We’re big fans of self-drive road trips when we travel, and we especially love road tripping around the UK since we are currently based there. We’ve written a number of guides to exploring the UK on your own, including a detailed 1 week UK itinerary and a 2 week UK itinerary, as well as a detailed guide to driving Scotland’s epic North Coast 500.
These itineraries do require you to drive, and if you’re visiting the UK from abroad, this might be a daunting prospect! In today’s post, we’re going to share everything we know from our years of experience driving in the UK to help you be as prepared as possible.
This will include an overview of applicable laws you need to be aware of, general tips for driving in the UK, and some general information on the roads.
Let’s get started with our guide to driving in the UK.
Table of Contents:
Driving in the UK: Tips, Advice and Information
1. Age Limits
In the UK, the minimum legal age you can hold a driving license is 17. You are allowed to drive from 16, but only on a provisional license with a qualified driver in the passenger seat. As a visitor to the UK, if you are wanting to drive then you will need a full license, and you will need to be at least 17.
Do be aware that if you are looking to rent a car (more on this later in the post), that many car rental firms will require you to be over 21, and most charge extra fees if you are under 25. If you are 21 or under you might want to considering explore the UK using public transportation instead.
2. Basic Rules of the Road in the UK
As with every country, there are some basic rules for driving that you need to observe. These are:
- Drive on the left hand side of the road
- Observe all posted speed limits and road signs
- Don’t drive if you are over the legal blood alcohol limit
- You must stop at all STOP signs and red traffic lights
- Everyone in the vehicle must wear a seat belt (see below for exceptions to this rule)
- Obey all directions given by police officers
- Give way to all emergency vehicles which have their sirens and/or lights flashing
We’ll expand on many of the above rules throughout the post to help you understand them.
3. Measurement Systems
The UK primarily uses imperial units for driving related measurements. Major distances are always measured in miles, with shorter distances, such as the distance to a STOP sign, measured in yards. One yard is three feet, and there are 1760 yards in a mile. Speed limits are given in miles per hour, and vehicles display their speed in miles per hour.
Fuel uses the metric system and is bought in litres – despite fuel economy numbers for vehicles always being listed in miles per gallon! I know, it doesn’t make much sense. Still, that’s how it is.
4. Road Types in the UK
The UK has a number of road types, which are denoted by a lettering system. A road will have a letter to indicate it’s type, and then a number which is unique to that road. So for example, the M1 is a motorway. “M” denotes motorway, whereas 1 denotes the number. Generally the roads are as follows:
- “M” roads. An “M” is a motorway, which is the largest road in the UK, and also usually the fastest. An M road can be anything up to four lanes of traffic each way, although three lanes is more common. Sometimes “M” roads will just be two lanes in each direction. Motorways have speed limits of 70 miles per hour. Learner drivers and certain classes of vehicle, as well as pedestrians, are not permitted on motorways. Motorways do not have traffic lights or roundabouts – to join them you use the on and off slipways. Signs on motorways are always white lettering on a blue background.
- “A” roads. A roads are generally the main roads in the UK and for the most part have a speed limit of 60 miles per hour unless otherwise indicated. Some sections of “A” road will be dual carriageway, in which case the speed limits will be 70 miles per hour. For this to be the case, there must be a central dividing reservation between the two lanes. “A” roads can have traffic lights and roundabouts. Signs are generally a green background with yellow or white writing. Very rarely, in more remote parts of the UK, “A” roads can be single track.
- “B” roads. A “B” road is smaller road, usually used to link “A” roads. They can still carry a fair amount of traffic, however they tend not to be as long.
- “C”, “D” and other roads. These are smaller roads which might even be single-track roads. These tend to be minor roads, either in very rural areas, or which cover shorter distances in less rural areas.
5. Road Speed Limits in the UK
Speed limits vary depending on the road you are driving on, and are posted regularly.
Speed limit signs are circular. The speed limit is the number in the sign, with a red circle around it. Obeying these signs is a legal requirement. Sometimes you will see a sign that is a white circle with a black diagonal through it. This means that any previously posted speed limits have ended, and you can resume the national speed limit – 60MPH on normal roads, and 70MPH on dual carriageways or motorways.
For motorways or dual carriageways (two lanes in either direction, separated by a central dividing line), the speed limit is 70 miles per hour – although you will often see drivers illegally driving much faster on these roads. Don’t be tempted to follow this lead, penalties for breaking the speed limit can be high.
Nearly all other roads in the UK have a national speed limit of 60 MPH. In populated areas, if not otherwise indicated, the speed limit will usually be 30 MPH although in some areas it may be 20 MPH.
Note also that speed limits in the UK vary depending on the type of vehicle you are driving and whether or not you are towing something. So always check the speed limits relative to the vehicle you are driving, especially if you are hiring a motorhome or pulling a caravan, as the limits can be different. See here for official guidance.
6. Seat Belt Use in the UK
Everyone sitting in the vehicle must wear a seat belt, and there must be a seat belt provided for every passenger. For example, if a vehicle has three seat belts in the back seat, you would not be allowed to have four passengers on that seat.
It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure that everyone is wearing a seat belt, and the law allows for significant fines for non-compliance.
There are a number of key exceptions to seat belt use. The one that will be most applicable for visitors to the UK is for reversing. If you are reversing your vehicle, you are allowed to remove your seat belt to aid with seeing where you are going; however, you must put it back on as soon as you stop reversing if you intend to continue your journey.
It is also possible to drive without a seat belt in the UK if you have a medical reason. However, you will need a “Certificate of Exemption from Compulsory Seat Belt Wearing”, which you will need to keep in the vehicle with you. Finally, if you are driving a classic car which never originally had seat belts, then you are allowed to do so without seat belts. In these vehicles though you are not allowed to carry children under three at all, and all other children must only sit in the back seats.
In addition, drivers of licensed taxis are permitted to drive without a seat belt, so don’t be alarmed if your taxi driver is not wearing a seat belt – this is perfectly legal. All passengers in the taxi must still wear the seat belt though.
See the section later on in the post on driving with children in the car for rules around car seats.
7. Traffic Lights
Like nearly every country in the world, the UK uses traffic lights to control traffic. Lights can be red, yellow, or green. These colors mean:
- Red – stop. Red means stop, and you must stop at a red traffic light. There will normally be a line on the road marking where you should stop if you are the first car to arrive at the light – otherwise you just stop in line behind other waiting traffic.
- Yellow – you must come to a stop at the stop line. If you are moving too quickly to safely stop, for example you are about to cross the stop line and the light turns from green to yellow as you approach, you may proceed. However if you can safely stop it is advisable to do so and not try to “beat the light”.
- Green – proceed. The light goes from red to yellow to green, at which point you may continue. If a light is green as you approach it, you may continue to travel, although be aware that if it changes to yellow you are required to stop unless it is unsafe to do so.
If you are coming from the USA, you might be used to the US rule that allows you to turn at a traffic light, even if it is red. This is not allowed in the UK – if the traffic light is red, you must remain stationary until the light turns green.
8. Stop Signs and Give Way Signs
STOP signs in the UK are the same as STOP signs around the world. These large red octagonal signs have the word “STOP” in white lettering, and when you encounter one of these you must bring your vehicle to a complete halt.
STOP signs are not very common in the UK, as they can only be placed at junctions with severely limited visibility. When you encounter a STOP sign, you must bring your vehicle to a complete stop, and give way to all other traffic. Multi-way STOP signs, such as those you find in the USA, are not used in the UK, so you must always give way at a STOP sign and wait until it is safe to proceed.
Give way signs are far more common in the UK than STOP signs. These are triangular signs with the words “give way” written on them, and are similar to the “Yield” signs in the USA. Usually there will also be a white triangle painted on the road as well.
At a Give Way sign you must give way to other vehicles, but if the road is clear as you approach it, there is no requirement to fully stop.
For more information on road junctions, see the appropriate section of the UK Highway code, here.
9. Roundabouts in the UK
Roundabouts are very common in the UK when roads meet. Using them is quite simple – you always give way to the traffic on a roundabout, which will be approaching from your right. You will always turn left onto a roundabout, and traverse it in a clockwise direction.
The only exception to the give way rule is if the roundabout has traffic lights, in which case you have right of way if the light onto the roundabout is green – this means that the traffic on the roundabout will be stopped at a red light.
It is important to know your intended exit before you reach the roundabout, so you can be in the correct lane and signal correctly. If you are taking the first exit for example, you would signal left and use the left hand land.
If you are going right (or all the way around), you would signal right and use the right hand lane.
It’s always best to slow right down and be aware that many people do not always signal correctly on roundabouts.
For intermediate exits and for going straight ahead, you do not normally signal, and can generally use either lane. For more information on correct roundabout use, see this section of the UK Highway Code, which also has some helpful diagrams for lane use and signalling.
10. Pedestrian Crossings
There are a number of different types of pedestrian crossings in the UK which you need to be aware of as a driver. These have been given odd names, including Zebra, Puffin and Pelican crossings.
Zebra crossings, so called because of the white and black stripes on the road, do not have stop lights. You can recognise them by the white stripes painted on the road, as well as flashing yellow beacons on either side of the road. Vehicles must stop at these crossings if a pedestrian is in the road or waiting to cross.
Puffin and Pelican crossings are similar to each other. They don’t have stripes on the road, and are instead traffic light controlled. To cross, pedestrians push a button by the side of the road to trigger the traffic light to change colour and activate the walk symbol (a little green man). You only need to stop at these if the light is red, or if there is someone on the crossing and the light is either amber, or flashing amber.
These are the main crossing types, however, there are a number of other pedestrian crossings and rules to be aware of regarding pedestrians crossing the road in the UK, see the full official guidance here.
11. Single Track Roads
In some parts of the UK, particularly in more rural and remote areas such as those found when driving Scotland’s North Coast 500 or the Scottish isles you may find yourself driving on single track roads. This is a road with just a single lane, on which traffic can drive in either direction, with passing places available so vehicles can get past each other.
These roads require a bit of extra knowledge, and I have written a whole post about driving on single track roads to help you out.
12. Emergency Vehicles
I actually failed my first driving test in the UK as a result of not giving way to an oncoming fire engine with its lights and siren going. Just what I needed in the middle of my test in a small rural village in north Wales!
Suffice to say, giving way to an emergency or incident support vehicle is definitely a requirement when driving in the UK. Rule 219 of the highway code covers this in detail, but in general, if an emergency vehicle is actively on its way to an incident, signalled with flashing lights and / or a siren, then you must take appropriate action to allow it to pass.
In doing so, you must still obey the traffic signs on the road, as well as not put yourself or other road users in any danger, and you do not need to mount the kerb (curb), which may endanger pedestrians.
13. Passing Other Vehicles
Passing another vehicle works much the same as in other countries around the world. You are allowed to pass on a normal road if there is a broken white line down the middle of the road and it is safe to do so. As vehicles drive on the left, you must overtake on the right.
On dual-carriageways and motorways, the law is that you must pass on the right. It is not legal to pass on the left (to undertake), and the outside lanes should only be used for overtaking – you should always stay in the left hand lanes if you are not performing a passing manoeuvre.
14. Motorway Exit Numbers
In the UK, exit numbers on the motorways are sequential, so Exit 2 follows Exit 1, and so on. Occasionally, exits will have been added after the road was first built, and these will then adopt a letter – Exit 1a, 1b etc. Unlike in some countries like the USA, the exit numbers do not correspond to mileage.
15. Hiring a Vehicle in the UK
The rules vary from company to company, but to rent a vehicle in the UK you will need a full license in your name. If you are travelling from abroad and the license is not in English, then you may also need an international drivers permit. These are normally quite easy and inexpensive to obtain, but you definitely need to do it in advance of coming to the UK.
As well as a driver’s license, if you are coming from overseas, you will normally need a valid form of ID such as a passport that matches the driver’s information on the driver’s license.
In terms of age, each car hire company sets its own rules. Whilst the legal age to hold a license in the UK is 17, few rental companies will rent to drivers under the age of 21, and many require you to be 25 or over. If they do rent to younger drivers, they will usually charge a hefty surcharge, as well as have requirements over how long you have held a full license.
If you are looking to hire a vehicle in the UK, we recommend that you take a look at Discover Cars to compare car hire deals across a range of different providers, including the biggest names in the business, to get a great deal for your trip.
16. Buying Petrol / Gas in the UK
In the UK, there are numerous brands of gas station (generally known as petrol stations or service stations), including internationally recognisable brands such as BP and Shell. There are two main types of fuel in the UK – petrol and diesel.
In our experience, many rental cars tend to be diesels as they have greater reliability. They also get better mileage per gallon, which offsets the slightly higher price you pay for diesel at the pump.
It is critically important that you put the correct fuel type into your vehicle when filling up. Petrol will usually be marked as “unleaded”, and will often have an octane rating, usually 95 for standard, and 98 for higher performance vehicles. Unless you are driving an expensive sports car, you will usually find that a petrol car will be just fine on the standard 95.
Fuel is sold and priced by the litre, and if you are coming from the USA, you will likely experience sticker shock if you try to figure out the price of fuel compared to back home. The good news it that cars are fairly fuel efficient in the UK, and driving distances are not so great.
If you are driving a diesel car, it will usually say clearly on the fuel cap that it is a diesel car, and you must only put diesel in the tank when filling up (and of course, petrol if it is a petrol car). If it does not say, then it is more likely to be a petrol car, however you should definitely confirm this with your rental agency.
If you put the wrong fuel type in your car, this can cause serious engine damage. If you do – it is very important you do not drive the car – call your rental agency and ask for help.
When you fill up your car, the majority of petrol stations will require you to pay after filling up. This is because most gas stations are small shops, and they tend to make more profit off shop sales than fuel sales.
To fill up, just take the correct hose off the machine. Ensure the pump resets to zero, and put the nozzle into your car tank. Most pumps require you to hold the handle as you fill it up, they don’t usually have a switch to hold it open until it is full. Once it is full, make a note of the tank number, and go to the cashier to pay.
Some gas stations, particularly those at supermarkets, let you pay at the pump by card – to do so you will require a chip and PIN enabled card, and you will need to know your PIN number. You need to authorise your card in advance at these pumps before it will dispense fuel.
Fuel prices vary dramatically across the UK. The cheapest prices are usually at the major supermarket brands, such as Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury’s, where prices can be up to 15p cheaper per litre than other nearby stores. The most expensive fuel prices are always to be found at motorway service stations, where prices can be 20 – 30p higher per litre than the average.
17. Drink driving laws in the UK
As with the majority of countries in the world, the UK has strict drink driving laws. The limit varies across the different parts of the UK, with Scotland having more strict limits for drinking than England for example. Drink driving is a serious offence in the UK, and the easiest way to avoid a fine or loss of your license is to avoid drinking at all if you are driving.
Calculating how much you can drink to stay under the blood-alcohol limit is a difficult task, as there are so many factors at play, including everything from your weight through to what you have eaten that day.
You can see the official limits for drink driving on the UK government website here. Again, we’d definitely suggest not drinking at all if you are driving.
18. Insurance
It is mandatory to have at least third party insurance when driving a vehicle in the UK, which will cover the other party if you are involved in an accident for which you are either fully or partly to blame. Most rental cars will come with third party insurance, however they will often charge a surplus for full cover, known in the rental industry as a collision damage waiver.
If you travel and rent cars regularly, check if you can get a credit card which includes car hire cover. This can save you a lot of money, as rental car companies tend to charge a premium for add ons like insurance. Another alternative is to book insurance cover through a specialist insurance provider rather than purchase it directly from the car hire company – again, this can save you a lot of money.
19. Mobile Phone Use
It is illegal to have a mobile phone or GPS unit in your hands whilst driving a vehicle or in the UK. You are allowed to operate them if there is a hands free kit, or if they are mounted securely in the car in a location that does not obscure the drivers view of the road ahead. You can also operate a built in GPS unit if the car has one.
However, keep in mind that if the police feel you are distracted or not fully in control of your vehicle, they can penalise you even for using a device that is not in your hands. Note also that the law applies even if your vehicle is stopped. The best option is to either have your passenger operate the device, or to pull over safely before operating your device.
The only exception to the rule is that you are allowed to use your phone in your hands to dial 999 (the UK emergency number), if there is no practical way to stop safely and it is an emergency. See more on use of devices and the law on the official government website here.
20. Driving with Children
If you’re driving with children in the UK, then there are a few more rules you need to be aware of, specifically around child car seats.
In general, until children are 12 years old or 135cm tall (whichever comes first), then they must use a child car seat. After that point is reached, then they must use a seat belt, as would any other passenger.
If you have your own child car seat that you want to bring to the UK, you need to make sure it is an EU approved model, as these are the only kind that are approved for UK use.
You can read more specfics about using child car seats, and how to identify if your seat is legal for use in the UK, on the official UK government website for child car seats. There is also a page on when you are allowed to not use a child car seat in the UK.
21. What To Do If You Get Stopped By The Police in the UK
Hopefully you won’t be stopped by the police when driving in the UK, but if you are, you should pull over immediately where it is safe to do so. Remain in your vehicle with your seatbelt on and your hands clearly visible, and wait for the officer to approach you. You should wind your window down as the officer approaches so you can follow their directions.
A uniformed police officer can stop any vehicle for any reason, and you must stop when asked to do so – it is illegal not to stop when directed to do so by a police officer. When you are approached by the police, they will likely ask you to produce your driving license, insurance certificate and MOT certificate – the latter being a government issued certificate of vehicle road worthiness.
If you have a rental car, you should have the proof of rental documentation. If you are unable to produce the requested documentation, you must take it to a police station within seven days of your stop.
If you are stopped, the officer may suspect you of drinking, in which case they can ask you to take a breath test. They also have the power to issue on the spot fines, and for more serious offences such as driving without a license or if you are operating a vehicle believed to be stolen, the police have the power to seize your vehicle. This is obviously unlikely to happen if you are driving in a rental car from a reputable rental agency of course.
Our advice is to follow all the posted signs and speed limits, and you shouldn’t have any problems when driving in the UK. For more information on being stopped by the police and your rights, see the official UK government website entry here.
22. Speed Cameras
One of the primary traffic control and accident reduction measures in the UK is the use of speed cameras. These are in wide use on the roads in the UK, and are very effective at catching speeding drivers, with fines automatically sent through the post if you are caught speeding.
If you are driving a rental car, these fines will be sent to the rental agency, who will usually add this to your rental bill – often with a surcharge for the administration.
Whilst many motorists dislike speed cameras, remember that they are there to help reduce accidents and improve road safety. If you stick to the speed limits, you won’t have any problems. In addition, fixed speed cameras are clearly marked, so you have no excuse for missing them!
23. Toll Roads & Toll Bridges
There are very few toll roads or bridges in the UK, as the UK roads are funded by a system of taxes paid by UK motorists. This tax is levied on UK car owners, as well as on fuel (hence the relatively high fuel prices in the UK – the majority of the cost is tax).
There are some toll roads, such as the M6 Toll near Birmingham. There are also some bridges in the UK which are toll bridges, such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, although these are fairly rare. Toll roads and bridges are clearly marked before you enter them. Follow the directions as you approach the toll booth, and in most cases you should be able to pay either by credit / debit card or in cash.
In very rural areas there are some very small privately owned bridges, where you may have to pay in the region of 20p for a crossing. Again, these will be clearly marked, but you will only be able to pay cash for such a crossing. These are very rare however.
24. Congestion Charging Zones / Low Emission Zones
In a number of cities across the UK, including London, there are what are known as “Congestion Charging Zones”. These are parts of the city which carry a daily fee if you wish to drive in them. Cameras at every entry and exit point to these zones record your vehicle details, and automatically bill you. In the case of a rental car, this bill will go to the rental agency.
Congestion charge zones are very clearly marked before you enter them. Our advice is to avoid them entirely – there’s no good reason to drive in central London as traffic is very slow, parking is expensive, and with the congestion charge it becomes very uneconomical. Public transport or taxis are a much better option, as is walking.
We’d always advise picking up your rental before or after the London portion of your trip if your UK trip includes exploring London.
You can read more about the congestion charging zone in London here.
As well as congestion charging zones, some areas also have zones which target high emissions vehicles, known as Low Emission Zones. These tend to penalise higher emissions vehicles like delivery trucks and older cars. However, it’s worth checking that the vehicle you are driving won’t be charged when entering one of these zones, which you can usually do on the website for the city or area you are visiting.
25. Parking in the UK
There are various options when it comes to parking in the UK. Most cities have a number of parking options, including multi-storey parking structures, and on-street metered parking bays. For the former, you normally park, and pay on return to your vehicle. For the latter, you generally pay in advance, which can be less convenient if you don’t know how long you need.
Many parking locations also allow payment by parking apps which can be more convenient as you can pay by credit card and extend your parking without returning to your car. You will need a phone with internet access to use these however.
It’s always important to read the parking notices when parking. Some areas offer parking for residents only, and you can be fined if you park in a residents or permit only area. Your vehicle can be clamped, or even towed, if you park where you are not allowed to park.
There are two main indicators of parking along the side of the road. If there are two solid yellow lines by the road (known as double yellow lines), then you are not permitted to park for any reason. In London, you might also see double red lines, which mean the same thing.
If you see a single yellow line, this usually means that you can park and wait for a short period of time – generally indicated by a sign that will outline the restrictions. Often, you can park without restriction on single-yellow lines on Sundays and public holidays, however always check the local parking notices before doing so.
There are a number of additional guidelines for parking in the UK, which are covered in rules 238 to 252 of the UK highway code, which you can read here.
26. Manual / Automatic Vehicles
If you’re visiting and driving in the UK from the USA, you might be surprised to learn that the majority of cars in the UK have a manual transmission, or “stick shift”. There are even two classes of driving license in the UK – one for automatic cars, and one for manual cars.
You cannot drive a manual car on an automatic driving license, although you can drive an automatic car on a manual license.
Since licenses from other parts of the world might not specify automatic or manual, it will be important particularly if you are hiring a car that you pick the transmission type that you are able to drive. If you don’t know how to drive a manual you should definitely not use the UK roads as your place to learn how to drive stick!
One thing to be aware of, if you can drive both types of ar, is that automatic cars are nearly always slightly more expensive to rent than manual cars. So if you want to save a bit of money on your car rental and you can drive a manual, you might want to choose that.
27. Documentation Requirements for Driving in the UK
There are a few papers you should have when you drive a car in the UK.
To start with, you will absolutely need a driving license.
If you are from outside the UK, we also recommend a passport or ID card to verify your identity if required.
The car you are driving will need to have up to date car insurance, valid for the duration of your trip. If you are hiring a car, this will be provided and should be in the vehicle.
If you are bringing your own car to the UK, you should also ensure you have the vehicle documentation.
General Quirks to be aware of when Driving in the UK
I’ve driven in a fair few countries around the world on both sides of the road, and I have to say, the UK does have some serious quirks when it comes to driving.
Cities in particular can be a challenge for the new driver. Cities and towns in the UK were not for the most part designed around automobiles which means streets can be narrow and corners sharp.
There are also often one way systems, and occasionally lanes will merge without warning, or you’ll find yourself inexplicably in a left turn only lane at a set of traffic lights with no obvious prior warning given.
My advice is just to try to relax, to invest in a good GPS system (Google Maps is pretty good too) that will handle the inevitable re-routing, and to build in extra time to mitigate lost time when you inevitably take a wrong turn. Don’t worry, I do it all the time and I live here!
Another thing to bear in mind is that the United Kingdom is made up of four countries – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Whilst the regulations are similar across these countries, there are some differences such as the drink driving limits.
In addition, road signs vary from country to country. For example, in Wales you will encounter signs that are written in both Welsh and English. These means that signs are larger and can take a bit more time to process as you read them.
Further Reading and Information on Driving in the UK
Whew! Well, that was a lot of words to hopefully help you get started. Of course, I can’t cover everything in just one post, so here are some helpful resources to get you on your way:
- The official UK Highway Code, which gives you all the information you need for driving in the UK. This is also available on Amazon in both physical and ebook formats.
- This tool from the UK Government will advise if you can drive in the UK on your non-UK license.
- Naturally, you’re going to want somewhere to drive now you’ve read all the above! Check out our 1 week and 2 week UK self-drive itinerary posts to get you started, as well as our Wales road trip itinerary.
- For budget planning, see our guide to how much it costs to travel in the UK
- For Scotland, we suggest taking a look at our guide to the North Coast 500, our 5 day NC500 itinerary, our 1 week NC500 itinerary, our North East 250 itinerary, as well as our suggested Highlands and Skye itinerary
- If you are driving in remote parts of the UK, including parts of Scotland, you might encounter single track roads. Check out our guide to driving on single track roads for how to deal with those.
- If you decide not to drive, you can also travel to most places in the UK via public transport, here is a suggested itinerary. Another option is to book a bus tour, and we can recommend Rabbies Travel tours.
- If you are visiting London, we have a series of detailed itineraries for London, including a 1 day, 2 day and 6 day London itinerary.
- Looking for more road trip inspiration? Check out our guide to the world’s best road trips for more ideas on road trips around both the UK and the world!
And that’s it! We hope you found our guide to driving in the UK helpful. If you have any feedback or questions, let us know in the comments below!
Please note that this blog post is for guidance only and should not be taken as any form of legal advice. Check road regulations and laws in the UK before driving to be sure you are safe and legal as laws and guidelines change regularly.
Naina Gupta says
Great tips! I’m planning a trip to the UK next year, and this article has been super helpful in understanding the driving rules and road signs. I’ll definitely keep these in mind to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience on the UK roads. Thanks for sharing!
Laurence Norah says
Thanks Naina! Safe travels in the UK and let me know if you have any questions 🙂
Laurence
maran says
You did a great job of highlighting the key differences between driving in the UK and driving in other countries, such as the need to drive on the left side of the road, the different speed limits, and the importance of being aware of roundabouts.
Thanks for writing such a great article!
Laurence Norah says
Thanks Maran, appreciated 🙂
george kunz says
i think i can do this…this driving thing in england…planning on doing it in august leaving from “batterhill park”, the rental agency as opposed to from am airport…thx you 2
Laurence Norah says
My pleasure George – have a great trip!
Aihan Kuhn says
Thank you very much for this blog! It is very helpful for building my confidence in driving in the UK in a few days.
Laurence Norah says
My pleasure Aihan – have a great time in the UK!
Hugh says
Awesome blog. Very good information for a first time UK driver. Some feedback on what may be lacking (unless I just missed seeing it) would be some images of signs that are commonly seen. I am still trying to figure out what the red X on a blue background means. Thanks, you all rock.
Laurence Norah says
Hey Hugh!
Thanks for the feedback, that is definitely a good idea on the signs. I can clarify your question though, the red X on a blue background means you are on a clearway, which basically means no stopping. So you can’t stop on the road, even to drop people off or pick them up. A single red diagonal on a blue background means no waiting, so you can stop to drop someone off or pick them up, but you can’t wait around.
I hope this helps!
Laurence
Leona Ashley says
Oh my gosh! This exactly what I have been looking for. My 16 year old and I will be in the UK for 2 weeks in March. I am so excited but very stress about the driving part. I love that you have done here. Thank you for taking the time to put this in to a very detailed break down. I know this will help my trip be even better.
Laurence Norah says
My pleasure Leona, have a great trip to the UK!
Ning says
Hi, today, I drive on the narrow road in Birmingham, when I am waiting for a red light behind zebra crossing, a car behind me kept honking, I do not know why. I just hold brake pedal to wait because my small car is automatic. Subsequently, when I turn to right, the man open the car window and burst out some words, but I did not hear clearly.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Ning,
It doesn’t sound like you did anything wrong to me. I think maybe the person behind was just impatient perhaps? Hopefully you still had a good trip in Birmingham!
All the best,
Laurence
Richard says
Section 23: Severn Bridge tolls have now been scrapped. They were originally intended to pay for the bridge costs (like a mortgage) but the “interest” on the capital always outstripped the income… (it’s called government planning!).
You might also point out somewhere that road signs & place names in Wales are often/usually dual language, so each sign can be twice as big as in England and it can take a while to realize that you are reading the Welsh version when you only understand the English – although some words like yspitty (= hospital, I may even have spelt it right!) just need to be pronounced to be understood.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Richard,
Thanks for your comments! I’ve updated the post to reflect that the Severn Bridge is no longer a toll bridge, and made a note on signs being in multiple languages 🙂
Safe travels,
Laurence
Pablo says
Dear Laurence,
I understand that London congestion charge only applies (COVID aside) on weekdays 7am thru 6pm. How bad is driving and parking in London streets at night and on weekends or holidays? How bad is this plan in other large metro areas within UK?
Personally, I very much enjoy a 3-5 hour self-drive around and across big cities after having extensively toured through it and don’t mind waking up at odd hours if necessary/convenient.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Pablo,
The parking will definitely depend on what part of London you are planning on parking in. Some areas are permit parking only, so only residents can park. Many others have no parking at all. So you would need to find a parking structure and pay the fee. This is of course possible, as long as you don’t mind paying the fees.
I have driven in multiple cities around the world and across the UK, and London is definitely one of my least favourite places to drive. It’s filled with slow and winding roads, one way systems, and narrow spots, and even with a GPS it’s easy to lose your way. Obviously, it’s possible and thousands of people do it every day. It’s just not on my list of things I enjoy! Other cities in the UK are a lot more manageable in my experience, even the larger ones. Just make sure you have a good GPS (offline Google maps works well I find, if you don’t have data).
I hope this helps – have a great time in the UK 🙂
Laurence
Richard says
I do not like driving in an unfamiliar city here, even though (as a UK citizen) I know the rules of the road, largely because most of the traffic is local drivers who know their way around and don’t need to think so hard about which lane to be in etc. Seems particularly so in London. Probably true across the world, of course.
Sumanth says
I am from the US and I am planning to rent a car this weekend on a US license and go on a mini road trip south. Thanks for all the information!! That was really useful. All the tips and advice should come in handy.
Laurence Norah says
Thanks very much – have a safe trip 😀
Jordy koetsier says
Hi i was wondering This year i want to do a south to north back to south roadtrip with a few friends of mine in the uk. The only thing is the left side driving. I am from the mainland as UK residents would see me. Thoug i do have 1 benefit and that is that i own A Right hand drive car. I love it and personaly for me drives even better on right lane roads. than a left hand. Non the less my mates are scared to drive my car. So no my car is a local in England. But what im wondering about is if you are used to drive an RHD in Right lanes. Will it het harder than to drive on the left side. And also is my car allowed in the congestion zone. as it is an originaly UK car. Make Mazda. Model 6. Engine 1.8i. Build 2006 friendly greetings Jordy
Laurence Norah says
Hi Jordy,
So in my experience the main thing you will have to get used to is the position of the vehicle in the road. As we don’t sit in the middle of our car, we are used to have a certain amount of the car to the left of our driving position, and a certain amount to the right. In your case, you will be used to sitting as the driver quite far from the centre line, closer to the kerb. When you drive on the left, you will have to adjust so you are close to the center line and far from the kerb. This will take a bit of getting used to, and to start with, you might find yourself positioning the car incorrectly in the road.
For the congestion charge – yes, your car will be allowed in congestion charging zones, you just have to make sure to pay the fees. Personally, I don’t think it’s worth driving in the CC zone as it’s so expensive, plus driving in London is very slow. If you can find somewhere to park your car outside of the city centre, and just use public transport, that will be lot less stressful.
Let me know if you have any more questions and I’ll do my best to help!
Laurence
Jordy says
For me driving in London is a one time wish. Never did that before and for me its a try before you die bucketlist thingy it il just to be as a passtrough and also for dinner. There is a restaurant at bricklane that i found to be the best one of all london as of parking wont be a problem as is Made a reservation at an underground parking for just 10pounds a day. Rest of the week Will be traveling trough Oxford manchester liverpool and many local vilages
Laurence Norah says
That makes sense 🙂 Enjoy the experience! You can pay the congestion charge online here:
https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/pay-to-drive-in-london
Ian E says
After living in the US for some time, on returning for a visit back to England, driving on a familiar residential road, I was more than startled by an INSANE new traffic-slowing method – bollards across the lane or an island slap dab in the driving lane. Checking Google just now, I think they are called “chicanes”. They may be fine for a local resident that knows about them, but I rate them as INSANE for someone unaccustomed and suddenly surprised by them. I recommend adding a paragraph and an image such as from Wikipedia to this article.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Ian,
You are correct, the various methods of traffic calming, particularly in residential areas, can definitely catch drivers out! I will review the article to see if I can add something about this.
Safe travels
Laurence
Frank Wu says
This is such a good summary of differences and important things for driving in UK. Surely I’ll check your London itinerary suggestion as well, as my family are planning a big one this summer.
I am surprised that no one asked about how easy to drive at the left side of the road for people like me only having driven at the right side. Is that generally something most people can adjust, safely? Any tips for such adjustment: I consider myself a good driver and can imagine driving at the left side.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Frank,
Thanks very much. So the main thing that is going to be a challenge for you is the position of the vehicle in the road. This is based on my first experience driving on the “wrong” side of the road for me, which was a trip in the US many years ago.
As drivers, we get very used to how much vehicle we expect to have on either side of us. As you are used to driving on the right, you will be used to having most of the vehicle to your right. So when you place the car in the road, you will have to consciously think about the vehicles placement, as otherwise you will find yourself (as I did) straddling the wrong bits of the road. This is easier on normal roads, but on interstate style roads it’s definitely easier to drift out of your lane without thinking about it.
I’d say that’s the main difference. If you drive stick / manual then there’s the problem of the gear shift being on the wrong side too, but if you stick to automatic that won’t be an issue.
I think that’s it – it is definitely something you can do safely, and over time you can switch between left and right hand driving without even thinking about it, but just keep the vehicle positions on the road front of mind. Having a passenger pay attention also helps 🙂
Let me know if I can help any further, otherwise, have a safe trip!
Laurence
Frank Wu says
Lawrence, really appreciate your quick response and some tips for side-switch adjustment. It is a family trip and I can surely have many extra eyes on my driving!
Yes, I’ll stick to auto transmission for sure.
Richard says
Something else to be aware of is your trained instinct if danger appears (eg a car coming towards you in the middle of the road). If you normally drive on the right your natural avoiding action is to steer right which will take you into the path of greater danger. Like the old joke: keep alert, Britain needs Lerts.
Laura says
This article was fun to read. I’m a UK driver, so familiar with the content, but I’m also originally from a different country, so still read your summary with slightly foreign eyes. You’re spot on about how quirky some hidden rules can be. Moving around cities in particular is sometimes an exercise in divination. Road space can be so narrow you need to guess who is going to get the right of way according to how many cars are parked on your side vs the other, who got to the gap first, who’s been waiting the longest, or whether the other car is a Range rover (so you’ll sure have to yield ). My favourite thing is when you get flashed and don’t know if it’s a good thing (they’re letting you through) or you’re being schooled (you have not switched on your day lights even when it’s 12pm). Also realising that people have strange pet peeves like you can very much make other drivers very angry if you let more than two cars join the motorway in front of you in the queue, or get frustrated if you hold the brake pedal when stopped, and may comment you’re blinding them with your red glow. Most believe speed limits are what the sign says, plus 10%. A lovely thing drivers do here is to always be courteous when they see a horse on the road. No radios, no revving past. It’s a great country!
I can’t wait to take your advice and drive one of your Scotland routes. Thanks for the interesting articles.
Laurence Norah says
Hey Laura – thanks for sharing your experiences driving in the UK 😀 It is certainly a bit quirky 😉 I’m actually in Mauritius at the moment, and despite driving on the left, they have a range of their own quirks. Most notably, people just seem to pull out whenever they want, and the headlight flash appears to be used as a whole language that I have not yet managed to interpret!
It’s all part of the adventure 😉
Safe travels!
Laurence
Jun Hao says
Hi,
How much does it roughly cost for petrol and parking in UK? How much did it cost you for your 2-week itinerary in UK?
Laurence Norah says
Hi Jun,
Parking varies by location and city anywhere from 20 pence an hour up to £3-£5 per hour. Gas is definitely expensive at around £1.20 a litre, although the price fluctuates. The cheapest petrol is to be found at supermarket petrol stations like Asda and Tesco, whilst motorway fuel prices are up to 30 pence a litre higher.
If you want to know more about the overall costs of travelling in the UK, you can see my guide to the cost of travel in the UK here.
Have a great trip!
Laurence
Alvin says
Hi,
Am visiting the UK in December for a self drive holiday & wondering if relying solely on Google map will work. We are worried about mobile coverage in UK specially in Scotland as we are intending to cover Lochness & Glencoe. Is there a need to rent a SatNav?
Laurence Norah says
Hi Alvin,
You don’t need to hire a satnav, but you are right to worry about the mobile reception, particulary in more rural parts of Scotland. What we do when travelling in these areas is to use the offline functionality of Google Maps. You can download an area that will cover most of Scotland that will only take up around 200MB of your device space. This will then let you navigate even while offline. It won’t have live traffic information, but everything else including major attractions, restaurants etc will be available for navigation.
I hope this helps!
Laurence
NateMoffett says
Great post! One things to note, when driving a manual (stick) transmission in the UK, you will be shifting with your left hand rather than the right. We hadn’t even considered that until we sat in the rental. Took quite a bit of getting used to.
Laurence Norah says
This is very true! I remember when my mom first tried driving on “the wrong side” as she calls it, she kept trying to open the door instead of shift gear, which was quite exciting…
NateMoffett says
Haha. That is frightening and hilarious. Fortunately for me I refused to learn manual as I often drove in Los Angeles traffic. Unfortunately for my friend, he had to do all the driving which created plenty of opportunities for both of us to have fairly regular panic attacks. He was so worried about the median and oncoming vehicles on his right that he would often overcompensate and hit curbs on the left. He may or may not have ever-so-lightly clipped a parked cars side mirror. I can’t tell you how many times I had to yell ”watch the curb”. And the roundabouts, good heavens,
Laurence Norah says
I can only imagine! I remember the first time I drove in the States, positioning the car was probably the biggest thing to get my head around as we are so used to have so much of the car on one side of us and so much on the other! Still, at least you are safe and well and the trip passed off largely without incident 😀 Hopefully you can look back and laugh now!
NateMoffett says
Oh, we do. Driving was a highly comedic stress inducer, but driving from LHR to Moffat, Scotland, then east to Edinburgh and then meandering our way south to Fleet was such and incredible experience. I cannot wait to go back.
Jack Harden says
Excellent and informative article; good job. I spent a total of eight years in England during two Air Force assignments and my wife and I now spend a month or more there every year. My job during the second (five years) tour involved working with a number of UK and US contractors at contractor facilities and bases around England, Wales and Scotland and I drove my staff car and my own car extensively. During our annual visits we normally put over 1,000 miles on a rental car. I enjoy driving stick-shift so that’s no problem. The premium for an automatic vehicle, assuming one’s available, is often more than nominal. Sticker shock still hits me the first time I top up the tank with petrol. To avoid distractions I seldom turn on the car radio. I try hard not to become complacent or let my mind wander. A GPS can come in handy for first-timers over there. Rental car agencies often charge a premium but if you plan ahead of time you can buy a reasonably priced SAT NAV (GPS) on ebay.com or ebay.co.uk. Once in a while your rental car may come with GPS already installed and without extra charge. Don’t count on it, however. Our Chase Visa card provides adequate insurance coverage for up to 31 days and we decline the rental agencies’ coverage. Check with your card provider first.
Some additional comments:
– Avoid driving in London if at all possible. It’s simply not worth it in more ways than one.
– Encourage passengers to periodically remind the driver to “keep left.”
– Look out for tail-gating lorries (trucks) on the motorways. They’re often foreign registered vehicles and the drivers are from countries where physical laws are ignored and judicial laws are loosely enforced
– Many drivers, English and foreign, ignore the laws of physics and common sense and don’t slow down enough during fog or heavy rain or snow.
– I find that lane discipline is generally better on UK motorways than US freeways. Don’t hog the center lane or “fast” lane.
– Motorway tie-ups are frequent and subsequent delays are often several hours. Driving during rush hour on motorways or main roads isn’t fun.
– Motorway signage is by and large pretty good.
– Street signs in villages, towns, and cities are sometimes non-existent or can be difficult to locate. Really helps to have a good navigator beside you.
– Many numbered non-motorway roads will have several additional names during their length and locals may often know a road as, for example, the Banbury Road rather than the A422. Some sections of the A422, for example, may have other names depending on location and direction of travel. The A56 at one point south of the M60 is called Washway Road while north of the M60 it’s the Chester Road. Oh, farther south it’s called the Manchester Road.
– My observation, based on experience, is that UK drivers are more courteous to other drivers than they are to pedestrians and US drivers are more courteous to pedestrians than they are to other drivers. That’s a huge generalization, of course.
– Particular care should be taken when emerging and turning at a t-junction or other intersection when there’s no other traffic. That’s the time the ingrained “keep to the right” habit can take over. Reportedly, an American woman recently made that mistake exiting a US base and killed a young man heading the other direction on a motorbike.
– Driving on the left takes some getting used to, but driving on twisty, narrow country lanes at night or during bad weather adds to the challenge. Single-track roads are not fun when encountering someone coming in the other direction. They’re frequently found in farm country and much of the UK is farm country.
– Public transportation is pretty good although rail travel is disproportionately priced.
– Pubs and restaurants normally have non-alcoholic beer and/or small – 125ml – glasses of wine. Authorities are not sympathetic.
– If you ask a group of two or more people for driving directions you may get two or more differing sets of directions. I’ve seen strong disagreements among locals.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Jack,
Wow, what an amazing comment. Thank you so much for sharing your insights on driving in the UK, I know that other readers are going to find this comment really useful.
I have to agree with you on the price of gas sticker shock – Jess is from the US and we travel there every year, usually on a road trip. I love the low gas prices in comparison to what we have to pay here in the UK!
Thanks again for your amazing comment – safe travels 🙂
Laurence
khairul says
I love this article. I look forward to my Christmas trip to London and heading up to Scotland and spend our Christmas there.
i will certainly consider Diesel Car for my trip as the mileage can be uncertain and fuel cost and toll charges can be on the high side. we will be travelling as family of 5.
I intend to go to Brussel and drive to Germany and Prague.
do you have similar articles on driving in Europe and interesting places to go. I plan to be here for 1 week before heading back to London and back to Malaysia.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Khairul,
Thanks very much! I don’t have a specific guide to driving in Europe – each country is slightly different with slightly different rules. In terms of what to see and do, we have a lot of content on France, Spain and Italy, but not much on Brussels, Germany and Prague.
Have a great trip!
Laurence
Afrin says
Hi, I am planning UK trip with my husband. I am from Bangladesh, so is it possible for us to drive in the uk using our driving licence.? If yes, then what necessary steps do we need to take? Also, inform me about the driving insurance.
Thanks in advance
Laurence Norah says
Hi Afrin,
As long as your driving license is either in English, or a language that uses the same alphabet as English (so not symbols or other alphabets like Russia or China), then you should be fine. If you rent a car, it will have some insurance provided, with the option to purchase additional coverage if you want to reduce your payment in the case of an accident. You can also get an international driving license from your home country if you want to be sure 🙂
Best
Laurence
Afrin says
Thank you so much Laurence for your response. It was helpful. 🙂
Teresa D says
Thank you for all your information. I have been reading up on coming to UK. We are planning our trip to England only this time for September 2019. I am very nervous about the driving on the left and the roundabouts especially in the small towns/villages. My husband will be doing all the driving though. Again thank you for all your information.
Laurence Norah says
My pleasure Teresa – have a safe trip!
Sandra says
Hi Laurence Norah,
Iam from Mozambique I would like to now if a can drive in England and my drive licence is SADC.
Thank you
Laurence Norah says
Hi Sandra,
You should be able to drive in the UK. As long as the licence is in English it should be fine. You might need to check with the car rental company if you rent a car if they have any additional requirements, but legally it should be ok. You can always check here:
https://www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence
Enjoy your trip!
Laurence
Perera says
Hi,
Are there restrictions in the UK on passengers using a cell phone on the front passenger seat?
Thanks,
Perera
Laurence Norah says
Hi Perera,
As far as I am aware you are allowed to use a mobile phone as a passenger in the UK. The only exception to this rule is if you are supervising a learner driver, but as a visitor to the UK this is unlikely to be a situation you will find yourself in!
Laurence
Divakaran menon says
Hi. Iam Indian. 2m visit. Holder Indian and UAE license. Ca i drive my son’s (uk) car? Thanks.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Divakaran,
So you can drive in the UK for up to 12 months on your Indian license (I didn’t check your UAE license but it’s likely the same).
However, you have to consider insurance. In the UK it is illegal to drive without insurance, and the insurance is for the person driving the car usually, rather than the car itself. So you son will have to contact his insurance provider to see if they will cover you. This will carry a fee of some amount if it is available,
Best
Laurence
David Trotter says
Hello
We are driving the “500” this upcoming May. We will be renting a vehicle but being North Americans we have naturally a bit of anxiety driving on the opposite side of the road and with a standard transmission and the potential impatience of local drivers. My wife and I are experienced with a standard transmission. We were wondering if it would be beneficial to place a “P” decal on the rental car? My understanding is that it is not a mandatory or legally required decal like the “L”.
Any advice would be helpful. Thank you.
Laurence Norah says
Hi David,
We’re actually on the NC500 right now, so your question is very timely. The P is not mandatory and it’s not that common a sight either to be honest. It might help a little, but it’s also worth being aware that a great many of the drivers on the NC500 are not necessarily from the UK, so there would be many who might not recognise the meaning. That said, there’s no harm to it as long as you get P plates that don’t leave a residue on your rental 🙂
Have a lovely adventure!
Laurence
Edward says
We would like to rent a car in London to drive into Cornwall and then into Wales. Will taking a car rented in London be a problem to cross in and drive around Wales? We would intend to return to London to fly back home, so we could return the car at the airport in London.
Laurence Norah says
Hey Edward,
Whilst you’re on the mainland UK, there’s no difference between driving between Scotland, Wales and England. The only issue that some car hire companies have is taking cars on ferries (just check with them) and taking cars into a different country like the Republic of Ireland or across to mainland Europe.
So in summary, no, there won’t be a problem 🙂
Have a great trip!
Laurence
Tracy Crow says
Thank you so much for this article.! I had no idea I could drive in England with my U.S. license. Considering moving there in the next year or two. How long and what is the process of getting an actual UK drivers license?
Laurence Norah says
Hi Tracy!
My pleasure. So you can drive in the UK for 12 months from the date of arrival in the UK as a visitor, or from the date of becoming a resident.
After that time, as a holder of a US driving license, you would need to qualify for a UK license. This has three steps:
1 – obtain a provisional driving license. This license is what learner drivers get, and means you are allowed to drive in the Uk but with some restrictions (you need a qualified driver in the car, the car needs to be clearly marked with “L” stickers, and you can’t go on all road types for example).
2 – sit a theory test, which is a computer based test testing your knowledge of the road laws
3 – take an actual test
This is outlined here too: https://www.gov.uk/exchange-foreign-driving-licence
However, you don’t actually need to exchange your US license, you can just qualify with a new UK license I believe.
I hope this helps, and good luck! I would probably advise taking a couple of driving lessons in the UK before going for the practical test, just so you know what the examiner is likely to ask of you and things to be aware of.
Laurence
Tracy Crow says
Your awesome! Thank you!
Eva_Stolelocket says
Thanks so much for posting this detailed guide, very helpful!
Laurence Norah says
My pleasure Eva, let me know if you have any questions 🙂
Jennifer summer goh says
Thank you for your very detail information ????
We plan to self drive in England and Edinburgh. We will be arriving at Heathrow airport.
Could u advise me how could I save cost if i do not pick up the car at Heathrow? Where would be the next best town to pick up a rental car and how do I get there?
Thank you so much.
Laurence Norah says
HI Jennifer
Certainly. So we usually recommend Enterprise as they have a lot of rental locations around the UK.
If you are flying into London, they have a number of central London locations. If you go to their website and put “London” as the pick up location, there are quite a few central London locations you can choose from. I just did a search for a weeks rental in April on their site.
For the dates I chose, a pickup at Heathrow of a Standard car would be £314 per week.
Picking up the exact same class of car for the exact same period of time in central London would be £259 per week. This was from the London Russell Square location, but there are lots to choose from.
As you can see this is a saving of around £55.
Getting into central London from Heathrow airport is easy. There’s are a number of way, but the simplest would be the underground (also known as the tube). I chose the Russell Square location from Enterprise as the tube goes directly from Heathrow to Russell Square without needing to change, and takes around 50 minutes. It’s also pretty cheap, at no more than £6 per person.
Of course, if you plan on staying in London for a little while, and your next stop is a town that is easy to reach from London by public transport, it’s also worth checking to see if there is a rental location there too. You definitely don’t want a rental in London, so either pick it up as you leave, or at the next city you stop at 🙂
Let me know if you have any more questions, I’m happy to help!
Laurence
Riana says
I am glad I found this article, thank you… Me and my husband will arrive London Hearthrow on the 6th september… we are planning to drive from London to Edinburgh… May I know is it difficult to drive from London to edinburgh? We have never try driving in London before
Laurence Norah says
Hi Riana,
So if you are driving directly from Heathrow to Edinburgh then you won’t go through London itself as you will take the motorway (UK equivalent to a US interstate) around London and the north. It’s quite well sign posted, you should just be able to generally follow signs for “the north”. I’d also suggest something like Google Maps to help with navigation as it has routing, although you would need to download the map for offline usage if you won’t have data.
Have a great trip and let me know if you have any more questions!
Laurence
John Crowley says
Heading to the UK from Boston in May.Nice job of simplifying the driving differences.I am actually a little more calm after reading your blog. I will read it a few more times before we go and also review driver license requirements. One area I wasn’t clear on is whether I need to rent automatic transmission if my license is not marked either way. I drive manuals all the time so I guess I will contact the rental company to see if I’m allowed to drive a manual transmission. I will also see if I need to get international driving license before I go.
Laurence Norah says
Hi John – my pleasure, and thanks for commenting. As I understand it, as US licenses are not divided, you can drive a manual in the UK. If you are happy to do so, you will also find that they are cheaper to rent – automatics are much rarer in the UK, and so there is a price premium on rentals. You shouldn’t need an international driving license for the UK, as US licenses are also in English 🙂
Jack William says
Thank you for the tips it is very helpful for me
Laurence Norah says
My pleasure – safe driving 🙂