United Kingdom
Europe · 21 specs
Direct Answer
The United Kingdom (GB / GBR / 826) operates on a 230 V / 50 Hz electrical grid using BS 1363 (Type G) fused sockets. Traffic drives on the left (LHT) with speeds posted in miles per hour (mph). The official currency is the British Pound Sterling (GBP, £), country calling code is +44, emergency dispatch is 999 (and 112), and document standard is ISO 216 A4.
Source: BSI (British Standards Institution) / BS 1363 / Ofcom / ISO 3166-1 / Royal Mail · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Official English Name | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ISO 3166-1 |
| Local Endonym | United Kingdom |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-2 | GB (UK reserved) |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-3 | GBR |
| ISO 3166-1 Numeric / UN M49 | 826 UN M49 (Code 150) |
| Country Calling Code | +44 Ofcom (ITU-T E.164) |
| International Exit Code (IDD) | 00 dial prefix for international calls |
| Internet ccTLD | .uk (.co.uk) Nominet Registry |
| Vehicle Registration Code | UK Changed from GB in Sept 2021 |
| National Currency (ISO 4217) | Pound Sterling (GBP, £) 100 Pence (p) |
| Mains Electricity Standard | 230 V (+10% / -6%), 50 Hz BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations) |
| Electrical Plug Sockets | Type G (BS 1363 standard) 13 A / 250 V (fused plug, shuttered socket) |
| Road Traffic Driving Side | Left-Hand Traffic (LHT / RHD) The Highway Code |
| Primary Measurement System | Imperial on roads (MPH/Miles/Yards) & Metric for trade Weights and Measures Act |
| Standard Office Paper Format | ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm) BS EN ISO 216 |
| Standard Business Envelope | ISO 269 DL (110 × 220 mm) & C4 |
| Consolidated Emergency Number | 999 / 112 BT 999 Operator Service |
| Postal Code Regex / Format | Alphanumeric (e.g. SW1A 1AA, EC1A 1BB) Royal Mail Standard (PAF) |
| Primary Time Zone | UTC+0 (GMT) / UTC+1 (BST Summer) Greenwich Mean Time origin |
| Date Format Standard | DD/MM/YYYY (e.g., 23/08/2026) UK Standard |
| Number Radix / Separators | £1,234.56 (Comma thousands, Dot decimal) BSI Standard |
Electrical Grid, Voltage & Plug Compatibility
- Nominal Grid Parameters: Operates on a single-phase standard of 230 V (+10% / -6%), 50 Hz.
- Plug & Socket Hardware: Type G (BS 1363 standard). Uses standard British Type G 3-pin rectangular blade plugs with internal fuse protection and child safety shutters.
- International Traveler Guidance: Devices operating on 100–240 V (smartphones, laptops) require only a mechanical pin adapter. Single-voltage appliances from differing voltage regions require a certified step-down/step-up power transformer.
Telecommunications, Dialing & Emergency Dispatch
- International Dialing: The country calling code is +44. Outbound international calls from within the country require dial prefix 00 followed by the destination country code.
- Emergency Dispatch: Consolidated emergency services are reached at 999 / 112. Calls are automatically routed to local public safety answering points with emergency vehicle dispatch.
Transportation, Driving Standards & Road Regulations
- Traffic Flow: Road traffic drives on the left (LHT) with Right-Hand Drive (RHD) vehicles.
- Standard Speed Limits: General regulatory speed limits default to 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up urban and residential zones, 80–100 km/h (50–62 mph) on undivided rural roads, and 110–130 km/h (68–81 mph) on grade-separated divided motorways/expressways (unless lower local limits are posted).
- Safety Requirements: Mandatory seatbelt compliance for all occupants, zero-distraction handheld mobile phone bans while driving, and mandatory in-vehicle warning triangles.
Commerce, Currency & Document Standards
- Official Currency: Legal tender is the Pound Sterling (GBP, £).
- Document & Paper Standards: Standard office printing, official government gazettes, and legal filings strictly utilize ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm). Standard business correspondence pairs with standard business envelopes.
- National Time Zone: Regulated under UTC+0 (GMT) / UTC+1 (BST Summer).
Postal Addressing & Administrative Divisions
- Postal Architecture: Postal delivery utilizes Alphanumeric (e.g. SW1A 1AA, EC1A 1BB).
- Standard Address Format: Structured in standardized hierarchy: Recipient Name → Street Address / Building Unit → Postal Code + City/Town → Province/State → United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.