Although the United Kingdom (UK) is not part of the Schengen Area, many nationalities are able to visit the UK for up to 6 months without needing a visa, including most European countries, the USA, Japan, citizens of Schengen countries and many Commonwealth countries. If you are not from one of these countries, you may need a Standard Visitor visa, you can apply for up to 3 months before you travel, and costs £115 for up to 6 months. Check if you need a visa to travel to England here.

Weather-wise, late spring (May-June) or early autumn (September-October) are the best times to travel to England; in the spring the flowers are blooming, while autumn weather is mild and colorful. However, July and August is England's peak season with long days (16+ hours of daylight), the best weather, and many events throughout the country. Winter is charming in England, with Christmas markets and ample opportunities to experience cozy pub culture.

The weather in England is mild but changeable, and often rainy – as is the stereotype. Summer is the warmest, though rain is still very much possible even in July and August, where average daytime temperatures hang around 21°C (70°F). Autumn can become wetter and windier, though warmer temperatures around 17ºC (62ºF) often last late into October. Always be prepared for rain, but bring layers as even in the winter temperatures rarely dip below freezing.

England uses the British Pound (£), often said to be the oldest living currency in the world dating back to the year 760.

Tipping in England isn't mandatory, but it is customary in restaurants and pubs when eating a meal, with an optional service charge of around 12.5% usually added to your bill. If you're just ordering a round of drinks at a bar or pub, tipping isn't expected (but you are welcome to). Tipping isn't expected when taking a taxi, but if you do want to give one then it's common to simply round up the amount.

ATMs are very common across England, and while the vast majority are free (often found in banks, post offices and supermarkets) look out for those that will charge you to use (usually in small stores, petrol stations or off-licenses). If you're traveling more rurally around England you might not be able to find one as easily, but most establishments in England will accept card payments.

Tap water is safe to drink across England – if you see people filtering the tap water, it is only for the taste as in southern and eastern England the water is hard.

We highly recommend guests purchase travel insurance prior to your trip. Please ensure you add the details of your insurance to the My Trafalgar portal. Your insurance should cover trip interruption, personal injury, medical expenses, and evacuation and repatriation cover including during pandemic events. Book your travel insurance with Trafalgar's Travel Protection Plan, which includes the Cancel For Any Reason Credit Certificate Feature and the Travel Insurance Benefits that may help to protect your vacation payment against the unexpected.

There is so much to discover across England that we'd recommend around a week to see it all. That being said, our London Explorer tour spends 8 days just exploring the country's capital as it's such a rich, vibrant city. To pack more in, our Amazing Britain tour takes you on an 8-day exploration of England and Scotland, taking you on a round trip from London up to Edinburgh and back again, stopping at countless cultural icons like Stonehenge, Shakespeare's birthplace and more along the way.

In summer, the temperatures in the UK average around 62.6°F to 77°F – but don’t be surprised if they soar even higher at times and the newspapers start declaring a heatwave. London in particular can be very hot in summer, so you can pack summer clothes like shorts, t-shirts, skirts and dresses. Don’t forget to pack warmer layers like a waterproof coat, cardigans and pants, as you never know when the weather can change.

The most important thing to pack for your tour to the UK in winter is warm clothes. The average winter temperature ranges from 0 to 7°C, so you need to get strategic about how you’ll rug up on your trip. We recommend layering up with jeans, long-sleeved shirts, woollen sweaters or down jackets, and a water and windproof winter coat over the top.

With temperatures averaging between 12 - 20°C across spring and autumn, you really need to prepare for anything, from warm sunny weather to cold rainy days. The best way to do this is by layering up. Bring t-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, cardigans, jumpers, leggings, skirts, dresses, jeans, trousers and a scarf. Then mix and match your outfits so it’s easy to peel off layers if it warms up, and it’s just as easy to get them back on if the temperature drops.