If you’re planning to travel to the United Kingdom soon for a holiday or to see family or friends, make sure to research what you’ll need to prepare the necessary things.

We made a guide for first-timers who will be traveling to the United Kingdom.

Check if you need a visa to visit the United Kingdom

You may be able to visit the UK for up to six months without a visa, or you may need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa before you go, depending on your nationality. Even if you don’t require a visa, you still have to fulfill the requirements for normal visitor eligibility.

How to check if you’re eligible?

This implies that you should research your options for visiting the UK. As a Standard Visitor, you are allowed to travel to the UK for business, tourism, study sessions for no more than six months, and other approved purposes.

After your initial six-month stay in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for an extension if specific conditions are met, such as receiving medical care.

But here’s what you need to do first.

1. Verify whether your intended activities in the UK are permitted for Standard Visitors.

2. Verify your eligibility by checking the requirements.

3. Find out if you need to apply for a visa to enter the UK.

4. If you require a Standard Visitor visa, you can apply online.

Here are the things you can do when you visit the United Kingdom as a Standard Visitor:

1.  For travel purposes (vacation or holiday)

2. To visit your family or friends

3. To volunteer for a registered charity for a maximum of thirty days.

4. To pass through the United Kingdom to another country

5. For business reasons like going to a meeting or a job interview

6. If your line of work involves performing or giving lectures, you may be eligible for specific approved paid engagements or events.

7. To take part in a school exchange program

8. To enroll in a 30-day recreational course, like a dance course

9. To take an exam, complete a placement or study

10. As a dentist, senior physician, or academic

11. For medical reasons

Here are the things that you can’t do when you visit the United Kingdom as a standard visitor:

1. Work as a freelancer or for a UK company, either for pay or without pay. Unless you are participating in an authorized paid engagement or event.

2. Claim public funds (benefits)

3. Stay in the UK for extended periods using repeated or frequent visits

4. Get married, register a civil partnership, or announce your approaching marriage. You must apply for a Marriage Visitor visa to accomplish this.

Note that you need to have a passport or travel documents to enter the United Kingdom, and they should be valid for the whole duration of your stay. 

To be eligible to get into the United Kingdom, you must be able to show the following:

1. The day you’ll travel back to your country of origin

2. You have the means to support your dependents and yourself while traveling, or you have funding from someone else.

3. You have the means to cover the cost of your return or after travel (or obtain funding from another source).

4. You won’t make the United Kingdom your primary residence or stay there for an extended period through repeated or frequent visits.

You may need to fulfill additional requirements if you are going there for medical reasons, to perform, to take an exam, to be a senior doctor or dentist, to study, or for any other reason related to your studies.

You should also confirm what you are allowed to bring inside, such as food, pets, and plants that you are allowed to bring into the United Kingdom. Additionally, confirm what documents you will need at their border.

Once you have all you need to travel to the UK, find out when is the best time to go there. The United Kingdom’s climate is generally mild and doesn’t experience extremes in the summer or winter, making it a destination that can be visited year-round. Summertime temperatures are at their highest, though they rarely exceed above 86°F (30°C).

While winter (December to February) can be a pleasant time to travel, some attractions are closed in the northern regions (including most of Scotland) and in mountainous areas where snow is likely to fall. The major cities are still completely accessible and will be peaceful for touring.

The best seasons to travel to the UK are from late March to early June in the spring and from September to November in the fall when temperatures are typically warm and dry.

The UK bank holidays are another factor you should take into consideration. Traveling on a bank holiday can be either hassle-free or very congested.

Here’s what happened last Easter.

On Good Friday, Easter traffic was expected to result in 2.6 million car trips, which caused congestion along the M25, South West, and South East routes. The Port of Dover reports that there are two-hour delays due to severe winds in the Channel.

French passport control at Kent Port also contributes to lengthy waits. Plans were thrown into disarray by Storm Nelson’s strong winds, which led to the cancellation of trains and nearly 200 flood warnings across the UK.

A serious crash forced the closure of the A40 between St. Clears and Carmarthen, and Dyfed-Powys Police warned of heavy traffic. Transport for Wales issued a “do not travel” alert for trains on the main line in south Wales on Monday until 13:00.

Along with services between Cardiff and Carmarthen, there were issues with the Heart of Wales line between Swansea and Shrewsbury. Services on the Maesteg and Vale of Glamorgan lines were also experiencing problems.

Lord Ping had something to say about what happened that day.

To avoid this happening to you, take note of the upcoming bank holidays for this year.

Monday, May 6, 2024, is an Early May bank holiday. 

Monday, May 27, 2024, is a Spring Bank holiday. 

Monday, August 26, 2024, is the Summer Bank holiday.

Wednesday, December 25, 2024, is Christmas Day

Thursday, December 26, 2024, is Boxing Day.

To avoid any travel problems such as traffic, flight delays, crowds, and the like, here’s what you can do.

Prepare what you can before you travel

Planning is necessary for travelers to avoid anxiety in TSA lines. Make sure to pack light, have your travel itinerary close at hand, have calming books or music players, and secure your car in case you are delayed.

Adjust your sleep if needed

Traveling can disrupt sleep-wake cycles, so making sleep a priority and maintaining a wind-down routine 30 to 60 minutes before bed can help those who struggle to fall asleep.

Keep in contact with friends and family

When traveling during the holidays, anxiety can cause problems. For connection and distraction, rely on friends or family to make sure the experience goes well. If you have extra time during your holiday travels, making a phone call to a close friend is a great way to pass the time.

Practice being mindful during the travel

Being mindful can help you unwind on the days you have to travel. Take a deep breath, keep your eyes open, and scan your surroundings. While keeping an eye out for sights, sounds, and feelings, apply the 4-7-8 method. 

If you are having trouble staying focused on the moment, don’t be hard on yourself. Breathe regularly and let your worries go. Overcoming your fears and motivating yourself to stay in the present are the keys to success. Keep your cool and focus on this particular moment.

Stay hydrated

Maintaining proper hydration is crucial for both physical and mental well-being, particularly when traveling. Filling up water bottles before a flight can help avoid dehydration, headaches, and vertigo.

Stay on your routine after the transit

Once here, it’s easy to break the habit of remaining composed. Make time for your favorite activities, such as exercise or meditation, before or after family get-togethers to stay motivated and focused on your goals.

Hopefully, this will help you not get stressed when you’re planning to travel to the UK.