Automatic transmission in Great Britain?

We were in GB in June. I had same concern - didn't want to deal with both driving on the "wrong" side and using an unfamiliar shift. Rented from Europcar thru AutoEurope agency. Rented for 16 days, drove from Cornwall to Scotland and back to London. Got an automatic, paid maybe $100 more and I'm VERY glad I did. Do you have any idea how many roundabouts there are in England, all going around the wrong way? Get the automatic - as Forest Gump says, "One less thing". Be prepared for $9/gal petrol. Cost $120 to fill up. The cost of the automatic is nothing in comparison.

Definitely get an automatic. "One less )BIG) thing to worry about". Roads are narrow, signposts need a lot of concentration, scenery is distracting. Why not make it easier on your self. We have driven in England many, many times and still find it conveneint to drive automatic

I am also left handed and it was rather natural to shift with my left hand in England. That said, I still prefer to get an automatic there .... relieves some of the stress of driving on the left. You're right about the automatics being more available in larger cars. If you decide to reserve one, opt for the smallest model available. On my last 2 trips to England I was upgraded to a Mercedes the first time and a BMW the 2nd time (at no extra cost) because the cheaper models with automatics weren't available. And, as a previous poster said, the biggest shock you'll get is when you pay over $100 for a fill up.

Have done both and much prefer automatic. Don't remember automatic being much more expensive than stick shift.

We also prefer the automatics but have done it with the stick when that's all they could give us. We always reserve a smaller automatic car - just like you, Tim, the last 2 times we've been there they have upgraded us to a bigger car (Mercedes) at no extra cost. The car was so big I was surprised how my husband was able to navigate it into small spaces, but he did. We would have had quite a wait at the rental agency for a smaller car if we didn't take the upgrade. It worked - no one wants the bigger cars so the smaller ones go right away. Doesn't matter if you've reserved one or not.

I rented a small Mercedes automatic this summer. Cost was about 60% higer than the rate for a stick shift, and yes, gas is very expensive. Plan to park and ride a bus/train when you can. For example, we wanted to go from Edinburgh to Glasgow for the day. A bus was 1.50 Pounds per person. Gas would have been probably 20 Pounds and I would have had to find a parking space- probably another 20 to 30 Pounds.

I very comfortably drive stick shift in the UK. I do drive stick at home too. So, for it's not as big a deal as it is for people who don't routinely drive manual. I find that since the pedals are the same that I adjust amazingly quickly. I think that the more difficult task is the navigation, but you'll have a navigator. I am usually going solo. I know I'm in the minority, but I first drove in the UK in the 90's and I've been doing it ever since. I like the smaller car for the smaller roads. Pam

Thank you all for good advice. I rented a car with automatic transmission thru AutoEurope. I got different prices, and like Trevin wrote, got the best from AutoEurope in UK. Have to make sure now that we are not upgraded. A bigger car is, like you say, harder to get around in and more costly since the gasoline is so expensive. Thanks again!

Just an . Back from our 3 weeks in England, Wales and Scotland.
We rented and returned the car in Bath, Rick's suggestion, a Vauxhall compact, automatic transmission, a little bigger than we thought we would get. We almost returned it the next day waiting for a smaller car but there were no smaller cars available. It was hard to drive on the narrow roads where often two cars could not meet. And, of course, the round-abouts, one immediately after another sometimes. A GPS really helps. One of my European friends suggested before the trip that we rent an automatic car with the steering wheel on the left side, in France for ex. and drive from there. For us, the hardest part was not driving on the left, it was having the steering wheel on the right, and not knowing how close you were to the left side. There are high hedges and stone walls right up to the roadside, which often have stone curbs and no shoulders. Therefore you can not see the scenery or see what is coming around the corner on the road. But we got used to it and drove over 2000 miles. Returned the car without a scratch. And we had a wonderful time!!!