Tourist Information
Great Britain, composed of the ancient nations of England, Scotland and Wales, is an extraordinary place, and is proud of its prestigious history and rich heritage. Forget the Great Britain of the past - little old ladies sipping tea, warm beer and a shocking quality of food and restaurants, Britain today represents a fabulously multi-cultural, vibrant and dynamic society and one which is at the cutting edge in the fields of art, music and fashion. We’ve also had a gastronomic revolution!

However long your trip to the United Kingdom lasts, the capital of London is a must-see, even for a brief visit, for its wealth of museums, art galleries, markets, music, nightlife and general vitality. You'll certainly be kept busy by the masses of things to do whilst you’re here and in fact most people find that one trip is never enough as some museums and galleries in particular take days to appreciate fully.

The provincial towns and cities outside of London have also had somewhat of a revolution, and places such as Liverpool and Newcastle are regenerated centres of culture, vigour and interest. This isn’t to forget the more traditional and nostalgic cities of Oxford, Cambridge and Bath where the scope of things to do and see is endless and one can soak in the atmosphere of architectural, cultural and historical treasures.

Lastly, wherever you are, you are never far away from some of Britain’s most beautifully conserved and treasured countryside with its stately homes and National Parks. Over 3000 stately homes, gardens and countryside areas in England are cared for by the National Trust www.nationaltrust.org.uk, and English Heritage www.english-heritage.org.uk manages hundreds of monuments and sights around England, including Stonehenge. 185,000 acres of beautiful countryside are cared for by the National Trust for Scotland www.nts.org.uk and Historic Scotland www.historic-scotland.gov.uk manages more than 330 of Scotland’s most important castles, monuments and other historic sites.

Whatever you have in mind, it can certainly be said that Great Britain has it all. Please call the office if you would like help or ideas on how to get the best from your holiday.


Sightseeing and Tourist Information
Whether in London or the Great British countryside, booking ahead in places that allow you to do so is often a good idea, particularly in summer and at the weekend, when you'll find yourself competing with the locals. Whilst London and the major cities don’t have a tourist season as such - meaning that visiting in the autumn and winter months are an excellent alternative – it can be said that the high season for tourism runs from April until October, when most attractions are open and summer festivities are organized in almost every town and village. For the best choice of accommodation in both central London and the countryside, book well in advance.

A Bulldog Club Welcome Pack will be waiting for you on arrival at your Bulldog home. This contains information on what to do locally, as well as a local map. Your Bulldog host will also be delighted to answer any questions, and if you purchase an A-Z streetmap when you arrive (for travellers to London), you’ll find your way around without any problems.


London
For more information, visit the Britain Visitor Centre, 1 Lower Regent Street, Piccadilly, London, SW1.

The London Travel Centre is an excellent service provided for tourists. It is open every day except for Christmas and is located above St James’ tube station (55 Broadway). Call the information line on 020 7222 1234.

London Pass www.londonpass.com gives you pre-paid access to more than 50 sights and attractions and costs from £23 daily per adult, or £27 with a Travelcard thrown in.

A good paper to buy to find out what's going on in London is the Evening Standard, published daily from Monday to Friday. A weekly guide of what’s on is published in the Thursday edition. Time Out magazine, published every Wednesday, has complete listings of What’s on and where.


Countryside
Outside of London there are plenty of Tourist Information Centres staffed by local people who can give you insider information and advice on places and events to visit. TICs are also an excellent source of maps. Please call the office on +44 (0)870 803 4414 to find the nearest Tourist Information Centre to you.


Getting Around
As with most things in central London, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to public transport: Black cabs and mini-cabs are never far away although if you’re trying to find a cab during rush hour on Bond Street you’ll find yourself competing with more people than you bargained for. Buses and the London Underground are extremely reliable options. Please see the London area of the website for more detailed information.

If you’re travelling outside of London, we highly recommend you hire a car to make getting about easier. Many of the Bulldog homes in the countryside are a short journey from the nearest train station.

For information on British Rail and train times please visit www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.thetrainline.co.uk

For good advice on routes and travelling times, go to www.multimap.com and click on Directions.


London airports

If you would like a car to pick you up or drop you off at the airport, please call us on +44 (0)870 803 4414. We’ll need flight details and which Terminal you are due to arrive in. Please pay the driver in cash: taxis in the UK do not accept credit or debit cards.

Heathrow www.heathrowairport.com
1. A car/taxi from Heathrow to central London takes up to an hour, although a lot less if outside of rush hour. Costs approximately £40.00.

2. Heathrow Express www.heathrowexpress.co.uk . Departing every 15 minutes, travel time to Paddington Station is 15 minutes and there is plenty of luggage space. From Paddington you can either take a black cab or the tube to your destination. Tickets costs £25 per person; valid for one month. Very reliable.

3. London Underground: Heathrow is on the Piccadilly line and travel by tube is the cheapest option at approximately £5 per person. Travel to central London is approximately 50 minutes, and you may have to change which, taking luggage and rush hour into account, might not be the best way to start or end a holiday.

Gatwick www.gatwickairport.com
1. A car/taxi to Gatwick is about an hour’s drive from central London and costs around £60.00, depending on your final destination.

2. The Gatwick Express www.gatwickexpress.co.uk : departs/arrives Victoria station on the Circle, District and Victoria lines. Trains leave every 15 minutes; travel time 30 minutes. Return ticket costs £24.00 per person.

3. Airbus A5 operates hourly to/from Victoria Coach Station. For futer information call the Airport Travel Line T: 0990 747 777.

Luton www.london-luton.co.uk
1. A car/taxi to central London will take around 50 minutes and costs around £60.

2. Thameslink trains www.thameslink.co.uk leave from London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon and King’s Cross stations to Luton Airport Parkway station; a free shuyttle bus service operates between the station and the airport terminal. The Thameslink station at King’s Cross is about 100 yards east of the main station, along the Pentonville Road.

3. Green Line coaches www.greenline.co.uk run to and from Victoria Coach Station, Hyde Park Corner, Marble Arch, George Street and Baker Street in central London.

Stansted www.stanstedairport.com
1. A car/taxi will take around 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

2. The Stansted Express www.stanstedexpress.com ; departs/arrives Liverpool Street on the Central, District, Hammersmith and Metropolitan lines. Trains leave every 15 or 30 minutes; travel time is 45 minutes. A return ticket costs £24.00; valid for 30 days.

3. Airbus A6 runs every hour from Victoria Coach Station, Hyde Park Corner, Marble Arch and Baker Street. Airbus A7 also runs an hourly service from Victoria Coach Station, Embankment and Aldgate. The journey takes around 1 hour 30 minutes.


Visas
Visa regulations are subject to change, so check with your local British embassy, high commission or consulate before leaving. Everyone needs a passport to enter.
The Foreign Office’s website www.fco.gov.uk provides details of visa requirements.


Money and the Exchange Rate
The British currency is the pound sterling (£), divided into 100 pence (p).
For a quick and approximate guide to how much you’re getting for your money, go to www.xe.com and click on Currency Converter.
For local News, click on www.bbc.co.uk


Insurance
We strongly advise that guests take out personal holiday Insurance before travelling. A good insurance policy should cover you in case of theft, loss of possessions or money, the cost of any medical or dental treatment, cancellation of flights, delays in travel arrangements, accidents, missed departures, lost baggage, lost passport and personal liability, accommodation costs and legal expenses.

Check whether your credit card or home insurance company already offer overseas travel within your policy.


Climate
The British climate is notoriously unpredictable and trying to predict the weather is often a thankless task. May to September are the warmest months, but you can expect rain at any time of year, even during the summer.

For local weather reports and for a five day forecast, go to www.bbc.co.uk/weather

Post Office www.postoffice.co.uk
Most Post Offices are open Monday-Friday 9am – 5.30pm and Saturday 9am – 12.30pm.