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The '''United Kingdom''' is a member state of the [[European Union]] 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 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!
British people donIf you't like stopping re hitchhiking long distances and considering making a sign, in unsafe places! Try general people use the motorway names rather than the city names. For example, from [[London]] to find [[South West England|Cornwall]] have a stop where sign saying ''M4''. But if you are hitching on a motorway with multiple cities (i.e. ''M1'') it's easy is an idea to use a sign with the city name (e.g. [[Nottingham]], [[Sheffield]]). Most people in the United Kingdom seems to stopbe 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 cost of lower trafficairports 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.
AlsoAs a final note, here rides are lifts and trucks are lorries :)
If == 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're hitchhiking long distances and considering making will have a sign, in general people use the motorway names rather than the city namesor if you don't have one, have some kind of paper map, because you will look more trustable from distance. For exampleAs they are afraid of terrorists, from [[London]] try to [[South West England|Cornwall]] have be as polite as possible, sometimes you'll encounter chatty people, chat a sign saying ''M4''. But little bit for their pleasure, and for you to calm down if you are hitching on a motorway with multiple cities (i.e. ''M1'') it is an idea trying to use get a sign with the city name (e.g. [[Nottingham]], [[Sheffield]])ride for longer time.
Most people If there are a lot of traffic coming through petrol station, or in the United Kingdom seems general, don't waste time going to speek to be afraid of terrorist attacksdrivers in rest area, criminals or whateverthey will pass you at some point. You can easily notice Try asking drivers if you are in good place for heading that junctionsdirection, stationsfor example: Strazdas007 was stuck on Maidstone services while trying to get to the North, as all drivers where going South, supermarkets and sometimes even pubs are video-monitored. They have naked scanners at or just around the airports and corner, so onhe just went back to Dover port. If you ask unknown people are in cities 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 dark last possible service sttation. Go for the way or for somethingpopular ones if you have a choice, like: Starbucks over Costa, they can be terrified or anxiousas it is with petrol stations - Shell over BP.
'''Insights about service stations method'''*As it is mentioned above, try to stick to motorway services, as lot of traffic is passingAlso, 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 possibleluck, 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. Also you can even get job offers (Strazdas007 got offer from driver to work as roofpainter or smth like that in service station near Leeds).*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.
==== Climate ====
==== Hitchhiking towards [[Western Europe]] ====
==== Hitchhiking from [[Western Europe]] ====
==== Hitchhiking from or towards [[Ireland]] ====
* Wikipedia contains [[:wikipedia:Category:Motorway_service_stations_in_the_United_Kingdom|articles about service stations]] on the motorways in the UK!
* [http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/15000.htm Another (maybe better?) Map of service stations]
==== Countries ==== For more specific information about the countries, islands and cities within the ''United Kingdom'', have a look at this overview of British constituent countries and affiliations: == Trashwiki & Nomadwiki == [[trashUser:United KingdomOlcheMaith|Roaming Pencil]] [[nomad:United Kingdom]]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. ''
{{Template:Europe/countries}}
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 = <rating country='uk' />
|BW = GB
}}
The '''United Kingdom''' is a country in [[Nothern 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]]. It is connected to mainland Europe via the [[English channel]]. As of 2020, it is no longer part of the [[European Union]].
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, very many students hitched in the 70s and 80s and they often give lifts now that they are rich and 50plus. '' [[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 driversolder. ''
Like anywhere else, it is illegal to walk on motorways, and so hitchhiking is best done from the bottom of [[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.
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.
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.
[[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).
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.
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.
If coming from Zeebrugge note that the truckers usually can have two passengers on the manifest so if you travel this way you don't need 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.
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.
== Links ==
{{nomadwiki}}
* [http://motorwayservicesonline.co.uk/services/map/ Map of Services Stations] - Motorway Services Online
* [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 ==
== Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==
{{nomadwiki}}
{{UK_constituent_countries}}
{{hitchbase_country|203}}
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[[Category:United Kingdom| ]]
[[Category:Northern Europe]]
