do you need an international driving permit to drive in England?

You don't need an international driving permit to drive in Europe. Germany supposedly requires one, but they don't ask to see it.

For driving in Britain you don't need an international driving licence if your driving licence includes a clear description in English. You can drive for a year in Britain without getting a British licence. If you go on the internet there are a couple of good sites that explain the rules of the road. How to enter a round-about, speed limits, etc.

Scrapper, (interesting name, BTW),

As the previous Poster indicated, an I.D.P. is not necessary for driving in the U.K. The primary function of an I.D.P. is to tranlate the terms of your "home" license, so this is easily understood by authorities in other jurisdictions (given the language differences).

Be sure to check the expiry date of your present license, to ensure this won't expire during your trip!

While it doesn't apply to your situation this time, it is a REALLY good idea to have an I.D.P. for driving in Europe! While law enforcement may not always ask for this, if they DO ask and you aren't able to produce one, there will likely be some legal ramifications. Keep in mind that an I.D.P. must always be used in conjunction with your present Driver's License. It is not a license by itself.

Hope you have a great time on your trip!

thank you - it's nice to have one less thing to worry about!

Ken, that's the name I used when the first time I needed an on-line name. KimmyD was already taken, so I had to add something to it. I scrapbook and I grew up "in the hood" and it just seemed to fit. I never have a problem with someone else having my user name, so I don't have to remember more than one. :)