Britain and Ireland are the two main islands of an archipelago, the British Isles, just northwest of the European mainland. The archipelago also includes many smaller islands, one of which is the British Crown dependency of the Isle of Man. The Channel Islands are also Crown dependencies so they are included here even though they are not geographically part of the archipelago; they lie just off the French coast.

Countries

The United Kingdom and Ireland

United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) From the rolling hills of England, to the deep valleys of Wales, the beautiful glens of Scotland to the wild coastline of Northern Ireland, the former heart of the world's largest empire remains just as magnificent as it was when it ruled the waves, with unmatched history dating to before the Roman conquest and diverse cities offering a seemingly limitless amount of opportunity.

Ireland Ireland is often called the 'Emerald Isle'. It boasts an expansive and fascinating history, with a landscape that never ceases to astound.

The term "Ireland" can refer either to the entire island or to the Republic of Ireland, the part that became independent of Britain in the 1920s. The island includes Northern Ireland, but the Republic does not; Northern Ireland is part of the UK. "Ireland" above refers to the Republic.

Dependencies

Isle of Man A British Crown dependency in the Irish Sea, directly between Great Britain and Ireland.

Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey) A group of British Crown dependencies in the English Channel, located off the coast of Normandy, France. It has many linguistic similarities with Normandy.

Cities

London's skyline

• 1 Belfast — The capital of Northern Ireland and a cultural meeting point between the United Kingdom and Ireland.
• 2 Birmingham — Located in the centre of England, Birmingham is the economic powerhouse of the Midlands. It is the second largest city of Britain and Ireland.
• 3 Cardiff — The capital of Wales, Cardiff is a lively and exciting capital city.
• 4 Dublin — Home of Guinness and Western Roman Catholicism, Ireland's capital is more than just a pretty face.
• 5 Edinburgh — Sometimes referred to as 'the Athens of the North', Edinburgh is Scotland's capital.
• 6 Glasgow — The biggest city in Scotland, 40 miles west from Edinburgh and gateway to the western glens and lochs.
• 7 Liverpool — Home of the Scouse, The Beatles and the Three Graces
• 8 London — A truly iconic, global city, the UK's capital buzzes with different cultures and a more than two-thousand year history to match.
• 9 Manchester — Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and Birmingham's rival for the title of 'second city', Manchester is a lively, thriving destination.

Other destinations

Giant's Causeway, known for its remarkable basalt columns

• 1 Aran Islands
• 2 Cliffs of Moher
• 3 Giant's Causeway — 40,000 basalt rocks rise spectacularly out of the sea at Northern Ireland's only UNESCO site
• 4 Gower Peninsula — a picturesque corner of south west Wales, perfect for bracing walks along the coast
• 5 Isle of Arran — "Scotland in miniature" packs in mountain, sea, beach and forest and a geologically diverse terrain
• 6 Lake District National Park
• 7 Loch Ness — Scotland's most heroic of lochs, this northerly one is said to be home of the ferocious Loch Ness Monster.
• 8 Pembrokeshire — Britain's only Coastal National Park
• 9 Snowdonia National Park
• 10 Stonehenge — Located on Salisbury Plain in southern England, Stonehenge is a place of pilgrimage on the Winter and Summer Solstices.

Understand

Britain and Ireland is one of the most visited regions on the planet. It contains some of the world's most recognisable landmarks, historical sites dating back thousands of years, and unique natural environments. World cities, quaint towns, and remote and isolated areas and islands.

Trains, ferries, planes and roads connect the region together. English speaking visitors are guaranteed of being able to communicate everywhere within the region, read any important signs and maps, and get to know the people.

Talk

Wales is home to the town with the world's longest name...

Most people speak English as their first language. However, it may surprise visitors that in some areas English is not the first language used for local communication, but a local Celtic language is preferred. Welsh is the most widely spoken of these and in some parts of Wales it is the most commonly heard language on the street. Irish, Manx, and Scottish Gaelic are closely related Gaelic languages sharing much of the same base vocabulary. Cornish, a language that had lapsed to extinction, is being re-introduced by some enthusiasts in Cornwall. In the Channel Islands, French has co-official status with English, though non-Anglophone islanders are more likely to speak one of three Norman dialects, Jerriais, Guernesiais and Sercquiais. Even in those areas, however, nearly everyone speaks some English and most speak it fluently.

Visitors with reasonable fluency in English should have no difficulty anywhere in the region. There are however strong regional differences in the way English is spoken, and it is not uncommon for a native speaker from one region to have some difficulty in understanding another from a different region - for example a West Country native in Yorkshire, or a Londoner in Glasgow. This actually makes it easier for a non-native speaker to get by, as most people are used to decoding English spoken in many different ways. Do not be embarrassed if you cannot understand someone, or they cannot understand you, as even native speakers have this problem from time to time!

The vast majority of official signs are in English. In some areas, English is accompanied by a local language: Irish in the Republic of Ireland, Scottish Gaelic in the Highlands and Hebrides, and Welsh in Wales. In these areas the prominent print on a road sign may be in the local language, with the English equivalent below or in smaller print or (as in the case of the Gaeltacht regions of Ireland) not at all. Foreign languages are largely absent from official signage, the exception being around some port areas where signage may be in French, German and Spanish.

The British Isles have attracted a good deal of immigration creating sizeable communities from all over the world, and it is common to hear other languages in the cities.

Get in

Heathrow airport, one of the world's busiest

Visitors may find more useful information in the "Get in" sections of the specific part of the region they wish to enter.

Immigration and visa requirements

There are five separate jurisdictions with their own immigration rules in this region: UK, Ireland, Isle of Man, and the two bailiwicks of the Channel Islands. They still comprise a Common Travel Area with considerable co-operation and co-ordination among the various authorities, which helps the vast majority of travellers enjoy hassle-free travel when crossing borders. A visa to one of the jurisdictions is usually valid in all of them. The details mainly concern long-term residents, but travellers may wish to check the requirements for the specific jurisdictions.

The region does not belong to the Schengen area, but EU and EEA citizens do not need visas for short time stays as tourists. Working permits are needed on the Channel Islands and on the Isle of Man.

By plane

See also: Flying in Europe

The British Isles is home to many of Europe's largest no-frills airlines, like the Irish Ryanair

There are external direct flights to every constituent part of this region except to the Isle of Man.

The largest port of entry to this region is London Heathrow Airport. Situated 15 miles west of Central London, Heathrow offers a large choice of international destinations, with direct flights to most countries in the world. Many onward air connections within the region are possible. Coach connections to other places in mainland Great Britain are generally good. Rail connections from Heathrow to London are good; however, there being no direct services to other parts of Great Britain, a change of train will be necessary in London or possibly at Reading Station, which is served by a regular shuttle coach.

Heathrow's location in the far South East of the region means that many travellers to other parts of these islands may be better off getting a direct flight to the specific area in which they are interested. However, from some parts of the world Heathrow, may be the only realistic option, to get into the region, and further arrangements for onward travel would then be required.

Other airports such as Birmingham, Dublin, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle and Shannon have both long haul flights and flights to European cities.

By train

The Channel tunnel connects England to France, and there are frequent trains transporting both passengers and cars.

By boat

The traditional way of getting to the British Isles. See Ferries to the British mainland for more information.

Get around

The Common Travel Area

Crossing between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland is often hardly noticeable

The United Kingdom, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands maintain a common travel area, somewhat akin to the Schengen Area on continental Europe. Broadly speaking, crossing the borders is very simple compared with most other international borders.

Ireland and the United Kingdom have been separate countries for many decades, but for the most part both have found it beneficial to maintain relatively open borders. However, because of the way it has developed over the years, the Common Travel Area arrangement is not as formalised as other similar arrangements (such as the Schengen Area), and so the exact rules can be quite complex for some third country nationals.

• Nationals of a "Common Travel Area" country can travel to any of the others without a passport but can be asked to provide identity documents.
• Citizens of the European Economic Area have the right to travel between the two countries and they require a national ID card or a passport.
• Visitors from other countries that do not require a visa and have been checked through immigration in one part of the area (e.g. England) would not normally have to go through immigration procedures when continuing a journey to another part of the area (e.g. Ireland) but must carry a valid passport.
• Visitors from a country needing a visa to enter one Common Travel Area country may need to apply for a visa to enter the other. Whilst both countries have very similar visa rules, it is important to remember that unlike the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom and Ireland maintain separate visa systems.

In general, if you have a passport or EU national identification card, you can avoid any hassles by carrying it, and using it for identification. Also check the identification requirements of any airline or ferry you may be taking.

Buy

The Pound Sterling (£) is the currency of the United Kingdom and its Crown Dependencies. The Euro (€) is the currency of Ireland. With very limited exceptions, neither currency is accepted outside their territories within this region. Travellers should therefore be aware to have Sterling and or Euro as appropriate to their travel plans.

United Kingdom and Crown Dependencies

Sterling is the local currency. Euro is accepted in certain border areas; for example, near the land border with Ireland or in certain businesses near ferry terminals serving Ireland.

Banknotes

Separate ATMs for mainland UK and Jersey Pound Sterling notes

In the United Kingdom, the vast majority of banknotes are issued by the Bank of England. Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Crown Dependencies each also have local banknotes. All are in pounds sterling.

Bank of England notes will always be accepted without problems throughout all the areas that use pounds sterling. The minority notes are also generally easy to spend, though may not always be accepted outside their own region. Any bank will exchange minority banknotes for either Bank of England or the local regional notes (e.g. in Scotland, Scottish notes) free of charge.

Minority pounds sterling notes should be changed into Bank of England notes before a traveler leaves the UK or Crown Dependencies as they may be difficult to change in other countries. The exception being that Northern Ireland sterling notes can be easily changed to euros in Ireland.

Large denomination banknotes (50 and above) are not always accepted in shops, especially for small purchases. Any bank will change them into smaller denominations.

Coins

Coins in the United Kingdom follow standard designs, so England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have no regional variations.

The Crown Dependencies and other Overseas territories (e.g. Falkland Islands and Gibraltar) issue local designs that generally circulate only in their respective territory. These coins conform to the same weight, size, thickness and alloy of the mainland UK coins making them in effect just quirky versions of the regular coins. While not strictly legal tender only the most hidebound retailer will refuse them. Banks will exchange them if need be but this is likely unnecessary given their general acceptance, particularly by vending machines!

Ireland

Only the Euro is legal tender. Sterling may be accepted in certain border locations, for example in ferry ports or near the Northern Ireland land border. Both currencies are usually accepted on board the train (e.g. in the dining car) throughout its journey between Dublin and Belfast. Euro banknotes have no regional variations. Euro coins' reverse sides (tails) are unvarying by region. Their obverse sides (heads) carry a member state's national symbol. This does not affect their validity throughout the eurozone. Coin spotters may be interested to know that Ireland's relative isolation from the rest of the eurozone makes it likely to have less diversity among its coins' obverse symbols than, for example, Luxembourg.

See

United Kingdom

Salisbury cathedral

Although most visitors will probably visit London at some point, it is well worth getting out of the capital to get a real taste of the region. The UK is a small country with a surprisingly diverse range of attractions, all within a relatively short distance of each other.

For some of the best countryside, head for the National Parks such as the Yorkshire Dales or Dartmoor for a shorter trip, For a longer stay, Scotland has some of the most accessible wilderness in Europe.

With the country being an island, there's plenty of coast to visit, and lots of variety too, whether you're after the pretty beaches at places such as the artist's colony at St Ives, seaside resorts such as Blackpool and Bournemouth, or the wild and untamed coastline of western Scotland, there is something there for every taste.

There's a wealth of historical sites in the United Kingdom - so many that it would be impossible to list them here. Virtually every city, town and village in the UK has a unique and usually interesting history, from the medieval castles and ancient universities of Durham and Cardiff, to the Roman history of Chester and York, there is something for everyone. There is Skara Brae on the Orkney Islands which are a must see for all of the history boffins

Shoppers looking beyond the capital may want to head to Manchester and Liverpool in the North, Bristol and Exeter in the West or Glasgow and Edinburgh in Scotland.

The United Kingdom was the cradle of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries. While most industries have been closed down, much of Industrial Britain remains to be seen in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. While Ireland has had few industries, Irish migrant workers contributed to the industrialization of the UK.

Ireland

Cliffs of Moher

Dublin, the obvious centre, capital and primate city of Ireland, is a must-see and one of a very limited means of entry to Ireland via Dublin Airport and Port. Being inhabited since as a Viking settlement in the 9th century AD and later widely a Viking one until the Norman Invasion of Ireland in 1169, various cultural signs of inhabitance thrive throughout the city.

Shopping centres such as Dundrum, Liffey Valley and Blanchardstown provide locations for shopping, whilst streets such Grafton Street and Henry Street are the places to go.

Croke Park is the largest stadium in Ireland and fourth largest in Europe, with a capacity of 82,300 and is a magnificent tourist destination and a must for anyone interested in sports and a great place to experience national sports such as hurling and Gaelic football. Other sporting centres include the Aviva Stadium and the RDS Arena.

Entertainment is a core source of economy and class in the Dublin region. Dublin, having a vibrant youth life of around 50% of people being under 25, provide young and old with great fun in the pubs of St. Stephens Green, Grafton Street and the obvious Temple Bar region, the heart of entertainment in Ireland and Dublin.

Outside of Dublin, Ireland has all sorts of beautiful sights and medieval ruins, from the Cliffs of Moher on the coast and the Aran Islands to Blarney Castle and the Rock of Cashel.

Do

The isles have an astounding heritage of folk, classical, and popular music; see Music in Britain and Ireland.

Golf

The game of golf as we understand it developed here, specifically in Scotland. Despite a strong challenge from Iberia in recent decades, Britain and Ireland remain Europe's most important locations for the sport. Indeed, they can make a strong argument to be the world's main golfing destinations.

Whilst Scotland is considered the home of golf and remains a major worldwide golfing destination in its own right, the Scots' Celtic cousins, in Ireland and more recently Wales, are clearly challenging for pre-eminence as premier golfing destinations, both having well established courses and having invested heavily in new courses too. Indeed, both Ireland and Wales have recently hosted the Ryder Cup. England has the largest number of courses, and so clearly should not be overlooked as a golfing destination either even if its Celtic neighbours hit above their weight.

There are unsurprisingly many top class golf courses in all areas as well as good quality courses to suit more modest pockets.

Eat

Fish and chip stalls in Dorset

The stodgy "meat and two veg" on British restaurant menus is almost a thing of the past. In the lower price ranges it has largely been replaced by ethnic foods such as Indian, Chinese and Middle Eastern fare. However, the classic fish and chip shops still exist nationwide, (with the traditional salt and vinegar condiments sometimes being replaced by curry sauce!) as do vendors of dishes such as pie and mash and jellied eels in east London. Predictably, fast food vendors like McDonalds, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken and a few local chains such as oddly named Wimpy have branches almost everywhere.

Convenience food was invented for the Earl of Sandwich in England many years ago and the tradition continues to this day. Cornish pasties, (seasoned meat and vegetables cooked in a pastry envelope) are popular in the Southwest, and pork pies, whole or by the slice can be found nationwide. In Scottish cities hot baked potatoes are sold by street vendors. Many local areas are famous for their specialties, Devonshire clotted cream, Cheddar cheese, Yorkshire pudding, Dungeness crab and Dover sole are familiar examples.

Most pubs have a bar menu of basic food such as a Ploughman's Lunch, crisp bread and cheese, often served with pickled onions and washed down with a cool glass of best bitter ale. That can certainly hit the spot on a hot summer's day! Many pubs now also have restaurants where the food can vary from mundane to gourmet. There are several steakhouse chains such as Angus and Outback but the standard size steaks served are much smaller than in say, Dallas, Texas.

British cuisine today is as varied as its people. Curries first came from India when it was part of the Empire but are now found everywhere thanks to immigration from East Africa, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. French cuisine is also now more popular, no doubt helped by Britain's entry into the European Economic Community in 1973.

In most towns and cities, Italian, Greek, Persian, Polish, Russian, Spanish and even Mexican restaurants can also be found. Off the beaten track however, the basic British café or greasy spoon snack bar is often all that's available to the hungry traveler. Don't be surprised, however, to find decent Szechuan cuisine in an English village miles from nowhere.

Drink

The Pub

The pub Ye Olde Man & Scythe in Bolton

The "Pub" (short for "public house") concept has its origins here. They are premises licensed for the sale of alcoholic drinks for consumption on and off the premises. The pub concept is distinct from the broader concept of a "bar". There are similarities shared by "pubs" throughout Britain and Ireland not shared with other sorts of drinking establishments elsewhere, though the Irish Pub experience can be very distinct from the pub experience of elsewhere in these islands. Chain pubs are ubiquitous, but venturing into an independent is likely to produce a wealth of regional beers and ciders, and an interesting collection of spirits, depending on the landlord's passion.

In almost all pubs, you need to order drinks (and food) at the bar. Waiter / waitress service at your table is rare. Gastropubs have really taken off, serving good quality seasonal British traditional food (and always gourmet burgers) in a family friendly environment, usually with table service, and a good range of alcohol.

Although the pub scene has improved markedly in recent years, the visitor would be well warned to avoid certain pubs in city centre locations, often adjacent to night clubs, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, especially in provincial towns. There is a problem throughout the country of young people getting exceedingly drunk, aggressive, and very unpleasant on these evenings. Pubs, like clubs, have been forced to employ bouncers, or door staff, to try to combat this problem but it is common for large street brawls to erupt on any evening when the pubs or clubs close for the night. A certain amount of streetwise is needed, and visitors might be vulnerable. Your hotel staff will know which areas for you to avoid.

The Coffee Shop

All the international chains of coffee emporiums are to be found in most towns and cities. There is however a significant popular backlash against these, and the visitor can find many independent establishments where the service and excellence of product will surprise and please. These later establishments also offer the best of British baking in the choices and inventiveness of cakes and pastries.

Whisky (Whiskey)

Tullamore Dew, an Irish whiskey you can encounter all over the world

Distilled spirits have been drunk on these islands for millennia. Whisky (or whiskey in Ireland) is produced predominantly in Ireland and Scotland. There are, however, also Welsh and English whiskies.

Gin (and tonic!)

An English classic, with dozens of luxury brands available. Forget Gordon's mass-produced spirit with cheap tonic from the pump, for the real thing try a proper British made gin such as Chase (made in Herefordshire from apples), Hendricks with cucumber, Adnams, or one of many others from small family run distilleries, with a high quality botanical tonic water.

Stay safe

Traffic drives on the left throughout this region. In the United Kingdom, and its Crown Dependencies, speed limits are expressed in miles per hour. In Ireland speed limits are expressed in kilometres per hour.

Go next

The obvious next stop after this region is continental Europe. There are flights from the major airports of the region to almost any major European city, and many are quite cheap; see Discount airlines in Europe.

There is also a train service via the Channel Tunnel and many ferries; see the "get in" sections of France, Belgium and Netherlands for details.