scotland travel tips
Accessible Travel
Almost all public transport in Scotland is fully accessible with wheelchair ramps and, on city buses, lowering suspension to assist boarding and alighting.
Banking
The majority of banks are open Mon-Fri 0900-1700 with some city-centre offices open Saturday morning.
Bureau de Change
Bureau de Change facilities can be found at the airports, train stations, many city-centre banks, iCentres.
Climate
Scotland’s position on the edge of the European continent with the sea on three sides means that the weather is very varied.
Credit Cards
Most hotels, restaurants and shops in Scotland accept major credit cards such as VISA, Mastercard and American Express.
Currency
Several Scottish banks issue their own notes in denominations of £5, £10, £20, £50 & £100 which are legal tender throughout the UK. Likewise, Bank of England and Northern Ireland banknotes are legal tender in Scotland.
Languages
The main language in daily use is English. You will find a wide variety of regional dialects in use throughout the country which adds local colour to your travels.
Smoking
In 2006, Scotland introduced a ban on smoking in public places. The law includes all enclosed or partly enclosed public areas.
Telephone and Internet
It is still possible to see iconic red telephone boxes in our cities and some rural locations. In reality, most people use mobile or cell phones to make calls and access data services.
Television
There are 5 main terrestrial television stations in central Scotland.
Time
Time in Scotland is consistent with Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The exception is from late March to late October when Daylight Saving Time is in effect (clocks are put forward one hour).
Water
Tap water in Scotland is excellent and can be enjoyed straight from the tap, unless stated otherwise.
Weights & Measures
The United Kingdom now uses the metric system for weights and measures, however, non-metric equivalents are still widely used.
