Driving in Europe converter

Type a number into either box and the other one changes. Everything is rounded to something you can actually use at the side of the road.

miles km

Motorway signs in France count down in kilometres. 100 km is about 62 miles.

mph km/h

Speed limit signs abroad are in km/h, and so is the speedometer of a hire car.

UK gallons litres

Fuel is sold by the litre everywhere in Europe, including the UK.

mpg (UK) l/100 km

Lower is better in l/100 km: 5 l/100 km is about 56 mpg.

°C °F

Handy for the weather forecast, and for the thermostat in the gîte.

psi bar

European forecourt pumps often show bar. Check the handbook for the loaded-car pressures.

kg lb

For luggage allowances and roof box limits.

metres feet

Car park barriers are signed in metres. Remember the roof box!

Speed limit signs in mph

Limits differ from country to country and can change in the rain. Check the rules for the country you are visiting on GOV.UK.

Children UK	EU	Adults UK	EU
5	22	3	36
6	23	4	37
7	24	5	38
8	25–26	6	39
9	27	7	40–41
10	28	8	42
11	29	9	43
12	30–31	10	44
13	32	11	45–46
1	33	12	47
2	34

Sizes vary between brands, so try them on before the holiday flip-flops go in the bin.

Women UK	EU	Men’s jackets UK	EU
8	36	36	46
10	38	38	48
12	40	40	50
14	42	42	52
16	44	44	54
18	46	46	56

French and Spanish sizes. Italian women’s sizes usually run a few numbers higher.

Where	Clocks
Ireland, Portugal, Madeira, the Canary Islands	Same time as the UK
France, Spain (mainland), Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Austria	1 hour ahead
Greece, Cyprus, Finland	2 hours ahead

The UK and the EU change their clocks on the same weekends, so the difference stays the same all year.