Knowing the basics before you arrive at a destination will help you to make your visit a more enjoyable experience.We have put together some useful information to help you to prepare for your visit to NewcastleGateshead:
• Banks and Currency • Climate & Weather • Customs • Dentists, Doctors and Pharmacies • Electricity & Appliances • Emergencies • Holidays • Restaurants • Safety • Tax • Taxis • Telephones • Time • Tipping • Tourist Information Centres • VisasBanks and CurrencyBanks: Usually open from 9am to 5pm (Monday to Friday) and from 9am to lunchtime on Saturday. They are closed all day on Sundays.
ATMs: Credit cards or debit cards will get you cash advances at ATMs worldwide if your card is properly programmed with your personal identification number. Your PIN must have no more than four digits.
Currency: The unit of currency is the pound sterling (£), divided into 100 pence (p). The bills notes are: £50, £20, £10, and £5. Coins are £2, £1, 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, and 1p.
For an up-to-date conversion to pounds sterling visit
www.travelex.co.uk.
Back to topClimate & WeatherTo view the 5 day forecast for NewcastleGateshead visit
the Met Office website.
Back to topCustoms There are two levels of duty-free allowance for entering Britain: one for goods bought outside the European Union (E.U.) and the other for goods bought within the EU.
No animals or pets of any kind can be brought in without a lengthy quarantine. The penalties are severe and are strictly enforced. Similarly, fresh meats, plants and vegetables, controlled drugs, and firearms and ammunition may not be brought into the U.K.
For full details visit the
HM Customs and Excise website.
Back to topDentists, Doctors and Pharmacies Dentists, Doctors and Pharmacies can be found throughout NewcastleGateshead. For details of the nearest location please see the Yellow Pages or visit
www.yell.com.
Back to topElectricity & AppliancesThe electrical current is 220/240 volts, 50 cycles alternating current (AC); wall outlets take three-pin plugs, and shaver sockets take two round, oversize prongs.
Back to topEmergencies If you need to report a theft or an attack, go to the nearest police station (listed in the Yellow Pages or at
www.yell.com). In severe emergencies, dial 999 for police, fire, or ambulance (be prepared to give the telephone number you're calling from).
The Accident and Emergency sections of National Health Service hospitals give free treatment 24 hours a day. Prescriptions are valid only if made out by doctors registered in the UK.
Back to topHolidaysStandard holidays include:
• New Year's Day (1 January)
• Good Friday and Easter Monday (varies year on year)
• May Day (first Monday in May)
• Spring and summer bank holidays (last Monday in May and August, respectively)
• Christmas Day (25 December)
• Boxing Day (26 December)
On Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve some shops, restaurants, museums, tourist attractions and businesses close early.
Back to topRestaurantsThere are numerous restaurants in NewcastleGateshead offering meals to suit all budgets. There is a good range of restaurants on NewcastleGateshead’s quayside including several excellent Italian restaurants, while Stowell Street in Newcastle’s China town has a large selection of superb Chinese restaurants. See our
City Guide for more information.
Back to topSafetyNewcastleGateshead is generally a safe city to visit and visitors usually receive a warm welcome. As in all major European cities, it is recommended that you take the usual precautions to protect yourself and your personal belongings. Use a hotel safe where provided and don’t carry too much cash with you. It is recommended that you don’t walk alone at night, rather take one of the many taxis.
Back to topTax VAT (value-added tax) is 17.5%. The tax is always included in quoted prices in shops, hotels, and restaurants.
Back to topTaxisThere are numerous taxi firms in NewcastleGateshead and there are taxi ranks at Newcastle International Airport and Newcastle Central Rail Station:
• Garfield Executive Travel:
+44 (0)191 250 2066 • ParkersExeculink:
+44 (0)191 214 4412 • Windsor Cars:
+44 (0)191 209 0909Back to topTelephonesThe county code to telephone the UK from outside the country is
+44. If calling overseas from within the UK, you usually need to dial
00 followed by the country code.
Public payphones can be found throughout the city centre and usually take a combination of coins, phone cards and credit cards. Phone cards can be purchased from newsagents and Post Offices.
Back to topTimeThe UK operates on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) which is equal to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
The UK also adopts a summer daylight saving scheme, British Summer Time (BST), which is in force from the last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in October each year, and is equal to GMT +1 hour.
Back to topTippingTipping is usually expected in most restaurants, cafes and taxis, on receipt of good service. It is recommended that you tip around 10-15% of your total bill.
Back to topTourist Information Centres There are number
Tourist Information Centres (TICs) located throughout NewcastleGateshead. Staff are friendly and extremely knowledgeable and will be pleased to assist you.
Up to date visitor information and events listings can be found in our
What’s On section.
Back to topVisas For information on obtaining a visa to visit the UK, please visit the
Home Office Visa website.
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Contact us...
If there is something else you would like to know about NewcastleGateshead, then please do not hesitate to contact us:
• Call us on +44 (0)191 243 8819.
• Email conventionbureau@ngi.org.uk |
Disclaimer: NewcastleGateshead Initiative makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of information but cannot accept responsibility for any error or change of details by external parties. Although we have taken all reasonable care to make sure that the information available on this website is correct, we make no representation or warranty of any kind regarding the information contained on this website or on any website reached through this website.
