Great Britain Power Plugs, Wall Sockets & Electrical Outlets
In Great Britain, power plugs and sockets (electrical outlets) of Type G (BS 1363, three rectangular pins in triangular pattern, grounded) are used. Wall sockets run at 230V and 50Hz. Check if you need a travel adapter, electrical adapter or voltage converter before travelling to Great Britain.
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Great Britain uses:
Great Britain Travel Adapter Guide
The Great Britain power plug is the Type G, a British standard three-pin connector built to BS 1363 specifications. If your devices come from a country using a different plug shape, you'll need an adapter that converts your AC power plugs and sockets to fit the UK's distinctive three-pin wall socket. Type G is used not only across the United Kingdom but also in Ireland, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, the UAE, and many former British territories.
Voltage and Frequency in Great Britain
Great Britain runs on 230V at 50Hz, in line with most of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Travelers arriving from regions with similar voltage, such as the EU or Australia, typically only need a plug adapter rather than a voltage converter. Those coming from 100-127V countries, including the US, Canada, and Japan, should check whether their devices can handle 230V before plugging in.
Dual-Voltage Devices and Great Britain
Most modern electronics, including phone chargers, laptop power supplies, and camera battery chargers, are dual-voltage and support both 110-120V and 220-240V automatically. Check the fine print on your charger or device; if it lists an input range like 100-240V, it will work safely in Great Britain with only a plug adapter. Single-voltage appliances, such as some hair dryers, straighteners, and shavers designed for 120V markets, will require a separate voltage converter to avoid damage.
Do You Need a Travel Adaptor for Great Britain?
Whether you need an adaptor depends on the shape of your home plug rather than the voltage alone. Any device with a plug that isn't already a 3-pin plug matching the Type G triangular pin arrangement will require an adapter to physically fit into a British wall socket. This applies even to dual-voltage devices, since the adapter only changes the plug shape and does not alter the electrical current.
- Pack a Type G adapter if your home country uses a different plug shape
- Confirm your device's voltage range before use (look for '100-240V' printed on the charger)
- Bring a voltage converter only if your appliance is single-voltage and not rated for 230V
- Remember that Type G plugs often include an internal fuse, so a spare 3A or 13A fuse can be useful
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, unless your home country already uses the Type G plug, you'll need a travel adapter to fit Great Britain's three-pin wall sockets. The Type G plug's triangular pin arrangement is distinct from most other plug types worldwide, so a shape-matching adapter is essential.
Yes, Type G sockets used throughout Great Britain are grounded. The plug's longer earth pin makes contact first and disconnects last, and it also opens the socket's protective shutters, making the system particularly safe.
In most cases, yes. Phone chargers are typically dual-voltage and designed to handle Great Britain's 230V, 50Hz supply without issue, so you'll only need a Type G plug adapter, not a voltage converter.
Pack a Type G adapter to match the British three-pin socket design, and verify that your electronics support 230V before traveling. If any device is single-voltage only, bring a voltage converter as well, since the internal fuse in Type G plugs protects appliances but doesn't change the electrical current itself.