🇬🇧 Travel facts United Kingdom
✓ Last checked:The most important practical answers for your trip to the United Kingdom — entry, tipping, plug, customs and more. Compactly verified, with source references.
| Capital | London |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Currency | Pound Sterling (£) |
| Timezone | UTC+0 |
| Flight time from Germany | approx. 1.5–2 hours |
| Emergency number | 999 / 112 |
| Plug | Type G · 230 V / 50 Hz · Adapter needed |
| EU / Schengen | not an EU country · not Schengen |
Do I need a visa for the United Kingdom?
Passport required — identity cards are no longer accepted since Brexit.
No visa for tourists (up to 6 months); check electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before departure. Binding information: German Federal Foreign Office.
How much tip do you give in the United Kingdom?
10–12.5 %, often already included as 'service charge' on the bill; no tip at the bar in a pub.
Taxi: 10 %
Which plug adapter do I need in the United Kingdom?
Adapter needed: Plug type G, 230 V / 50 Hz.
British plugs have a switch — for a 'dead' adapter, switch it on first.
Can you drink tap water in the United Kingdom?
Yes, tap water is drinkable.
What can I bring back from the United Kingdom to Germany?
Third country: On return to Germany, goods up to €430 (by air travel), 200 cigarettes and 1 litre of spirits are duty-free.
Does my mobile phone work in the United Kingdom?
Since Brexit, there is no guaranteed EU roaming — many German tariffs still include the UK; check in advance.
Card or cash — how do you pay in the United Kingdom?
Pound Sterling (GBP); contactless card payment is standard almost everywhere.
What should I know about health in the United Kingdom?
EHIC is still recognised in the United Kingdom (NHS emergency care); travel health insurance is recommended.
Sources & Note
Information from the perspective of German citizens, as of August 2026, without guarantee. Entry and safety information may change at short notice — binding is the German Federal Foreign Office (United Kingdom travel information) . Health information does not replace travel medical advice.
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