Travel · United Kingdom · Type G
The UK plug is the largest in the world. Pack accordingly.
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all run Type G at 230V / 50Hz — three rectangular pins with a fuse inside the plug body. Nothing from a continental European kit fits it, and the adapter you buy is physically bigger than the charger going into it.
The spec, in one block
| Item | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Plug type | G (BS 1363) — three rectangular pins |
| Voltage | 230V |
| Frequency | 50Hz |
| What fits | Type G only |
| What does not fit | US Type A/B, and every continental plug: C, E, F, L, J |
| Same plug elsewhere | Ireland, and a long list of former Commonwealth destinations |
The pins are 4mm × 6.35mm in cross-section and the earth pin is longer than the other two for a reason: it opens the mechanical shutters covering the live and neutral holes. That is why no two-pin plug can be forced into a British socket — whatever you bring needs a full-length earth pin, even if the thing you are charging has no earth connection.
The fuse inside the plug
Every Type G plug carries its own cartridge fuse, up to 13A. On a travel adapter that fuse is a consumable — cheap ones ship with a spare, good ones make the holder accessible without a screwdriver. It is the one component that can fail and be repaired, so a replaceable fuse is worth more than an extra USB port.
Size matters here in a way it does not elsewhere in Europe. A Type G adapter is a fist of plastic, and a US charger with folding prongs plugged into it becomes a long lever hanging off the wall. If you are carrying a heavy 100W-class brick, prefer an adapter with a short pigtail cord or a low-profile body over the cube-shaped ones.
What works on 230V without a converter
Read the fine print moulded into your charger: Input: 100–240V ~ 50/60Hz. Every USB-C charger sold in the US carries it, along with laptop bricks, camera battery chargers, and electric shaver bases. Those all need nothing but the plug shape changed.
The devices that genuinely need a voltage converter are the ones that convert electricity to heat or motion at a fixed voltage: US hair dryers, curling irons, travel kettles, some older electric blankets. Their labels read 120V only. A plug adapter passes 230V straight through and will burn them out. See converters vs adapters for the full test.
What to actually pack
- Type G
Type G plug adapter (US to UK)
Passive, grounded, full-length earth pin so the socket shutters open. Buy two.
- Fits
- Type G sockets
- Earth
- Yes
- Fuse
- 13A, replaceable
- Universal
Zendure Passport III
Universal adapter with GaN charging built in, so the UK head and the EU head live in the same body for a two-country trip.
- Output
- 65W-class PD
- Ports
- USB-C and USB-A
- Input
- 100–240V
- 30W
Anker Nano 30W GaN
The brick to pair with a plain plug adapter: folds flat, charges an iPhone or iPad at full speed, weighs about an ounce.
- Output
- 30W USB-C PD
- Ports
- 1× USB-C
- Input
- 100–240V 50/60Hz
Travelling on to the continent afterwards? The socket changes at the Channel — see the Europe overview, or the country pages for France, Netherlands and Ireland. The travel adapter hub covers everywhere else.
FAQ
Can I use a European adapter in the UK?
No. Type C, E and F plugs are round-pinned and cannot enter a Type G socket, whose live and neutral holes stay shuttered until a full-length earth pin pushes them open. A universal adapter with a slide-out UK head is the way to cover both.
Do I need a voltage converter for the UK?
Not for anything with a USB port. Phone, tablet and laptop chargers are all 100-240V and simply need the plug shape changed. Only fixed-120V heating and motor appliances - hair dryers, curling irons, travel kettles - need a converter.
Why is the UK plug so big?
It carries its own fuse, sleeved live and neutral pins, and a long earth pin that unlocks the socket shutters. The extra hardware is the trade-off for a design that has been unusually good at keeping fingers and mismatched plugs out of sockets.
Will one adapter cover the UK and Ireland?
Yes. Ireland uses the same Type G plug at the same 230V / 50Hz, so a single UK adapter works in both, including Northern Ireland.