Travelling to the UK

The United Kingdom is a wonderful destination for anyone interested in history, heritage and culture. From the castles and palaces that the Royal Family call home to hill forts dating back to the Iron Age and the incredible Jurassic Coast, there is a diverse and complex history to unravel here in Britain. 

If you are visiting the UK, there are a couple of travel options to explore. 

Visiting from Europe:

From mainland Europe, you can fly, travel by water or the Channel Tunnel.

There are a network of car and passenger ferry services travelling to ports around the UK from northern and southern Europe. Key international ports include Felixstowe, Harwich, Folkestone, Dover, Southampton and Bristol (where you can easily visit Wales) in southern England; Hull and Liverpool in northern England; Edinburugh in Scotland and Belfast in Northern Ireland. 

Fares vary depending on the length of your journey and the season, so please check your route to find the best possible price. Crossing times to the UK vary from just over an hour to 24 hours, depending on your place of departure. Ferries can also carry vehicles, for those who want to continue their journey by car. 

Alternatively, you can travel via the Channel Tunnel. The Channel Tunnel provides a route to the continent via the Eurostar, which is a passenger service, and the Eurotunnel, which also carries vehicles. Eurostar services are operated by the French, Belgians and British and there are direct services from Brussels, Paris, Lille and Calais to the UK, with stations in Ashford and Ebbsfleet in South East England and St Pancreas station in central London. 

You can also travel by coach using both the Channel Tunnel and ferries. 

Visiting from the rest of the world

 If you are visiting the UK from outside Europe, air travel is the easiest and fastest way to visit Britain. There are airports offering international flights across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. 
All British airports are well connected with local public transport options. London airports have shuttle buses, trains and underground rail connections. Heathrow also offers the Heathrow Express, a direct service to London Paddington, while the Gatwick Express offers a direct service to London Victoria. Edinburgh airport offers a tram connection to the city centre. 

National Express coaches also provide direct connections between major airports and many cities and towns across Britain and offer a cheaper alternative to rail or taxis. 

Popular international airports: 

London: 
London has several airports, with many on the outskirts of the city. 
- London Heathrow
- London Gatwick
- London Stansted
- Luton
- London City Airport 

Northern England:
- Manchester
- Newcastle
- Liverpool
- Leeds Bradford

Midlands:
- Birmingham International Airport
- East Midlands Airport

West of England: 
- Bristol International Airport
- Exeter Airport
- Bournemouth

Wales:
- Cardiff International Airport

Scotland: 
- Edinburgh
- Glasgow
- Aberdeen

Northern Ireland: 
- Belfast

UK airports often have more than one terminal, so check which terminal your flight arrives into and leaves from to help you with your onward journey. Heathrow and Gatwick terminals are serviced by a free shuttle bus. Before you travel, check your options for onward travel. Be aware that buses between Heathrow and Stansted or Luton airports into London can take up to 90 minutes. 

Passport and visa requirements

You must have a valid passport to enter the UK. It should be valid for the duration of your stay. Depending on your country of origin, you may also need a visa. 

EU/EEA/Swiss nationals

You will not be able to use a national ID card to enter the UK from 1st October 2021 unless you are settled under the EU Settlement Scheme, have an EU Settlement Scheme family permit, have a Frontier Worker Permit, are an S2 Healthcare visitor or a Swiss Service provider. In these cases, you can continue to use your national ID card to enter the UK until 31st December 2025. All other travellers will need a passport to enter the UK. 

Visitors from the EU please check the latest rules around travel here. 

Visitors from the rest of the world

If you are an American, Canadian or Australian tourist, you will be able to travel visa free throughout the UK providing you have a valid passport and your reason for visiting meets immigration rules. 

Tourists from Brazil, South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan, you are able to travel visa free. This also applies to some nationals from additonal South American and Caribbean countties. Visitors from Kuwait, Oman, Qatar or the UAE may be able to use an electronic visa waiver instead of a visa. You can check if you need a visa here.