Lundy: the tiny car-free island off England where electricity is switched off at midnight
The three-and-a-half-mile Bristol Channel island has about 28 residents, a single pub with a no-phones rule and satellite internet introduced in 2023.
Lundy, a three-and-a-half-mile island in the Bristol Channel off North Devon, is home to roughly 28 permanent residents, a single licensed pub and no connection to the mainland power grid. The island is powered by a generator that is turned off each night, leaving most buildings without overnight electricity.
Accessible by the ferry MS Oldenburg for day trips between April and October and by helicopter in winter, Lundy is both a conservation area and a small living community. Its birdlife, including large numbers of puffins, outnumbers people by about 15 to one, and visitors come to see the 13th-century castle, the Old Lighthouse and seals along the shore.
The Marisco Tavern, the island’s pub, is described as the only building that remains lit after the generator is switched off and is licensed to serve alcohol. It enforces a strict no-phones rule; patrons who break it are fined £1. Mobile phone service on Lundy is intermittent, and the pub houses a pay phone that visitors can use when reception fails.
Accommodation on Lundy includes 23 self-catering properties, a campsite and limited shop facilities for essentials. The island’s small permanent community shares responsibility for conservation and emergency services; island staff include a warden who also serves as a Coastguard Rescue officer and Community First Responder.
High-speed internet arrived on Lundy in 2023 via a satellite link, a change island officials say has had practical benefits. "I was able to upload an hour-long talk on our conservation success stories in just a few minutes, when it had previously failed to send multiple times," said Rosemary Ellis, the island warden. She said the connection has sped up administrative tasks, freed staff to focus on wildlife surveying and made it easier to engage with researchers and students. Ellis added that reliable internet also provides peace of mind for residents seeking mainland medical advice by video call.
Visitors typically reach Lundy by a two-hour ferry ride from Bideford or Ilfracombe; the seasonal ferry service runs April through October. During the winter months, when sea conditions often make passage impractical, the island is served by helicopter for staff, residents and supplies.
Lundy’s limited infrastructure and remote setting have led to a community shaped by conservation priorities and practical constraints. Wildlife protection, historic sites and a small tourism economy coexist with the realities of intermittent mobile coverage, nightly loss of mains-style lighting and reliance on scheduled boat or air access.
The description of Lundy’s routines and amenities was detailed in a travel piece published Sept. 17, 2025, which noted the island’s blend of natural attractions and quiet living. Visitors are advised to check ferry timetables and prepare for reduced services after dark and during the winter season.