New driving advice?

Hello, I am biting the bullet and getting my UK Licence. Of course I've never driven a manual before so I am extra scared. But I'm wondering if anyone can give me advice on a book for the theory test that will explain things well? I am very confused about the terminology (pelican crossing, toucan, box, zebra, aquaplane, etc.) My only friend that drives here is from Ireland and he'd be no good at explaining things to me. I've already been driving for nearly 20 years and have driven back and forth across the states about 8 times, so it all feels a bit surreal.

You can do it...
Get some lessons for sure if you are learning a manual.
I would get the theory CD to study the questions ect...

I took my test and in automatic and we own an automatic so I never bothered.  Everyone does suggest lessons for sure to figure out where you are at for testing.  The rest you need to learn from a book, CD or online.

Good luck!

This is the study guide you'll need. It's updated and changed every year, so you'll be best off getting the current one. The one I've linked to is valid until September 2011.

Good luck! 

I started by reading the Highway Code cover to cover a few times through so that I'd be familiar with the terms that they don't use in the US. I then went through the official practice tests on cd issued by the DSA to prep for my theory test. I also did several practice hazard tests so that I could get a hang of identifying and clicking the hazard at the right time. I had about 10 lessons with a driving instructor but feel I could have got away with about half of that amount. I passed my practical test on the first try. From start to finish (studying - theory test - lessons - practical test) it took about 2.5 months for me to get my license.

Good luck and happy driving! (I'm now just as comfortable driving over here as I was in the US with 20 years of driving under my belt!)

For me taking lots and lots of practice tests on a kit similar to what chary showed was the easiest way to learn. If I got one wrong I then read the explanation-- it worked better than spending time reading a lot of things that are common sense- I was able to concentrate on the things I didn't know.

You'll also find that for the practical part the few lessons help you to learn the terminology as well.  I am a visual person so having the driving instructor chat about where to go and the like helped.

The lessons also help you to watch out for bad habits or different habits you may have.

Good luck!

Definitely take some lessons! A good instructor explains all the terminology as you go and gives you tips to remember them for when you take your theory test.  I can't remember what any of them are called, now almost 3 years after I passed my test, but I do remember what I am supposed to do, which is like 90% of the time, let the person have the right of way.   I think a toucan is "two can cross"- i.e. bicycle and walker- but a good instructor has all the tips  

They're used to very beginner learners, so they don't mind teaching you how to drive a manual at all.  That's their job and don't feel bad about it.   I think we sometimes beat ourselves up too much, being "experienced drivers" so we feel like we can't take full advantage of our driving instructors.  But trust me, get a good one who can really make you feel comfortable- they've seen all kinds of levels of drivers before.  And then practice makes perfect.  

Good luck!!!