ELECTRICITY: 240 V / 50 Hz

CURRENCY: Britain’s unit of currency is the Great British Pound (sterling) – GBP. The symbol for the pound sterling is £.

PASSPORT / VISA:
To enter the UK you will need to show a valid passport, or national identity card if you are an EEA citizen. If you are not an EU national, you will need to show further documentation, including a landing card, and you may need a visa. For detailed information please refer to www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

WATER:
The standard of water cleanliness is also very high, and in general kitchen water supplies, tap water in restaurants and ice cubes are safe drinking water. You can find bottled water in most shops and supermarkets.

SHOP OPENING HOURS:
In England, most retail shops are generally open 6 or 7 days a week.
Mondays - Saturdays 9am to 5:30pm
Sunday - 10am to 4pm (or 11am to 5pm)

SHOPPING:
London's range of shops cover a wide spectrum from the well heeled boutiques of Piccadilly, Soho, Regent Street, Oxford Road, Bond Street and exclusive districts of Chelsea, Knightsbridge and Kensington to the colourful character of London's street markets like Portobello Road, Camden Town and Spitalfields.

BANKS / CREDIT CARDS / ATMs:
Banks are generally open from 09:30 to 16:30 Monday to Friday.
If you are an EU citizen and travelling from within the EU you can bring in and take out bank notes, travellers' cheques, letters of credit etc. in any currency and up to any amount.
Foreign currency can easily be exchanged at banks, post offices, some hotels and Bureau de Change kiosks, which are found at international airports and most city centres.
You’ll find Automated Teller Machines (ATM), or cash machines, as we often call them, at most banks, high streets and shopping centres. You can use international credit cards, debit cards and bank cards at ATMs providing they have a four-digit PIN encoded.
All credit cards that bear the Visa, MasterCard or American Express logo are widely accepted in Britain.

TIPS:
Most hotel bills include a service charge, usually 10-12%. Where a service charge is not included in a hotel restaurant, it is customary to give 10-15% of the restaurant bill. Taxis’ tips are 10-15% of the fare.

PETS:
Dogs, cats and ferrets from certain countries are able to enter Britain via selected ports of entry under the pilot Pets Travel Scheme without quarantine – provided certain conditions are met. Animals other than those identified will have to be quarantined for six months at approved premises.

EMERGENCY PHONES:
You can call emergency services free on 999

SOURCES:
http://www.visitbritain.com/
http://www.myguidebritain.com/