Also known as United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, U K, G B, Great Britain, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the UK, the United Kingdom
歐洲西部的島國
The United Kingdom is a country in northwestern Europe comprising England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with over 69 million people and a capital in London. It matters as a major European nation that controls substantial territory and populations across multiple constituent regions, each with their own national capitals and governance structures.
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Made up of four home countries, the United Kingdom comprises an area of 243,610 km². As an island country, it offers a wide range of history, shared culture, pulse of vibrating cities, and miles of stunning countryside.
340px|thumb|Countries in dark green have visa free travel to the UK. Countries in grey will require a visa for travel into the UK.
England is connected to France by the Channel Tunnel. Northern Ireland shares a land border with the Republic of Ireland.
The UK is not a member of the European Union or the Schengen Agreement, which means that travel to and from EU countries (except Ireland) involves systematic passport checks at the border and separate visa requirements. A Schengen visa does not allow entry to the UK, so if required for your nationality, you will need to obtain a separate UK visa. Entering the UK from a Schengen country will invalidate a single entry Schengen visa.
British overseas territories have their own separate visa requirements, which are covered in their respective articles. Visas for the UK are generally not valid for visits to British overseas territories, and you will need to obtain separate visas for them from a British diplomatic mission. Also, do not assume that just because you do not need a visa for the UK, you will not need a visa for the specific British overseas territory you wish to visit.
Most passengers travelling to the UK from outside Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man go through systematic passport and selective customs checks carried out by the United Kingdom Border Force (UKBF) on arrival in the UK. However, juxtaposed controls exist for some cross-Channel services. Passengers travelling by Eurostar from Paris, Lille,…
For Northern Ireland, see Rail travel in Ireland
Ukrainian Displaced Persons Travel Scheme provides free rail travel for Ukrainian nationals for their first 48 hours in the UK. thumb|Trains at [[London Paddington, one of Great Britain's busiest stations]] Train travel is very popular in Britain, as Britain invented it—you'll find many services busy, and passenger numbers have been rising steadily. It is one of the fastest, most comfortable, convenient and enjoyable ways to explore Britain and by far the best way to travel inter-city. From High Speed 1, which connects London to Kent and mainland Europe, to preserved railways operating historic steam trains through idyllic countryside, to modern inter-city services and the breathtakingly scenic lines of Scotland, Wales and northern England, the train can be an enthralling and affordable way to see much that the UK has to offer.
大不列顛暨北愛爾蘭聯合王國(英語:United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland),簡稱联合王国(英語:United Kingdom,缩写作UK)或不列颠(英語:Britain),漢字文化圈通称英国(此處有争议,詳見;中文早期亦称英联合王国),是本土位於西歐並具有海外領地的主權國家。英國位于歐洲大陸西北面,由大不列颠岛、爱尔兰岛东北部分及一系列较小岛屿组成。英国本土和另一国家唯一的陆上国境线位于北爱尔兰,和爱尔兰共和国相邻。英国由大西洋所环绕,东为北海,南为英吉利海峡,西南偏南为凱爾特海,與爱尔兰隔愛爾蘭海相望。该国总面积达243,610平方公里(94,060平方英里),为世界面积第80大的主权国家及欧洲面积第11大的主权国家,人口約6,636万,为全球第21名及歐洲第3名。 英国为君主立宪制国家,采用议会制进行管辖。其首都伦敦为全球城市A++级别城市和国际金融中心,大都会区人口达1,380万,为欧洲第三大。现任英国君主为國王查爾斯三世,於2022年9月8日即位。英国由四个构成国组成,分别为英格兰、苏格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰,其中后三者在权力下放体系之下,各自拥有一定的权力。三地首府分别为爱丁堡、加的夫和贝尔法斯特。附近的马恩岛、根西行政区及泽西行政区并非联合王国的一部分,而为皇家屬地,英国政府负责其国防及外交事务。 英國的構成國之间的国际关系复杂,在历史上经历了一系列的发展。英格兰王国通过1535年和1542年的联合法令将威尔士纳入领土。1707年联合法令使英格兰王国和苏格兰王国共组大不列顛王國,1801年大不列颠王国和爱尔兰王国共组大不列颠及爱尔兰联合王国。1922年爱尔兰中南部26个郡(面积占整个爱尔兰的约六分之五)脱离英国组成爱尔兰自由邦(当今爱尔兰的前身),最终造就了当今的大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国。大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国亦有14块海外领地,为往日帝国的遗留部分。大英帝国在1921年达到其巅峰,拥有全球26.5%的领土,是有史以来面积最大的帝国。戰後英国列強地位快速沒落,但憑藉著平衡、妥協和懷柔政策,在语言、文化和法律体系上对其前殖民地保留了一定的積極影响,因而吸引許多以前英联邦的殖民地移民前來居住,也是少數作為外來統治者卻大受歡迎的國家。 英国为发达国家,以名义GDP为量度是世界第六大经济体,以购买力平价为量度是世界第九大经济体。英国是世界首个工业化国家,工業革命使英國人的生產力大大提高,商業與財富極大的增長,更憑藉著最早進入工業化在工業時代的船堅炮利,1763年至1945年英国为世界第一强国,其鼎盛时期的19世纪被称作不列颠治世,当今英国仍是世界强国之一,在经济、文化、军事、科技、教育和政治上均有全球性的显著影响力。英国为国际公认的有核国家,其军事开支位列全球第四。1945年以来英国即为联合国安全理事会常任理事国。英国还是英联邦、七国财长峰会、七国集团、二十国集团、北大西洋公约组织、经济合作与发展组织和世界贸易组织成员国。
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All infrastructure is owned by the state while most trains are operated by private companies, usually multinational transport companies, which bid for temporary franchises from the government. The system is tightly controlled, both by the national government and the devolved governments in Scotland and Wales. Despite the presence of many franchises, the network provides seamless journeys even if travelling on multiple companies' trains. High-speed rail is provided on five upgraded railway lines running at top speeds of 125 mph (200 km/h) and one purpose-built high-speed line reaching 186 mph (300 km/h)…
thumb|[[Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site in England]] From Land's End in the south to John O’Groats in the north, there is so much to see in the United Kingdom. There are hundreds of free museums to enjoy across the country, thousands of municipal parks to stroll through, tens of thousands of interesting communities to visit and many millions of acres of countryside to ramble across. And the country is home to 25 UNESCO World Heritage sites. There is certainly far more to do than just talking about the rain and seeing whether the King is home at Buckingham Palace.
The UK offers a wealth of opportunities for short breaks, often enhanced by ancillary travel services designed to make your trip more convenient and enjoyable. These additional services include extras such as bundled attraction tickets, dining packages, guided tours, and transport add-ons allow visitors to plan seamless experiences tailored to their interests.
For theatre lovers, London's West End provides numerous options for theatre breaks, which often include accommodation, discounted dining, and tickets to acclaimed productions like Les Misérables or Hamilton. Similarly, families can opt for packages that combine stays with tickets to popular attractions such as The London Eye, Legoland Windsor, or the Warner Bros. Studio Tour - The Making of Harry Potter.
These services aren’t limited to London. Cities like Edinburgh, with its historic castle and renowned festivals, or Stratford-upon…
Although most visitors will visit London at some point, it is well worth getting out of the capital to get a real taste of the country and important to not forget the diversity one can find in barely 50 miles. Whether it's countryside, coast, historic towns or vibrant cities you are after, there's something for everyone. For some of the best countryside, head for the national parks such as the Yorkshire Dales or Dartmoor, perhaps on a day trip or a longer stay. With the UK being an island nation, every direction you travel will get you to the coast in a couple of hours. The British coast is varied and dramatic, from the pretty beaches at places such as St Ives, traditional fishing ports like Whitby or seaside resorts such as Blackpool and Bournemouth. There's a wealth of historical cities in the United Kingdom, including Edinburgh and Cardiff with their medieval castles, to Bath and York and their Roman history. Shoppers looking beyond the capital may want to head to Manchester and Leeds in the North, Bristol and Exeter in the West or Glasgow in Scotland. The UK has an impressive heritage of music; see Music in Britain and Ireland. Also known as rambling, hiking or walking in the United Kingdom is popular with Britons and tourists, meaning there are many well-defined routes.
thumb|A traditional roast lamb Sunday Roast with Yorkshire pudding Despite the negative reputation it unjustly has, British food is very good, with many British people being proud of their native dishes and regional specialities. Restaurants and supermarkets in the middle and upper range have consistently high standards, and the choice of international dishes is among the best in Europe. Unlike their continental neighbours, many Britons still eat to live rather than living to eat, and as a result, food quality is variable at the budget end of the market. Moreover, as the UK is a culturally diverse nation, many different kinds of food are available due to the influence of immigration.
Britain is celebrated for its outstanding dairy offerings, including a wide range of cheeses, rich butters, and creamy milk that are cherished both locally and internationally. The country is particularly known for its high-quality meats, with British beef often regarded as some of the best in the world, thanks to the lush pastures and traditional farming methods. In addition to these culinary delights, Britain features lively food markets and bustling food halls that present fresh local produce, from seasonal fruits and vegetables to artisanal breads and gourmet treats. thumb|British cheese is world famous It can be an expensive place to eat out compared to, say, the more southern European countries, but relatively cheap in comparison with the Nordic countries and Switzerland. However, the foo…
thumb|Gin is very popular and has deep connections to Britain. The legal age for purchasing or consuming alcohol in a pub is 18. Bar staff can face consequences for serving underage patrons. Teens aged 16 and 17 can order alcohol with a meal at a restaurant or pub, but they can't pay for it themselves and must be accompanied by an adult. The decision to serve them depends on the pub's policies and staff discretion. Some establishments only permit those over 18. If you're over 18 but appear younger, you might need to show ID when buying alcohol. In certain places, if you look under 21 or 25, you have to prove you're over 18. Some venues require ID for all drinks after a specific time. If you're planning to drink, make sure to bring a valid UK ID or your passport. A photocopy is generally acceptable. In Scotland, you can't purchase alcohol in supermarkets between 10 PM and 10 AM.
Drinking is a significant aspect of British culture. Being intoxicated isn't illegal, but many places will refuse service to those who are clearly drunk. In the UK, staff have legal responsibilities when serving drinks. They can deny service to anyone they believe is causing trouble, regardless of how inebriated they appear. If you want to sober up, you can request free tap water, which establishments are required to provide by law. Driving under the influence is illegal. In Scotland, the limit is 50 mg of alcohol per 100 mL of blood, while in England and Wales, it's 80 mg. There is no safe level fo…
thumb|The famous Full English breakfast The UK offers a wide variety of hotels rated on a scale of stars, from 5-star luxury (and beyond!) to 1-star basic. There is also a vast number of privately run bed and breakfast establishments (abbreviated as "B&B"), offering rooms with usually a fried 'full English breakfast'. Alternatively, you can rent a private house which is let as a holiday home; many such holiday homes advertise on a wide variety of free websites or advertise on their own websites. Good deals can usually be found by using a search engine for "self-catering holiday accommodation".
The two most prominent budget (limited-service, and deliberately not star-rated) hotel chains in the country are Travelodge (which is wholly separate from the US chain of the same name) and Premier Inn - there is typically one of either or both of these in most major towns and multiple in large cities such as London and Manchester. While they are often more expensive than a bed and breakfast (ranging between £30 and £150 a night depending on time before booking, flexibility of rate and location) they are usually conveniently located, are full hotels that usually offer a hot breakfast (at a cost, usually about £10) and a restaurant for evening meals and have a relatively consistent standard of service and furnishing across their portfolio. Travelodge is typically the cheaper but more basic and spartan of the two, whereas Premier Inn is slightly more expensive (by around £10-20 a night) …
In general the UK is a safe place to visit; you won't go far wrong heeding the general advice and the advice for Europe.
See the main article: Dealing with emergencies thumb|A Scottish ambulance If you have a life-threatening medical emergency, telephone . In the UK, emergency medical response is prioritised on a clinical basis, and the operator or dispatcher will ask relevant questions to determine what responses are needed and how urgently. Answering the questions will not delay a response. You can also go (or be taken to) the nearest hospital with an Accident & Emergency (A&E) department.
Both ambulance and A&E provision can come under considerable demand, especially in the winter months. If your condition is not life-threatening, you are likely to be referred to other services, such as urgent treatment centres or walk-in clinics.
For urgent non-life-threatening emergencies, you should find or contact the nearest Urgent treatment Centre (UTC).
Alternatively, you can call the 24-hour NHS advice line on , stating the nature of the medical concern. These advice lines will then ask a series of questions to assess and triage the urgency of a condition. They will advise a visit to A&E, an urgent treatment centre, or make appointments at out-of-hours clinics accordingly.
Urgent treatment centres (England), also called minor injuries units (Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales) and urgent care centres (parts of Northern Ireland) also provide treatment for less urgent conditions on a first come, first served basis. See NHS England for further details as to what services they can provide; these will …
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