Travel comparison
United Kingdom vs Ireland
A side-by-side look at the practical travel essentials for United Kingdom and Ireland — power, safety, money and getting around — so you can plan or choose between them quickly.
Quick answer
Traveling between United Kingdom and Ireland, you likely won't need a plug adapter, and a voltage converter is generally not needed for dual-voltage chargers.
| Detail | United Kingdom | Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| Power plug | Type G | Type G |
| Voltage | 230V | 230V |
| Frequency | 50Hz | 50Hz |
| Emergency (general) | 999 / 112 | 112 / 999 |
| Police | 999 / 112 | 112 / 999 |
| Ambulance | 999 / 112 | 112 / 999 |
| Tap water | Generally safe | Generally safe |
| Driving side | Left | Left |
| Currency | Pound Sterling (GBP, £) | Euro (EUR, €) |
| Dialing code | +44 | +353 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) / UTC+1 (BST) | UTC+0 (GMT) / UTC+1 (IST) |
| Best season | Late spring through early autumn offers the longest daylight and the best chance of mild weather. May, June and September are especially good for city breaks because they avoid the busiest school-holiday weeks. | May to September gives the best daylight for road trips and coastal scenery. Weather is changeable year-round, so waterproof layers matter more than exact month. April, May and September are good shoulder-season choices. |
Full brief
United Kingdom travel essentials
Plugs, emergency numbers, tap water, tipping and more for United Kingdom.
Full brief
Ireland travel essentials
Plugs, emergency numbers, tap water, tipping and more for Ireland.