Language

English

Currency

Pound Sterling (£)

Money

ATMs widely available. There are also a number of Bureaux de Change.

Credit and debit cards accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops. Some smaller shops and guesthouse accommodation may only accept cash.

Time Zone

Glasgow's timezone is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or one hour ahead of GMT, known as British Summer Time (BST), during the summer months.

Climate

Spring (March – May) in Glasgow enjoys mild temperatures with the city’s parks and gardens filled with spring flowers. The summer months (June to September) can vary between mild and warm and sunny, with the advantage of up to 16 hours of daylight for visitors throughout the summer. Winters are colder, with a January average of 4.0°C (39°F) and occasional snow. 

VisitScotland Information Centre

Visit Scotland's Information Centre in Glasgow is situated at Buchanan Galleries, Unit L3/3, 220 Buchanan Street, Glasgow G1 2FF.  For more info visit their website here.

Tipping

There are no hard and fast rules for tipping in Glasgow. If you are happy with the service, a 10-15% tip is customary, particularly in restaurants or cafés. Tipping in bars is not expected. For taxi fares, it’s usual to round up to the nearest pound (£).

Telephone codes

The UK country code is 44, while Glasgow landlines start with a 141 area code, followed by a 7 digit number. To call abroad, dial 00 before the area code.

VAT (Tax)

All purchases, with the exception of food, books and children's clothing, are subject to VAT, which is currently 20%. This is already included in the price shown in shops.

Visitors from non-EU countries can claim a refund of VAT from selected shops on goods to be taken out of the country under the Retail Export Scheme. You can find information on how to reclaim sales tax by visiting the HM Revenue & Customs website.

Safety

Glasgow is like any other big city and basic common sense rules apply. The centre of Glasgow is very safe and you should not encounter any problems. During the day, Police Officers and Community Enforcement Officers should be able to assist you if needed. 

Emergency services

In case of an emergency the police, ambulance or fire brigade service can be contacted by telephoning 999.

Visa requirements 

All visitors who wish to enter the UK must meet the requirements of the UK immigration regulations.

EU citizens can stay in Scotland for as long as required. Visitors from other European countries outside the EU can stay for up to three months.

Visitors from the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, can stay for up to six months, providing they have a return ticket and funds to cover the trip.

Visitors from any other country in the world will require a visa.

Application forms and information on how to apply for a visa, as well as guidance for visitors coming to the UK, is available on the UK Border Agency website.

Health

No vaccinations are required for visiting Scotland.

When travelling to Scotland from outside of the UK, make sure you know what emergency healthcare you are entitled to, what medicines you can bring into the country, what to do in an emergency, and what travel insurance you will need.

The Scottish Government provides detailed information on healthcare for overseas visitors in PDF, audio and large-print formats.

Faith Communities

For information about faith communities and places of worship in the city of Glasgow click here.