Currency Pound sterling (GBP). The United Kingdom did not adopt the euro and has no plans to do so.
Cards Card payment is almost universally accepted. Visa, Mastercard and Amex work at hotels, restaurants, taxis and most pubs.
Contactless Standard throughout the country. Apple Pay and Google Pay work on the Underground, buses and trains — just tap your phone.
Cash Optional. It is worth carrying 100 to 200 pounds in small notes for tips, short taxi rides, rural markets and villages.
ATMs Machines at banks such as HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds and NatWest dispense pounds without surprises. Use a card with no foreign exchange fees.
Tipping 10 to 12.5% at restaurants with table service if service charge is not already included on the bill. In pubs, no tip is expected when ordering at the bar.
ETA Since 2025 the ETA system has been in force — a mandatory electronic travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors. The process takes a few hours to a few working days.
Latin America Colombians, Mexicans and Argentinians apply for the ETA online before travelling. Verify the current rollout status.
Spain European citizens need only a valid passport to enter the United Kingdom.
Passport Must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry. Immigration rules change — verify before you travel.
Documents Carry printed copies of hotel reservations, travel insurance and your return flight in case the immigration officer asks.
Vaccinations No vaccinations are required to enter the United Kingdom from Latin America or Spain. Yellow fever is not required.
Recommended Be up to date with tetanus, hepatitis A and B and MMR. A flu jab is worth considering for winter travel.
Insurance Highly recommended. The NHS covers emergencies but charges non-residents, and private medical care in London is very expensive.
Water Tap water is potable and of excellent quality throughout the country. Restaurants will serve it free of charge if you ask for tap water.
Pharmacies Boots and Superdrug in all cities. Pharmacists give basic advice without the need to see a doctor.
Train The rail network connects the whole country: London to Edinburgh in 4h30, to Bath in 1h20, to Oxford in 1h. Booking in advance can reduce fares by up to 60%.
First Class Worthwhile on journeys of more than three hours: wider seats, catering included and a dedicated workspace.
Private driver The CocoVolare standard for the Cotswolds, the Lake District and the Highlands, where public transport is sparse.
Apps Trainline and National Rail for trains, Citymapper for cities, Uber and Bolt in all major cities.
Driving Traffic drives on the left. In London we do not recommend a hire car due to the Congestion Charge and the ULEZ zone.
Language English — the mother tongue and global language. The main learning curve is the regional accents.
Accents Cockney in East London, Geordie in Newcastle, Scouse in Liverpool, broad Glaswegian Scots in Glasgow.
Other languages Welsh is co-official and visible on signage in Wales. Scottish Gaelic appears in the north and the Hebrides.
Register British English is more formal than American. Saying please and thank you multiple times is not excessive — it is expected.
A useful note If someone says "not bad", they probably loved it. If they say "interesting", they probably thought it was dreadful.
Queuing Sacred. Jumping a queue is a serious social offence. British patience in queues is legendary.
Silence Silence on public transport is respected. Speaking loudly on the phone on the Underground earns disapproving looks.
The nations Do not call a Scottish person English, and do not confuse the United Kingdom with England. The constituent nationalities matter.
Meal times Restaurant dinners are between 6:30pm and 9pm. Many pub kitchens close at 9:30pm.
The pub You order at the bar and pay immediately. The bar has an invisible order that the barman respects.
01 · Capital
3–5 nights
