999
Emergencies
Police, fire or ambulance when there is a real and immediate risk. Free from any phone, including locked handsets. 112 works identically.
Practical essentials
Plugs, SIMs, pharmacies and who to ring.
The unglamorous half of a trip: what the sockets look like, where to get data, what happens if you feel unwell, and which numbers to call when something goes wrong.
Emergency numbersSIMs and dataPlugs and voltageHealth and pharmacies
- 999
- Emergencies: police, fire, ambulance
- 111
- NHS advice, free, day and night
- 230V
- Mains voltage, Type G plugs
Numbers
Six numbers worth saving before you land.
All free to call from any phone, including a locked one with no credit.
111
NHS non-emergency
Free medical advice around the clock. They will tell you whether to see a pharmacist, book an urgent appointment or go to A&E. Use this first.
101
Police, non-urgent
Reporting a theft, a lost passport crime reference, or anything that has already happened. Expect to wait a few minutes.
105
Power cut
Reports and updates for electricity failures, free from any network. Useful in rural cottages during winter storms.
0800 40 50 40
Traveline
Public transport information for any bus, coach or train in England, staffed rather than automated.
+44 20 7790 1050
Rate.ie
Us. Weekdays 09:00–18:00 UK time, for trip questions rather than emergencies.
Health
Start at a pharmacy, not a hospital.
English pharmacists are qualified to assess and treat a long list of minor conditions without an appointment, and it is free to talk to them.
- Pharmacy first for coughs, rashes, stings, urinary infections and earache
- NHS 111 if you are unsure how serious something is
- Urgent treatment centres for sprains, small cuts and minor breaks
- A&E or 999 for chest pain, breathing difficulty, serious bleeding or head injury
- Bring travel insurance — emergency care is free but repatriation is not
| Situation | Where to go | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cold, cough, rash, sting | Any pharmacy | Free advice, £4–12 remedy |
| Not sure how serious | Call NHS 111 | Free |
| Sprain, small cut, minor break | Urgent treatment centre | Free assessment |
| Dental pain | Call 111 for an emergency dentist | £26.80–£319.10 |
| Prescription medicine | Pharmacy with a prescription | £9.90 per item |
| Chest pain, bad bleeding | 999 or A&E | Free |
| Contraception, morning after | Pharmacy or sexual health clinic | Free or £25–35 |
2026 NHS England charges · emergency treatment is free to all visitors
Power
Type G plugs, 230 volts, and a warning.
- Three rectangular pins — the Type G plug, used nowhere else in Europe
- 230V at 50Hz. US devices need a converter, not just an adapter
- Bring one adapter and a multi-port USB charger rather than four adapters
- Bathroom sockets are shaver-only and will not run a hairdryer or a phone charger
- Sockets have switches. If nothing is charging, check the little switch beside it
Data
Getting online for a few pounds.
| Option | Cost | Data | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| eSIM, pre-booked | £8–18 | 5–20GB | Bought online before you fly |
| Pay-as-you-go SIM | £10–20 | 10–50GB | Any phone shop or supermarket |
| Airport SIM kiosk | £20–30 | 10–20GB | Convenient, overpriced |
| Roaming from the EU | Varies | Varies | Check — no longer always free |
Coverage is good in cities and patchy on moorland and rural railway lines
96
4G coverage, urban areas
68
Coverage in national parks
Do not rely on it for maps
Street sense
England is safe, and pickpockets are patient.
Violent crime against visitors is rare. Opportunistic phone theft in crowded central London is not — moped snatches and distraction thefts are a genuine, well-organised nuisance in a handful of specific places.
- Do not stand at a kerb using your phone in central London
- Bags in front, zipped, on the Tube and in any market crowd
- Oxford Street, Camden and the South Bank are the hotspots
- Report theft on 101 for the crime reference your insurer needs
- Licensed black cabs and app cars only — never an unbooked car
01
Water
Tap water is safe and good everywhere in England. Restaurants must provide it free on request — ask for "tap water" specifically.
02
Nature
No dangerous wildlife. Adders are the only venomous snake and are shy; ticks in long grass are the real concern on walks.
03
Sea
Cold year-round and tidal ranges are large. Check tide tables before walking on any beach with a cliff behind it.
04
Weather
Hills change fast. Two extra layers, a charged phone and a paper map turn a bad afternoon into an inconvenience.
Admin
Four things to sort before you fly.
01
Check the entry rules
Most visitors now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation before flying, even for a short visit. Apply online, it takes minutes and costs a small fee.
Apply online
02
Travel insurance
Emergency care is free; repatriation, cancellation and lost baggage are not. Check the policy covers hiking if you plan to walk the fells.
Non-negotiable
03
Photograph your documents
Passport, insurance certificate, prescriptions and train reservations. Store them somewhere you can reach without your phone.
Cloud and paper
04
Tell your bank
Most cards work without notice now, but a fraud freeze mid-trip is genuinely disruptive. Carry a second card from a different provider.
Two cards
Practical questions
The unglamorous ones.
- 0
- Emergency number
- 0
- NHS advice line
Is tap water safe to drink?
Yes, everywhere in England, and it tastes fine. Restaurants and pubs must provide it free on request. Bring a refillable bottle — there are public fountains in most city centres.
Do I need vaccinations?
No specific vaccinations are required or recommended for travel to England beyond keeping routine immunisations up to date.
What is the emergency number?
999, or 112 which works identically. Both are free from any phone, including a locked handset with no credit. Ask for police, fire or ambulance when the operator answers.
Can I use my phone's data plan?
Depends entirely on your provider — post-Brexit, EU roaming is no longer guaranteed free. An eSIM bought before you fly costs £8–18 for enough data for a fortnight and avoids the question.
Is it safe to walk at night?
In city centres and residential areas, generally yes, with standard urban sense: lit streets, avoid empty underpasses, keep your phone out of your hand. England's risk to visitors is overwhelmingly theft, not violence.
What do I do if I lose my passport?
Report it to the police on 101 for a crime reference, then contact your embassy or consulate in London for an emergency travel document. Having a photograph of the passport makes this substantially faster.
Practical help
Something specific you cannot find an answer to?
Medication rules, accessibility, travelling with children or a dietary requirement. Ask and we will find out properly rather than guess.
Call the bureau
+44 20 7790 1050
Email
support@rate.ie
Office
222–226 Jubilee St, Stepney Green,
London E1 3BS, United Kingdom
London E1 3BS, United Kingdom