Universal adapters: what actually works in the UK and EU

One of the most common questions I get from people arriving in the UK is which adapter to buy. The answer is less complicated than the number of options on Amazon suggests.

The UK is different from the rest of Europe

The UK uses Type G plugs — three large rectangular pins in a triangular layout. This is completely different from the Type C, E, or F sockets used across mainland Europe. If you are arriving from Europe, your chargers will not fit. If you are arriving from the US or Asia, they will not fit either.

This is worth getting right before you land, not after — arriving at midnight with a dead phone and no working charger is not a great start.

What to actually buy

If you are going to be in the UK only, a simple UK adapter is all you need — something with a Type G socket on one end and your home plug type on the other. These cost about five to ten pounds and do the job.

If you are planning to travel around Europe as well — which most people based in the UK do — get a proper universal travel adapter with multiple socket types and USB-A and USB-C ports built in. This means one adapter for everywhere, and you can charge multiple devices at once.

What not to buy

Avoid the very cheap adapters that do not have surge protection. They are usually fine, but your laptop is worth more than the three pounds you save. Also avoid adapters that convert voltage — you almost certainly do not need one. Modern electronics (phones, laptops, most chargers) handle both 110V and 230V automatically.

The short version

• UK only: Type G adapter for your home plug — five to ten pounds
• UK and EU travel: universal adapter with USB-C — fifteen to twenty-five pounds
• No voltage converter needed for modern electronics
• Buy before you land if you can