The sun may have set, but England's dusk is full of stars.
England's climate is mild and damp, with temperatures moderated by the light winds that blow in off its relatively warm seas. Temperatures inland don't get much below freezing in winter (December to February), or much above 30°C (86°F) in summer (June to August). The north is the coldest area; London, the southeast and the West Country are the warmest. Rainfall is greatest in hilly areas and in the West Country. You can expect cloudy weather and light drizzle in any part of England at any time. Aside from the more obvious tendency of temperatures in the south to be a bit warmer than the north there is also some lateral variation in weather. The west is usually cloudier, wetter, warmer in summer and colder in winter than the east.
To call England from abroad, dial your country's international access code, then 44 (the UK's country code), then the area code (missing out the initial 0).
England's famous red phone boxes can still be seen in city streets and especially in conservation areas, although soulless glass cubicles are more common these days. Either way, public phones accept coins, and usually credit cards. Minimum charge is GBP 0.20 .
Codes or numbers starting with 0500 or 0800 are free; 0845 is local-call rate; 087 is national-call rate; 089 or 09 is premium rate. Codes for mobile phones usually start with 07 and are, obviously, more expensive than calling a land line.
For the operator call 100, and to make reverse-charge (collect) calls dial 155 for the international operator.
The United Kingdom uses the tiny United Kingdom phone jack, which has a clip-in branch that protrudes at a right angle from its square plastic receptacle base.
GSM Coverage is comprehensive across the six main providers in England, though this system is not compatible with the North American GSM 1900 or the totally different system in Japan (though many North Americans have GSM 1900/900 phones that do work in England - check with your provider). Feverish competition means users have a wealth of choices in the UK though charges are relatively high compared to other European countries. You can also rent a phone from various companies from around GBP 20.00 per week, depending on the hire period. In this case, however, you can't use your existing number.
Notes come in denominations of GBP 5.00 , GBP 10.00 , GBP 20.00 and GBP 50.00
Coins come in denominations of 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, GBP 1.00 and GBP 2.00
If you eat in an English restaurant you should leave a tip of at least 10% unless the service was unsatisfactory. Waiting staff are often paid derisory wages on the assumption that the money will be supplemented by tips. Some restaurants include a service charge on the bill, in which case a gratuity is unnecessary. Taxi drivers expect to be tipped about 10%, especially in London. You never tip to have a pint poured in a pub. However, at swank cocktail bars a 10% tip is expected.
Can Mickey's magic tame toddler tantrums? All is revealed in our recent trip to Disneyland Paris
Discover whale-watching, bear spotting and extreme mountain-biking with the Winter Olympics hosts