Customs and daily life

Daily life

• Emergencies: 999 for the police, fire brigade and ambulance in case of danger to life; 111 (NHS 111) if you do not know whether it is serious or for medical advice; 101 to reach the police when it is not urgent. The European 112 also works in the United Kingdom: it is the equivalent of 999 (gov.uk, "999 and 112: the UK's national emergency numbers", updated on 1 April 2025).
• Opening hours: many shops and offices are open from 9:00 to 17:00, Monday to Saturday; on Sundays, in England and Wales, large shops (more than 280 m² of sales area) can only open for six consecutive hours between 10:00 and 18:00; they are closed on Easter Sunday and on Christmas Day, whatever the day of the week; small shops, pharmacies that only sell medicines and medical supplies, petrol stations and railway station or airport shops (on the passenger side) are exempt from these rules (Sunday Trading Act 1994, Schedule 1; Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004). This law only applies in England and Wales (section 9): in Scotland, it does not apply and Sunday hours vary from shop to shop; Northern Ireland has its own regulations.
• Tipping: not compulsory. In a restaurant with table service, a service charge may already be added to the bill: look before leaving more. By law, all tips must go to the employees, with no deductions.
• At the pub: among friends, people take turns to pay for a round (round) for the whole group. Under-16s generally enter accompanied by an adult, according to each pub's rules. Alcohol can be bought from the age of 18.
• Plugs and currency: 220/240 V (50 Hz) mains, type G plugs with three rectangular pins (bring an adapter); pound sterling (£), divided into 100 pence.
• On the road: driving on the left; speeds in miles per hour and distances in miles.

Public holidays 2026 and 2027

• England and Wales, 2026: 1 January, 3 April (Good Friday), 6 April (Easter Monday), 4 May, 25 May, 31 August, 25 December, 28 December (Boxing Day, substitute day).
• Scotland, 2026: 1 and 2 January, 3 April, 4 May, 25 May, 15 June (World Cup bank holiday, a one-off public holiday), 3 August, 30 November (St Andrew's Day), 25 and 28 December. No Easter Monday public holiday in Scotland.
• Northern Ireland, 2026: 1 January, 17 March (St Patrick's Day), 3 and 6 April, 4 May, 25 May, 13 July (Battle of the Boyne, substitute day), 31 August, 25 and 28 December.
• 2027: England and Wales: 1 January, 26 and 29 March, 3 and 31 May, 30 August, 27 and 28 December; Scotland: 1 and 4 January, 26 March, 3 and 31 May, 2 August, 30 November, 27 and 28 December; Northern Ireland: 1 January, 17 March, 26 and 29 March, 3 and 31 May, 12 July, 30 August, 27 and 28 December.

At work

• Working time: 48 hours a week at most on average (generally calculated over 17 weeks), unless you choose to opt out (opt-out) or your occupation is an exception (armed forces, emergency services, police, security…).
• Leave: at least 28 paid days a year for 5 working days a week (5.6 weeks). Be careful: the employer may include public holidays in these 28 days, and a public holiday is not necessarily paid on top.

Common pitfalls

• Looking the wrong way when crossing. Cars come from the right: get into the habit of looking both ways.
• Leaving a tip on top of a service charge. Check the bill: service is sometimes already included.
• Planning an appointment on a public holiday of the wrong nation. A Scottish or Northern Irish public holiday may be a working day in England, and vice versa.
• Counting your leave as in France or Belgium. 28 days, public holidays included if your contract says so: read your contract before accepting.
• Calling 999 for a simple health question. 111 is made for that.

What changes by country of origin

• All: these customs are the same whatever your nationality.
• Irish citizens: St Patrick's Day (17 March) is a public holiday in the United Kingdom only in Northern Ireland.