Population: 7.2 million

Time Zone: England follows Greenwich mean time (5 hr. ahead of Eastern Standard Time), For most of the year, including summer, Britain is 5 hours ahead of the time observed in the eastern United States. Due to Daylight-saving time practices in the two nations, there's a brief period (about a week) in autumn when Britain is only 4 hours ahead of New York, and a brief period in spring when it is 6 hours ahead of New York.

Area: 609 sq. miles

Telephone Area Code: 020

Average Temperatures:

When to Visit: British summertime lasting (roughly) from the end of March to the end of October is the time when most tourists visit. Rates are lower during the winter months. Rain is heaviest in November (2 1/2 in. on average). Evenings are cool, even in summer. In the winter, it is customary for the British to keep their thermostats about 10° below the American comfort level.

National Holidays:

New Year's Day Jan. 1

Good Friday (Varies: it is the Friday before Easter)

May Day First Monday in May

Whitsun Bank Holiday last Mon. in May

Bank Holiday last Monday in August

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dec. 24 and 25

Boxing Day December 26

New Year's Eve Dec. 31

Area Codes : The country code for England is 44. The area code for London is 020.