>My reading is that on a roundabout there is no traffic control. So a driver (in England) will look to their right and if there's room enter the roundabout. A rotary is controlled by lights.

Not necessarily (controlled by lights), according to the article:

Roundabouts vs Rotaries
* The modern roundabout gives way on entry and priority to cars already on it
* They are usually smaller than rotaries
* And vehicles usually travel at lower speeds
* Rotaries may have traffic lights and stop signs

The rotaries I was familiar with in my younger days, seem much like the description above for roundabouts. They didn't have traffic lights or stop signs. They still seem like the same thing to me, and as Dmitry said, we had lots of rotaries in New England.

>Confusingly some roundabouts in France may give priority to those entering the roundabout. This is in line with their occasional use of priority a Priorité à droite which has made any a French drive extra exciting.

Yes, I remember such roundabouts in France. I'm just glad I wasn't the one driving! At least they do have a sign for the occasional exception to the rule. Gotta wonder why some are "Priorité à droite" though.

~~Bonnie