Another note... soon to come to this entry, details on my March 2001 trip to the U.K. (Manchester and London). Stay tuned.

Alright, I have not really been to the UK. Technically, I have, in the form of transiting Heathrow Airport, but I never did leave the airport. I am currently planning a trip there this winter however.

Essential Facts

The national language is English, though scattered pockets of the ancient Celtic languages (Gaelic, Welsh, Scottish, Manx, Cornish, etc.) still exist, if rarely. While the British are otherwise happy members of the European Union, they refuse to give up and adopt the Euro; until they do, the Pound continues (1 USD is about �0.65). The country as a whole, especially London, is expensive. Don't expect to be able to get by on less then $60-70 a day. At least getting the money you need isn't a problem, with Cirrus/MasterCard ATMs are prevalent.

Getting there and away

The island location that has protected them from invasion since 1066.

London is one of the major travel hubs of the world. No matter which form of transportation and your destination, you can probably reach it from London. With the opening of the Chunnel to the mainland, England even enjoys a direct land connection with the rest of the Europe, albeit an expensive one.