The official language is English.

Great British Pound – GBP, £, Sterling.

Foreign currency and travellers cheques can be exchanged at banks, post offices, travel agents, bureau de change kiosks and some hotels throughout the city.

Credit cards are widely accepted in Glasgow and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) or cash machines can be found throughout the city.

Glasgow is one of Scotland’s milder areas with temperatures usually higher than most places of equal latitude away from the UK, due to the warming influence of the Gulf Stream.

Winters are relatively cold, with a January mean of 4.0°C (39.2°F), though lows sometimes fall below freezing.

Spring is generally mild and very pleasant. April often has above average sunshine and many of Glasgow’s trees and plants begin to flower at this time of the year and parks and gardens are filled with spring colours.

Summers are warm and have the added benefit of 16 hours of daylight and many of the tourist attractions have extended hours during this period.

Autumns are generally cool to mild with increasing precipitation. During early autumn there can be some settled periods of weather and can feel pleasant with mild temperatures and sunny days.

The UK country code is 44, while Glasgow landlines start with a 141 area code, followed by a 7 digit number. To call abroad, dial 00 before the area code.

Shops in the city centre are generally open Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm and from 12pm until 5pm on Sundays.

Late night shopping is on Thursdays, with many stores open until 8pm.

Glasgow is like any other big city: it has safe areas and less safe areas, and the basic commonsense rules apply. The centre of Glasgow is very safe and you should not encounter any problems. All of the city centre and tourist areas are well policed. During the day, the City Centre also has many ‘information officers’ who should be able to assist you if needed. Crime in the city centre is usually limited to some drunken and rowdy behaviour late in the evenings.

Smoking is banned in all public places including all enclosed or partly enclosed public areas.

The standard voltage in Scotland is 240V AC, 50Hz. North American appliances need a transformer and an adapter; Australasian appliances need only an adapter. Plugs have 3 square pins and adapters are widely available.

Glasgow’s timezone is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or one hour ahead of GMT, known as British Summer Time (BST) during daylight saving time in the summer months.

The UK drives on the left hand side of the road.

To drive in the UK, you require to have a current driving licence. A foreign licence is valid in the UK for up to 12 months.

It is compulsory to wear seat belts in the front seat and if your car has seat belts in the back, they must also be worn.

If travelling with your own car you must be properly insured and it is advisable to check your policy prior to your journey.

For additional information on driving in the UK, maps, travel insurance or road service, contact the Automobile Association or the RAC (Royal Automobile Club) and for up to date traffic and roadworks information see the Traffic Scotland website.

All purchases in Britain, with the exception of food and books, are subject to VAT, which increases the cost of an item by 20%. This is already included in the price shown in shops.

Visitors from non-EU countries can claim a refund of VAT from selected shops on goods to be taken out of the country under the Retail Export Scheme.

EU citizens are entitled to free or reduced cost medical treatment at National Health Service hospitals. With the exception of accident and emergency treatment, all non-EU members will be charged for medical treatment and must have adequate health insurance when travelling.

No vaccinations are required prior to visiting Scotland.

In case of an emergency police, ambulance and fire brigade can be contacted by telephoning 999.