Driving in the UK: Things to Know and Classic Routes

The UK is the oldest industrial power and the birthplace of modern science. It preserves a large number of industrial revolution buildings and historical sites. You can find your dreams and passions here and satisfy your desire to explore. Below is a guide to driving in the UK.

Me: Xinxin, let’s drive. I want to stay in a big house in the English countryside. Driving will be convenient.

Xinxin: Is it left-hand drive or right-hand drive?

Me: Right.

Xinxin: No…

Me: I want to stay in a big HOUSE in the English countryside. Driving is the only convenient way…

Xinxin: Can you drive?

Me: I can’t even drive well in Beijing. Let’s forget about England…

Xinxin: You should practice driving first… then go…

Me: (Right, driving is convenient to go to Bicester Village… I can buy you things all day long…)

Xinxin: er alright.

Haha, you see, my husband loves to buy things. After my constant nagging, he finally agreed to drive. Now I can happily plan my trip to the English countryside…

The English countryside is truly beautiful, and driving is the best way to experience it.

Just throwing in a couple of pictures of my English countryside big houses.

Now to the main point, is the UK suitable for driving?

To the west of London there is Windsor, Highclere Castle (the filming location of Downton Abbey), Stonehenge, and Bath, a city with a strong Roman style; along the left road north, you can participate in the Oxford + Bicester famous school shopping tour, or reach the Cotswolds, Peak District, and Lake District to experience the most beautiful countryside or natural scenery in England. For those who like Manchester United, you can stop at Manchester. For those who love music, you can visit Liverpool.
You can drive all the way north to Scotland, or you can go back along the right road, visit York and Cambridge, and finally return to London.

In short, the UK is a country that is perfect for driving. The UK basically recognizes Chinese driver’s licenses. Whether it’s an international driver’s license certificate or a simple translation, it’s very easy to obtain. All you need to do is choose a route based on your preferences.

Actually, I want to go to every place mentioned above, but we only have a 12-day trip. I have allocated four days for the London area.

Here are some classic routes:

I finally chose Windsor–Oxford–Bicester–Cotswolds–London.

Our car is an Audi A1, which is very easy to drive and fuel-efficient. For those who don’t have luxurious requirements, the A1 is a good choice. The whole trip took 4 days and cost about 1300 yuan.

UK Driving Tips:

1、Rent a car

All major rental car websites are convenient nowadays. The only suggestion is to rent in China, as it’s more expensive to rent abroad. Be sure to buy full insurance. If there is an accident: After the car is damaged, the local rental company will directly deduct a high repair cost from your deposit. You should ask the rental company for a receipt and send an email to the company. The rental company will reimburse you based on your repair invoice. You can rest assured about their credit.

2、Navigation

Please use the postcode for navigation in the UK. Each attraction or hotel has a unique postcode, which is more convenient than entering the address and ensures accuracy. This is why the UK is one of the most suitable countries for driving.

3、Parking

When parking on the street, be sure to pay at the meter and put the ticket on the dashboard where the police can see it. Failure to do so will result in a fine. If you are fined during your trip, the fine is usually between £50 and £100. If you pay within 14 days, you can get a 50% discount.

4、Right-hand drive

Right-hand drive is nothing to be afraid of. When driving, keep repeating to yourself: “Left turn small bend, right turn big bend.” Then constantly remind yourself to stay in your lane, especially on the highway. Missing an exit on the highway can add an extra few miles to your drive. We missed three exits and it was a real pain. It doesn’t matter if you miss a road off the highway. It won’t cause any problems.

5、Roundabouts

Roundabouts are driven clockwise! Merge into the roundabout before entering and usually exit left (first exit), so stay in the left lane; if you are exiting right, stay in the right lane. Stop before entering the roundabout! Let the cars inside go first! This is a strict rule that must be followed!

6、Highway tolls

England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland do not charge highway tolls. Ireland is considered a foreign country and charges tolls.

7、Fuel

There aren’t many gas stations or service areas on the highway. I find it strange, don’t Brits stop to rest when they drive? The Audi A1 we rented was very fuel-efficient, we only used less than half a tank in four days. If you return your car at Heathrow Airport, there is a gas station right at the return gate, which is very convenient. We topped up the tank for 29 pounds.

Automatic parking ticket machines at the car park:

Parking at Windsor costs £8 a day

Remember to put the parking ticket in the car.