馃帯 United Kingdom

Official government travel advice

Advice changes quickly. Check it before you travel and again before you leave.

Costs

Prices here are about 89% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.

Practical information

Entry

Which route applies depends on the passport. Anyone needing a visa must get a Standard Visitor visa; the UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), applied for online, is intended solely for visa-free nationalities and is no substitute for a visa. The official gov.uk checker linked below shows which of the two fits. Visa applicants complete the application online on the official gov.uk service, then provide fingerprints and a photograph at a visa application centre. Following a rise in April 2026, the fee is around GBP 135 for 6 months (the official fee page should be checked) and the centre adds service charges of its own. Allow about 3 weeks for processing, and apply early. Applicants need a travel plan, funds to show and ties to the home country. Agents promising to 'guarantee' a visa must never be used, and the .gov.uk site is the only one to rely on.

Culture - take note

Patient queueing is expected. In many places people keep left on both pavements and escalators, and you should use the words 'sorry', 'please' and 'thank you' freely. Pubs work on a system where orders are placed and paid for at the bar. Tipping in restaurants is 10-12.5% (find out whether a service charge has already been added). Driving is on the left. Punctuality matters. CCTV cameras are plentiful in cities, and rules get followed. The weather shifts fast, so a light waterproof is worth carrying. Residents get free healthcare but NOT most visitors, so buy travel insurance. Mosques and halal food are common in big cities. Tourist areas see pickpocketing. Ireland has its own entry rules, being a separate country.

  • Met Office OfficialOfficial UK weather forecasts and warnings.

Emergency

999 (or 112) for police, fire and ambulance.

Good to know

Type G plugs and voltage

VisitBritain says British plugs are type G, with three rectangular pins. It gives the voltage as 220 to 240 volts AC at 50 hertz. It adds that visitors will probably need an adaptor for electrical equipment brought from abroad.

Pounds, cards and cash rules

Britain's currency is the pound sterling, says VisitBritain. Credit, debit and contactless cards are widely used, with Visa and Mastercard most common and American Express and Diners Club only sometimes accepted; some small shops may take cash only. Foreign cards can bring a currency exchange fee at cash machines. GOV.UK says carrying a large sum of cash into or out of the UK must be declared to customs.

Local laws and customs

Drugs, knives and visitor rules

Canadian advice says penalties for illegal drugs, cannabis included, are severe, and that certain knives and pepper spray are banned. Traffic drives on the left. VisitBritain says buyers of alcohol must be 18 or older and staff may ask for photo ID from anyone who looks under 25. GOV.UK says standard visitors cannot do paid or unpaid work for a UK company and may be asked about their plans at the border.

Taxis and scams

Licensed taxis in the UK

Taxis and private hire vehicles, also known as minicabs, must be licensed by the local council, or by Transport for London in London, says GOV.UK; Northern Ireland has a different process. On the back of a taxi is a plate with the licence number and the licensing area, and there is usually a TAXI roof sign. It can be hailed or taken from a rank only in the area where it is licensed, while private hire vehicles are bookable in advance only.

Distraction theft and card fraud

Pickpocketing and purse snatching are common in the UK, says Canada's travel advice, with thieves working alone or in groups and possibly using techniques to distract you. The advice also reports fraud involving credit cards and ATMs, in some cases with hidden electronic devices that capture card details and PINs. Its tips are to withdraw cash at ATMs in public areas or within a bank or business, shield the keypad when entering a PIN and look through statements for unauthorised transactions.

Who can help

local government

Emergency number 999 (NHS guidance)

Helps with: Call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. NHS England guidance for visitors from abroad also points to 111 for urgent but non-life-threatening problems.

Who qualifies: Anyone in England, including visitors from abroad, in a life-threatening situation.

Phone: 999

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

local government

NHS 111

Helps with: NHS service for urgent medical help or advice that is not life-threatening, or when you are unsure which NHS service you need. Symptoms can also be checked online at 111.nhs.uk.

Who qualifies: Anyone in England, including visitors from abroad, who needs urgent medical advice.

Phone: 111

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

local government

VisitBritain (British Tourist Authority)

Helps with: Britain's national tourism agency. Its websites cover trip planning for Britain and England. The contact page says it cannot reply to individual holidaymakers asking for travel advice.

Who qualifies: Anyone planning a trip to Britain; use the websites rather than the contact form for travel questions.

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

ngo

British Red Cross

Helps with: The UK's Red Cross society. Its website covers first aid, an international family tracing service, support for refugees and asylum seekers, and guidance for people affected by emergencies such as floods.

Who qualifies: People in the UK needing its support services; family tracing and refugee support are open to those affected.

Phone: 0344 871 11 11

Address: 44 Moorfields, London, EC2Y 9AL

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

un agency

International Organization for Migration (IOM) United Kingdom

Helps with: The UN migration agency. In the UK it runs resettlement, support and protection activities for migrants, and has had a presence there since 1995.

Who qualifies: Migrants and refugees in the UK. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.

Address: Heron House, First Floor, 10 Dean Farrar St., London, SW1H 0DX

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

embassy

Foreign embassies and consulates in the UK (official list)

Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy. The Foreign Office publishes a list of embassies, high commissions and consulates in the UK, including their addresses and contact details.

Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy, high commission or consulate.

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

local government

Transport for London (TfL) customer contact line

Helps with: London's transport authority. Its contact line helps with journey planning, reporting crime or safety concerns on the network and noise complaints, and it takes lost property reports online.

Who qualifies: Anyone using London's transport network, residents and visitors alike.

Phone: 0343 222 1234

Address: TfL Customer Services, 9th Floor, 5 Endeavour Square, London E20 1JN

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

Cities and places

London LondonMany free museums, West End theatres, the Tower of London, the British Museum and Buckingham Palace are all part of London, the capital.Photo: Ilya Grigorik, CC BY-SA 3.0 Edinburgh EdinburghEdinburgh's castle, the Royal Mile and the August festivals are what Scotland's capital is known for, and heading into the Highlands from there is easy.Photo: Andrew Colin, CC BY 2.0 Manchester ManchesterThis northern city is known for its football at the Etihad and Old Trafford, its music history, its museums and its shopping.Photo: Daniel Nisbet from Manchester, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0 Liverpool LiverpoolAs the Beatles' home city, Liverpool has a historic waterfront, and Anfield hosts Premier League football.Photo: Peter Tarleton, CC BY-SA 2.0 Oxford OxfordGolden-stone colleges, film locations and the Bodleian Library define this historic university city, which is simple to get to from London.Photo: Andrew Gray, CC BY-SA 3.0 Scottish Highlands Scottish HighlandsCar or train is the best way to explore the Highlands, with dramatic mountains and lochs, among them the Isle of Skye, Glencoe and Loch Ness.Photo: W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0

City selection based on: VisitBritain inbound town data (ONS International Passenger Survey), Euromonitor city ranking

Festivals and events

festival

Christmas lights and Winter Wonderland

around Nov 2026 - Jan 2027 路 London

Hyde Park holds a fair, while lights decorate Oxford and Regent Streets.

trade

World Travel Market (WTM)

around Nov 2026 路 London

ExCeL London is the venue of a large travel trade fair.

culture

Chelsea Flower Show

around May 2027 路 London

No other garden show is as widely known around the world.

sport

Wimbledon

around Jun-Jul 2027 路 London

No tennis Grand Slam is older.

Official site

sport

Formula 1 British Grand Prix

around Jul 2027 路 Silverstone

Silverstone is the venue of the F1 race.

Official site

festival

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

around Aug 2027 路 Edinburgh

As one of the largest annual happenings in the country, it leaves hotels full and prices higher, so plan early.

festival

Notting Hill Carnival

around Aug 2027 路 London

This street carnival, held on the August bank-holiday weekend, is the biggest in Europe.

festival

Christmas lights and Winter Wonderland

around Nov 2027 - Jan 2028 路 London

Hyde Park holds a fair, while lights decorate Oxford and Regent Streets.

trade

World Travel Market (WTM)

around Nov 2027 路 London

ExCeL London is the venue of a large travel trade fair.