The Empire on which the sun never sets, or at least that’s what the United Kingdom was once was when it covered almost a quarter of the globe and housed over a quarter of the world’s population. The UK has made an enormous impact on the world being the precursor of the US and making its own language the most popular and recognized in the world. When visiting the country there are many incredible sights to see and places to visit. London itself holds a massive amount of attractions among which are the Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Big Ben, the London eye and many more. The UK is one of the most visited countries in the world however there are certain hazards and important information which should concern every visitor.

Traveling info

All visitors traveling to the UK must have a valid passport. The citizens of EU, however, are only required to provide optionally either their passport or a valid ID card from their country of origin. There are no visa requirements for citizens of the EU however other nationals depending on the country of their origin may be required to obtain a visa prior to travel. The official United Kingdom website provides an online check whether you will be required to obtain a visa depending on your purpose of travel. (link in sources). Tourists who decide to drive in the UK will be required to have their valid domestic driving permit and their passport or ID card with them whilst driving. Although an International driving permit is not a requirement, it is advised to obtain such a document is the domestic driving permit is written in non-Roman scripture. The left-hand side of the road is used for driving in the UK.

Traveling hazards

Road conditions in the UK are excellent, with proper markings, signage and great maintenance work however many roads in urban centers may be narrow and heavily congested. This particularly applies parts of large cities such as London and its metropolitan area. Driving is generally safe, the UK has some of the lowest road fatalities in the world, however, driving on the left in heavy traffic might be confusing and risky for tourists. The UK provides a cheap and extensive alternative in the form of public communications such as buses, the underground in London, trains, and flights. Although the British roads are safe rural roads may be a bit riskier with farm animals often wandering onto the road both during the day and night creating potential hazards for oncoming and unsuspecting drivers.

Environmental hazards

There is no dangerous land roaming creatures on the British Isles with the exception of the common European viper. The viper is venomous and has a venom potent enough to kill humans however fatalities are rare and occur only if medical help was not sought after a bite. Waters both coastal and inland are generally safe and swimming is mostly trouble-free. Rivers, lakes and other water sources near large urban areas, particularly London are heavily littered with dangerous waste like sharp metals, wires, and chemical waste. It is advised to avoid swimming in such places and to make sure that upon choosing our swimming destination inland that it is clear. Although coastal waters are much cleaner there are different kinds of hazards present there. Strong currents and dangerous fish such as sharks create a risk of falling a victim of any of them. Strong currents may even carry an experienced swimmer away quite quickly. Shark attacks are rare however there are records of fatal incidents involving these giants, therefore, it is advised to avoid swimming out far or on unguarded beaches. Swimming after dusk is also discouraged as during that time these creatures are most active.
The UK does not experience any earthquakes nor does it have any active volcanoes. Floods, however, pose a serious threat to people and often happen. Intensive rain and storms plague Britain and greatly damage infrastructure in parts of the country.

Health hazards

There is currently an outbreak of Measles in the United Kingdom. Although this is not a requirement the routine vaccines aka MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) will protect against Measles and are strongly recommended if traveling to the UK. There are other vaccinations which are also optional. These are the hepatitis A and B and rabies vaccine. British healthcare is among the best in the world. Both public and private facilities provide excellent quality of service and short waiting times. Whilst public healthcare is free for the citizens of the UK, the expats will be required to have health insurance in order to avoid costly services. The citizens of countries within the EU including Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein may use their EHIC (European health insurance card) to cover their medical services in the UK.
In case of an emergency dial 112.

Crime

Safety within the United Kingdom varies. Certain parts of large cities see increased levels of violent crime whereas others only experience a petty crime are free of it. Poverty stricken parts of London, Birmingham, Manchester, Swansea or Glasgow turn into no-go zones after dusk. It is strongly advised to stick to tourist areas only in these cities at night. Most tourist visits are trouble-free however petty crime such as pickpocketing, bag snatching or theft of unattended goods is common and particularly targets tourists. To stay safe it is advised to avoid wearing flashy jewelry and to be discreet with money. Wearing money belts will help to prevent pickpockets from stealing and to keep money out of sight. Wandering out at night in secluded places is dangerous and should be avoided. It is best to move around in a taxi at night or a rental vehicle. Terrorism in the UK is currently a real threat. Muslim terrorism is on the increase in the past decades causing many deaths and more injuries to hundreds of British citizens in recent years. The British police and army have increased precautions in order to stop any further terrorism from happening.

Summary

The UK should certainly be a place to visit. There are some incredible ancient sites such as the Stonehenge or Hadrian’s wall accompanied by incredible natural wonders like the White Cliffs of Dover. All of these and the incredible local culture, cuisine, and architecture to be seen only on the British isles await for visitors to discover. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa requirement check)
https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/united-kingdom
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/watch/measles-england
(Dangerous places in the UK)
https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/property/778970/crime-report-residential-street