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United Kingdom

4,403 bytes added, 18:07, 27 November 2021
Clean up. Remove dead links, restructure content, update some information like pop sizes, eu affiliation
|language = English; recognized regional languages are Welsh, Irish, Ulster Scots, Scots, Scottish Gaelic, Cornish
|capital = [[London]]
|pop = 6067,975081,000
|currency = Pound sterling (GBP)
|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 connected to mainland Europe via the safety worries, insurance issues and very busy roads. You will still manage a ride somehow but you really need to be at 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 PCs for free after a short(ish) free registration (some want Like anywhere else, it is illegal to see a passportwalk on motorways, some aren't that strictand so hitchhiking is best done from the bottom of [[slip road]]s and at [[rest area|service stations]] (at 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.
When 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 motorway, 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 == Climate 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]] ====
[[File:Carl Nai Maroc.jpg|thumb|300px|right|[[User:Carl|Carl]] and his hitch partner Naomi leaving [[Cardiff]] for [[Morocco]].]]
[[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]]. 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 people on this service station are locals, so you might be better off with a truck driver, they are parked behind the restaurant).  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' restaurant on the ferry! If you can't get a ride from a service station before Dover, wait by the BP station just over a mile before the ferry port in Dover. See the [[English channel]] page.  You can also hitch from the Immingham docks near Grimsby to [[Zeebrugge]] on a truck ferry. Hitching from Scotland to [[Scandinavia]] is also possible, see [[Scrabster]]. Due to fears of terrorism and illegal immigration authorities may ask you not to wait near the docks.
You can also hitch == Hitchhiking from [[Western Europe]] ==Hitchiking [[English channel|across the Immingham docks near Grimsby English Channel]] ''to '' Great Britain is possible. When coming from [[ZeebruggeFrance]] , make sure you stay on a the A26. Loads of truck ferry. Hitching drivers are heading from Scotland to [[ScandinaviaSwitzerland]], [[Luxembourg]] and [[Germany]] is also possibleto Great Britain. Due So if someone offers you a ride to fears of terrorism and illegal immigration authorities may ask [[Lille]], make sure you not to wait near stay on the docksA26 or you might get stuck.
==== Hitchhiking from [[Western Europe]] ====Hitchiking ''to'If you' Great Britain is possible. When coming from [[France]]re dropped off in Calais, make sure you stay on can start hitchhiking at the A26bottom of the bridge before the check-in. Loads of truck drivers are heading from [[Switzerland]]The price is the same for a car, no matter how many passengers (also in Dunkerque). People who booked in advance indicated how many passengers they would have, [[Luxembourg]] and [[Germany]] so it could be better not to Great Britainmention at the check-in that you're a hitchhiker (?). So if someone offers you A one way ticket as a ride foot passenger is € 40. On the parking lot where everyone's waiting to [[Lille]]board the ferry, make sure you stay on can often find another lift that goes in your direction. Just show your sign to all the A26 or you might get stuckwaiting truckers/cars.
If coming from Zeebrugge note that the truckers usually can have 2 two passengers on the manifest so if you travel this way you don't need to pay for a ferry ticket. Cars usually charge for every passenger on this route, but often from France it's a price per car no matter how many are inside, for example from Calais or Dunkerque. 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]] ====There are ferries from [[Wales]] ([[Holyhead]] in the North and [[Fishguard]] in the South), from Scotland (Troon, Cairnryan, Stranraer) and from England (around Liverpool). Currently, it 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 every passenger pays separately.
There From Birkenhead there is a ferry with DFDS seaways that goes either directly to Dublin or Belfast. Two ferries from [[Wales]] ([[Holyhead]] per day, one in the North morning and [[Fishguard]] one in the South), from Scotland (Troon, Cairnryan, Stranraer) and from England (around Liverpool)evening. Currently, it might only be possible to get across without paying if If you can find a sympathetic driver who allows you has already paid for his car + 1, then it is possible to hide amend that ticket and check in their vehiclewith the driver for only 10 euros. It would still be paying, as every passenger pays separatelybut on the ferry you get a dinner buffet and breakfast buffet.
==== 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.)
{{UK_constituent_countries}}(If you decide to pay, consider getting a Megabus for 25 Pound from London to Rosslare, ferry included, as this is already cheaper then the foot passenger ticket for the ferry only. Alternatively, there sometimes are decent Rail & Sail offers from London to Dublin, via the Holyhead Ferry.)
== Links ==
* Wikipedia contains [[:wikipedia:Category:Motorway_service_stations_in_the_United_Kingdom|articles about service stations]] on the motorways in the UK!{{nomadwiki}}
* [http://motorwayservicesonline.co.uk/services/map/ Map of Services Stations] - Motorway Services Online
* [http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/15000.htm Another (maybe better?) Map of service stations]
* [http://www.liftshare.org Liftshare.org] is a UK based lift share website
* [http://www.frixo.com Frixo Traffic Reports] – Live travel updates for UK roads / motorways
* [http://www.motorwayservices.info/ Motorway Services Info] UK Motorway Services Information (Reader's Comments)
 
== Personal Experiences ==
 
'' [[User:OlcheMaith|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. ''
 
== Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==
 
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[[Category:Northern Europe]]
[[es:Reino Unido]]
[[fi:Yhdistynyt kuningaskunta]]
[[fr:Royaume-Uni]]
[[pl:Wielka Brytania]]
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