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United Kingdom Facts and Travel Information
Entering Great Britain
Valid passports are required to enter the
United Kingdom. Visitors from the European Union (EU), the United States,
Canada, New Zealand, and Australia do not require visas to enter the
country but still do need a passport. (“They” have told me different,
“they” were wrong.) Your passport must have at least two months left on it
to enter the country. If your passport is lost while in the country call
the police immediately and then your consulate or high commission office,
all of which are located in London. (That I know of.)
Vaccinations are not required to enter
Great Britain.
Non-EU residents may obtain a VAT refund on items bought in Britain.
Animals may now be brought into Britain without a long quarantine if they
qualify for the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). While it’s now possible to bring
your pet with you into Britain, it’s not an easy process, nor is it fast.
Your plans will have to begin some six months before your trip.
A pet cat or dog, including guide and hearing dogs, will have to meet
certain conditions to be able to enter or re-enter the UK without
quarantine. It will have to be:
- Identified with a microchip
- Vaccinated against rabies (but not before it is 3 months old)
- Blood tested at an EU-approved laboratory and get a satisfactory result
- Issued with an EU pet passport or, in a non-EU listed country, a
official third country veterinary certificate
- Be treated against ticks and tapeworms.
For dogs and cats entering or re-entering the UK these steps must be
carried out in the order shown. Use the link below for more detailed
information on each of these steps.
A dog or cat may not enter or re-enter the UK under PETS until 6 calendar
months have passed from the date that the blood sample which gave a
satisfactory test result was taken.
For full information visit
www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/index.htm
Money Matters
Banks, bank cards, credit cards, currency exchange, and Cashpoints (ATM
machines)
My bank card wouldn’t work in many stores but worked fine at any Cashpoint.
Credit cards are welcomed about anywhere and worked everywhere I tried.
Cashpoint machines are easily found in London while walking along any city
street. In the smaller towns and villages they are obviously scarcer but
still readily available.
Currency exchange centers called bureaux de change can be found in the
railway stations, most post offices, some tourist information centers, and
along the street. Currency can be changed at banks too. You may have to
show your passport to exchange travelers checks or currency. I found it
easiest and quickest to simply withdraw cash when needed from a Cashpoint
using my bank card.
Customs
Canadians can bring back $750.00, 200 cigarettes, 2.2 pounds of tobacco,
40 imperial ounces of liquor, and 50 cigars. For updated information visit
www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca.
Americans get to bring home $800.00 worth of duty-free goods, as long as
you’ve been out of the country for 48 hours or more, plus one liter of
alcohol, 200 cigarettes, and 100 cigars. Antiques (over 100 years old) and
art work are exempt from the $800.00 limit. And a nice touch is that you
can mail yourself up to $200.00 of goodies a day and $100.00 of gifts to
others too (except for alcohol and tobacco items.) For updated information
visit
www.customs.ustreas.gov.
Australians over 18 are allowed $400.00, those under 18 $200.00, and 250
cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco, and 1,125 ml of alcohol. For updated
information visit
www.customs.gov.au.
Visitors from New Zealand have a duty-free limit of $700.00. If you’re
over 17 you can add 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco,
and 1.125 liters of liquor or 450 liters of wine and beer. For updated
information visit
www.customs.govt.nz.
Laws
To reach the police, fire department, or an ambulance in an emergency dial
999.
Children under 16 are allowed in pubs only in certain rooms and when
accompanied by a parent or guardian. You must be over 18 to be served
alcohol. Restaurants and pubs serve liquor Monday through Saturday between
11a.m. and 11p.m. and Sunday noon to 10:30p.m. Some bars do stay open past
midnight.
Smoking is prohibited in many public places including public transport
systems, taxis, theatres and cinemas. Visit
www.ash.org.uk for
more information.
Driving in Great Britain: See our special section devoted to this topic.
Health Care
Visitors to Great Britain can get free emergency care in the Emergency
Outpatient Centers of the National Health Hospitals. We must cover the
expenses for any follow up care ourselves. If you’re admitted to hospital
you’ll be paying for that too unless your medical insurance covers it. If
you have health insurance you'll want to check with them to see what they
will cover while you’re away from home and carry your information with
you. Bring all necessary medications with you and perhaps a copy of your
prescriptions. You can get more information from the International
Association of Medical Assistance to Travelers at
www.iamat.org.
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