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 can be used in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Bank of England and Northern Ireland banknotes are 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, and your rights when entering Britain, HM Customs and Excise website: http://www.hmce.gov.uk/ 
Especially cigarettes (ca 5 pounds a packet of 20) and alcohol including Scottish whisky, but in general everything is much more expensive as on the continent and should be imported in as large quantities as possible.

Driving In The UK
The UK drives on the left hand side of the road. To drive in the UK, you require to have a current driving licence. A foreign licence is valid in the UK for up to 12 months. It is compulsory to wear seat belts. If travelling with your own car you must be insured and it is advisable to check your policy prior to your journey.

Electricity
The standard voltage in Scotland is 240V AC, 50Hz. North American appliances need a transformer and an adapter; Australasian appliances need only an adaptor. Plugs have 3 square pins and adapters are available, particularly in Tourist Information and hardware/diy stores.

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 http://www.glasgowaccesspanel.org.uk .

Postal Services
Most post offices are open Mon-Fri 0900-1730 (Wed 0900-1230) 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.

Opening Times
Many shops have also opened on sundays especially food shops. Local newsagents are usually open from 7 am till 9 pm daily including sundays, supermarkets can vary from about 8 am/9 am till about 9pm, with shorter opening times on sundays, some are now even open 24 hours a day. Usually regular shops are still open 9 am till 6pm monday till saturday.

Quarantine Regulations
Unless you want to stay in Britain for over a year, it is still advisable to leave your dog at home. Although the quarantine has been abolished, strict regulations are still in place. Please visit http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/index.htm for comprehensive information on British quarantine regulations.


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.

Telephone Service
Most public telephones accept coins (10p, 20p, 50p, £1), with a minimum connection charge 30p. An increasing number of kiosks also accept credit cards and offer e-mail and internet access. 
The cheapest alternative is to get a international calling card or telephone card from a newsagent or from the post office. 
 

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 (£). 


Videos
The UK uses the Phase Alternative Line (PAL) system for videos. 

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 http://www.fco.gov.uk/ .

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. Food, drink and petrol are sold in metric measures.