Page 217 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  215

Television and Radio
Airmail provides a
speedy and cost- The BBC (British Broadcast-
effective method ing Corporation) operates
of communication. eight TV channels, most of
Aerogrammes go first which are also available in
1st-class airmail letter class anywhere in the HD (high definition). BBC
world and cost the same Alba is a part-time Scottish
regardless of destination. Gaelic digital-only channel.
They take about three The BBC’s main rivals are ITV,
to four days to reach Channel 4 and Channel 5,
European cities, and but the BBC is the only
between four and seven one that does not show
1st-class stamp 2nd-class stamp days for destinations Pillar box commercials. The BBC
elsewhere. All mail sent operates a number of radio
within Europe goes via airmail, stations including BBC Radio
while overseas mail rates are Scotland, and services for Shet-
classed by weight. Sending post land and Orkney, and in Gaelic.
overseas by surface mail may be There are BBC digital-only
more economi cal, but it can stations as well as numerous
take anywhere up to 12 weeks competitors and local stations.
for it to reach its final destination.
The Post Office offers an express DIRECTORY
Greetings stamps featuring char acters from
children’s fiction deliv ery service called Mobile Phones
Parcelforce Worldwide.
the Post Office is also the only Available from most main 3
shop. Post Offices are usually Post Offices, Parcelforce is Tel (0800) 358 8460 or
open from 9am to 5:30pm comparable in price to many (0800) 338 1001.
Monday to Friday, and until private courier com panies. ∑ three.co.uk
12:30pm on Saturday. Mail-
boxes – in all shapes and sizes Newspapers and EE
but always red – are found Tel (0800) 956 6000. ∑ ee.co.uk
throughout cities, towns and Magazines 02
villages. These may be either National newspapers in Tel (08448) 090222 or
free-standing “pillar boxes” or Scotland fall into two (0344) 499 0202. ∑ 02.co.uk
wall safes, both painted bright categories: serious publications, Vodafone
red. Some pillar boxes have such as Edinburgh’s The Scots­ Tel (08700) 700191.
separate slots, one for overseas man or Glasgow’s The Herald; ∑ vodafone.co.uk
and first-class mail, another for and those that are heavy on
second-class mail. Initials on gossip, such as The Sun or Useful Numbers
older mailboxes indicate who The Daily Record. Weekend
was monarch at that time. newspapers, such as Scotland Emergency Calls
Mailboxes are often embed ded on Sunday and the Sunday Tel 999. Police, Fire, Ambulance,
Coastguard, Mountain and
in Post Office walls. Collections Herald, are more expen sive than Cave Rescue.
are usually made several times dailies, with many supple ments
a day during weekdays (less including sections on arts, Directory Enquiries
often on Sat urdays and rarely on restaurants, entertain ment, Tel 118500 (BT).
Sundays and public holidays); travel and reviews. International Tel 118505 (BT).
times are marked on the box. Operator Assistance
Stamps can be bought at Tel 100. International Tel 155.
many outlets, including International Dialling Codes
supermar kets and petrol Tel 00 followed by country code:
stations. Hotels often have Australia (61), Canada (1), Ireland
mailboxes at their reception. (353), New Zealand (64), South
When writing to an address Africa (27), United States (1).
anywhere in the UK always
include the postcode. Letters Postal Services
and postcards can be sent
either first or second class Parcelforce Worldwide
within the UK. First-class service Tel (0344) 800 4466.
is more expensive but quicker, ∑ parcelforce.com
with most letters reaching their Royal Mail
destination the following day Tel (0345) 774 0740.
(except Sunday); second-class Buying a tabloid newspaper from a ∑ royalmail.com
mail takes a day or two longer. stand in Glasgow

214-215_EW_Scotland.indd 215 10/23/17 11:57 AM