General Information » Further Reading » Post & Courier Services

Post in the UK is generally efficient, but you can’t rely on its speed, while post offices can be chaotic with lengthy queues. Stamps can be bought at post offices, vending machines, supermarkets and newsagents; you can find your nearest post office at www.royalmail.com.

Items weighing under 1kg can be sent either by first or second class post; first class mail aims to deliver your letter or packet the next day (apart from Sundays, when there is no delivery) and currently costs 32p for standard-sized letters and small items weighing up to 100g. Second class post is a slower service normally delivered within three working days, but is up to a third cheaper than the first class service. A new

facility offered by Royal Mail allows you to print your postage from your PC

with a pre-paid account so you’ll never run out of stamps again – again, see www.royalmail.com for details. Airmail starts at 44p for a postcard or letter weighing up to 20g and takes on average between three and seven days to deliver. The UK’s iconic red post boxes can be found on pavements around the capital, and also outside all post offices.

Alternatively, courier companies offer delivery services ranging from the filing of business papers at administrative offices to the immediate transporting of items across the city, whether by messenger bike or parcel van (see p.22).