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The United Kingdom consists of the union of England, Scotland and Wales (Great Britain) along with the six counties of Northern Ireland. For a small land area the country shows great diversity from rolling countryside of the south to the rugged mountains of the north with a generous proportion forested (5%)With car hire in UK you can discover both the beauty of the country, mixing in history and culture found within the cities as well as taking in the linguistic differences spread across a diverse multicultural country.
Since the industrial revolution there has been large migration to the towns and cities meaning today less than 10% of the population live in rural areas. This allows you to step from cultural urban centers with great attractions to quiet peaceful countryside in your hire car quite easily.
Car hire in the UK is dominated by the larger suppliers with many pick up points across the country concentrated in the cities and airports. One way car hire is popular as tourists do not normally stay within a resort or city preferring to take in as many of the famous sites as possible. An excellent road system is in place with many motorways developed since the 1960's. Car use though is very popular so there can be heavy with traffic especially in the highly populated south east of England. Satellite navigation is a good way of avoiding traffic hotspots and an excellent way of keeping off the motorways instead taking the back roads in your hire car.
Ferries to Belfast in Northern Ireland operate direct from Stranraer in Scotland as well as a host of other ports via the Isle of Mann an island in the Irish Sea. Ferries to Dublin in the Republic of Ireland are also available via the Isle of Mann as well direct from Fishguard in Wales. The road from Belfast to Dublin is now completely motorway and takes around two and a half hours. Rental cars picked up in Northern Ireland can be used in the Republic with no additional cost but cannot be dropped off without paying an international one way fee where allowed.
What to see in your hire car
London
Of the top ten tourist attractions in terms of visitors seven are found within London. There is a congestion charge levied on cars used within designated areas within the city center so look out for this. If you are planning to pick up a hire car in London then there are plenty of locations, use public transport for the congestion area and then pick up a car to leave the city. The M25 motorway orbits London with all major roads leading off it to all parts of the UK you may want to visit. The top attractions in London are the museums, London Eye Ferris wheel, Buckingham Palace, shopping especially on Oxford street, Tower Bridge and of course the Tower of London.
Windsor Castle
Just west of the M25 along the M4 which leads to Bristol is Windsor Castle still one of the Queen's residences and the largest inhabited castle in the world. Dating back to William the Conqueror, it is also the oldest continuously occupated too. Every King and Queen has had an influence on the look of the castle but many of the seemingly medieval aspects of the current facade where only added in the 1820's by Jeffry Wyatville.
Edinburgh Castle
The city of Edinburgh is a must see and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in parts with over 4,500 listed buildings in the city. The cap of the majestic city is the impressive fortress of Edinburgh castle overlooking the city atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Originally called Maidens Castle until the 16th century where most of the building where destroyed by artillery fire during the Lang Siege. Most buildings post date this event with the exception of St Margaret's Chapel which dates from the 12th century and is the oldest building in Edinburgh.
Historic Cities and Buildings
History is found throughout the UK with many attractions maintained by charitable organisations such as the National Trust. These organisations offer multi attraction passes which can significantly lower the cost of visits to multiple places of interest. The national trust for example offer seven and fourteen day passes to all attractions throughout the UK for foreign visitors.
Oxford and Cambridge
The narrow cobbled lanes of Oxford and Cambridge are trampled by the students of England's oldest universities dating from the 12th and 13th centuries. Both cities boast essentially medieval centers with college buildings scattered throughout from the 13th to 20th centuries. Try punting down the river Cam in Cambridge past the beautiful buildings of Queen's College. Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin are only a couple of the famous members of Queen's.
Stonehenge
Car hire is the best way to see this mystical ring of monolithic stones from the Neolithic period. A point of argument for many an expert the true use of the site as well as the method of erecting the 25 - 50 ton stones still remain a mystery today. Built over 650 years the site is still a place of pilgrimage on the summer solstice where many come to see the dawn over the longest day of the year.
York and Durham
In the north can be found the historic cities of York and Durham. Full of history they are well worth a visit on our way North or South along the A1. York Minster and Durham Cathedral cap the two cities and are truly beautiful buildings.
Portmeirion
One of the largest attractions in Wales is this strange mock Mediterranean village found on the west coast. Sir Clough Williams-Ellis built the village apparently to resemble the village of Portofino in Italy and it is unlike anything else in the UK. The whole mock village is now a hotel with shops and cafes for you to look around on your visit. You do not need to stay in the hotel to look around but an admission fee is levied.
Stratford-upon-Avon
On the river Avon you will find the birthplace of one William Shakespeare and a truly lovely town. The home of the Royal Shakespeare Company, take in the culture and maybe read a little sonnet on the glorious banks of the river.
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United Kingdom - Quick Facts
Land area: 241,590 square km (93,278 square miles)
Highest point: Ben Nevis 1,343 m (4,406 ft)
Longest river: Severn 290 km (180 miles)
Population: (2006 est.) 60,609,153
Form of government: Multiparty constitutional monarchy with two legislative houses
Armed Forces: Army 117,300, Navy 40,700, Air Force 48,585
Official Language: English
Ethnic Composition: White (English 83.6%; Scottish 8.6%; Welsh 4.9%, Northern Irish 2.9%) 92.1%; Black 2%; Indian 1.8%; Pakistani 1.3%; Mixed 1.2%; other 1.6%
Religious affiliations: Christian (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 71.6%; Muslim 2.7%, Hindu 1.0 %; other 1.1 %; unspecified or none 23.6%
Currency: 1 pound sterling (GBP) = 100 pence
Gross domestic product (2006) U.S. $1.903 trillion
Gross domestic product per capita (2006) U.S. $31,400
Life expectancy at birth male 76.09 years; female 81.13 years
Major resources are coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, barley, fruit, vegetables, fish, potatoes, sugar beet, wheat, tourism
