The coastline includes fjord-like inlets in the northwest of Scotland, spectacular cliffs and wild sandy beaches on the east coast and, further south, beaches of rocks, shale and sand sometimes backed by dunes, and large areas of fenland in East Anglia. HM Queen Elizabeth II since 1953. Some Welsh is spoken in parts of Wales, Gaelic in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland, and French and Norman French in the Channel Islands. There are sizeable Jewish, Muslim and Hindu minorities. There are numerous public call boxes.
Some boxes take coins, others phonecards or credit cards.
Most hotels and offices have facilities. Stamps are available from post offices and many shops and stores. There are stamp machines outside some post offices. Post boxes are red. International postal connections are good.