England by car: a country house in Northamptonshire, days in London and the ferry from Calais

We did England by car in April 2025, via Calais and Dover into the countryside – and in August 2026 London was added.

We have done England twice: in April 2025 with our own car via Calais–Dover into the countryside, and in August 2026 by plane to London for five days of city.

By car: driving on the left, the ferry, a country house

The Calais–Dover ferry takes about 90 minutes, a car plus two people from €80. The first roundabouts on the left are the stress test, after that it runs smoothly. We had a cottage in Northamptonshire – an old sandstone manor house next door, a pond with swans, ducks at the window, horses in the paddock. English country life for about €110 a night.

London in August

Westminster and Big Ben early in the morning, then along the Thames to Tate Modern. The Battle of Britain Monument on the Victoria Embankment is one of the most impressive memorials we know. Camden Town for street food and street art, Notting Hill for the colourful houses. An Oyster card or simply your Wise card at the gate – the daily cap automatically keeps it cheap.

Costs

London: hotels are expensive (from €180 for something okay), Airbnb rooms in zone 2 from €100. Food £15–25 per main course, pub lunches are cheaper. Countryside: cottage approx. €110 per night, pub dinner £15–20.

Tip

London’s museums are free (British Museum, National Gallery, Tate). Everything else costs money instead – the Tower, the London Eye and Westminster Abbey are £25–35 each. We limited ourselves to two paid attractions.

London by car: ULEZ, the Congestion Charge and parking

If you drive your own car to England, there are two charges to know about for London. The Congestion Charge covers central London and has cost £18 per day since 02.01.2026; electric cars are no longer exempt and only get a discount. On top of that, the ULEZ low-emission zone now covers all of Greater London: vehicles that do not meet the emission standard (roughly petrol cars older than Euro 4, diesels older than Euro 6) pay £12.50 per day. Cars with foreign number plates should be checked or registered on the Transport for London website beforehand – payment is online, otherwise penalty notices arrive by post.

Our solution: the car stays on the outskirts or in the countryside, and we take the train into London. Parking in the centre is expensive and scarce, public transport is faster. Contactless payment works on the Tube and buses directly with a card or phone, and daily and weekly caps are applied automatically.

The Calais–Dover ferry and entry requirements

The ferry from Calais to Dover takes about 90 minutes; the alternative is the Eurotunnel car train (about 35 minutes). To enter the UK, EU citizens need a passport – national ID cards have not been accepted since October 2021. An electronic travel authorisation (ETA) is also required. It currently costs £16 per person, is valid for two years and is applied for on the official GOV.UK website or in the UK ETA app – agency websites charge much more.

England and London by car: frequently asked questions

Facts as of 25.10.2026 – prices and rules can change, so check the official sources named above before you travel.

Our photos

England by car: our verdict

Our verdict on England by car: after an hour, driving on the left becomes routine, and in the countryside you are much freer with your own car. For London itself, on the other hand, we leave the car behind, because public transport is faster there. All the city’s highlights are in Things to do in London; background on the country can be found on Wikipedia.