Separated by the English Channel and accessible in less than two hours from France (by Eurostar, ferry, or plane), England attracts visitors for its multicultural and dynamic atmosphere, as well as its royal heritage and elegant ‘So British’ charm.
It’s a country often featured in movies, making it seem familiar, but be careful—we're sure that some of the points in this article might surprise you!
Of course, we’re here to share everything and help you prepare for your trip by anticipating details you may not have considered.
So, let’s dive into this list of must-know things before heading to England!
Let’s clear things up on this front.
Since January 2020, following Brexit (a combination of "British" and "Exit"), England is no longer part of the European Union or its free trade agreements.
As a result, to enter the country, you will need a valid passport—no exceptions.
But that’s not all!
While a Visa is required for stays longer than 6 months, if you're visiting for less than 6 months, you will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).
This is a form you must complete online (via an app or the UK Government website) and once approved, the ETA is valid for 2 years and costs around €12.
And since we’re talking about money—England has its own currency. Even when the UK was part of the EU, it never adopted the Euro. Instead, it uses the British Pound (£), abbreviated as GBP.
As of February 2025, the exchange rate is €1 = £0.83.
Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, but to avoid excessive currency exchange fees, check with your bank if your card allows free transactions abroad.
For us, to avoid extra fees, we’ve been using the Visa ULTIM card from BoursoBank since the beginning of our European road trip in 2022, and it’s become a daily essential!
It’s free of charges (as long as you use it at least once a month) and there are no fees on foreign transactions (withdrawals or payments), no matter the currency. This is super convenient for international travel!
If you’re not already a BoursoBank customer and want to switch, use our referral code SILE2464 (or the button below) to receive a sign-up bonus of €80 to €220, depending on the current promotion.
Another well-known British quirk is that they drive on the left. Yes, everything is reversed compared to what we’re used to: steering wheel, roads, roundabouts, signs and traffic lights.
But it’s not just drivers who need to be aware—pedestrians should be extra careful too!
If you’re used to looking left, then right before crossing, you’ll need to reverse the order—and it’s not at all intuitive! But getting it wrong could lead to an accident! We almost learned the hard way… so trust us, take your time and stay alert!
So as much as a pedestrian as a driver, we advise you to take your time an think it twice before doing anything!
Another thing to keep in mind if you are driving in England is that the speed in the UK is measured in miles per hour (mph), not km/h.
If you rent a local car, the speedometer will be in mph, so you can just follow the signs, but if you bring your own car, you’ll need to do some quick math. So keep in mind that 1 km/h = 0.6 mph.
To make things easier, here are the most important speed limits to remember:
It is also important to know that if you drive into central London from Monday to Friday (7 AM – 6 PM), you’ll need to pay a congestion charge of £15 per day. You must pay online via the UK Government website: tfl.gov.uk.
Additionally, depending on your vehicle type, you may also have to pay an environmental tax to enter Low Emission Zones (LEZ) or Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ).
Fees vary based on your vehicle and location. Check all details on the links bellow.
🚨 There are cameras all over London monitoring license plates, so don’t try to cheat the system!
Now that you know that, you have the essential information in your possession, but stay all the same watchful on the following points:
Driving in England isn’t as difficult as it seems. It just takes a bit of adaptation, since our driving reflexes are completely reversed. But don’t worry—you’ll get the hang of it pretty quickly! 😊
And if you are thinking about renting a car in England, we recommend DiscoverCars, a platform that compares hundreds of car rental companies to find you the best deals with no hidden fees. So, when you rent a car from them, the price usually includes unlimited mileage, theft protection, and at least partial coverage.
Another difference from France: power outlets are not the same. In England, they have three large rectangular prongs (Type G sockets), whereas in France, we have two round prongs (Type E sockets).
So, make sure to bring an adapter to avoid being unable to charge your phone or other electronic devices.
Aside from this difference, the electricity voltage is the same as in France (230V and 50Hz), so you won’t need a voltage converter—just an adapter will do!
You may have never thought about this, but the United Kingdom and England are not the same thing. And to make things even more confusing, there’s also the term "Great Britain."
It’s easy to get lost in all these names... Why do three different terms exist, and what do they really mean?
In fact, they are geographical and political classifications:
Ireland (also known as the Republic of Ireland) is not part of the UK because it became an independent country in 1922. That’s why it’s not included in the United Kingdom’s political structure. Ireland also uses the Euro (€) instead of the British Pound (£).
Bonus fact: People from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland do not hold individual nationalities—instead, they all have British nationality. There’s no such thing as "English," "Scottish," "Welsh," or "Northern Irish" nationality—their passports are simply British passports.
Yes, almost all parking spaces in England are paid. Finding free parking is very rare, whether in small towns or large cities. And the police take parking rules very seriously! They regularly check for violations and won’t hesitate to issue fines or even clamp your vehicle.
So, always remember to pay for parking!
For this, you can pay at a parking meter or via an app (such as EasyPark, PayByPhone, or RingGo). Using an app is very convenient because you can extend your parking time remotely if needed.
Beyond car parks, you can park on the street for free, but it’s not always practical. And most importantly, you must check the markings carefully:
Also, watch out for "Permit Holders Only" zones—these are reserved for local residents only.
And if you plan to park in London, the same rules apply. However, remember that as mentioned earlier, you’ll also have to pay additional congestion and environmental charges just for driving in the city.
On top of these fees, parking in central London is extremely expensive... A smart alternative? Use P+R (Park & Ride) facilities!
These parking areas are located on the outskirts of London and offer cheaper parking rates compared to central London and an easy access to the London Underground (Tube).
When we visited London, we used the P+R at Croxley Station, in North-West London, and it was super convenient!
One thing we did not expect in England was this… The internet connection is generally very poor and slow! At least, that was our experience with our Free mobile plan. We’re not sure if it's the same with other providers, but for us, it was quite a struggle.
Of course, there are solutions to make sure you stay connected during your trip:
Yes, as simple as that. You’ll find plenty of public WiFi hotspots in cafés, restaurants, bars, pubs, hotels, but also in libraries, museums, shopping malls and even in some trains across the country! That’s super convenient!
Another great option if you don’t have access to WiFi but still need a good connection on the go is an eSIM.
eSIMs are virtual SIM cards that let you access mobile data abroad without removing your physical SIM card.
You can choose a plan based on your travel duration and data needs and the activation is quick and easy.
You’ll have internet as soon as you land, without paying ridiculous airport prices or scrambling to find a SIM card seller after arrival.
We recommend getting your eSIM from Saily. This brand was created by Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN, a leader in internet security and digital privacy. And it is the same with their eSims, which offer a reliable and secure connection.
On top of that, with Saily you will have:
✔️ 24/7 full customer support
✔️ Affordable and flexible pricing, depending on your destination
✔️ 5% discount on your order with our code FOXTROTTEURS5!
⚠️ To get your 5% discount, make sure to enter the code FOXTROTTEURS5 at checkout before paying!
England is so much more than just London! And while London is an amazing city (which we absolutely loved), we highly recommend venturing out to explore the English countryside and other cities. You won’t be disappointed!
You’ll find charming stone villages, cobbled streets, cathedrals, stunning architecture, lush valleys, white chalk cliffs, rivers, lakes, and cozy cottages with thatched roofs… A very British atmosphere, and so picturesque!
Many people associate nature more with Scotland or Ireland, but trust us—there is so much to see and enjoy beyond London!
And for the best accommodations, check out Booking.com.
Another very British thing: the weather is extremely unpredictable.
You can easily experience all four seasons in one day! So, it’s best to be prepared, rather than getting caught in the rain wearing a dress, without a raincoat or umbrella.
To be ready for anything, we suggest dressing in layers: a light base layer, a jacket and a raincoat (or K-way) at the very least.
This way, you’ll be comfortable no matter how the weather changes throughout the day, without carrying too much.
Of course, seasonal temperatures vary—winters in England can be quite cold, so warmer layers are essential.
Be aware of store hours in England, as they tend to close quite early, especially in small towns and villages.
Typical store hours:
✔️ Monday to Saturday: 9 AM – 5 PM (sometimes 6 PM).
✔️ In major cities, stores may stay open later and even operate on Sundays—which is quite handy!
✔️ In villages, hours are more restricted, and some shops close for half a day per week (usually Wednesday afternoon).
Keep this in mind if you’re traveling outside London—if you need to run errands or buy souvenirs, don’t arrive too late, or you might find the shop already closed!
Continuing with the topic of time, England is 1 hour behind France.
England follows UTC+0 in winter and UTC+1 in summer, whereas France follows UTC+1 in winter and UTC+2 in summer. So, there is always a 1-hour time difference between the two countries.
For example, when it’s 12:00 PM in France, it’s 11:00 AM in England.
Even though it’s a small time difference, it’s still important to keep in mind, whether for your flight arrival time, the sunrise and sunset times an even for calling your family back home at a reasonable hour.
Ah, English pubs and their unique atmosphere! It’s almost impossible (and a shame) not to stop by at least once during your trip.
However, unlike restaurants, pubs in England follow a different service system: you must order and pay at the counter—always! And once you’ve ordered, you must carry your drinks to your table yourself.
Don’t just sit down and wait for a waiter—no one will come to serve you!
Another important note: If you order a beer without specifying the size, it will automatically be served as a pint (50 cl). If you want a smaller size (25 cl), you must specifically ask for a "half-pint."
That’s a Wrap! You’ve now reached the end of this article! We’ve shared 10 important things (plus a little bonus!) that you should know before visiting England. We hope this information helps you prepare for your trip so that you can anticipate any situation and make the most of your adventure. And don’t forget to check out the "Tips" section below for even more useful travel advice! 😉
If you haven’t booked your flight tickets yet, you can do so right here:
➡️ And since you've made it all the way to the end of the article, we're even offering you €10 with our referral code PL316TD9L for your first reservation with Ulysse (all you have to do is enter the code just before payment, by ticking the box “Do you have a referral code, promo code or gift card?”).
And as always, feel free to share your experiences and travel tips in the comments for fellow travelers! 😉
2️⃣ Tipping in England is not mandatory, but it is appreciated. Some restaurants automatically add a service charge to the bill (on top of taxes, which aren’t always displayed on menus. To have the final price, you will have to add about 12.5%), so make sure to double-check before paying.
You can refuse the service charge, but be aware that this fee usually acts as a tip.
General tipping guidelines: in restaurants, bars or taxis at is around 10 o 15% of the bill. For a hotel bellboys, you can give £2 per bag.
How about we chat?