Gear & packingBy Clever Tourists · Published
England uses the three-pin Type G plug at 230 volts and 50Hz, so almost every visitor needs a UK adapter. Visitors from Europe, the US, Canada, Australia and Asia all need one, because the rectangular three-pin plug does not fit any other socket and a European two-pin plug will not fit without an adapter. Chargers marked 100-240V are fine; 120V-only hair tools are not. We were in England from November to December 2023, in London, Bath, the Cotswold and Peak District areas, and this page covers the plug, the voltage and the bathroom socket trap.
WorldStandards lists the UK as Type G at 230V and 50Hz. Type G has three rectangular pins, with a top earth pin that opens shutters on the socket. UK plugs carry a built-in fuse, usually 13 amps. The same plug is used in Ireland, Malta, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. A Type C Europlug will not fit without an adapter with an earth-pin dummy.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use the same plug.
• USA, Canada: yes, a Type G adapter, and check the voltage: 230V, not 120V.
• Continental Europe: yes, Types C and F do not fit Type G sockets.
• Australia, New Zealand: yes, Type I does not fit.
• Japan, South Korea, Thailand: yes, Type G does not fit any of their plugs.
• Ireland, Malta, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia: no, Type G plugs are used there.
Chargers for phones, laptops, tablets and cameras that say 100-240V work. A hair dryer or straightener rated 120V will overheat or fail at 230V. Many hotels, B&Bs and hostels supply dryers.
Bathroom sockets in England are usually shaver-only. They are intended for electric razors and toothbrushes, not hair dryers or phone chargers, and do not take a standard plug. Charge your phone and laptop in the bedroom. This is also covered in our England things to know guide.
Check whether your train has seat sockets before relying on them, because it varies by train and operator, and carry a power bank for days when you cannot find one. Our London days guide covers planning for a short stay. Keep your power bank in your carry-on bag when you fly home or onward.
Supermarkets, pharmacies, electronics shops and stations sell travel adapters; prices at airports and stations are higher. It is cheaper to buy one before you travel. For a longer stay, buy a UK-plugged USB charger rather than an adapter and a charger.
See power plugs by country, tipping in England and best time to visit England. If you need an entry authorisation, see the UK ETA guide for US citizens. Our England route shows where we went.
A UK plug has a fuse inside, usually 3, 5 or 13 amps, which protects the cable from overload. The earth pin is longer than the others and opens shutters that cover the live and neutral holes, which is why you cannot poke a foreign plug in. Adapters get round this by having their own earth pin. Cheap adapters sometimes lack a fuse; a fused one is safer for laptops and hair dryers.
UK sockets usually have a switch beside them. If your device does not charge, check the switch is on before assuming the adapter is broken.
• Buying a US-to-Europe adapter. It will not fit. You need Type G.
• Using the bathroom shaver socket for a phone. Charge in the bedroom.
• Forgetting the switch on the socket. Flip it on.
• Packing a 120V hair dryer. It will overheat at 230V; use the hotel dryer.
• Leaving a charger in a B&B. Check sockets behind furniture before you check out.
• Overloading one socket. UK sockets are rated at 13 amps; a hair dryer, kettle and heater on one extension can trip it.
One Type G adapter, preferably with USB ports, a multi-port charger and a power bank. For a longer stay, a UK-plugged USB charger saves carrying an adapter. If you are continuing to Europe, bring a separate Type C or universal adapter, and if you are heading to a hotel with few sockets, a short extension lead helps. Wherever you stay in England, from a London hotel to a B&B in Bath, check where the sockets are before you unpack so you can plan which devices charge overnight. In winter, short days and cold batteries drain phones quickly, so carry a power bank on long walks, and keep it warm in an inside pocket. See our overview, power plugs by country. For winter travel in England, check the weather in best time to visit England.
Type G, three rectangular pins, at 230V and 50Hz.
Yes, a Type G adapter. Also check that chargers are rated 100-240V, because the UK voltage is 230V.
No. A Type C or F plug needs an adapter to fit a Type G socket.
Usually no. Bathroom sockets are generally shaver-only, so use the bedroom socket.
Only for devices that cannot take 230V, such as 120V-only hair tools. Phone and laptop chargers marked 100-240V do not need one.
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