- Emergencies
- 999. 999 or 112 reaches police, ambulance, fire and coastguard from any phone. For urgent but not life-threatening health problems, call 111 (NHS) for advice.
- Tipping
- Not expected in pubs or cafés. In restaurants with table service about 10–12.5% is usual, and it's often already on the bill as a 'service charge'; check before adding more. No cover charge. Tap water is free in restaurants and pubs if you ask. In pubs you order and pay at the bar.
- Cards and cash
- Contactless cards and phones work almost everywhere, and some places are card-only. London's buses take no cash: tap a card or phone. Pounds sterling (£). Bank ATMs ('cashpoints') are usually free. Pay in pounds when a card machine offers your home currency.
- Phone
- An eSIM bought before you go is usually the cheapest data; check that a 'Europe' plan includes the UK, as some don't. EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three sell prepaid SIMs in their shops, supermarkets and at airports; you usually don't need ID. UK SIMs may charge for roaming in the EU (check).
- Plugs
- Type G, 230 V. Three square pins (Type G), the same as Ireland. Australian and NZ plugs are Type I, so bring an adapter.
- Tourist tax
- No national tourist tax. Edinburgh adds a 5% visitor levy on beds from July 2026, for up to 5 nights, and a few cities add about £1–2 a night through hotels (check).
- Big museums are free
- The British Museum, National Gallery, Natural History Museum and Tate Modern in London, and national museums in Edinburgh and Liverpool, are free; donations are welcome and special exhibitions cost.
- Book trains ahead
- Long-distance trains are far cheaper booked weeks ahead ('Advance' fares) or off-peak; on-the-day fares can be very dear. A 16–25 or 26–30 Railcard cuts a third off (check National Rail).
- Tap in, tap out in London
- Tap the same card or phone on the Tube, buses and trains: daily and weekly caps make it cheaper than paper tickets. Tap out on the Tube, or you pay the maximum fare.
- Pubs
- Order and pay at the bar; most pubs have no table service. Kitchens often stop serving food by about 9pm, earlier on Sundays.
