Airport
Each year, more than 5 million passengers use Edinburgh Airport's single terminal. Located 16 kilometers (10 miles) west of Scotland's capital, the airport provides easy access to main highways. Regular coach service to the city center and a dedicated taxi service is available, with travel time averaging half an hour. More than 20 airlines connect Edinburgh to about 45 destinations worldwide.

Visas
Citizens of the 15-member European Union, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Monaco, and Switzerland do not need a visa to enter the U.K. Those who do need visas include nationals of Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, and Vietnam. For other nationalities, a Web site of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office lets you find out whether you need a visa. You can also get forms and information leaflets and locate the nearest British consulate for sending applications.

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Currency
Scotland issues its own pound sterling notes with designs different from those of the Bank of England. The Bank of Scotland, Clydesdale Bank and The Royal Bank of Scotland issue notes in the following denominations: £5 (blue), £10 (brown), £20 (purple), £50 (green) and £100 (red). There are 100 pence to the pound sterling.
Scotland still issues £1 notes and though most places accept them, it may be better to change them to £1 coins before you leave Scotland. All coins bear the Queen's head on one side, but the £1 coins have different flip-sides to symbolize the different countries of Britain: lions for England, a thistle for Scotland. A new £2 coin has recently been introduced, in two-tone, with a silver coin bordered by gold.

Currency can be exchanged at all Tourist Information Centers and most banks and at agencies throughout Scotland. Be prepared to pay in cash or traveller's checks in the more remote parts of Scotland. Click here for currency conversion.

Credit Cards
Visa, MasterCard and American Express are widely accepted. However, there may be a minimum purchase requirement and credit cards may not be accepted by small bed and breakfasts, shops or even some larger stores like Marks & Spencer which operate their own store cards. ATM machines are available all over the UK, but check with your local bank for compatibility and charges.

Tipping
Tip 10%-15% if a service charge is not included on the bill.

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Useful Numbers
Emergency (Police/Fire Brigade/Ambulance/Coast Guard): 999
(No coins are needed for emergency calls made from public phone booths)
Hospital (Edinburgh Royal Infirmary): +0131 536-1000
Operator: 100
MasterCard Lost Card Hotline (UK): +0800 96-4767
Visa Lost Card Hotline (UK): +0800 89-1725
AT&T USA Direct: +0800 89-0011 (toll-free)
MCI Call USA: +0800 89-0222 (toll-free)
Sprint Express: +0800 89-0877 (toll-free)

Electricity
220v, 50 cycles AC. A three square-pronged adapter plug and/or electric converter for appliances is required.

Health Risks
In recent years, the Scottish government has made it illegal to harvest shellfish in some parts of the country after discovering high levels of toxins that cause Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning and Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning, whose symptoms include severe stomach cramps, vomiting, and memory loss. A ban in place for almost a year on the harvesting of scallops and queen scallops off the western coast of Scotland was lifted in mid-2000.

Time Zone
GMT
GMT + 1 (Daylight Saving Time) from March 26 to Oct. 28, 2000

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Business Hours
Most banks in Scotland are open from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, with some of the main branches open an extra hour and for a few hours on Saturday mornings. Many branches have 24-hour banking lobbies where a range of services can be obtained through ATMs.

Post offices are normally open between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and can be found throughout Edinburgh and its environs.

In cities, Thursday is usually late-night shopping, when shops stay open until 7 or 8 p.m. Scotland also has Sunday shopping. Many shops stay open until late in the evening during the summer months in popular visitor areas, particularly in the cities and larger towns.

Holidays
2008
01 Jan New Year's Day.
21 Mar Good Friday.
24 Mar Easter Monday (except Scotland).
05 May Early May Bank Holiday.
26 May Spring Bank Holiday.
25 Aug Summer Bank Holiday (except Scotland).
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

2009
01 Jan New Year's Day.
10 Apr Good Friday.
13 Apr Easter Monday (except Scotland).
04 May Early May Bank Holiday.
25 May Spring Bank Holiday.
31 Aug Summer Bank Holiday (except Scotland).
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

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Climate
Scotland, surrounded by sea on three sides, is on the path of prevailing southwesterly, rain-bearing winds from the Atlantic. The east coast tends to be cool and dry, the west coast milder and wetter. The country has long daylight hours. The best time to visit is April through September. Click here for an Edinburgh weather forecast.

Clothing
Dress codes are very similar to America's, and men are advised to wear a jacket and tie if they plan to eat in an upscale restaurant, visit a nightclub or other high-end entertainment places. Bring a light waterproof coat or windbreaker as it is usually misty and chilly.

GDP Growth Rate
1.6% (1999)
2.5% (forecast for 2000)

U.K.: 1.9% in 1999, from 2.2% in 1998. 2000 Forecast: 2.5%
GDP Per capita: $21,200

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Inflation
2.29% in 1999, from 2.65% in 1998

Exports
Scotland's exports include office machinery and data processing equipment, electronic products (including instrumentation and semi-conductors), chemicals, communication equipment, manufacturing machinery/equipment, metal manufactures, textiles, whisky, food and drinks, precision instruments, and sports equipment. Scotland produces 28% of Europe's PCs, or about 7% of the world's PCs.

Imports
Machinery, vehicles, chemicals, metals, foodstuffs and textiles

Trading Partners
France, United States, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Asia Pacific/Japan

Industries
Electronics, chemicals, office machinery manufacturing, tourism, education, health care, oil production, biotechnology, telecommunications, coalmining, steelmaking, shipbuilding and heavy engineering, insurance, banking and finance.

Teledensity
1.8 persons per telephone

Government
Scotland is one of the nations (with England, Wales and Northern Ireland) which constitute the United Kingdom. Following elections in May 1999, Scotland was granted its first parliament in 300 years. The Scottish Parliament, which sits in Edinburgh, is responsible for most aspects of Scottish life, while the national parliament in Westminster (London) retains responsibility for areas such as defense, foreign affairs and taxation.

The Scottish government is led by a first minister. A secretary of state for Scotland remains part of the UK Cabinet, and is supported by the Scotland Office based in Glasgow. Local government is divided into 29 unitary authorities and three island authorities.

Scotland has its own legal system, judiciary and education system which differ from those in England and Wales.

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Geography
Scotland forms the northern part of the island of Great Britain. It is 81,610 square kilometers (31,510 sq. miles) in area -- 440 km. long from north to south with a breadth of 248 km. at its widest point. Scotland is divided into three main regions: the Highlands, the Midland Valley and the Southern Uplands. The cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee and the majority of Scotland's industries are located within the Midland Valley. Scotland includes 787 islands, of which most belong to groups known as the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland. Only 62 of these islands exceed 8 square kilometers in area.

Edinburgh is set on the wide plain of the River Forth. The Scottish capital grew and prospered around the hills, the most prominent of which are Castle Rock and Arthur's Seat.

Population
UK: 60,776,238
Scotland: 5.12 million
Edinburgh: 458,000

Ethnic Groups
The Scots make up the majority of the population. The second biggest group is made up of the English, followed by the Irish and the Welsh. There are also small groups of other Europeans, Americans, Asians and Africans.

Languages
The official language in Scotland is English. Gaelic and Scots (which has many similarities to English, but also draws on French and Gaelic) are also spoken. Scots is the language of the Lowlands while Gaelic is the language of the Highlands & Islands.

Literacy Rate
99%

Religion
Most of the people in Scotland are Christians, with Catholics and members of the Church of Scotland making up the majority.
ScottishChristian.com provides links and a location guide to churches in Edinburgh.