Global information

INTERNAL AFFAIRS

   POPULATION
UK 58 million
London 7 million

   TIME
GMT; British summertime (March-October), plus one hour

   TELEPHONE
IDD country code 44
Inner London 44-71
Outer London 44-81
Edinburgh 44-31
Manchester 44-61
To call internationally from the UK, dial 010 followed by the country code and then the number required.
For calls to places within the UK, dial the area code followed by the number required. Where your area code is the same as that of the number you are dialling, omit the area code.
Please note: effective from April 95 codes in London will change: 071 will become 0171, 081 will become 0181
For further information please call 100.
All telephone numbers listed below are 071 unless stated otherwise

Directory enquiries
UK 192
International 153
Operator services
UK 100
International 155
Emergency services 999
MCI 0800 890222
AT&T 0800 890011

   WEATHER
As London is one of the most unpredictable countries in the world for climate and weather, two useful telephone numbers to call for up-to-date information are:
0898 500401 (London forecast)
0898 500400 (National forecast)

   COMMERCIAL HOURS
Banks 9.30 to 16.45, Monday to Friday. Many branches open on Saturday mornings
Shops 9.30 to 17.30, Monday to Saturday. Late night shopping to 20.00 on Thursdays in London
Offices 9.30 to 17.30, Monday to Friday; film and TV offices tend to work later

   NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
2 January; 17 April (Easter weekend), 1 May, 29 May, 28 August, 25 & 26 December

   BEST GUIDES & MAPS
Eye Witness Travel Guides - London published by Dorling Kindersley
London A-Z for city-wide maps, can be bought in most newsagents
The AA Shop 30-31 Haymarket, SW1, and Standfords Book Shop on London Acre, Covent Garden, both have a wide range of good maps and guide books

   TOURIST INFORMATION
London Tourist Board Information services: Victoria Station, London SW1; Liverpool Street Station, London EC2; Selfridges department store, Oxford Street, London W1; and Heathrow.
British Travel Centre 12 Lower Regent Street, Piccadilly, London SW1 Tel 720 8701 - open daily Monday to Friday 9.00 to 18.30/Saturday & Sunday 10.00 to 16.00.
For general information concerning London's theatre and tourist attractions Tel 971 0026

   ELECTRIC CURRENT
220-240 volts, 50 cycles (hertz)

   EMERGENCIES
Police/Fire/Ambulance 999

   COURIERS
DHL 081 818 9000
Midnight Express 081 568 1568

   PUBLICATIONS
Daily newspapers: the Times, the Daily Telegraph, the Financial Times, the Guardian, the Independent, Daily Mail and
Daily Express

   THE OUT OF TOWNERS
Armathwaite Hall Bassenthwaite Lake, Keswick, Cumbria Tel (07687) 76551
Luxury living in the beautiful Lake District with a view to die for
Seckford Hall Woodbridge, Suffolk
Tel (0394) 385678 Quintessential England - Tudor beams, oak panelling and
four-poster beds
Cliveden House Taplow, Nr Maidenhead, Berks Tel (0628) 668561 Ancestral home of the Astor family, now a spectacular watering hole for the discerning

   TRADING PLACES
Number of screens in the UK (1993) 1890
VCR penetration (1993) 77.7%
TV penetration 97%

   TV NETWORKS
BBC Television BBC TV Centre, Wood Lane, London W12 7RJ Tel (081) 743 8000
Carlton Television 101 St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4AZ Tel 240 4000
Channel 4 60 Charlotte St, London W1P 2AX Tel 631 4444

   MAIN INDUSTRY EVENTS
London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
18-31 March
Edinburgh International Film Festival
13-26 August
Edinburgh Television Festival
25-28 August
Dinard Festival of British Film (France)
Last week September
Birmingham International Film & Television Festival
Mid October
London Programme Market
13-15 November
London Film Festival
2-19 November (Provisional dates)

   THE X FILES TIPPING
10% of the bill is standard; more if you feel the service and food has been exceptional.