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|in = Northern Europe|map= <map lat='5254.98833725339546992335284814' lng='-24.2412109375130859375' zoom='65' view='3' floatcountry='United Kingdom' height='right420' />

|pop = 6067,975081,000

|hitch = from {{average}} to {{good}}<rating country='uk' />|BW = GB}}The '''United Kingdom''' is a member state of the country in [[European UnionNothern Europe]] which forms the so-called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Travel_Area Common Travel area] with [[Ireland]] and is not part of the [[Schengen Agreement]]. Hitchhiking in the United Kingdom It is feasible although the British are a little surprised (especially in [[England]]) to see people still doing it these days since it has become a dying trend largely due to the safety worries and very busy roads. You will still manage a ride somehow but you really need connected to be at mainland Europe via the right spot. Hitching in [[ScotlandEnglish channel]] or [[Wales]] tends to be more easy than in southern [[England]] although this depends from county to county. For exampleAs of 2020, the rural mentality in the [[South West (England)|South West]] makes it a lot more easier than trying to hitch in is no longer part of the [[South East (England)|South East]] or [[East (England)|East AngliaEuropean Union]]. It seems the closer you are to big cities, especially London the harder it is.

Hitchhiking in the United Kingdom is feasible although the British are a little surprised (especially in [[England]]) to see people still doing it these days since it has become a dying trend largely due to the safety worries, insurance issues and very busy roads, but also extremely cheap coach fares. You will still manage a ride somehow but you really need to be '''at the right spot.''' Finding a safe spot where drivers can pull over easily can be crucial here - British people usually don't like to stop in bad places, so make it easy for them to pick you up! Hitching in [[Scotland]] or [[Wales]] tends to be more easy than in southern [[England]] although this depends from county to county. For example, the rural mentality in the [[South West England|South West]] makes it a lot more easier than trying to hitch in the [[South East England|South East]]. It seems the closer you are to big cities, especially London, the harder it is. Furthermore, especially in the South of England, people have some kind of you-only-get-what-you-merit-(equals: work for)-attitude, which is why they sometimes react with unfriendliness to the idea of hitching. On the other hand, many students hitched in the 70s and 80s and they often give lifts now that they are older. Like anywhere else, it is illegal to walk on motorways, and so hitchhiking is best done from the bottom of sliproads [[slip road]]s and at [[rest area|service stations]] (at discretion of the owner). Highways Agency officials may question you if you hitch from sliproads on motorways as technically you are not allowed to do this, but the police will not pay any interest; the Highways Agency staff are more pedantic than the police regarding that.__NOTOC__When travelling traveling a long distance on the motorways it is best to stick to the service stations as getting a lift on a slip road will take an exceptionally longer time. Don't get dropped at any motorway intersection junctions (''M25/M4'', ''M4/M5'' etc.) as traffic will be going too fast to stop and you will probably be picked up by the police. In case you ''do'' get dropped there your best option is probably to start walking a bit away from the highwaymotorway, and if you're a foreigner, attach a sign to your backpack saying e.g. ''from Holland''. Apart from motorways, you can also hitch on the so-called A-roads, where - legally - you can stand on the side lane. As A-roads, however, are a replacement for motorways in more rural areas, people basically go at the same speed, and it is quite difficult and dangerous to flag somebody down.  If you're hitchhiking long distances and considering making a sign, in general people use the motorway names rather than the city names. For example, from [[London]] to [[South West England|Cornwall]] have a sign saying ''M4''. But if you are hitching on a motorway with multiple cities (i.e. ''M1'') it is an idea to use a sign with the city name (e.g. [[Nottingham]], [[Sheffield]]). Most people in the United Kingdom seems to be afraid of terrorist attacks, criminals or whatever. You can easily notice that junctions, stations, supermarkets and sometimes even pubs are video-monitored. They have naked scanners at the airports and so on. If you ask unknown people in cities in the dark for the way or for something, they can be terrified or anxious. As a final note, rides are lifts and trucks are lorries :)  == Service stations hitchiking method ==Stick to motorway services, as lot of traffic is passing, filling up their tanks. TALK with drivers who are filling up their tanks in petrol station. It will help if you will have a sign, or if you don't have one, have some kind of paper map, because you will look more trustable from distance. As they are afraid of terrorists, try to be as polite as possible, sometimes you'll encounter chatty people, chat a little bit for their pleasure, and for you to calm down if you are trying to get a ride for longer time.  If there are a lot of traffic coming through petrol station, or in general, don't waste time going to speek to drivers in rest area, they will pass you at some point. Try asking drivers if you are in good place for heading that direction, for example: Strazdas007 was stuck on Maidstone services while trying to get to the North, as all drivers where going South, or just around the corner, so he just went back to Dover port. If you are in bad service station for your direction, don't hesitate going back to last good spot, or possibly good spot. Try to look up service stations on maps or gps. A Collins road map of the UK (+ Ireland) can be found in book stores for ~£5 and is very useful here since you don't want to miss the last possible service sttation. Go for the popular ones if you have a choice, like: Starbucks over Costa, as it is with petrol stations - Shell over BP.

Useful tip: In city libraries Also, with some luck, you can use Internet PC's for free after a short free registration even get job offers (some want Strazdas007 got offer from driver to see a passport, some aren't work as roofpainter or smth like that strictin service station near Leeds). Legally this should be available to everyone, but in some localities, staff may say its only available to local residents or library members. In this case just ask to join the library.

If you're hitchhiking long distances and considering making a sign, in general people use the motorway names rather than the city names. For example, from == Climate ==The UK is infamous for its rainy [[Londonweather]] . The oceanic climate makes the weather changeable from one day to [[South West (England)|Cornwall]] have a sign saying the next and causes comparatively long but light phases of rain. This doesn't mean it's always raining, but it ''M4can''always rain. But if Be prepared and always have waterproof clothes with you . The rainiest months are hitching on a motorway with multiple cities (iOctober−January.e. ''M1'') it is an idea to use As a sign with rule of thumb, one could say the further west and the higher the elevation, the greater the city name (erainfall.g. [[Nottingham]]Contradicting the cliché, [[Sheffield]])some parts of south and west England are surprisingly dry and may even have drought problems in summer.

==== Hitchhiking towards [[Western Europe]] ====[[Image:Carl Nai Maroc.jpg|thumb|300px|right|[[User:Carl|Carl]] and his hitch partner Naomi leaving [[Cardiff]] for [[Morocco]].]]Hitchhiking ''from'' [[England]] to [[France]] is possible. Just hitchhike in direction An advantage of [[Dover]] along the ''M20'' in the [[South East (England)|South East]] to reach the ferries mild oceanic climate is that it does not get extremely cold or [[The Channel Tunnel]]hot.

You can also == Hitchhiking towards [[Western Europe]] ==[[File:Carl Nai Maroc.jpg|thumb|300px|right|[[User:Carl|Carl]] and his hitch from Immingham docks in Hull to Zeebruggepartner Naomi leaving [[Cardiff]] for [[Morocco]]. Hitching ]][[English channel|Hitchhiking the English Channel]] ''from Scotland '' [[England]] to Scandinavia [[France]] is also possible. Due Just hitchhike in direction of [[Dover]] along the ''M20'' in the [[South East England|South East]] to fears reach the ferries or [[Channel Tunnel|The Channel Tunnel]]. Once you're there, you could either try to find a lift in Dover or in a more relaxed atmosphere on one of the services along the M20, e.g. Maidstone Services (note however that a lot of terrorism and illigal immigration authorities may ask people on this service station are locals, so you not to wait near might be better off with a truck driver, they are parked behind the docksrestaurant).

==== Hitchhiking from [[Western Europe]] ====Hitchiking Truckers who cross the channel through the Eurotunnel (train) cannot take an extra person, but those who go by ferry in Dover can. If you're lucky you can even eat for free in the truckers'torestaurant on the ferry! If you can'' Great Britain is possible. When coming t get a ride from [[France]]a service station before Dover, make sure you stay on wait by the BP station just over a mile before the A26ferry port in Dover. Loads of truck drivers are heading from [[Switzerland]], See the [[LuxemburgEnglish channel]] and [[Germany]] to Great Britain. So if someone offers you a ride to [[Lille]], make sure you stay on the A26 or you might get stuckpage.

If coming You can also hitch from the Immingham docks near Grimsby to [[Zeebrugge note that the truckers usually can have 2 passengers ]] on the manifest so if you travel this way you don't need tp pay for a truck ferry ticket. Cars usually charge for every passenger on this routeHitching from Scotland to [[Scandinavia]] is also possible, but often from France its a price per car no matter how many are insidesee [[Scrabster]]. Due to fears of terrorism and illegal immigration authorities may ask you not to wait near the docks.

==== Hitchhiking towards from [[IrelandWestern Europe]] ====Hitchiking [[English channel|across the English Channel]] ''to'' Great Britain is possible. When coming from [[France]], make sure you stay on the A26. Loads of truck drivers are heading from [[Switzerland]], [[Luxembourg]] and [[Germany]] to Great Britain. So if someone offers you a ride to [[Lille]], make sure you stay on the A26 or you might get stuck.

There are 2 main routesIf you're dropped off in Calais, you can start hitchhiking at the bottom of the bridge before the check-in. The price is the same for a car, no matter how many passengers (also in Dunkerque). Either through Swansea People who booked in advance indicated how many passengers they would have, so it could be better not to mention at the Southcheck-in that you're a hitchhiker (?). This A one way ticket as a foot passenger is quite near € 40. On the parking lot where everyone's waiting to board the city and ferry, you can be walked often find another lift that goes in your direction. Just show your sign toall the waiting truckers/cars.

Or through Holyhead in If coming from Zeebrugge note that the North. This is possible, but longer journey times make it a bit more difficult. also there are less places to stop truckers usually can have two passengers on the manifest so if you travel this way you don't get liftsneed to pay for a ferry ticket. Swansea is an English speaking city You might be better off hitching with a car, but up North Welsh may because truck drivers are often more suspicious of people who want to be usefultaken across the channel - their livelihood depends on it, as UK police tend to arrest anybody who knowingly or not help illegal immigrants to enter the UK.

==== Hitchhiking from or towards [[Ireland]] ===={{infoneeded|Help complete There are ferries from [[Wales]] ([[Holyhead]] in the information North and providing [[Fishguard]] in the South), from Scotland (Troon, Cairnryan, Stranraer) and from England (around Liverpool). Currently, it on the Ireland page might only be possible to get across without paying if you can find a sympathetic driver who allows you to hide in their vehicle, as well}}every passenger pays separately.

==== Countries ====For more specific information about the countriesYour driver will also get a cabin with his ticket with four bunkbeds in it, islands and cities within so you will depending on wether your driver wants you in the ''United Kingdom''cabin or not, get a night on real sheets. (Cheapest alternative I have a look at been able to come across if you are still to do it in any legal way. Credit to SamanthaofTarth on the westeros internet forum for this overview of British constituent countries and affiliations: initial info.)

== Personal Experiences == '' [[CategoryUser:United KingdomOlcheMaith| Roaming Pencil]]has hitchhiked over 5000 km in the UK (Mid/North England, Wales and Scotland). She was initially apprehensive due to this page, but has found out that UK is great for hitchhiking, often with low waiting times, people offering rides even before you officially start hitchhiking, and very helpful drivers. '' [[Category:Northern Europe]]== Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==

{{IsIn|Northern Europe}}__NOTOC__ [[Category:United Kingdom]]{{Template[[Category:Northern Europe/countries}}]]