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|country = United Kingdom
|in = Northern Europe
|map= <map lat='52.988337253395455' lng='-2.24121093753' zoom='65' view='3' floatcountry='United Kingdom' height='right450' />
|language = English; recognized regional languages are Welsh, Irish, Ulster Scots, Scots, Scottish Gaelic, Cornish
|capital = [[London]]
The '''United Kingdom''' is a member state of the [[European Union]] which forms the so-called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Travel_Area Common Travel area] with [[Ireland]] and is not part of the [[Schengen Agreement]]. Hitchhiking in the United Kingdom is feasible although the British are a little surprised (especially in [[England]]) to see people still doing it these days since it has become a dying trend largely due to the safety worries and very busy roads. You will still manage a ride somehow but you really need to be at the right spot. Hitching in [[Scotland]] or [[Wales]] tends to be more easy than in southern [[England]] although this depends from county to county. For example, the rural mentality in the [[South West (England)|South West]] makes it a lot more easier than trying to hitch in the [[South East (England)|South East]] or [[East (England)|East Anglia]]. It seems the closer you are to big cities, especially London the harder it is.
Like anywhere else, it is illegal to walk on motorways, and so hitchhiking is best done from the bottom of sliproads and at [[service stationsstation]] s (at discretion of the owner). Highways Agency officials may question you if you hitch from sliproads on motorways as technically you are not allowed to do this, but the police will not pay any interest; the Highways Agency staff are more pedantic than the police regarding that.
When travelling a long distance on the motorways it is best to stick to the service stations as getting a lift on a slip road will take an exceptionally longer time. Don't get dropped at any motorway junctions (''M25/M4'', ''M4/M5'' etc.) as traffic will be going too fast to stop and you will probably be picked up by the police. In case you ''do'' get dropped there your best option is probably to start walking a bit away from the highway, and if you're a foreigner, attach a sign to your backpack saying e.g. ''from Holland''.
Hitchhiking ''from'' [[England]] to [[France]] is possible. Just hitchhike in direction of [[Dover]] along the ''M20'' in the [[South East (England)|South East]] to reach the ferries or [[The Channel Tunnel]].
You can also hitch from Immingham docks in [[Hull ]] to [[Zeebrugge]]. Hitching from Scotland to [[Scandinavia ]] is also possible. Due to fears of terrorism and illegal immigration authorities may ask you not to wait near the docks.
==== Hitchhiking from [[Western Europe]] ====
Hitchiking ''to'' Great Britain is possible. When coming from [[France]], make sure you stay on the A26. Loads of truck drivers are heading from [[Switzerland]], [[Luxemburg]] and [[Germany]] to Great Britain. So if someone offers you a ride to [[Lille]], make sure you stay on the A26 or you might get stuck.
If coming from Zeebrugge note that the truckers usually can have 2 passengers on the manifest so if you travel this way you don't need to pay for a ferry ticket. Cars usually charge for every passenger on this route, but often from France its it's a price per car no matter how many are inside.
==== Hitchhiking towards [[Ireland]] ====
http://www.aferry.co.uk/dublin-holyhead-ferry.htm
Through [[Holyhead ]] in the North. This is possible, but longer journey times make it a bit more difficult. Also there are less places to stop if you don't get lifts.
==== Hitchhiking from [[Ireland]] ====
