Travellers' Information

Banking

The majority of banks are open Mon-Fri 0900-1700 with some city centre offices open Saturday morning. Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are widely available throughout the area and most are linked to Cirrus, Maestro or Plus international money systems. Visitors are advised to check with their local bank prior to travelling.

Bureau de Change

Bureau de Change facilities can be found at the airports, train stations, most city centre banks, Tourist Information Centres and travel outlets. Glasgow, Abington and Hamilton Tourist Information Centres operate Bureau de Change and Western Union Money Transfer Services.

Credit Cards

Most hotels, restaurants and shops in Scotland accept major credit cards such as VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club and JCB.

Currency

British currency is pound sterling (£) and is made up of 100 pence (p). Several Scottish banks issue their own notes in denominations of £5, £10, £20, £50 & £100, which are legal tender in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Bank of England and Northern Ireland banknotes are also legal tender in Scotland. Coins come in denominations of 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 & £2.

Customs and Duty Free

For information regarding customs and duty free allowances, please visit HM Customs and Excise.

Driving in the UK

The UK drives on the left hand side of the road. To drive in the UK, you require a current driving licence. A foreign licence is valid in the UK for up to 12 months. It is compulsory to wear seat belts in the front seat and if your car has seat belts in the back, they must also be worn. If travelling with your own car you must be properly insured and it is advisable to check your policy prior to your journey. For additional information on driving in the UK, maps, travel insurance or road service, contact the Automobile Association or the RAC (Royal Automobile Club) and for up to date traffic and roadworks information see the NADICS - National Driver Information web site.

Electricity

The standard voltage in Scotland is 240V AC, 50Hz. North American appliances need a transformer and an adapter; Asian / Australian appliances need only an adaptor. Plugs have 3 square pins and adapters are widely available.

Embassies & Consulates

Foreign embassies can assist travellers with lost or stolen passports and provide assistance in emergencies. Information is available here for European Union Embassies in the UK

Emergency Services

For Police, Fire Brigade, Ambulance and in some areas, Mountain Rescue or Coastguard, dial 999.

Health Care

EU citizens are entitled to free or reduced cost medical treatment at National Health Service hospitals. With the exception of accident and emergency treatment, all non-EU members will be charged for medical treatment and must have adequate health insurance when travelling.

Information for the Disabled

For details of access and facilities available please contact any Tourist Information Centre or visit www.glasgowaccesspanel.org.uk

Newspapers on the Internet

• The Herald
• The Sunday Herald
• The Scotsman
• Evening Times
• Daily Record
• Sunday Mail

Postal Services

Most post offices are open Mon-Fri 0900-1730 and Saturday 0900-1230 with stamps available from most stationery shops and Tourist Information Centres. Comprehensive details on postal services are available from the Royal Mail. Glasgow's principal post office, at St.Vincent Place, is open Monday -Friday from 0830 - 1745 and on Saturdays from 0900 - 1730

Radio Stations on the Internet

• BBC Radio 1
• BBC Radio 2
• BBC Radio 3
• BBC Radio 4
• BBC Radio 5 Live
• BBC 6 Music
• BBC 7
• BBC World Service
• BBC Scotland
• Clyde 1
• Clyde 2

Smoking

Smoking is restricted in public buildings and on public transport. Most restaurants have a non-smoking section and some are entirely non-smoking establishments. Travellers are advised to check in advance.

Telephone Service

Most public telephones accept coins (10p, 20p, 50p, £1), with a minimum connection charge 20p. An increasing number of kiosks also accept credit cards and offer e-mail and internet access.

Television

There are 5 main terrestrial television stations in central Scotland. BBC1, BBC2, Scottish Television, Channel Four and Channel 5 offer a wide range of programming to suit all tastes. Satellite, Cable and BSkyB are also available in selected hotels.

Time

Time in Scotland is consistent with Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) except from late March to late October when Daylight Saving Time is in effect (clocks are put forward one hour). US Eastern Standard Time is 5 hours behind GMT and Australian Eastern Standard Time is 10 hours ahead of GMT. Most public transport timetables use the 24-hour clock.

Tipping

There are no hard and fast rules for tipping in Scotland. If you are happy with the service, a 10-15% tip is customary, particularly in a restaurant or café with table service. Tipping in bars is not expected. For taxi fares it is usual to round up to the nearest pound (£).

Travel Insurance

It is strongly recommended that visitors to the UK arrange travel insurance to cover the loss of possessions and money as well as health and dental treatment.

Vaccinations

No vaccinations are required prior to visiting Scotland.

Value-Added Tax (VAT)

All purchases in Britain, with the exception of food and books, are subject to VAT, which increases the cost of an item by 17.5%. Normally, the prices displayed in shops have already included VAT so that you will pay exactly the displayed amount.

Visitors from non-EU countries can claim a refund of VAT from selected shops on goods to be taken out of the country under the Retail Export Scheme. For information on the scheme, please visit HM Customs and Excise.

Visas

EU members may travel and work in the UK with no visa requirement. Citizens from the USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand do not require a visa to visit the UK but are prohibited from work. Citizens from other countries require a visa which can be obtained from their nearest British Consular office. For additional information on UK immigration and visa requirements visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office web site.

Weights & Measures

The United Kingdom now uses the metric system for weights and measures, however non-metric equivalents are still widely used. For example many distances are still shown in miles and speed limits are in miles per hour. Food, drink and petrol are sold in metric measures.