United Kingdom
Emergency
What to say when you call
I need help. I am at [address and postcode]. [There has been an accident / a fire / a break-in]. [Number] people are affected.
Means: I need help. I am at [address]. [What happened]. [Number] people are affected.
ID number you need first
Not on Newcomer Kit yet for this country.
Prepaid SIM: do you need ID?
Not on Newcomer Kit yet for this country.
Practical facts
- Plug typeGPartly verified
Plug types G. Taken from the IEC World Plugs country listing as quoted in search results; the IEC page itself did not open for our checker (HTTP 403). Confirm on iec.ch.
Source: iec.ch: World plugs (country listing) · Last checked 2026-10-21
- Mains voltage and frequency230 V · 50 HzPartly verified
Mains 230 V, 50 Hz. Taken from the IEC World Plugs country listing as quoted in search results; the IEC page itself did not open for our checker (HTTP 403). Confirm on iec.ch.
Source: iec.ch: World plugs (country listing) · Last checked 2026-10-21
- CurrencyGBP · pound sterlingPartly verified
The pound sterling is the UK currency. The Bank of England page describes its sterling banknotes (5, 10, 20 and 50 pounds) and says six banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland also issue notes; it does not itself state that sterling is the legal currency of every UK nation.
Source: bankofengland.co.uk: banknotes · Last checked 2026-10-21
- Time zoneGMT / BSTOfficial source read
The UK is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT); when the clocks are one hour ahead it is British Summer Time (BST).
Source: gov.uk: when do the clocks change · Last checked 2026-10-21
- Clock changeLast Sun Mar · last Sun OctOfficial source read
The clocks go forward 1 hour at 1am on the last Sunday in March and back 1 hour on the last Sunday in October. gov.uk lists 29 March and 25 October 2026, and 28 March and 31 October 2027.
Source: gov.uk: when do the clocks change · Last checked 2026-10-21
- Driving sidePartly verified
The Highway Code tells drivers to stay in the left-hand lane on a two-lane dual carriageway (rule 137) and mentions passing places on your left (rule 155), which fits driving on the left. The pages we read do not state the driving side as one general rule. Check the Highway Code or the DVSA.
Source: gov.uk: The Highway Code, rules 103 to 158 · Last checked 2026-10-21
Left out on purpose: tap water and tipping. We add them only when an official source states them for the country.