Climate and Weather
The UK has a temperate climate. It is warmer than other areas of the same latitude and more humid. Due to the influences of cold polar and warm tropical air, the weather is very changeable.
In the north and west, the climate is colder and more humid than in the south and east. The sun only shines for a third of the year. Due to the northern location there are long, warm summer evenings and longer sections with nice weather all year round. Visit watchtutorials.org for United Kingdom attractions.
Strong storm winds and floods can occur in winter. Fog occurs mainly in winter in mountainous or hilly regions as well as on the coast.
With the exception of the Scottish Highlands, where winter sports are practiced, snow rarely falls. This is due to the temperatures, which are usually above freezing point even in winter. There are relatively warm summers with around 14-30 ° C and mild winters with around 1-5 ° C.
The further south you go, the warmer it gets. It rains most in the western highlands. Essex is the driest place.
The seasons
In spring (March – May) the weather often changes from sunny days to cool and wet days. The temperatures are between 6-11 ° C, but can also rise to 18 ° C in May.
In summer (June – August) most days are warm to very warm. However, it can also get chilly at night. The temperatures are between 14 – 30 ° C. But it can also be 35 ° C warm.
Autumn (September – November) is changeable like spring. The temperatures are a bit higher at 7-18 ° C.
Winter (December – early March) has the shortest days with around 7-8 hours of daylight. The temperatures are quite warm with 1 – 5 ° C.
Flora and fauna
Great Britain has a lot to offer in terms of nature! Picturesque valleys in the south of England, rolling hills to imposing mountains in Scotland. 15 national parks to discover, as well as castles and gardens, which are among the most beautiful in the world. Nowhere is one further away from the sea than 120 kilometers.
Plants – vegetation
The UK has an extraordinarily diverse landscape – from forests, seas and mountains to rolling meadows, bogs and heathlands.
Hundreds of different types of wildflowers bloom across England from spring to autumn. There is a specialty in Northern Ireland. The wild orchids native to the valleys of the tributaries.
Along the rivers or from cliffs and hills there are great views of the beauties of nature. The rolling hills of the Lincolnshire Wolds and the coastal regions such as Suffolk are fantastic areas.
The nine breathtaking national parks, such as Exmoor and the Lake District, offer wonderful hiking opportunities.
Animals – animal species
The England countryside is a haven for animals. You can see large wild mammals such as deer and roe deer. There are also semi-wild ponies, which can only be seen in Exmoor, the Shetland Islands and the New Forest.
Small animals that can be found include the squirrel and North American gray squirrel, as well as the mink. There is also a wide variety of birds, including some rarities.
The Benett kangaroo can be found in southern England and harbor seals and gray seals live in the coastal regions.
Currency
The United Kingdom is part of the European Union, but has its own currency and not the euro. The British currency pound sterling (British pound) is a means of payment in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland as well as the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. The abbreviation for this is GBP and the symbol £.
1 pound (£) has one hundred pence (note: singular penny, plural either “pence” – if it is only about the value – or “pennies” – if there are many 1 penny coins in question).
There are £ 2, £ 1, 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p and 1p coins as well as £ 50, £ 20, £ 10 and £ 5 notes. You can see below what the coins and banknotes look like.
There are also £ 1 Scottish notes in circulation in Scotland. Furthermore, there are still coins and banknotes on some islands that are different from those of Great Britain. These still apply and have the same value.
ATMs
Cash machines can be found almost everywhere in the UK. You can usually withdraw money free of charge from almost all ATMs. If it is not free of charge, you will receive a warning before the payout. In this case you can look for another machine. Or you can inquire at your house bank before you start your journey whether and in what amount you can incur fees.
Cashless payment with credit card and EC card
Paying with the debit card is possible in some large shops. In order to be on the safe side as to whether your EC card (Girocard, V PAY, Maestro) is actually accepted in the respective shop, it is best to find out beforehand which payment options are available.
It is different with the credit card. This is accepted almost everywhere – in restaurants, department stores, supermarkets, petrol stations, public institutions, tourist attractions. The most common are the VISA Card, Master Card, American Express and the Diners Club card.
It is also particularly practical that you do not necessarily have to exchange the relevant traveler’s checks in advance at a bank, but can use them to pay directly.
Weights and measures in the UK
Since there are some weights and measures in the United Kingdom that many non-British people are not familiar with, the following is a list of weights and measures that are still in use and their conversion to Central European standards.
Length measurements
1 mile = 1,760 yards = 1,609 km
1 yard = 3 feet = 0.914 m
1 foot = 12 inches = 0.305 m
1 inch = 25.4 mm
Area dimensions
1 square mile = 2.59 km2
1 square foot (929.03 cm2) 1 square inch (sq. Inch) = 6.452 cm2
Measure of capacity
1 gallon = 4 quarts = 4.546 l
1 quart (quart) = 2 pints = 1.136 l
1 pint = 5.7 dl
Weights
1 hundred weight = 50.8 kg
1 hundred weight = 4 quarters
1 quarter = 28 pounds = 12.7 kg
1 stone = 14 pounds = 6.35 kg
1 pound (pound, lb) = 16 ounces = 0.454 kg (1.0 kg = 2.205 pounds)
1 ounce (oz) = 480 grains = 28.35 g
