Electronics and Electrical

Voltage & Adapters

The UK uses 240V, and you will need a Type G adapter, but if you plan to visit other parts of Europe, a universal adapter may be a better choice.

• A highly recommended universal adapter is the EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter (recommended by Wirecutter).

• If you only need an adapter for the UK and Ireland, the Anker International Plug Adapter is a great choice—it includes 2 USB-C ports and 1 USB-A port for charging multiple devices.

• Depending on your adapter, you may need a USB wall plug adapter (like the power brick you use to plug into U.S. outlets)

Charging Phones & Devices

• Smartphones, Kindles, laptops, and iPads - these work with dual voltages (110V/230V), you do not need a voltage converter—just an adapter.

• If you have multiple devices, consider bringing a multi-port USB charger to avoid a nighttime charging bottleneck with just one adapter.

Hair Dryers & Other Devices

• Do not bring a standard U.S. hairdryer—it will not work and could burn out unless it’s dual-voltage (220/110V).

Battery Pack for Phones

• You will likely use your cell phone a lot—for navigation, taking photos, looking up restaurants, and reading reviews—so keeping it charged is crucial.

• A portable battery pack is a smart travel essential. The Belkin Portable Charger (recommended by Wirecutter) strikes a good balance between capacity and portability. Please note: Battery packs that use Lithium (most do) cannot be packed in checked luggage as Lithium must also be visible on planes.

Money Matters

Currency

The UK is becoming increasingly cash-free, so you won’t need to carry much cash. ATMs are widely available, and local withdrawal rates generally offer better exchange rates than travel bureaus at airports. Be sure to check which ATMs your bank has agreements with to avoid extra fees. Typically, it’s cheaper to withdraw cash with a debit card rather than a credit card, depending on your card issuer.

Credit Cards

Most places, including restaurants and attractions like castles, will accept debit and credit cards. Contactless cards are becoming the standard for smaller transactions, though Chip and PIN is widely used. Check with your bank to set a PIN code for your credit card. If your contactless payment is rejected, don’t panic—simply insert the card into the reader. Here are the general rules for PINs numbers for credit cards:

• Contactless payments (tap-to-pay) are widely accepted, with a limit of £100 per transaction before a PIN is required.

• Occasional PIN entry: Even for contactless, banks may randomly ask for a PIN.

• Online and phone payments: May require additional verification like a one-time passcode (3D Secure).

Many credit card machines will detect you are using a US Dollar card and ask whether you want to charge in local currency (pounds sterling) or USD. It’s generally better to choose local currency. This is because:

• Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) (charging in USD) often comes with additional fees and less favorable exchange rates compared to what your card issuer would offer.

• If you choose local currency, your credit card company will handle the conversion at their typically better exchange rate, which can save you money.

So, unless you have a specific reason to pay in USD (e.g., avoiding foreign transaction fees on your card), local currency is usually the more cost-effective option.

Restaurants and Pubs

Restaurants typically process and charge your credit card at the point of service (at the table or bar) using a hand held device. Many establishment prefer this for security reasons and convenience, especially with the widespread use of contactless payments. They rarely, if ever, take your card away from the table. Side note: European visitors to the US are often shocked/surprised when restaurants take the card away to process it.

Tipping in restaurants is usually between 10-15%, but check your bill first—many places have "Service Included", which means the tip is already added. If a service charge is included, there’s no need to tip extra. It is not unusual for locals to ask if service is included, this is not considered rude or frugal. Servers in the UK get paid a "competitive wage" and unlike the US do not rely on tips for their salary.

While restaurants and pubs typically serve lunch and dinner, food options are often limited in the mid-afternoon with a kitchen closing at 2pm. Some pubs may not offer food at all, so it’s best to check ahead. The busiest time to eat in UK is usually about 7pm. In addition, many restaurants in rural areas may not open on Mondays and occasionally Tuesdays.

In pubs, order at the bar. Unlike the US, there’s no table service at most pubs. If you wait for a server, you might still be there when your flight home takes off. This can also apply to the pub food menu so check at the bar if you are unsure. Bartenders don’t expect tips.

At the end of the evening, pubs announce “Last Orders” about 10 minutes before closing time (usually 11pm). You have until 10 minutes after closing to finish your drink and leave.

Transportation

Local Buses: Local buses are available in most areas and generally run on published schedules. They’re a safe and inexpensive way to travel, especially for short distances within towns and cities. However, services can be limited on Sundays, so it’s a good idea to check schedules in advance. Some buses still require exact change and do not give change but many now accept contactless payment.

Trains: Many parts of the UK are accessible by train. It’s almost always cheaper to book your ticket in advance, rather than buying one at the station on the day of travel and you can use an app to do this (see below). The UK has multiple train companies, which can be confusing for first-time travelers, but there are apps available that provide comprehensive train options. For an excellent guide to navigating the UK train system, check out The Man in Seat 61, which offers detailed information on routes, fares, and booking tips.

UBER and Taxis: UBER is available in most cities and towns in the UK, and you’ll also find plenty of local taxi companies. Taxis are a reliable option, especially if you're traveling in areas with limited public transportation options but check in advance. In some rural areas, taxis may insist on cash. It’s often possible to book a taxi in advance via phone or app. For taxi tips, add 10% for a tip.

Car Rental: Smaller towns may not have car rental offices, and those that do may only be open for limited hours, typically closing at noon on Saturday and reopening on Monday morning. If you’re planning to rent a car over the weekend, airports are generally your best option, as they offer more flexible hours and availability.

Useful Smart Phone Websites and Apps

National Rail: National Rail is the official body representing UK train operators. It provides an official service for train schedules and ticket prices and owns and maintains the tracks nationwide. While it doesn't operate the trains, it serves as a one-stop shop for train information. The site offers details on ticket types, timetables, and redirects you to the train operator's website to purchase tickets.

Trainline: Trainline is a private online ticketing platform that sells train, bus, and coach tickets across the UK and Europe. As an independent service, it provides booking services for multiple train companies and charges a small booking fee. Trainline’s app is user-friendly, and it offers price prediction technology to help you book tickets at the best possible fares. This app is the one preferred by all of our UK friends

Omio: Omio is another popular app and website for booking train travel, as well as buses and flights across Europe. Similar to Trainline, Omio acts as an aggregator and allows you to compare prices from various transport providers.

Direct Train Operator Sites: Websites like Great Western Railway, Avanti West Coast, and SouthEastTrains may offer lower or even no booking fees. These are the companies that actually run the services. However, if your trip involves multiple train companies, you can book the entire journey with one operator, such as Transport for Wales, which offers tickets for all rail services nationwide (except sleeper services).

National Express: National Express is the UK’s largest long-distance bus/coach operator, running intercity and airport coach services across the UK.

Local Bus Services: For local bus travel, apps like UK Bus Checker and Moovit provide timetables, bus stop locations, and, on some routes, the estimated arrival time for the next bus.

Shopping

Main Stores: Most stores in the UK close earlier than in the US. Larger stores typically close between 5:30 and 6:00 pm, with even earlier closing times on Sundays, around 4:00 pm.

Banking Hours: Banks in the UK generally close earlier as well, typically around 4:00 or 5:00 pm on weekdays and are closed on Sundays. ATMs are widely available for cash withdrawals, but if you need to visit a bank, it's best to locate one and check their hours ahead of time. In the UK just like the US, bank branches are closing especially in rural areas.

Grocery Stores: Many grocery stores (like ALDI, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, or Asda) may have later hours on weekdays, often staying open until 10:00 pm or later, so check individual store opening times.

Sunday Shopping: Sunday trading laws in the UK limit larger stores to opening for a maximum of six hours between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, which can sometimes make planning purchases a bit tricky if you're used to 24-hour availability. This applies to all stores including the big grocery chains,

Late-Night Options: If you’re looking for something open later, supermarkets and 24-hour convenience stores like Tesco Express or Co-op can be great options for snacks, essentials, and some toiletries. Gas/Petrol stations are often the last option.

Health & Safety

• Emergency Numbers & Services

  • 999 and/or 112 for emergencies (police, fire, ambulance). The triple 9 (999) number is the traditional emergency number but 112 has become the standard across Europe.

  • 111 for non-urgent medical advice (free, 24/7).

  • 101 for non-emergency police assistance (e.g., reporting minor theft or lost property).

• Hospitals & Urgent Care

  • A&E (Accident & Emergency): For serious medical conditions. Wait times can be long unless it’s life-threatening.

  • Minor Injury Units & Walk-in Centres: These can treat many issues faster than A&E (e.g., minor cuts, burns, infections, broken fingers).

  • Private Urgent Care Clinics: Available in major cities (e.g., Bupa, Babylon Health, or London Doctors Clinic) but can be expensive.

• Pharmacies & Medication

  • Chemists like Boots, Superdrug, and Lloyds Pharmacy are common. Many offer consultations for minor ailments.

  • Some large supermarket pharmacies (Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s) have longer opening hours.

  • Prescription Medications: UK doctors cannot accept foreign prescriptions. You may need to see a local GP or private doctor to get UK-approved medication.

• Health Insurance & Costs

  • Emergency NHS care is available to everyone, but non-emergency treatment is not free for tourists unless your country has a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK.

  • A private consultation (for minor illnesses or prescription refills) costs £50–£200, depending on the clinic.

  • Travel insurance with medical coverage is recommended to avoid large bills for private treatment.

• Late-Night Pharmacies & 24-Hour Services

  • Late-night Boots branches exist in big cities, but in rural areas, 24-hour pharmacies are rare.

  • NHS 111 can help you locate an open pharmacy outside normal hours.

  • Some hospital A&Es have 24-hour pharmacies for urgent prescriptions.

• Additional Travel Health Tips

  • Tap water is safe to drink everywhere in the UK.

  • If hiking in remote areas, carry basic first aid supplies.

  • Consider downloading the What3Words app, used by emergency services to locate people in remote areas.

Miscellaneous

Queueing (Waiting in Line): The UK has a strong queueing culture—cutting in line is frowned upon. Cutting in line is social suicide. Even in an emergency, it's safer to faint dramatically and hope someone lets you go ahead.

The UK weather forecast is more of a polite suggestion than a guarantee. It might say "light showers," but that could mean anything from a gentle mist to a full monsoon.

If a British person asks, "Fancy a cuppa?" the correct answer is always "Yes, please!" Even if you don't drink tea, accept it—this is a social contract, not a beverage offer. Regular tea comes with milk (always) - but there is a debate whether milk before or after tea.

The weather is the #1 topic of conversation. If you’re stuck, just say, “Bit chilly today, innit?” and you’ll blend right in.

Brits apologize for everything. If you accidentally step on a Brit’s foot, they will say “Sorry” before you do.

The pub is the one place Brits will actually talk to strangers. Don’t lose that opportunity