Wikitravel - Changes related to "Northern Ireland" [en]

Belfast

2013-05-21T10:30:46Z

‎Cope: delete false listing and more

Belfast

2013-05-20T21:00:45Z

‎Deputy High Commissions:

United Kingdom

2013-05-18T17:47:20Z

copyedit including correct external link format, sp., ip and MoS fixes; wtsi, sh-f, wta

Show changes

United Kingdom

2013-05-18T17:02:04Z

‎By boat:

Scotland

2013-05-17T20:03:10Z

per Wikitravel:Country article template "Understand" should be the FIRST section after the lede!

Show changes

Scotland

2013-05-17T15:52:43Z

‎Crime and safety:

United Kingdom

2013-05-15T17:38:29Z

remove duplicate mentions, correct external links format and more

United Kingdom

2013-05-15T17:33:48Z

‎Bank (public) holidays:

United Kingdom

2013-05-15T14:27:36Z

‎By plane:

United Kingdom

2013-05-15T12:49:11Z

‎Climate:

United Kingdom

2013-05-15T10:35:25Z

‎Respect: age groups are an important factor of tolerance and acceptance.

Ireland

2013-05-15T07:42:05Z

‎Learn: added missing school name

Wikitravel:How to edit a page

2013-05-15T06:15:55Z

‎Using the check boxes:

Rail travel in Ireland

2013-05-14T19:07:02Z

‎Belfast to Londonderry/Derry & Portrush: Disambiguate link to Antrim

Portrush

2013-05-14T19:05:52Z

Disambiguate link to Antrim

Scotland

2013-05-14T12:41:12Z

‎By plane: correct external link format

@@ Line 506: / Line 506: @@
 ==Cope==
-===Deputy High Commissions===
+===Consulates===
+* [[Image:us-flag.png|20px]] <listing name="United States" alt="" directions="" address="Danesfort House, 223 Stranmillis Rd" phone="+44 28 9038 6100" phoneextra="After hours emergencies +44 1253 501106" email="consularbelfast@state.gov" fax="+44 28 9068 2219" url="http://belfast.usconsulate.gov/" hours="M-F 08:30-17:00" price=""></listing>
-* [[Image:ml-flag.png|20px]]<listing name="Burkina Faso" alt="" directions="" address="Dull House, Fog Rd" phone="+44 0 28 9754 8750" phoneextra="After hours emergencies +44 0 1253 501536" email="consulardelabk@commemail.com" fax="+44 0 28 9068 2219" hours="M-F 8:30AM-5PM" price=""></listing>
-−
-* [[Image:us-flag.png|20px]] <listing name="United States" alt="" directions="" address="Danesfort House, 223 Stranmillis Rd" phone="+44 0 28 9038 6100" phoneextra="After hours emergencies +44 0 1253 501106" email="consularbelfast@state.gov" fax="+44 0 28 9068 2219" url="http://belfast.usconsulate.gov/" hours="M-F 8:30AM-5PM" price=""></listing>
 ==Get out==

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:00, 20 May 2013
(5 intermediate revisions by one user not shown)
Line 507:		Line 507:

	===Deputy High Commissions===		===Deputy High Commissions===
		+
		+	* [[Image:ml-flag.png\|20px]]<listing name="Burkina Faso" alt="" directions="" address="Dull House, Fog Rd" phone="+44 0 28 9754 8750" phoneextra="After hours emergencies +44 0 1253 501536" email="consulardelabk@commemail.com" fax="+44 0 28 9068 2219" hours="M-F 8:30AM-5PM" price=""></listing>

	* [[Image:us-flag.png\|20px]] <listing name="United States" alt="" directions="" address="Danesfort House, 223 Stranmillis Rd" phone="+44 0 28 9038 6100" phoneextra="After hours emergencies +44 0 1253 501106" email="consularbelfast@state.gov" fax="+44 0 28 9068 2219" url="http://belfast.usconsulate.gov/" hours="M-F 8:30AM-5PM" price=""></listing>		* [[Image:us-flag.png\|20px]] <listing name="United States" alt="" directions="" address="Danesfort House, 223 Stranmillis Rd" phone="+44 0 28 9038 6100" phoneextra="After hours emergencies +44 0 1253 501106" email="consularbelfast@state.gov" fax="+44 0 28 9068 2219" url="http://belfast.usconsulate.gov/" hours="M-F 8:30AM-5PM" price=""></listing>

@@ Line 345: / Line 345: @@
 ===By bus===
-Coaches are the cheapest way to travel to the UK from [[France]] and the [[Benelux]].
+Coaches are the cheapest way to travel to the UK from [[France]] and the [[Benelux]]. Eurolines [http://www.eurolines.co.uk/] offer daily services from [[Paris]], [[Amsterdam]] and [[Brussels]] to [[London]] Victoria coach station. Daily overnight coaches and limited day coaches travel between the UK and [[Ireland]]. Connections are available to most parts of the UK via the domestic National Express coach system, for most destinations it is cheaper to purchase this when purchasing your Eurolines tickets as discounts are available. Journeys take about 8-14 hours.
 Eurolines offer daily services from [[Paris]], [[Amsterdam]] and [[Brussels]] to
-[[London]] Victoria coach station.  Daily overnight coaches and limited day coaches travel between the UK and [[Ireland]]. Connections are available to most parts of the UK via the domestic National Express coach system, for most destinations it is cheaper to purchase this when purchasing your Eurolines tickets as discounts are available. Journeys take about 8-14 hours.
 Eurolines will also take you to/from other major European cities. Taking a budget flight is normally cheaper (but with a greater environmental impact), and spares you from a 24h+ bus journey.
-Various other operators compete with Eurolines, mostly between [[Poland]] and the UK; these come and go.
+Various other operators compete with Eurolines on some routes. Megabus [http://uk.megabus.com] competes with Eurolines buses between [[Paris]], [[Amsterdam]] and [[Brussels]] and [[London]]. Other companies, such as Polonia Transport [http://www.poloniatransport.pl/], compete with Eurolines between Eastern Europe and the UK; companies such as this usually come and go.
 ===By boat===
@@ Line 359: / Line 357: @@
 There are a large number of ferry routes into the UK from continental Europe. [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] serves a route from [[Amsterdam]] in the Netherlands. [[Harwich (England)|Harwich]] has ferries from [[Esbjerg]] in '''Denmark''' and [[Hoek van Holland]] in the '''Netherlands'''. You can also sail from [[Rotterdam]] in the Netherlands or [[Zeebrugge]] in '''Belgium''' to [[Kingston_Upon_Hull|Hull]], or from [[Zeebrugge]] to Rosyth, near [[Edinburgh]] (note that this service will cease carrying passengers in Dec 2010 [https://www.norfolkline-ferries.co.uk/EN/Scotland_Belgium_ferries/News/Update_on_Rosyth_Zeebrugge_Service/]). There is a regular connection between [[Ramsgate]] and [[Oostende]] in Belgium. There are 4 sailings a day and prices vary between €50 to €84.
-[[Dover (England)|Dover]] is one of Britain's most popular passenger ports with sailings from [[Zeebrugge]], [[Dunkerque]] and [[Calais]] in '''France'''. The Dover-Calais route is particularly busy, with three companies competing and up to 50 sailings per day. The ferry between Dover and Calais costs around £12-18 each way if on foot or bicycle, and around £80 for a car, although big discounts are available if booked in advance or with special offers. Passengers travelling from Calais or Dunkerque by ferry to the UK go through UK passport/identity card checks after French exit checks before boarding, and UK customs checks on arrival in the UK.
+[[Dover (England)|Dover]] is one of Britain's most popular passenger ports with sailings from [[Calais]] and [[Dunkirk]] in '''France'''. The Dover-Calais route is particularly busy, with three companies competing and up to 50 sailings per day. The ferry between Dover and Calais costs around £12-18 each way if on foot or bicycle, and around £80 for a car, although big discounts are available if booked in advance or with special offers. Passengers travelling from Calais or Dunkerque by ferry to the UK go through UK passport/identity card checks after French exit checks before boarding, and UK customs checks on arrival in the UK.
 On the south coast, [[Portsmouth]] serves ferries from [[Le Havre]], [[Caen]], [[Cherbourg]], [[St. Malo]] and [[Bilbao]] in '''Spain''' and there are speedy services between [[Dieppe]] and [[Newhaven]]. The other route from Spain is  [[Santander]] to [[Plymouth (England)|Plymouth]], Plymouth also has ferries from [[Roscoff]], [[Poole]] has ferries to [[Cherbourg]] as well as the [[Channel Islands]].

@@ Line 365: / Line 365: @@
 ===Souvenirs===
-The classic tourist souvenir is a kilt and everything else involving the tartan. Note that a real kilt costs about £300-400 and is made of heavy wool (so it will not reveal what you might or might not be wearing underneath even in strong winds), but most souvenir stores offer only unauthentic thin ones. If you really want a genuine kilt or full traditional outfit (kilt, sporran, jacket, shirt, and shoes) the best place to look is a clothing hire shop. These specialise in hiring suits and kilts for weddings and often sell ex-hire stock at reduced prices - otherwise the kilt will have to be made to order - this usually takes several weeks.
+The classic tourist souvenir is a kilt and everything else involving the tartan. Note that a real kilt costs about £300-400 and is made of heavy wool (so it will not reveal what you might or might not be wearing underneath even in strong winds), but most souvenir stores offer only unauthentic thin ones. If you really want a genuine kilt or full traditional outfit (kilt, sporran, jacket, shirt, and shoes) the best place to look is a clothing hire shop. These specialise in hiring suits and kilts for weddings and often sell ex-hire stock at reduced prices - otherwise the kilt will have to be made to order - this usually takes several weeks. An kilt set (Kilt, sporran, socks etc.) of reasonable quality for the purposes of a souvenir, can be bought for around £60-£100.
 The traditional highland kilt is a section of cloth about 6 feet wide and 14 feet long. This is wrapped about the body then then brought up over the shoulder and pinned in place, a little like a toga. The modern short kilt was introduced during the industrial revolution to give more freedom of movement.
@@ Line 401: / Line 401: @@
 * '''Scotch tablet''' is another local delicacy. It is very similar to fudge - but is slightly brittle due to its being beaten for a time while it sets! Great for any cold hikes you may be planning.
-* the '''Deep Fried Mars Bar''', regarded by many as an urban myth, ''does'' exist in Scotland. An NHS survey reported that roughly 22% of fast food joints and fish and chips shops in Scotland sell the item, at roughly 60 pence a go, mainly to school children and young adults. You will have to ask them to put one in the fryer, though. A chippy in [[Stonehaven]] claims to be the birthplace of this, er, "delicacy." Another equally improbable artery-clogging treat is '''deep-fried pizza'''. The ultimate 'heart-attack-on-a-plate' has to be the '''fribab''', the '''deep-fried kebab''' which can be done for ya in some of the crazier parts of Glasgow.
+* the '''Deep Fried Mars Bar''', previously an urban myth to highlight the poor Scottish diet, now ''does'' exist in Scotland as a result of the myth's spread. An NHS survey reported that roughly 22% of fast food joints and fish and chips shops in Scotland sell the item, at roughly 60 pence a go, mainly to school children and young adults. You will have to ask them to put one in the fryer, though. A chippy in [[Stonehaven]] claims to be the birthplace of this, er, "delicacy." Another equally improbable artery-clogging treat is '''deep-fried pizza'''. The ultimate 'heart-attack-on-a-plate' has to be the '''fribab''', the '''deep-fried kebab''' which can be done for ya in some of the crazier parts of Glasgow.
 Vegetarian food isn't as hard to find as you would think, with virtually all restaurants and cafés offering more than one vegetarian option. Vegan food is harder to find, but not impossible. Edinburgh especially has a good number of exceptional vegetarian and vegan restaurants.
@@ Line 415: / Line 415: @@
 * '''Beer''' - beer, especially the ales, is measured in pints. One pint equals just over half a litre (568ml). Scottish micro-breweries are doing quite well, possibly thanks to the "Campaign for Real Ale" in recent years.
-* '''Irn Bru''' [http://www.irn-bru.co.uk/] - a highly popular, fizzy, bright orange-coloured soft drink that is supposed to be the best cure for a hangover (be aware that it is loaded with caffeine and is acidic enough to clean coins!). It's so popular, it even outsells Coca-Cola, which no other native soft drink can claim. Supposedly it is made from Iron Girders (!) (To provide a balanced view however, it should also be noted that Coca Cola will clean coins as well.) '''Red Kola''' and '''Sugarelly''' (liquorice water) is similarly consumed.
+* '''Irn Bru''' [http://www.irn-bru.co.uk/] - A highly popular, fizzy, bright orange-coloured soft drink, produced by Scottish soft-drinks company A.G. Barr. It's so popular, it even outsells Coca-Cola, which no other native soft drink can claim. Given it's local popularity, many urban legends have surfaced surrounding it, such as it's use as a "hangover cure", that only two people in the world know the "secret recipe" and, as such, must take separate flights when travelling, or (thanks to an advertising campaign) that it's "Made From Girders". '''Red Kola''' and '''Sugarelly''' (liquorice water) is similarly consumed.
 * '''Whisky''' - Scotland's most famous export (note the lack of an 'e' that makes Scotch whisky unique!).  A good way to instantly endear yourself to the locals is when ordering Scotch in a pub, always ask for a "whisky" or simply "a half" - and the bartender will know exactly what you mean (in much the same way as asking for a "pint of beer" in Ireland will mean you are automatically served Guinness).  Asking for a "Scotch" will immediately identify you as a foreigner!
@@ Line 497: / Line 497: @@
 In any emergency call 999 or 112 (from a land-line if you can) and ask for Ambulance, Fire, Police or Coast Guard when connected.
 Scotland is generally a very safe country to visit. Like England and Wales, violent crime is a problem in some inner city areas, however, much of it occurs amongst hooligan-type, normally unarmed gangs, thus violent crime against tourists is rare. Petty crimes such as thefts and pickpocketing are lower than many other European countries, but vigilance at all times is required, especially in crowded areas. Crime rates vary greatly from urban to rural areas. You should approach clubs and bars at night with caution, especially around closing time when drink fueled violence occurs, the best thing to do is use common sense and avoid any fighting. The same advice extends to using public transport - especially buses - after dark.

@@ Line 372: / Line 372: @@
 ===By plane===
+Given the short distances involved, flying is rarely the cheapest or most convenient option for domestic travel within the UK with the possible exception of between southern England and Scotland, or where a sea crossing would otherwise be involved, such as between Britain and Northern Ireland or travel to and from many Scottish islands. The main domestic hubs are [[London]], [[Belfast]], [[Birmingham (England)|Birmingham]], [[Manchester]], [[Glasgow]] and [[Edinburgh]]. The arrival of budget airlines have seen a boom in domestic UK air travel, and have forced fares down considerably. To get the best fare, it is advisable to book as far in advance as possible. Many regional airports are not connected to the national rail network, with connections to the nearest cities served by relatively expensive buses. '''Photo ID''' is required before boarding most domestic flights in the UK, although British Airways does not require this. Check your airline's requirements carefully before setting out.
-Given the short distances involved, flying is rarely the cheapest or most convenient option for domestic travel within the UK with the possible exception of between southern England and Scotland, or where a sea crossing would otherwise be involved, such as between Britain and Northern Ireland or travel to and from many Scottish islands. The main domestic hubs are [[London]], [[Belfast]], [[Birmingham (England)|Birmingham]], [[Manchester]], [[Glasgow]] and [[Edinburgh]]. The arrival of budget airlines '''Flybe''' [http://www.flybe.com/] and '''easyJet''' [http://www.easyjet.com/] have seen a boom in domestic UK air travel, and have forced fares down considerably. To get the best fare, it is advisable to book as far in advance as possible. It is worth noting that many regional airports are not connected to the national rail network, with connections to the nearest cities served by relatively expensive buses. '''Photo ID''' is required before boarding most domestic flights in the UK, although British Airways does not require this. Check your airline's requirements carefully before setting out.
 'Screen-scraper' comparison websites can be a useful way to compare flight costs between airports or even city pairs (suggesting alternative airports, for instance). Beware that some airlines, such as Ryanair, object to being included in these searches, so these sites are not always comprehensive. Ryanair no longer operates any UK domestic flights.
 The following carriers offer domestic flights within the United Kingdom:
-*British Airways [http://www.britishairways.com/]: Domestic routes radiate from London Gatwick, Heathrow and City Airports.  BA no longer operate non-London routes.  Aberdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Isle of Man, Jersey, Manchester & Newcastle.
+*[http://www.britishairways.com/ British Airways]: Domestic routes radiate from London Gatwick, Heathrow and City Airports.  BA no longer operate non-London routes.  Aberdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Isle of Man, Jersey, Manchester & Newcastle.
-*Flybe [http://www.flybe.com/] - Aberdeen, Belfast City, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Campbeltown, Doncaster-Sheffield, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Guernsey, Inverness, Isle Of Man, Jersey, Leeds/Bradford, Liverpool, London Gatwick, Manchester, Manston-Kent, Newcastle, Newquay, Norwich, Southampton and Southend airports
+*[http://www.flybe.com/ Flybe] - Aberdeen, Belfast City, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Campbeltown, Doncaster-Sheffield, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Guernsey, Inverness, Isle Of Man, Jersey, Leeds/Bradford, Liverpool, London Gatwick, Manchester, Manston-Kent, Newcastle, Newquay, Norwich, Southampton and Southend airports
-*Loganair [http://www.loganair.co.uk/] operating as a franchise carrier for FlyBe - Eday, Kirkwall, North Ronaldsay, Papa Westray, Sanday, Stronsay, Westray airports.
+*[http://www.loganair.co.uk/ Loganair] operating as a franchise carrier for FlyBe - Eday, Kirkwall, North Ronaldsay, Papa Westray, Sanday, Stronsay, Westray airports.
-*bmi Regional [http://www.bmiregional.com/] - Aberdeen, Belfast City, Birmingham, bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Manchester, Norwich, Southampton airports.
+*[http://www.easyjet.com/ easyJet] - Aberdeen, Belfast International, Bournemouth, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Luton, London Stansted, London Southend and Newcastle airports.
-*Eastern Airways [http://www.easternairways.com/] - Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Durham, Humberside, Inverness, Isle Of Man , Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham East Midlands, Southampton, Stornoway, Wick airports.
+*[http://www.aurigny.com/ Aurigny Air Services] - Alderney, Bristol, Guernsey, Jersey, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Manchester, Southampton airports.
-*easyJet [http://www.easyjet.com/] - Aberdeen, Belfast International, Bournemouth, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Luton, London Stansted, London Southend and Newcastle airports.
+*[http://www.blueislands.com/ Blue Islands] - Alderney, Bournemouth, Brighton, Cardiff, Guernsey, Isle Of Man, Jersey, Southampton airports.
-*Aurigny Air Services [http://www.aurigny.com/] - Alderney, Bristol, Guernsey, Jersey, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Manchester, Southampton airports.
+*[http://www.manx2.com/ Manx2] - Belfast City, Isle Of Man, Blackpool, Leeds, Newcastle, Oxford, Anglesey, Cardiff, Gloucester airports.
-*Blue Islands [http://www.blueislands.com/] - Alderney, Bournemouth, Brighton, Cardiff, Guernsey, Isle Of Man, Jersey, Southampton airports.
+*[http://www.ios-travel.co.uk/ Isles Of Scilly Skybus] - Bristol, Exeter, Isles Of Scilly (St. Mary's), Newquay, Southampton airports.
-*Manx2 [http://www.manx2.com/] - Belfast City, Isle Of Man, Blackpool, Leeds, Newcastle, Oxford, Anglesey, Cardiff, Gloucester airports.
+*[http://www.jet2.com/ Jet2] - Belfast International, Blackpool, Leeds/Bradford, London Gatwick, Newcastle airports.
-*Isles Of Scilly Skybus [http://www.ios-travel.co.uk/] - Bristol, Exeter, Isles Of Scilly (St. Mary's), Newquay, Southampton airports.
+*[http://www.cityjet.com/ CityJet] (now part of AF/KLM) - Dundee and Edinburgh from London City.
-*Jet2 [http://www.jet2.com/] - Belfast International, Blackpool, Leeds/Bradford, London Gatwick, Newcastle airports.
+*[http://www.islesofscillyhelicopter.com/ British International] - Isles Of Scilly (St. Mary's), Isles Of Scilly (Tresco), Penzance airports.
-*CityJet [http://www.cityjet.com/] (now part of AF/KLM) - Dundee and Edinburgh from London City.
+*[http://www.atlantic.fo Atlantic Airways Faroe Islands] - Stansted and Shetland Islands (Sumburgh) airports.
-*British International [http://www.islesofscillyhelicopter.com/] - Isles Of Scilly (St. Mary's), Isles Of Scilly (Tresco), Penzance airports.
+*[http://www.blueislands.com/ Blue Islands Airline] - Flights from Guernsey, Jersey, Southampton to Europe, Channel Islands and the UK.
-*Atlantic Airways Faroe Islands [http://www.atlantic.fo] - Stansted and Shetland Islands (Sumburgh) airports.
-*Blue Islands Airline [http://www.blueislands.com/] - Flights from Guernsey, Jersey, Southampton to Europe, Channel Islands and the UK.
 ===By train===
-[[Image:Aberdeen large station sign.JPG|thumb|right|200px|The double-arrow symbol signifies a railway station or the rail network throughout Britain. It appears prominently on all stations as well as road signs and maps.]][[Image:UK rail map.png|thumb|right|Simplified UK Rail Network]]
+[[Image:Aberdeen large station sign.JPG|thumb|The double-arrow symbol signifies a railway station or the rail network throughout Britain. It appears prominently on all stations as well as road signs and maps.]][[Image:UK rail map.png|thumb|upright=1.8|Simplified UK Rail Network]]
 '''See also [[Rail travel in the United Kingdom]]'''

@@ Line 105: / Line 105: @@
 Where a bank holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, it is moved to the following Monday. If both Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on a weekend, the Boxing Day holiday is moved to the following Tuesday.
-A full list of bank holidays for future years can be viewed at [http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/LivingintheUK/DG_073741].
+A full list of bank holidays for future years can be viewed [http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/LivingintheUK/DG_073741 here].
 ==Regions==

@@ Line 76: / Line 76: @@
 ===Climate===
-The UK has a benign humid-temperate climate moderated by the North Atlantic current and the country's proximity to the sea. Warm, damp summers and mild winters provide temperatures pleasant enough to engage in outdoor activities all year round. Having said that, the weather in the UK can be changeable and conditions are often windy and wet. British rain is world renowned, but in practice it rarely rains more than two or three hours at a time and often parts of the country stay dry for many weeks at a time, especially in the East. More common are overcast or partly cloudy skies. It is a good idea to be prepared for a change of weather when going out; a jumper and a raincoat usually suffice when it is not winter. In summer temperatures can reach 30º in parts and in winter temperatures may be mild, i.e. 10º in southern Britain and -10º in Scotland.
+Because the UK stretches nearly a thousand km from end to end, temperatures can vary quite considerably between north and south. Differences in rainfall are also pronounced between the drier east and wetter west. Scotland and north-western England (particularly the Lake District) are often rainy and cold. Alpine conditions with heavy snowfall are common in the mountains of northern Scotland during the winter. The north-east and Midlands are also cool, though with less rainfall. The south-east and east Anglia are generally warm and dry, and the south-west warm but often wet. Wales and Northern Ireland tend to experience cool to mild temperatures and moderate rainfall, while the hills of Wales occasionally experience heavy snowfall. Even though the highest land in the UK rarely reaches more than 1,100&nbsp;m, the effect of height on rainfall and temperature is great.
-−
-Because the UK stretches nearly a thousand kilometres from end to end, temperatures can vary quite considerably between north and south. Differences in rainfall are also pronounced between the drier east and wetter west. Scotland and north-western England (particularly the Lake District) are often rainy and cold.  Alpine conditions with heavy snowfall are common in the mountains of northern Scotland during the winter.   The north-east and Midlands are also cool, though with less rainfall. The south-east and east Anglia are generally warm and dry, and the south-west warm but often wet. Wales and Northern Ireland tend to experience cool to mild temperatures and moderate rainfall, while the hills of Wales occasionally experience heavy snowfall. Even though the highest land in the UK rarely reaches more than 1300 metres, the effect of height on rainfall and temperature is great.
 ===Bank (public) holidays===

@@ Line 1,108: / Line 1,108: @@
 If you are bringing or hiring a car, be sure to lock the doors if you leave your car, and always park in a busy, well-lit area. Don't leave valuables on display in a parked car - satellite navigation systems are a particular target.
-The age of both heterosexual and homosexual consent is 16 throughout the United Kingdom. Teenagers are generally seen as still children (except those 18 or over, but '''always ask for proof of age, e.g. passport to prove someone's age, just to be safe.''') and you could be termed a paedophile and treated as such. Homosexuality is generally accepted amongst people throughout the whole country.
+The age of both heterosexual and homosexual consent is 16 throughout the United Kingdom. However, even though the law support LGBT rights, British society is still homophobic. Young people, especially male teenagers and young men are likely to physical attack as well as hurl insults at openly gay travellers.
-Racism is not common in the UK, and racially motivated violence is very rare. The main concern for Britons isn't racism; the government strongly encourages the notion of a multi-cultural society, but recent high levels of immigration have been of debate. However, the UK is generally regarded by its own immigrant population as being amongst the most liberal and tolerant of European countries in this respect, but obviously there will be some people who are exceptions. Most Britons will go out of their way to make tourists and immigrants feel welcome and it's not uncommon for police to impose harsh punishments on any form racial abuse - physical or verbal.
+Racism is not common in the UK, and racially motivated violence is very rare. Most Britons are strongly opposed to racism. The main concern for Britons isn't racism; the government strongly encourages the notion of a multi-cultural society, but recent high levels of immigration have been of debate. However, the UK is generally regarded by its own immigrant population as being amongst the most liberal and tolerant of European countries in this respect, but obviously there will be some people who are exceptions. Most Britons will go out of their way to make tourists and immigrants feel welcome and it's not uncommon for police to impose harsh punishments on any form racial abuse - physical or verbal.
 ===Police===
@@ Line 1,183: / Line 1,183: @@
 Do the V sign with the '''palm facing outward''' to indicate either "peace" or "victory"; do the '''reverse''' with the palm facing inward if you wish to be extremely offensive.
-Same-sex displays of affection will not likely cause upset or offence apart from some areas such as the rural towns like the Yorkshire valleys and rural Lincolnshire, and in rougher parts of many cities. Cities and towns with larger gay populations include [[London]], [[Birmingham]], [[Manchester]], [[Brighton (England)|Brighton]], [[Bournemouth]] and [[Edinburgh]]. Cities such as Brighton host pride festivals each year. Civil partnerships have been legal since 2005. However, someone looking to start a fight may decide to treat this as a pretext. Try to avoid eye contact with drunken men in city centres at night, especially if they are in a large group. It is also important to note, if in [[Northern Ireland]], same-sex displays and activities are rarely shown, outside [[Belfast]], where many will still hold conservative values. Keep in mind, while in [[Belfast]] some areas are safer than others in showing affection.
+Same-sex displays of affection will not likely cause upset or offence to middle-aged and older adults apart from some areas such as the rural towns like the Yorkshire valleys and rural Lincolnshire, and in rougher parts of many cities. People who are generally homophobic are younger people from all parts of the UK and all socioeconomic levels, with males often intimidating and physically attacking them. Females will often mock and socially isolate. Older people are often tolerant with a small minority of Britons who are accepting. Cities and towns with larger gay populations include [[London]], [[Birmingham]], [[Manchester]], [[Brighton (England)|Brighton]], [[Bournemouth]] and [[Edinburgh]]. Cities such as Brighton host pride festivals each year. Civil partnerships have been legal since 2005. However, someone looking to start a fight may decide to treat this as a pretext. Try to avoid eye contact with drunken men in city centres at night, especially if they are in a large group. It is also important to note, if in [[Northern Ireland]], same-sex displays and activities are rarely shown, outside [[Belfast]], where many will still hold conservative values. Keep in mind, while in [[Belfast]] some areas are safer than others in showing affection.
 Urinating in public is against the law; if you're caught, you'll be given a telling off by the police, made to pay an £80 fine and, in some areas, be made to clean up your own urine with a mop and disinfectant.

@@ Line 475: / Line 475: @@
 You can learn many interesting facts about Ireland's history and culture. One of the things Ireland is most famous for is Irish dancing. (''Riverdance,'' a popular show centered on Irish step dancing, started in Ireland.) Irish traditional music is also popular throughout.
-Ireland has internationally-respected universities, including the venerable Trinity College Dublin (the only college of the University of Dublin). The National University of Ireland has constituent colleges in Dublin, Galway, Cork and Maynooth. Other colleges/universities include Dublin City University (DCU), University of Limerick (UL), Institues of Technology in the larger towns/cities around the country and other higher education colleges.
+Ireland has internationally-respected universities, including the venerable Trinity College Dublin (the only college of the University of Dublin). The National University of Ireland has constituent colleges in Dublin, Galway, Cork and Maynooth. Other colleges/universities include Dublin City University (DCU), University College Dublin (UCD), University of Limerick (UL), Institues of Technology in the larger towns/cities around the country and other higher education colleges.
 Literature has many great Irish authors (writing in both Irish and in English), including James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde, Brendan Behan and Oliver Goldsmith. The writer of ''Gulliver's Travels'', Dean Jonathan Swift, was from Dublin, and poets W. B. Yeats and Patrick Kavanagh also hailed from Ireland. There are many literary tourist attractions and tours in Dublin, especially.

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 If you are [[Special:userlogin|logged in]] to a [[Wikitravel:How to create a user account|user account]] there will be a '''This is a minor edit''' checkbox for marking your changes as "minor". The idea with this is that people reviewing page history or recent changes can filter out unimportant changes. It's up to you to determine what makes your changes "minor" -- usually, spelling corrections, grammar, or formatting changes are "minor", and changes to the real information on a page are not.
-The '''Watch this article''' checkbox puts this article on your [[Wikitravel:Watchlist help|watchlist]]. Any changes to the article, or to the article's talk page, by you or anyone else will show up in your watchlist, so you can keep an eye on the article.
+The '''Watch this article''' checkbox puts this article on your ''[[Wikitravel:Watchlist help|Watchlist]]''. Any changes to the article, or to the article's talk page, by you or anyone else will show up in your Watchlist, so you can keep an eye on the article.
-The default setting -- whether these checkboxes are checked or not by default -- can be set in your [[Wikitravel:User preferences help|user preferences]].
+The default setting -- whether these checkboxes are checked or not by default -- can be set in your user ''[[Wikitravel:User preferences help|Preferences]]''.
 ==Starting new pages==
-If you are starting a new page from scratch, please make use of our '''[[Wikitravel:Article templates|templates]]''' which helps to organize the information on a page and give a consistent look. See [[Wikitravel:How to start a new page]] for more information.
+If you are starting a new page from scratch, please make use of our '''[[Wikitravel:Article templates|Article templates]]''' which help to organise the information on a page and give a consistent look. See [[Wikitravel:How to start a new page]] for more information.
 ==Restoring previous article versions==
-If an editor changes or removes content from an article the old versions of the article are still available from the article's history.  To view article history, click on the "history" tab for any article, then click on the date for the revision that you are interested in.  To revert the article to the specified revision, simply click on the "edit" tab while viewing the old version and then re-save the version.  Alternately, if you just want to revert a single edit click on the "undo" link from an article's history next to the edit that is being reverted.
+If an editor changes or removes content from an article the old versions of the article are still available from the article's history.  To view article history, click on the "'''View history'''" tab for any article, then click on the date for the revision that you are interested in. To revert the article to the specified revision, simply click on the "edit" tab while viewing the old version and then re-save the version.  Alternately, if you just want to revert a single edit click on the "undo" link from an article's history next to the edit that is being reverted.
 ==See also==

@@ Line 135: / Line 135: @@
 ====Belfast to Londonderry/Derry & Portrush====
-Serving [[Belfast]] Great Victoria Street, [[Belfast]] Central, [[Antrim]], [[Ballymena]], Cullybackey, Balleymoney, [[Coleraine]], Castlerock, Bellarena and [[Londonderry]]/[[Derry]] stations, with a shuttle and occasional direct trains splitting at Coleraine for [[Portrush]]. As even railway employees will advise you, the Ulsterbus Goldline coach betwen Belfast and Derry is significantly quicker than the train, although the journey is much more scenic as the railway follows the beautiful Antrim coast from Coleraine along the shore of Lough Foyle into Derry.
+Serving [[Belfast]] Great Victoria Street, [[Belfast]] Central, [[Antrim (town)|Antrim]], [[Ballymena]], Cullybackey, Balleymoney, [[Coleraine]], Castlerock, Bellarena and [[Londonderry]]/[[Derry]] stations, with a shuttle and occasional direct trains splitting at Coleraine for [[Portrush]]. As even railway employees will advise you, the Ulsterbus Goldline coach betwen Belfast and Derry is significantly quicker than the train, although the journey is much more scenic as the railway follows the beautiful Antrim coast from Coleraine along the shore of Lough Foyle into Derry.
 ====Belfast to Larne====

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 ===By public transport===
-Either the train or bus can be used to get to Portrush, with regular connections to the town of Coleraine where services onwards to [[Belfast]] and [[Londonderry]] can be caught. Trains tend to be a little cheaper, and often quicker than the bus, though neither service is particularly frequent, so it is best to check the timetables in advance. From Belfast International Airport, a shuttle bus can be taken to the town of [[Antrim]] where connecting rail and bus services can be found. From Belfast City Airport, take the shuttle bus to the city centre for your connections, whilst from the City of Derry Airport, buses leave outside the terminal but you will be required to change at least once in order to reach the Portrush area.
+Either the train or bus can be used to get to Portrush, with regular connections to the town of Coleraine where services onwards to [[Belfast]] and [[Londonderry]] can be caught. Trains tend to be a little cheaper, and often quicker than the bus, though neither service is particularly frequent, so it is best to check the timetables in advance. From Belfast International Airport, a shuttle bus can be taken to the town of [[Antrim (town)|Antrim]] where connecting rail and bus services can be found. From Belfast City Airport, take the shuttle bus to the city centre for your connections, whilst from the City of Derry Airport, buses leave outside the terminal but you will be required to change at least once in order to reach the Portrush area.
 To plan your train or bus trip, use translink (http://www.translink.co.uk/jp/jpclient.exe?NewQuery=NewQuery).

@@ Line 153: / Line 153: @@
 * '''Edinburgh Airport''', 10 miles west of the city, has direct flights from Alicante, Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Basel, Bergerac, Berlin, Billund, Bratislava, Bremen, Brussels, Budapest, Cologne, Copenhagen, Cork, Dortmund, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Faro, Frankfurt, Galway, Gdansk, Geneva, Gothenburg, Helsinki, Ibiza, Istanbul, Katowice, Kaunas, Knock, Krakow, Lisbon, Lyon, Madrid, Mahon, Malaga, Malta, Marrakech, Marseille, Milan, Munich, Murcia, New York, Nice, Oslo, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Paris, Pisa, Poznan, Prague, Pula, Rennes, Rome, Shannon, Sharm el Sheikh, Stockholm, Tampere, Tenerife, Toronto, Toulouse, Venice, Vilnius and Zurich. You can also connect to destinations worldwide via London, with frequent direct shuttle flights from London airports.
 * '''Glasgow International Airport''', 8 miles west of the city, has direct flights from Alicante, Amsterdam, Belfast, Berlin, Bourgas, Calgary, Copenhagen, Dominican Republic, Dubai, Dublin, Faro, Geneva, Gran Canaria, Heraklion, Las Vegas, Madeira, Malta, New York (Newark), Orlando, Palma de Mallorca, Paris, Philadelphia, Reykjavík, Sharm el Sheikh, Tenerife, Toronto and Vancouver. You can also connect worldwide via London.
-* '''Glasgow Prestwick International Airport''', situated 30 miles south west of Glasgow, is a hub of budget airline Ryanair [http://www.ryanair.com] with domestic flights to London Stansted and Bournemouth; and international flights to Brussels, Bergamo, Budapest, Cork, Dublin, Girona, Gothenburg, Hamburg, Kaunas, Malta, Milan, Murcia, Oslo (Torp), Paris, Pisa, Reus, Riga, Rome, Shannon, Warsaw and Wroclaw. Be aware that there is an additional train journey of up to an hour from this airport into Glasgow city centre. Aer Arann [http://www.aerarann.ie] flys twice weekly from Donegal International Airport into Prestwick.
+* '''Glasgow Prestwick International Airport''', situated 30 miles south west of Glasgow, is a hub of budget airline [http://www.ryanair.com Ryanair] with domestic flights to London Stansted and Bournemouth; and international flights to Brussels, Bergamo, Budapest, Cork, Dublin, Girona, Gothenburg, Hamburg, Kaunas, Malta, Milan, Murcia, Oslo (Torp), Paris, Pisa, Reus, Riga, Rome, Shannon, Warsaw and Wroclaw. Be aware that there is an additional train journey of up to an hour from this airport into Glasgow city centre. [http://www.aerarann.ie Aer Arann] flys twice weekly from Donegal International Airport into Prestwick.
 * '''Inverness Airport''', situated 7 miles north east of the city.
 * '''Dundee Airport''', situated a few miles from the city centre with domestic flights to Birmingham, London & Belfst.
 There are many UK domestic flights operating to Scotland including:
+*[http://www.flybmi.com BMI] flights from London Heathrow, Manchester, Leeds-Bradford, and Norwich
-* BMI [http://www.flybmi.com] flights from London Heathrow, Manchester, Leeds-Bradford, and Norwich
+*[http://www.bmibaby.com BMIbaby] flights from Nottingham East Midlands.
-* BMIbaby [http://www.bmibaby.com] flights from Nottingham East Midlands.
+*[http://www.british-airways.co.uk British Airways] flights from London (Heathrow, Gatwick and City)
-* British Airways [http://www.british-airways.co.uk] flights from London (Heathrow, Gatwick and City)
+*[http://www.cityjet.com CityJet] flights from London City.
-* CityJet [http://www.cityjet.com] flights from London City.
 * Eastern Airways [http://www.easternairways.com] flights from Birmingham, Durham Tees Valley, Humberside, Leeds-Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham East Midlands, and Southampton.
-* Easyjet [http://www.easyjet.com] flights from London Gatwick, London Luton, London Stansted, Bristol, and Belfast.
+*[http://www.easyjet.com Easyjet] flights from London Gatwick, London Luton, London Stansted, Bristol, and Belfast.
-* Flybe [http://www.flybe.com] flights from Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter, Jersey, Manchester, Manston-Kent, Newquay, Norwich and Southmapton.
+*[http://www.flybe.com Flybe ] flights from Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter, Jersey, Manchester, Manston-Kent, Newquay, Norwich and Southmapton.
-No airport in Scotland, except Glasgow Prestwick, is connected to the rail network, meaning travellers have to use a dedicated bus service to the city centre, or take a taxi. However, a tram line is currently under construction between Edinburgh Airport and Edinburgh city centre, and is expected to be operational by 2014. Passengers arriving at and departing from Prestwick may use their boarding pass to claim a 50% discount on single train tickets between the airport and any station in Scotland.[http://www.gpia.co.uk/AirportInfo/HowTo/train.asp]
+No airport in Scotland, except Glasgow Prestwick, is connected to the rail network, meaning travellers have to use a dedicated bus service to the city centre, or take a taxi. However, a tram line is currently under construction between Edinburgh Airport and Edinburgh city centre, and is expected to be operational by 2014. Passengers arriving at and departing from Prestwick may use their boarding pass to claim a [http://www.gpia.co.uk/AirportInfo/HowTo/train.asp 50% discount on single train tickets between the airport and any station in Scotland].
 ===By train===