
