Driving in the UK as a foreigner is a bit like being dropped into a game of Mario Kart—except the track is just one big roundabout, everyone’s on the wrong side of the road, and instead of throwing banana peels, people aggressively flash their headlights at you. Or lovingly. Either way, there’s a lot of flashing involved. If you’re used to driving on the right side of the road (like, you know, most of the world), adjusting to British driving can be quite the adventure.

Roundabouts are everywhere

Now, this isn’t a bad thing. In fact, I love the concept of a roundabout! But British road planners really looked at traffic lights and said: “Nah, let’s make this more interesting.” The result? Roundabouts. Everywhere. Everywhere.

Andf they are not coherent, either. There are tiny ones the size of a dinner plate. Massive ones with five lanes and 27 exits. Okay, Not that many – but it’s not far off from the truth. I just searched for UK’s biggest roundabout and found this monstrosity, fittingly called the Magic Roundabout. There are roundabouts in the roundabouts. Gang. No. What do we learn? Don’t drive into Swindon. Outside of that though, double roundabouts are quite common.

The key is to stay calm and remember the golden rule: give way to the right. And if you miss your exit? Don’t panic—just keep circling like a confused tourist until you figure it out (this is totally normal. Even locals do it, I promise).

Speed limits are in miles per hour

Because, of course they are. I already feel the ROMS growing again. Britain likes to be different, so instead of using the metric system like the someone sensible, speed limits are in miles per hour (mph). This is especially fun if your head’s speedometer is in kilometers per hour, turning every drive into an unexpected math quiz.

The common speed limits here are:

• 30 mph (48 km/h) in towns
• 60 mph (96 km/h) on country roads
• 70 mph (112 km/h) on motorways

The roads are… narrow

If you think you know what a narrow street is, think again. You’ll only truly know once you’ve driven in the UK. In the countryside, roads are so narrow that if another car approaches, one of you has to reverse into a hedge and pray. In towns, roads are still being built for horses and carriages, I swe.ar. And in cities, paring spacews are so small that fitting your car in should count as an Olympic Sport. To make things more exciting, there’s often a brick wall or hedge directly next to the road, too, giving you zero room for error. Nice!

Well, I am sounding a bit irritated here, but honestly, I am really impressed by British drivers, if I am honest. Those country roads are the loveliest (on the passenger site at least) to look at and navigating them just shows the skill that’s involved here. Little traditional country villages are so wholesome and beautiful, but driving their roads? Madness.

The lovely British weather

And last not least: Because this is the UK, you’ll probably be driving in rain, fog, or both. British weather loves to surprise you. It’s sunny when you start your journey, torrential rain 10 minutes later. After that, fog so thick you feel like you’re in a horror movie. Sudden hailstorm, just for fun. Your best friends? Fog lights, windshield wipers, and pure determination.

So bottom line, is it that bad? Honestly? Not at all! Once you get used to the quirks, driving in the UK is actually quite enjoyable. The countryside is stunning, and you’ll feel immensely proud the first time you navigate a roundabout without breaking a sweat.

So, if you ever find yourself behind the wheel in Britain—stay calm, embrace the madness, and just remember: Left is right, right is terrifying.

[Picture by Andreas Wagner – thank you!]