Area | 20,779 km2 |
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Capital | Cardiff |
Culture and Arts | Wales is a country in southwest Great Britain known for its rugged coastline, mountainous national parks, distinctive Welsh language and Celtic culture. Cardiff, the capital, is a refined coastal city with a nightlife scene and a medieval castle with ornate Gothic Revival interiors. In the northwest, Snowdonia National Park has lakes, glacial landforms, hiking trails and a railway up to the peak of Snowdon. |
Currency | British £ Sterling |
Customs & Regulations | It is illegal to bring agricultural products, or weapons and ammunition into Wales. You are also limited to the number of cigarettes (200) and alcohol (1ltr) you can bring if travelling from outside the EU. This also means you can apply for a VAT refund when leaving the UK. |
Date format | dd/mm/yy |
Driving side | Left |
Electricity | 3-pin plugs. |
Environment & Environmental Hazards | [Include statement about Covid-19 from Government Website] |
Ethnic groups | 75% of the population is Welsh followed by 20% English. The rest of the mix is Scottish, Irish, Indian and parts of EU & Africa |
Etiquette | Tipping at least 10% in a restaurant is recommended but not obligatory. Be polite and say please and thank you. Most people find it rude to be blunt or very loud. |
Food | There are many dishes that can be considered Welsh due to the ingredients, but there are some that pure Welsh. Dishes such as cawl, Welsh rarebit, laverbread, Welsh cakes, bara brith (literally “fruit bread”) or the Glamorgan sausage have all been regarded as symbols of Welsh food. |
Getting around | Travel in Wales is relatively safe, with the use of good public transport via Trains, Buses and Taxis. Renting a car would also be a great option to get around and see some stunning sites. |
Government website | https://gov.wales/ |
Health insurance | Foreign travellers are strongly advised to arrange health/travel insurance before travelling. |
History | As a country, Wales began with Henry VIII’s Act of Union in 1536. Before that time Wales had been a loose collection of independent kingdoms and lordships with influxes and incursions from Europe. It’s believed that Wales, as an area of land, has been inhabited since 250,000 BC
The Welsh today are descended from many people. Celtic tribes from Europe came to settle the whole of the British isles around 500-100 BC, alongside the original Iron Age population. |
Holidays (Public & National) | New Year’s Day Wed, 1 Jan 2020 Good Friday Fri, 10 Apr 2020 Easter Monday Mon, 13 Apr 2020 Early May Bank Holiday Fri, 8 May 2020 Spring Bank Holiday Mon, 25 May 2020 Summer Bank Holiday Mon, 31 Aug 2020 Christmas Day Fri, 25 Dec 2020 Boxing Day Mon, 28 Dec 2020 |
Insurance | If you wish to rent a car, consider insurance locally from the rental company unless you are certain that your existing policy will cover you. |
Internet Access | Wi-Fi Many hotels and international fast food chains offer wifi for their customers. Public wifi is available in some areas too.
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Media | Major networks such as BBC with many international options as well |
Medical checklist | Suggested vaccinations include: NOTHING FOUND ONLINE |
Money |
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Official language | Welsh |
Opening Hours |
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Photography | There are no cultural taboos against photography although it’s always nice to ask people’s permission first if photographing them. |
Population | 3.136 million |
Post and couriers | We suggest traWellers use international couriers (DHL, FedEx or UPS) for their important parcels. |
Religions |
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Seasons | High tourism season is from [April] until [September]. Low season is from October. The country has four main climate seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter. |
Smoking | Smoking is banned in-doors and some public spaces. Try to avoid throwing cigarettes on the floor or you could get fined. |
Taxes | Value-Added Tax is 17.5%. |
Telephone Calling code | +44 |
Time zones | GMT+1 |
Tourist information | https://www.visitwales.com/ |
Travellers with disabilities | Not all tourist attractions are disability-friendly, but locals will be quick to help you if asked. |
Useful Resources | https://www.traveline.cymru/useful-links/ |
Visa | Please check visa checker. |
Women travellers | It is considered safe to travel solo with or without a local guide. Normal advice applies: do not allow yourself to become distracted. |
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