What is it like to drive in London? what are the roads like? Is it easy or hard? is it anything like driving in New York City? How do people there respect eachother on the road and the traffic rules themselves?

Larry, <BR> <BR>One word of advice to any visitor contemplating driving in downtown London: <BR> <BR> DON'T <BR> <BR>It would be somewhat akin to driving in New York City, but on the "wrong" side of the road, in a city that is laid-out in a confusing array of roads (some streets change names every block). <BR> <BR>IF you know where you are going and IF you are an experienced city driver and IF you are comfortable driving on the left, London's drivers are probably slightly better and more courteous than those in some major US cities. <BR> <BR>Good luck, if you are going to drive in London. <BR> <BR>Dave White <BR>http://www.KidsToLondon.com <BR> <BR>

Dave is right: Don't. I'm experienced in city driving, have driven on the left for 7 years, and know London fairly well. I still take the tube or taxi. Just not worth the hassle when the tube is so inexpensive and easy. Much quicker too. And taxis, though expensive, are a wonderful treat.

I would not recommend it. We visit London every year and we'd never drive in London. Traffic is very heavy most of the time, you are driving on the left, streets are narrow & crowded and you would probably not be that familiar with where you are. There is no reason to do it what with public transportation and taxis.

<BR> <BR>The worst thing with driving in London is parking . . it is impossible to find a spot even if you are willing to pay. I lived there two years without a car and never missed it. <BR> <BR>Rich

If you absolutely want to drive, rent a car at the airport and take a drive out into the country. It is quite an experience. I think I have finally figured out the British roundabout, what I haven't figured out is the roundabout within a roundabout.

I would agree with the other posters DONT. <BR>Public transport is so good in London that you don't need a car.

Or, from now to September, hire or buy a bicycle, buy a street atlas, and whizz along among all the stationery cars. For suburban distances, you pay no extra on a train if you take a bike along. <BR> <BR>Welcome to London <BR> <BR>Ben Haines

Another DON'T. There are hardly any traffic signals and NO stop signs, everyone knows whoose turn it is and they yield to that person, not like here where it's every man for themselves. I find London drivers extremely proficient but they know what they are doing and you won't.They will give you no quarter ! Drive in the countryside, if you must drive. <BR>I'm with Philllip, double roundabouts and those circles of arrows in the middle of regular intersections throw me too.

I'm a Londoner who got rid of her car 4 years ago because it just wasn't worth the hassle. <BR> <BR>Even if you think you know London, you'll get lost - the streets are a jumble. There is nowhere to park. But the worst part is the traffic - 3 am on a wednesday morning and you can be stuck in a traffic jam. <BR> <BR>I hardly know any Londoners who own cars, except those who want to drive out of town at the weekends. Use the Tube, taxis and buses - public transport is excellent. <BR> <BR>If you are hiring a car because you are touring other parts of the UK as well, then hire from a company that will allow you to drop the car off at Heathrow airport. <BR> <BR>I have driven in Manhattan and it's a dream compared to London - the traffic isn't as mental and the street system is simple to understand. There's really no comparison. <BR> <BR>On one plus side, British drivers are generally quite courteous but, like New York compared to the rest of the US, London is a law unto itself, and the shear weight of traffic means drivers are more cut throat .

Just don't drive in NYC, for heavens sake!! They don't need any more drivers there! Take public trans. can't go wrong there. Leave your car at home!

By the way, those circles of arrows in "normal" intersections ARE roundabouts. The roundabouts are just very small, sometimes just circles painted on the street or something shaped like a cookie (biscuit in Britain). It may be that the sign itself is the roundabout. They are just a traffic control device. You just treat them like a large roundabout--give way to anybody already in the intersection.

We go to London at least every couple of years and I wouldn't consider driving there. The countryside is great to see by car and getting in and <BR>out of Heathrow is not too bad, but I wouldn't go downtown. However, last year we did drive from Heathrow to Chiswick and it was easy. We went in the evening and we didn't go downtown London.

Don't drive to London!

We didn't drive in London either. You'd be amazed how ingrained the "wrong side of the road" is into your subconscious. Lokk BOTH ways before crossing a road! <BR>We picked up our car near the airport (so we could drop it off at the airport on the way home). The only main problem was finding reverse. Pull up the ring under the shift knob... <BR>Considering the cost of car rental ($50-100/day) it would probably be cheaper to take cabs in the city. It's REALLY cheaper and faster to take the transit. Tube? Neat! Top, front of those double-decker busses? Neater!! <BR>Roundabout hint - have the passenger figure out where you want to get out from the sign as you approach. You know, 90 degrees, 180, 270? 1st, second, or third? I found the roundabouts such a neat idea, I don't know why we don't use them in Canada, eh? Only in parking lots and other free-for-all situations did I forget which side of the road to stay on... Good thing I can drive a standard, it was a LOT cheaper! <BR>

Kinda like vegas! I was in Vegas and it is SOOOOO HOT! But it's pretty bad to drive in Vegas too! That strip is pretty crazy nowadays! <BR>Good luck in London. <BR>Rtegards,

<BR> <BR>I've lived in London for 15 years, and I agree with the other posters -- except I wouldn't even advise you to drive in the _country_ over here! The hardest thing about moving to Britain from Minneapolis was learning to drive here. <BR> <BR>I never advise Americans to drive over here - for the sake of those of us who _live_ here, if nothing else! <BR> <BR>If you look at a map of London, it looks like a bowl of spaghetti - you won't see a single straight road! <BR> <BR>And it's a lot more challenging than just driving on the left. The whole driving environment, the signing system, and the driving protocal are _all_ different. <BR> <BR>And there aren't street signs at most intersections - just at the beginning and end of each street. <BR> <BR>Roundabouts are a nightmare for most Americans. Another poster wrote: <BR> <BR>&gt;You just treat those circles of arrows in the road like a large <BR>&gt;roundabout--give way to anybody already in the intersection. <BR> <BR>This is only half correct: you must also yield to anyone _approaching_ the roundabout from your _right_ -- whether they're in it yet or not! And go around a roundabout _clockwise_! I've seen foreigners go around them the wrong way over here! (Or maybe they were Brits on drugs, I dunno!) <BR> <BR>In fact, a semi driver from Spain nearly killed me on one once. He was driving by Spanish rules which say people already in a roundabout must yield to those approaching it! <BR> <BR>If you want to see places outside of London, take a "coach" tour to other parts of England. These are cheap and they do all the driving and they put you up in good hotels. (You never know about hotels here.) <BR> <BR>The best ones are centered in one hotel and take you out somewhere most days. That way, you have a familiar place to sleep each night. <BR> <BR>Also, since these are not advertised overseas, most of your fellow travelers will be Brits, so you get to know some natives. My parents and some friends from the States have done this, and they _rave_ about it. <BR> <BR>You have to make reservations in advance for these tours, but if anyone wants the contact details, 'mail me and I'll get them for you. The coach tour operators will send you their catalogues for free. <BR> <BR>Have a great time! <BR> <BR>

The road signing system is somewhat cryptic here n the UK. The speed limits aren't always posted, either. If you can get it in time, buy the UK's official driving manual: "The Highway Code." You can get it on Amazon's UK site at: <BR>http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...886543-1904442 <BR> <BR>or you might be able to get a copy quicker from their US site. You can buy it when you get to the UK, at most book stores and news agent's, but not all car rental companies sell it. <BR> <BR>The Highway Code will tell you all the rules of the road, including parking regulations, and will decipher all the road signs for you. <BR> <BR>The best advice you'll get, apart from renting an automatic, is DRIVE DEFENSIVELY. Always expect people to cut in front of you, pass ("overtake) you on the left, etc. and expect motorcycles to pass you on either side. <BR> <BR>Expect children to run out in front of you, too. <BR> <BR>Also, watch out for pedestrians. There are lots of them here and they _always_ have right of way, even when legally _you_ do. (If you hit one here, _you'll_ be the one found guilty in court!) <BR> <BR>Pedestrian crossings sometimes have traffic lights (these are called "Pelican crossings") but sometimes they just have wide, white stripes running through them with flashing yellow globes on top of posts on each side (called "Zebra crossings"). If someone is approaching or waiting at a Zebra crossing on foot, you must stop and wait for them to cross. <BR> <BR>Signs directing you where to turn are usually right _at_ the entrance to the road you turn into, not 50 or 100 yards _before_ the turning point. <BR> <BR>Also, there aren't street signs at every intersection ("junction") - but only at the beginning and end of each street. <BR> <BR>On motorways, the left lane is the slow lane. The middle and right lanes are technically just for passing ("overtaking"), but the roads are so crowded people use them anyway. Just don't pass people on their left, unless the motorway is really full of cars. That's the only time it's allowed. USE ALL YOUR MIRRORS A LOT! People _will_ pass you on the left, even when they shouldn't. <BR> <BR>And in case you don't realize it, you're supposed to go _clockwise_ around roundabouts here! <BR> <BR>Be safe. Have fun.