UK has arrangements for people in different groups.
AA resident of UK
You can drive in UK on your full, valid Chinese driving licence for 12 months from when you became resident.
After 12 months you’ll need to apply for a provisional licence and pass the theory and practical driving tests to drive in UK.
BA visitor to UK
You can drive any type of small vehicle (for example cars or motorcycles) listed on your full and valid Chinese licence for 12 months from when you last entered UK (GB).
CA foreign student in UK
You can drive in UK for 12 months if you’ve got a Chinese driving licence or international driving permit.
You can drive any small vehicle (eg car or motorcycle) listed on your full and valid licence for 12 months from when you last entered Great Britain (GB).
If you’ve got a bus or lorry licence you can only drive buses or lorries that are registered outside Great Britain if you’ve actually driven the vehicle into Great Britain yourself.
Source https://www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence
If you are an experienced driver from China and have never driven on UK roads, it may prove beneficial to take a short refresher driving course. This will typically consist of a small amount of driving lessons to help build confidence and safety from driving on UK roads – particularly beneficial due to the UK driving on the opposite side of the road to China.
The UK practical driving has many different requirements to the Chinese test, so if you plan on taking a UK test but hold a full Chinese driving licence, refresher lessons will enable you to learn all is needed to pass.
