Daily life in the Isle of Man is similar in many ways to other parts of Britain - but although getting around, shopping, eating and staying informed are generally straightforward, a little local 'know-how' can go a long way...
The minimum legal age for driving is 16. Motorists drive on the left-hand side and distances and speed limits are measured in miles. Learner drivers must display 'L' plates and newly qualified drivers display 'R' plates for their first year. Both the RAC and AA operate on the Isle of Man. New residents must re-register their vehicles as soon as possible and obtain a Manx driving licence within three months of arrival. There's no speed limit on open roads but built-up areas have restrictions as low as 20mph and the Police use hand-held 'speed guns' and roadside breathalysers to catch law breakers. Drink-driving invites serious penalties and very few people risk it.
The volume of traffic at busy times, especially in Douglas, can be surprisingly heavy but if you'd rather not use a car there is a frequent bus service along the main coastal roads and within Douglas, Ramsey and Port Erin, with a more infrequent service to country areas. During the summer it's also possible to travel almost continuously (allowing for the extra time involved!) from Ramsey to Port Erin using the marvellous vintage electric and steam railway systems and the Douglas horse trams. Tickets, timetables and information are available from the Travel Shop in Lord Street, Douglas and major stations.
Taxis are mostly based in the larger towns and very busy at weekends so it's often worth booking in advance. Note that fares are higher between midnight and 6am.
Parking in built-up areas is mostly controlled by the driver's use of a timing disc, available from Tourist centres, Post Offices, Commissioners and Government Offices, which allows a maximum of two hours free parking. Some main roads are occasionally CLOSED to the public for motor racing or filming to take place but closure times are publicised well in advance and alternative routes are usually available.
Crime is still thankfully low on the IOM compared to the UK, especially major crimes such as murder and armed robbery. However burglary, shoplifting, minor vandalism and drug offences are on the increase and Neighbourhood Watch schemes and CCTV operate in several areas.
Police Headquarters near the TT Grandstand in Douglas is permanently manned and there are stations at Ramsey, Peel, Onchan, Pulrose, Castletown and Port Erin plus some station houses in smaller villages. Community officers in Douglas work on the streets and in The Cop Shop in the Villa Marina arcade. To contact the police dial 999 if it's an emergency, otherwise phone 631212. Members of the public can also call the free-phone CrimeStoppers Line (0800 555 111) to anonymously report suspected criminal activity.
Island happenings are reported in three publications published weekly by Isle of Man Newspapers - the Isle of Man Examiner, the Manx Independent and the free Isle of Man Courier. They contain the usual mix of news, sport, advertising, births, marriages and deaths - as well as divorce decrees, house sale particulars, company registrations and planning applications.
Terrestrial television reception extends to four channels - BBC 1, BBC 2, ITV (Border or Granada) and Channel 4. The penalty for not owning a TV licence incurs a hefty fine. The Island's national publicly-owned radio station is MANX RADIO which broadcasts a diverse range of music and talk programmes on both FM (89, 97.2 and 103.7) and Medium wave (1368khz) frequencies. During TT fortnight it also caters for race fans by broadcasting on split-frequency as 'Radio TT'.
The Internet is widely used in homes, businesses and all Manx schools and new systems are being developed here all the time.
An advanced, fully digitised telephone system is provided by Manx Telecom, a subsidiary of BT although BT special offers do not apply in the Isle of Man. Local calls are charged at a daytime rate between 8am and 6pm Monday-Friday and off-peak rates at all other times. Phone boxes accept either Manx coins, chargecards or Manx Telecom (not BT) phonecards, available from newsagents and post offices. Mobile phones can be used in virtually all parts of the island.
Fax machines are widely used but public fax facilities are rare. Letters and parcels can only be posted on the Island with Manx stamps. A standard local letter costs 22p and a standard letter to the UK costs 26p. Local post codes are listed in the back of the phone book. Many Post Offices also provide bill paying and banking facilities, benefit and pension payments and display the weekly list of Job Centre Vacancies. A lot of small branches close at lunchtimes.
Everyday Manx currency is the Pound Sterling and as well as Manx-issued notes and coins (which cannot be used off-Island) it's also possible to use English, Northern Irish and Scottish currency. The Euro is accepted as payment for licence and registration fees, rates and other Government charges. Most shops, petrol stations and supermarkets accept debit cards and larger ones provide a Cashback service allowing withdrawals of up to £50 when you make a purchase. This is handy because although Banks and Building Societies are well represented, especially in Douglas, instant access cash machines are few and far between.
The choice and quality of consumer goods has expanded greatly in recent years and many leading British chain stores and supermarkets now have branches here. There are no specific ethnic food shops but most supermarkets and delicatessens do carry speciality imports. Locally grown organic produce is also widely available. Food is weighed in either imperial or metric measures, depending on whether you're buying local or imported produce, and pubs still measure beer in pints. Most large supermarkets, petrol stations and 'corner shops' open 7 days a week and smaller retailers generally open Monday to Saturday. Some shops outside Douglas close at lunchtime and for one afternoon during the week.
As a basic guide, Douglas is the main shopping centre and the location of UK retail chains; Peel (half-day closing Thursday) is a good place to hunt for all things antiquarian; Ramsey (half-day closing Wednesday) and Port Erin have a little bit of everything; the Tynwald Mills complex at St Johns is a smart, 'leisurely' outdoor shopping centre; Castletown (half-day closing Thursday) has many small speciality shops; and Laxey is home to traditional craftsmen working in metal, wood, leather, textiles and pipe-making. For bargain hunters there are plenty of craft fairs and small weekend car boot sales and, during the summer, weekly outdoor markets in Peel, Ramsey and Castletown.
Options for eating out include Italian, French, Indian, Spanish, Chinese, Thai, Swiss and even Danish food but most pubs and cafes base their menus around solid British fare with lots of chips, baps (bread rolls) and jacket potatoes. Pub lunches are generally very good value and for eating on the run there are a few sandwich bars, especially in Douglas. Kippers are still regarded as the traditional speciality but a more modern street-level equivalent is 'chips, cheese 'n gravy' (yep, really...). Despite the growth of the Island's cosmopolitan business community, vegetarian restaurants, wine bars and coffee shops are still few and far between. Tipping is not obligatory but it's usual to leave a 10% gratuity. Very few restaurants allow you to 'bring-your-own' alcohol as most sell wine, beer and spirits on the premises.
Manx workers enjoy the same public holidays as the UK plus Tynwald Day on July 5th and TT Senior Race Day. And if you're hoping for good weather, the most accurate forecasts for the Island are issued by the local met office via Manx Radio - although an old Manx saying has it that 'if there is enough blue sky to patch a sailor's trousers' then it will be a fine day...
Acknowledgements: Manx Heritage Foundation