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|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.

Like anywhere else, it Hitchhiking in the United Kingdom is illegal to walk on motorways, and so hitchhiking is best done from feasible although the bottom of [[slip road]]s and at British are a little surprised (especially in [[service stationEngland]]s (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 thissee 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 the police also extremely cheap coach fares. You will not pay any interest; the Highways Agency staff are more pedantic than still manage a ride somehow but you really need to be '''at the police regarding thatright 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!

When traveling a long distance on 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 motorways [[South West England|South West]] makes it is best a lot more easier than trying to stick hitch in the [[South East England|South East]]. It seems the closer you are to big cities, especially London, the service stations as getting a lift on a slip road will take an exceptionally longer timeharder it is. Don't Furthermore, especially in the South of England, people have some kind of you-only-get dropped at any motorway junctions -what-you-merit-(''M25/M4''equals: work for)-attitude, ''M4/M5'' etc.) as traffic will be going too fast which is why they sometimes react with unfriendliness to stop and you will probably be picked up by the policeidea of hitching. In case you ''do'' get dropped there your best option is probably to start walking a bit away from On the motorwayother hand, many students hitched in the 70s and 80s and if you're a foreigner, attach a sign to your backpack saying e.g. ''from Holland''they often give lifts now that they are older.

Useful tip: In city libraries you can use Internet PC'Like anywhere else, it is illegal to walk on motorways, and so hitchhiking is best done from the bottom of [[slip road]]s for free after a short free registration and at [[rest area|service stations]] (some want to see a passport, some aren't that strictat discretion of the owner). Legally Highways Agency officials may question you if you hitch from sliproads on motorways as technically you are not allowed to do this should be available to everyone, but in some localities, the police will not pay any interest; the Highways Agency staff may say its only available to local residents or library members. In this case just ask to join are more pedantic than the librarypolice regarding that.

If you're hitchhiking When traveling a long distances and considering making a sign, in general people use distance on the motorway names rather than motorways it is best to stick to the city namesservice stations as getting a lift on a slip road will take an exceptionally longer time. For exampleDon't get dropped at any motorway intersection junctions (''M25/M4'', from [[London]] to [[South West (England)|Cornwall]] have a sign saying ''M4/M5''etc. But if ) as traffic will be going too fast to stop and you are hitching on a motorway with multiple cities (i.ewill probably be picked up by the police. In case you ''M1do'') it get dropped there your best option is an idea probably to use start walking a bit away from the motorway, and if you're a foreigner, attach a sign with the city name (to your backpack saying e.g. [[Nottingham]], [[Sheffield]])''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. Also, with some luck, you can even get job offers (Strazdas007 got offer from driver to work as roofpainter or smth like that in service station near Leeds). ==Climate ==The UK is infamous for its rainy [[weather]]. The oceanic climate makes the weather changeable from one day to the next and causes comparatively long but light phases of rain. This doesn't mean it's always raining, but it ''can'' always rain. Be prepared and always have waterproof clothes with you. The rainiest months are October−January. As a rule of thumb, one could say the further west and the higher the elevation, the greater the rainfall. Contradicting the cliché, some parts of south and west England are surprisingly dry and may even have drought problems in summer. An advantage of the mild oceanic climate is that it does not get extremely cold or hot. == Hitchhiking towards [[Western Europe]] ====

[[English channel|Hitchhiking the English Channel]] ''from'' [[England]] to [[France]] is possible. Just hitchhike in direction of [[Dover]] along the ''M20'' in the [[South East (England)|South East]] to reach the ferries or [[Channel Tunnel|The Channel Tunnel]]. You can also hitch from Immingham docks Once you're there, you could either try to find a lift in Dover or in [[Hull]] to [[Zeebrugge]]a more relaxed atmosphere on one of the services along the M20, e. Hitching from Scotland to [[Scandinavia]] is also possibleg. Due to fears Maidstone Services (note however that a lot of terrorism and illegal 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 to 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 it's 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.

Ferry Timetables If 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 boats between Ireland and Britainhttp://wwwa car, no matter how many passengers (also in Dunkerque). People who booked in advance indicated how many passengers they would have, so it could be better not to mention at the check-in that you're a hitchhiker (?).aferryA one way ticket as a foot passenger is € 40.coOn the parking lot where everyone's waiting to board the ferry, you can often find another lift that goes in your direction.ukJust show your sign to all the waiting truckers/dublin-holyhead-ferrycars.htm

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. You might be better off hitching with a car, because truck drivers are often more suspicious of people who want to be taken 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.)

[[Category:United Kingdom| ]]