Travel is once again back on, so if you’re looking for a place to spend your summer vacation, you’ve got plenty of options, including the UK. On 18 March, outstanding Covid-19 travel restrictions were lifted, meaning international travellers can once again grace the halls of the many Kensington London hotels whilst taking in all Britain has to offer.
That being said, there are some things you still need to be aware of before setting off on your travels, especially if you’re thinking about travelling between the four UK nations. This is because the rules differ slightly across each country in the UK, so it’s useful to be aware of what’s going on before you book your trip and your vacation activities.
So, let’s look at travelling to the UK during Covid-19 and everything you need to know in preparation.
Vaccination status and testing
If you’re planning on visiting the UK, you don’t need to worry about your Covid vaccination status because there are no restrictions in place for international travellers, no matter your vaccination status. Whether you’ve had none, one, two, or three Covid jabs, you can enter the UK as an international arrival.
In addition to this, you don’t need to do any additional Covid testing, either. This makes travelling to the UK one of the more efficient holiday routes this year compared to other countries around the world.
Pre-travel quarantining
In line with the non-testing requirement, you don’t need to quarantine upon arriving in the UK. This means you can head straight to your Park Grand Kensington accommodation and begin your UK holiday as soon as you touch down in the country.
Red and green list countries
Previously, the UK government had adopted a traffic light system for international travellers, with green countries being on the travel list and red not. At the moment, there are no countries on the red list, with the infrastructure behind the hotel quarantine service being set to cease at the end of March 2022.
That being said, the government has said that contingency measures will remain in place in light of a new variant or any further developments in the Covid situation.
General Covid-19 restrictions in the UK
The UK government recently lifted most of the Covid restrictions in England, though rules between the four nations do differ so you need to make sure you seek advice before travelling between each country as the rules may be different and you may need to adhere to stricter guidelines depending on where you go.
In England, there are no restrictions in place for Covid currently. This means hotel restaurants in London and all the key tourist attractions are open for business. You do not legally have to wear a mask, though some independent establishments may ask that you do. This is at the retailer’s discretion, so it’s worth packing a mask just in case.
Travelling around London, TFL has advised passengers using its service to continue wearing a mask, as has Heathrow Airport. It’s not a lawful requirement, but mask-wearing is still commonplace in the UK on public transport.
What to do in the UK during Covid-19
You might be wondering what you can do on your visit to the UK. Well, in England, there are no restrictions in place for anything. This means you can go for Indian afternoon tea in London or to watch a comedy club show in Manchester. All nightclubs, bars, and pubs are open, and there’s no need to show a vaccination card or a negative test because self-isolation is no longer a legal requirement.
With this in mind, you can really make the most of your stay in the UK, specifically if you’re staying at the Park Grand London Kensington because everything is open for business in the big city!
Top tourist attractions
If you fancy being tourists during your stay, you can head to all the top attractions freely. This includes taking a guided tour and hearing the gruesome history of the Tower of London, or wandering around the gardens of Kensington Palace and re-tracing the steps of royalty.
You can enjoy panoramic views of London from above on the London Eye, or you could enjoy dinner and a drink with a view at The Shard. If you’d prefer to keep your feet on solid ground (sort of), consider a trip along the Thames on a river cruise. This is a great option for couples, especially if you order a bottle of champagne to enjoy on your trip!
If you’ve come to the UK for the royals, Buckingham Palace is back to business as usual, meaning you can watch the iconic Changing of the Guard ceremony should you find yourself close to the palace. Alternatively, you can walk inside a royal palace if you buy tickets for Hampton Court Palace. You’ll gain access to public areas of the palace, as well as the gardens, Magic Garden, the Maze, and the courtyards.
Shopping
If you’d prefer to do some retail therapy, London really is at your full disposal. The hundreds of shops that line Oxford Street are all open, meaning you can shop at some of the most iconic global brands, all on one street! If you want something more high-end, Harrods is open, as are numerous other luxury boutiques in the Knightsbridge area.
In contrast, you can now immerse yourself in true British market culture as all the iconic London markets are open, including Old Spitalfields, Portobello Road Market, Camden Market, and Borough Market.
Business stays
If you’re in town on business rather than pleasure, you’ll be pleased to know that you can carry out all your duties as needed without any Covid-related interruptions. Whether you need to head to the business hub that is Canary Wharf, or if you simply need to rent out meeting rooms in London Kensington, there are no travel or Covid restrictions to stop you.
In summary
Travelling to the UK is a great option now that everything is back open, but remember to double-check for any rule changes before you travel.
