Driving in the U.K.
 

We will be staying south of Gatwick for a week. We plan to rent a car. Is a manual difficult considering the driving is on the opposite side from what we are use to? Where is the stick? We will not be driving into London, but taking the train. Is this easy to do? Do the trains run on a frequent schedule? Thanks for any help.

I would definitely rent an automatic larger sized car. We have driven many times in the UK and there is alot to think about without worrying about shifting too. We also feel more comfortably safe in at least a Sierra, about like our Ford Taurus. There is so much to do south of Gatwick, you will have a great time!!

Before I saw the rates for renting an automatic, I thought it was the way to go. The last time I checked, it was almost twice as much to get one. So I gave it a try, and in three trips I have had no problems shifting. I always take a few spins around the rental car lot to get the feel of the car and once I upgraded from the smallest economy size (a Fiat Cinquecento (sp?)) because the shift mechanism did not feel smooth. The next size up drove and shifted better. It's your choice, but manuals have worked out fine for me.

I forgot before--write if you would like suggestions for a B&B in Sussex. I found a great place that wasn't yet listed in any of the brochures but was delightful. Enjoy!

My sister and I will be renting a car in Ireland the first part of May, don't quite know where yet, still working on our itinerary. Will be arriving in London, staying for a few days, not quite sure how we will be traveling to Ireland, ferry, train or airplane??? Sounds like the driving should be fairly easy for my sister, she drives the Los Angeles Freeways. A couple of questions, are most of the road signs easy to understand, any strange ones and are any in the Gaelic Language? Thanks for your help.

Stick shift is the norm in Europe. Automatics are fairly rare thus much more expensive. I would get as small a car as I could get by with. Gas was around $4.60 per gallon when I was there in Oct. Buy an AA atlas 3 miles to the inch at the airport. I think it cost about 8 pounds or so. It has all of the road signs in it, mileage charts and very good, detailed mapping which you really need to navigate in the UK. Another good tip: Take some anti-fog solution with you. No a/c in the cars there makes the windows fog up fast when it rains.

As American living in London, I can provide some useful advice. Regarding auto vs manual, if you are VERY comfortable with stick, it's probably ok but it is ackward since you're shifting with left hand rather than right. Have to make sure you specify auto as stick is standard across Europe

Would go for a small (but not mini) car. Petrol is very expensive by US standards.

It's really not too bad once you get the hang of it. Just be very careful when turning right.

Let me know if you have any other questions. And, enjoy your trip ... it's great over here.

The people above have answered your first question. (Do you have many roundabouts in the States? If not, you're in for a shock!) Train travel to and in (underground) London is very easy, though try to afford rush hours. Don't take a car in - you will struggle for parking.

My wife and I both drove in England using stick shifts. Automatics are Very expensive. If you can drive well with a stick in the USA you can do it there. The major difference is that the stick is on the left side of the drivers seat. This takes a little getting used to but you will be suprised how well you can manage it. Driving on the left is no big deal and again you will be suprised how automatic it is. Two issues to deal with in England are the narrow roads,(poor planning for cars), and the MANY roundabouts. You will literally drive around hundreds. In England they avoided making bridges and even lights at intersections by making roundabouts. The good news is that the English are polite, predictable, and very good drivers.
So, all in all, go for it... it will be part of the fun!
Rick

These responses are very informative! Rick, the previous responder, and I are both in Massachusetts, judging from his ISP, and we have lots of roundabouts here (where they are called rotaries). Boston drivers are notoriously unpredictable, and I can say with confidence that English drivers--even in London--are far, far more predictable and stable. But if you are not comfortable with negotiating roundabouts and shifting, then by all means play it safe and get the automatic.

I forgot to mention to pick the person that reads a map well to do just that...and the other drive. If you are trying to get to specific places in a certain length of time, it takes a good map reader. Otherwise you can also figure if you miss a turn and cannot get to where you were going, there is always something great just down the road.

Thanks: It is kinda funny, when traveling, who is the driver, who is the map man. I like your humor, because I'm always the map man. Thanks Mike for the good tip, anti-fog solution. Are most of the road signs easy to read, any in the Gaelic Language?? Thanks.

Sue, I believe most of the posts here pertain to driving in England. I know mine have. I'd suggest you post your question about Gaelic signs in Ireland separate from this thread.

Once you get used to the roundabouts you'll wonder why we have intersections here. Just remember, enter to the left and exit to the left. If you have to go around a few times (or more) so be it! Your map reader should be familiar with the towns along your route, as most signs are for the next town or village. I have never seen a sign in Gaelic (except in Ireland, where it's also posted in English). As for stick shift, the pattern is the same and the clutch and brake pedals are the same. We travel cheap, use the money for an extra day or two, and so find the cost of an automatic prohibitive (my fun car is an Austin Healey 3000, so driving on the English roads is a delight, much to my wife's chagrin). As an aside, English signs are in miles, not Ks. Good tip above about the defogger, I'll remember that next time.

Sue, I believe most of the posts here pertain to driving in England. I know mine have. I'd suggest you post your question about Gaelic signs in Ireland separate from this thread.

I've been to England six times, driven all over and I have never seen signs in any language but English. Landranger Maps are extremely helpful, drawn at 1 1/4 inches per mile. You can buy them at bookstores in England or order them from a company called David Morgan at 11812 North Creek Parkway N., Suite 103 in Bothell, WA 98011.

I've been to England six times, driven all over and I have never seen signs in any language but English. Landranger Maps are extremely helpful, drawn at 1 1/4 inches per mile. You can buy them at bookstores in England or order them from a company called David Morgan at 11812 North Creek Parkway N., Suite 103 in Bothell, WA 98011.

I've been to England six times, driven all over and I have never seen signs in any language but English. Landranger Maps are extremely helpful, drawn at 1 1/4 inches per mile. You can buy them at bookstores in England or order them from a company called David Morgan at 11812 North Creek Parkway N., Suite 103 in Bothell, WA 98011.

We visit England almost every year and while the driving (and also crossing the street...the cars are coming in the opposite direction so look both ways at first) takes a bit of getting used to it doesn't take long. One thing that we have found useful when using the roundabouts is for the navigator to figure out how many 'exits' you will pass before your turn-off and then count them off to the driver. This is really helpful in areas of heavy traffic as the driver has to negotiate the merging, lane changes etc. It works well for us. One 'funny' aside...be careful if you have had a long day in the car. We had driven all day in the Welsh contryside. We stopped to look at something and when we pulled back onto the country road to contiue our journey neither one of us gave any thought to the fact that we were driving on the right until a huge 'lorry' was coming at us on 'our' side. This story now reminds us how important it is to remain aware!

Linda is so right. I always get confused as to whcih is the "right" side in large parking lots. But one near head on collision tends to get you back on your side quickly!

The postings all seem well placed. Roundabouts are better than our major intersections. And, yes, the Brits are very patient and courteous. I rented our stickshift car in near Harrod's...by the time I was out of Greater London, I was seasoned. Incidentally, not yet mentioned...their slow lane would be our fast lane. I got a lot of smiles and waves on that one. Later found out that the car agency had put a sign in the rear window..."this is a visitor to our country. Treat him courteously" and, LO, they did just that... Great time as I am sure you will have. Your apprehensions will disappear rapidly. Good trip !!!

The postings all seem well placed. Roundabouts are better than our major intersections. And, yes, the Brits are very patient and courteous. I rented our stickshift car in near Harrod's...by the time I was out of Greater London, I was seasoned. Incidentally, not yet mentioned...their slow lane would be our fast lane. I got a lot of smiles and waves on that one. Later found out that the car agency had put a sign in the rear window..."this is a visitor to our country. Treat him courteously" and, LO, they did just that... Great time as I am sure you will have. Your apprehensions will disappear rapidly. Good trip !!!

I am always worried that I will have to react quickly on the highway and swerve to the right, as would be my tendency here in the States. Of course, on a multi-lane road that puts you into the faster lanes, and into the oncoming traffic on a two-way road. My few near misses in England have come after getting off a long trip on a multi-lane road with light traffic. Now I try to break up my drives with lots of rest stops so that I don't go into "auto-pilot" mode and lose my concentration. It seems to work and I have driven right through London with no mishaps.

If this is your first time driving in the UK, splurge on the automatic. As you're touring on unfamiliar roads, I agree with the person who advised that there is enought to think about without the added complication of shifting. But make sure your request for an automatic is make well in advance--they are rare and may need to be brought from another rental location. Remember to think "Drive left, look right"...Train travel into London should be easy--unless there's a rail strike or bomb threat--both happen periodically in and around London (we have yet to go when there wasn't one or the other) so have alternate plans at the ready!

My husband and I rented an automatic Rover 400 Sedan (basically a Honda Accord) last spring from Heathrow and drove to the Cotswolds. Had no trouble at all except when trying to return the car at Kemwel's lot at Heathrow -- EXTREMELY poor signage and return instructions as to exit not accurate. Don't know if Gatwick would be as bad. Remember -- you'll be jet-lagged and, depending on how well you sleep on the flight over, your reflex reactions might not be as quick as you'd like in unfamiliar traffic situations. I'd recommend (despite the extra $$'s) at least a mid-size automatic -- I think our Rover was a full-size. You'll be surprised at how little luggage trunk space there is. You really don't want to be parking and leaving luggage in full view in the back seat.

British drivers extremely polite and the roundabouts get easier as the days go by. Remember to allow PLENTY of time to return the car before your flight home, just in case you have trouble locating a gas station to fill up or (like us!) can't find the lot!

Forgot to mention that you will have no difficulty with the trains into London. You can buy either a 3-day or a 7-day transportation pass that is good on the underground and the buses and will even provide free use of the trains within certain zones. We took the train to Hampton Court Palace at no extra charge and the train to Windsor required only a slight extra fee.

Have a great time!

Driving the LA Freeways is a snap by comparison to driving an Irish Road. You could count the number of Motorway miles on two hands - the rest are very narrow country roads with no berm and walls or hedgerow that pinch right up to the inside white line. This "hedgerow" is like nothing you have seen before - it towers up to 15 feet or so and is extremely thick. Tires are regularly flattened by unsuspecting tourists backing into it. It is just <not> for the unitiated. If you <must> drive, pick your car up at Shannon airport where most of the best buys can be had. AGain, I was born and raised there and return to the UK on a regular basis and I still have some scary moments. Think about alternatives. In any event have a good time.

Last year was my first experience driving in England and we opted for the more expensive automatic and were glad we did. The roads are narrow and windy and we didn't need to be thinking about shifting with the wrong hand. (it was bad enough with the automatic, I kept banging my right hand into the door. It doesn't take long to get used to the round-abouts, but we have them here and call them circles. The English drivers are much better behaved. I found it had to judge the left side of the car and hit the curb a few times. Just try to stay as close to the center of the road and that will prevent trouble on the left. It wasn't so traumatic, we're doing it again in June.
Have fun. (Judging by all the responses here, everyone in the US must have tried this already)
Also, as others have stated, have a good map person with you.

In your excitement and confusion upon arrival, it is best to ask the car lot people to mark the location where you will return their car on a good map. Upon our day to return the car, we had a heck of a time finding their lot. If you are confused when driving, always pull off the road. That way, when you have made up your mind and pull back onto the highway, you will not do what you would do automatically in the States, drive on the right. Keep your wits about you, never lose your temper, and you will be OK. Good advice, I guess, whether you are here or there. And don't be surprised, when looking at a car ahead of you, that it appears that a large dog is "driving" -- it's just Fido is in the "passenger's seat" while tiny Mum is behind the driver's wheel. It happened to us in 1969...and we're still laughing about it.

I have enjoyed all the above postings! I am from Australia, and as we drive on the same side of the road as the UK, we had no problem. However, we had all the fun and games driving around the Continent and the US. I can definately recommend having one person as the designated driver and one as the navigator. That worked well for us - I was much better at navigating than my husband, whereas he preferred the driving. Still got lost fairly frequently, so we perfected the art of a U-turn! We drove a manual everywhere. Having the gears on the other side does take getting used to - you'll find that you whack your hand against the door a lot when you go to change gears. The first day you have your car, don't plan a rushed day. Leave plenty of time to get where you want to go, so that you can travel along at your own speed and take time to adjust to the different conditions. You will adjust, and it won't be too traumatic an experience! The navigator needs to be in"drive mode" also, especially the first few days, watching the road and reminding the driver what side of the road to head for when turning. Roundabouts take a little thought. We are used to roundabouts, but when you are on the opposite side of the road, you have to stop and think "Now, which way do I go?" We found that when we came home, we had to remind each other to drive on the "normal" side of the road again! As for Gaelic only signs, I saw a couple in Ireland out near the Dingle Peninsula and the Ring of Kerry, but that was it. Have fun, and enjoy your trip!