The United Kingdom is known for many things - Fish and chips, ancient castles, Big Ben, double-decker buses, Shakespeare, and much more! These are just a few of the things that make United Kingdom one of the most visited countries in the world by tourists. Read below to learn more about the country.

The Basics:

• Languages: English is the language spoken by nearly every citizen, although are a small percentage of people who also speak French, German, and Spanish

• Currency: British Pound, Click here to see the current exchange rate

• Timezone: British Summer Time (summer months, UTC+1), Greenwich Mean Time (winter months, UTC+0)

• Visas: Tourists from most of Europe, North America, South America, and Eastern Asia can visit the United Kingdom visa free for up to 180 days

• Driving side: Left

• Tipping: 10-15% is expected for good service

Places to Visit and Things to Do:

• London: With 15 million people, the London metro area is the most populous city in the United Kingdom, and is home to many great museums and famous attractions such as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, London Eye, Tower Bridge, and Shakespeare’s Globe

• Day Trip from London: Many popular day trips are available from London, such as a guided tour of Stonehenge, Bath, and Windsor Castle, a trip to beaches at Brighton, or a trip to Oxford and the Cotswolds

• Scotland: One of the 4 countries that makes up the United Kingdom, there is plenty to do in Scotland, such as visiting Edinburgh Castle, Loch Ness (home to the mythical Loch ness Monster), or hiking the rugged Northern Highlands

Travel Tips:

• If you are flying into or out of London, make sure you know which airport you are flying through. There are 6 major airports within 40 miles of downtown London: Heathrow, Gatwick, London Stansted, Luton, London City, and London Southend

• Many of London’s popular museums are free, such as the British Museum, National Gallery, Natural History Museum, and Tate Modern

• If you are a sports fan and are visiting between August and May, check out an English Premier League game. With many teams in large cities such as London, Manchester, and Liverpool, seeing a game is a great addition to a trip to one of United Kingdom’s cities