Business hours in the UK are generally 9:00 am to 5:30 pm though some shops and companies begin the day a bit earlier or a bit later. Fishmongers, butchers and greengrocers are often open for business as early as 7:30.
Banks in the UK are generally open from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm Mondays to Fridays.
Restaurants, snack bars and local corner shops are open until later in the evening and sometimes all weekend. All banks, post offices, government and private offices and most shops close on public holidays.
Public Holidays
National holidays are generally called bank holidays, because banks are usually closed on that day. Most government offices and businesses are also closed on these days.
There is no national day that is celebrated. When a holiday falls on a Sunday or Saturday, the following Monday will become a bank holiday.
New Year's Day
January 1st
Good Friday
the Friday before Easter Monday
Easter Monday
date changes every year (March or April)
May Bank holiday
first Monday of May
Spring Bank holiday
last Monday of May
Summer Bank holiday
last Monday of August
Christmas Day
December 25
Boxing Day
December 26
Celebrations
Mother's day
2nd week of March
Father's day
3rd Sunday of June
Guy Fawkes Night
November 5th. The British tend to pull out all their fireworks and compete to offer the best display of fireworks in the neighbourhood. Some can't wait and start a couple of days earlier.
There is no one National Day. But people in different parts of the UK
celebrate their Patron Saint's Days as follows:
England
St. George's Day
23rd April
Wales
St. David's Day
1 March
Scotland
S t. Andrew's Day
30 November
Northern Ireland
St. Patrick's Day
17 March
Leisure
There are many places to visit in London and the rest of the UK. The best thing to do is get a good guide on the UK or contact the national tourism offices. London is famous for its musicals and theatres. Sometimes it is just cheaper to book through your local tourist office. Time Out and the London Theatre Guide are just a few guides, which can give you information about what is going on in the Capital.
Family Holidays
Centre parks is a fun place to take the family away for a weekend (note however that prices for UK parks are more expensive than for the same facilities abroad). There are several organisations where membership will give you free access to many interesting places in the UK:
National Trust - a national charity, which owns many places of historic interest and natural beauty. Family membership (2 adults and children under 18) costs around £60 and with that you can visit all the properties of the National Trust for free.
English Heritage - members have free entrance to over 300 English Heritage properties. Address: Membership Department, 80, Vincent Square, PO Box 1 BB, London SW1P 2PE. Tel: 0207 973 34 00.
The Art Fund - members have free entrance to a number of museums and place of historic interest. The Tower of London, V&A and the Science Museum are some of them. The Art Fund Membership Office, Millais House, 7 Cromwell Place, London SW7 2JN. Tel: 0207 225 48 00.
Royal Horticultural Society - as a member you will have free entrance to many gardens. 80 Vincent Square, SW1P 2PE, Tel: 0207 821 3000.
Telephone Numbers
British Tourist Authority & English tourist board +44 (0)208 846 90 00
London Tourist Office +44 (0) 207 730 34 88
Wales tourism +44 (0) 207 409 09 69
Scottish tourism +44 (0) 207 930 86 61
Northern Ireland tourism +44 (0) 207 355 50 40
Publications
At most newsagents in and outside of London and all major
cities you will find international magazines and newspapers.
The main UK bookstores are WHSmith and Waterstones.
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