United Kingdom

SAFETY: very good
The country is generally safe. No particular risks are reported other than petty crime (city outskirts, large cities, etc.).

TRANSPORT SYSTEM: excellent
A comprehensive, modern transport network covering the entire country (air, rail, bus, metro, tram, taxi, ferry) makes it possible to reach any destination. Hiring cars, motorbikes, campervans, bicycles and boats is easy and convenient. Very well connected to Italy, to neighbouring countries and to its overseas territories.

Main airports: London (Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, London City), Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Blackpool, Bournemouth - Hurn, Bristol, Cardiff, Cork, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Prestwick, Guernsey, Humberside, Isle of Man, Jersey, Kerry, Knock, Leeds & Bradford, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Shannon, Southampton, Teesside.
Main ports: Dover, Felixstowe, Forth Ports, Hound Point, Immingham, Liverpool, London, Milford Haven, Southampton, Teesport.

HOSPITALITY: excellent
The country offers a very wide choice of accommodation of every kind, category and price. The international classification (one to five stars) applies, alongside farm stays, B&Bs, guesthouses, hostels and campsites, mountain huts, as well as wellness or spa centres. The range of restaurants is fairly varied.

COUNTRY FACTS: Full name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland– Location: north-central Europe, islands in the North Sea – Time zone: UTC 0, 1 hour behind Italy, with daylight saving time – Area: 244,800 km² – Capital: London – Population: 60,700,000– Religion: 70% Protestant, 3% Muslim, 2% Hindu – Languages: English, Gaelic (official languages)– Measurements: metric system and imperial system.

CURRENCY: Pound sterling (GBP). There are no currency formalities – Credit cards: the major credit cards are accepted –Exchange: bring euros, which are easy to exchange.

ELECTRICITY: 220 V and 50 Hz (as in Italy) – Electrical sockets: three-pin flat-blade type, bring an adapter.

DOCUMENTS: Identity card until 30 September 2021 - Passport  from 1 October 2021 – Driving: Italian driving licence, driving on the left – Car: Italian third-party motor insurance is sufficient for Italian vehicles.

COMMUNICATIONS AND TELEPHONES: Int. dialling code: 0044 – GSM: extensive network covering the whole country. Standard: GSM 900/1800 and 3G 2100 (as in Italy). Local operators: Vodafone, O2, T-Mobile, Orange, Mcom, Hutchison 3G – Internet: very widespread service of good average quality – Web domain: .uk – Emergency numbers: police 999, ambulance 999.

RULES, LAWS AND CONDUCT: as regards the laws on the use or trafficking of drugs and offences against minors, very severe criminal penalties are in force. The legal age of consent is 16. Since 2004 same-sex couples have been able to register their partnership (not exactly civil unions); in general, social attitudes are very tolerant.

HEALTH: the overall standard is very good, with efficient public and private facilities. Italian citizens on temporary visits who hold a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) receive the care provided by the local public health service. Pharmacies are widespread and well stocked.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: 1 January, New Year’s Day; Good Friday; Easter Monday; 1 May, Labour Day; last Monday in May, Spring Bank Holiday; last Monday in August, Summer Bank Holiday; 25 and 26 December, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

OPENING HOURS: Post offices: widespread, Mon-Fri 9.00-17.00 – Banks: very widespread, with ATM services; Mon-Fri 9.30-15.30 – Shops: Mon-Sat 9.00-17.30 (variable) – Closing day: Sunday.

CLIMATE: mild and humid, with temperatures moderated by the Atlantic Gulf Stream. Inland, temperatures do not fall far below zero in winter, nor rise much above 30 °C in summer. London, the south-east and the west are the warmest regions; Scotland is the coldest, with a highly changeable climate, cooler and drier on the east coast, milder and wetter on the west coast. Rainfall is abundant in the hilly areas and in the west, but cloud and rain can occur anywhere on the island at any time. In Northern Ireland the climate is less humid and slightly cooler than in Great Britain.

Monthly max/min temperatures (in °C)

Rainy days (at least 1 mm of rain)/monthly rainfall in mm

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN ITALY

British Embassy
Via Venti Settembre 80/A – 00187 Rome – Tel. 06 42200001 – Fax 06 42202333 – Web: www.gov.uk –
E-mail: InfoRome@fco.gov.uk

Consulate General
Via San Paolo 7 – 20121 Milan – Tel. 02 72300237

Consulates
Via dei Mille 40 – 80121 Naples – Tel. 081 4238911 – Fax 081 422434 – E-mail: info.naples@fco.gov.uk

VisitBritain tourist office
Web: www.visitbritain.com (in Italian) – E-mail: informazioni@visitbritain.org

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

Italian Embassy
14, Three Kings Yard, London W1K 4EH – Tel. 0044 20 73122200 – Fax 004420 73122230 – Web: www.amblondra.esteri.it – E-mail: ambasciata.londra@esteri.it

Consulates
32 Melville Street, Edinburgh EH3 7HA – Tel. 0044 131 2203695 – Fax 0044 1312266260– E-mail: consolato.edimburgo@esteri.it

38Harp House, 83-86 Farringdon St – London EC4A 4 BL – Tel. 0044 20 79365900 – Fax 0044 20 75839425 – E-mail: consolato.londra@esteri.it