Wayzata World Factbook 1995/World Factbook - 1995 Edition - Wayzata Technology (1995).iso/mac/text/Build/tvlmactxt/UNITED_K.TVL

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United Kingdom - Consular Information Sheet
March 15, 1994

Country Description: The United Kingdom is a highly developed European
nation with a modern economy.  Tourist facilities throughout the United
Kingdom are highly developed.

Entry Requirements: A passport is required.  Tourists are not required to
obtain a visa for stays up to six months.  For further information
concerning entry requirements travelers can contact the Consular Section of
the Embassy of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland at 19 Observatory
Circle, in Washington, D.C. 20008, tel: [phone] or the nearest
consulate in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, New York,
Cleveland or Dallas.

Quarantine Requirements: The United Kingdom has particularly rigorous
quarantine restrictions on the importation of pets and livestock.  There is
a six-month quarantine, for example, on importation of dogs and cats.

Medical Facilities: Good medical care is widely available.  Doctors and
hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health care services.
U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States.  In
some cases, supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage
has proved useful.  Further information on health matters can be obtained
from the Centers for Disease Control's international travelers hotline on
[phone].

Crime Information: The incidence of criminal activity in the United Kingdom
is generally low, though many major cities have areas where caution should
be exercised.  Visitors generally lock vehicles and guard their personal
possessions.  As in any developed country, the United Kingdom has higher
incidents of criminal activity in urban areas than in the countryside.
Incidents of violent crimes such as murder, armed robbery, and rape are
minimal.  Firearms are strictly controlled, making weapons-related offenses
far less frequent than in large U.S. metropolitan areas.  Large cities in
England do have areas where the level of crime is significant.

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately
to local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.  Useful
information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while
traveling abroad is provided in the pamphlet "A Safe Trip Abroad" which is
available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing
Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.

Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in
which they are traveling.  Penalties for possession, use, and dealing in
illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences
and fines.

Terrorist Activities: The United Kingdom is a stable, modern democracy.
Civil disorder is virtually nonexistent.  The U.S. Embassy, in particular,
and London in general, are the sites of frequent demonstrations and marches,
which are orderly and well policed.  There is, however, a history of
terrorist violence related to the political situation in Northern Ireland, a
part of the United Kingdom.  Terrorist bombings and other actions have
occurred in various locations within Northern Ireland, around London and in
some other British cities, including shopping and  tourist sites and
airports.  While these acts are not targeted at U.S. citizens, U.S. citizens
have, in rare instances, been injured.

Registration: U.S. citizens who register at the Consular Section of the U.S.
Embassy or Consulate can obtain updated information on travel and security
in the United Kingdom.

U.S. Embassy and Consulate Locations:  U.S. Embassy, London:  24/31
Grosvenor Square, tel. [phone].

U.S. Consulate, Edinburgh, Scotland: 3 Regent Terrace, tel. [phone].

U.S. Consulate, Belfast, Northern Ireland: Queen's House, 14 Queen Street,
tel. [phone], fax [phone].

U.S. Consulate, Hamilton, Bermuda: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire,
telephone [phone].

No. 94-031

This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated April 30, 1993, to
include airports as sites of possible terrorist activity.