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Country guide · United Kingdom

UK travel apps and what you need before you go

Most visitors who do not need a UK visa, including EU, US, Canadian and Australian citizens, now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; it costs £20 on GOV.UK or in the official UK ETA app. Once there, pay for London transport by tapping a contactless card or phone, plan journeys with TfL Go or Citymapper, book trains on Trainline or National Rail, and use Uber, Bolt or Freenow for rides and Deliveroo or Just Eat for food.

Checked against official sources on 22 October 202614 apps · 6 to set up at home
The Palace of Westminster and Big Ben lit up at dusk across the River Thames
Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 2.5

What you need to enter the United Kingdom

What you need depends on your passport. Use the GOV.UK visa checker before you book, and only pay for an ETA on GOV.UK or the official UK ETA app.

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

Visitors who do not need a visa for short stays need an ETA, including citizens of EU countries, the USA, Canada and Australia. Irish citizens do not need one, and nor do people who already have permission to live, work or study in the UK. It costs £20, usually comes back within a day (allow up to 3 working days), and lasts 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, for unlimited trips of up to 6 months each. Every traveller needs their own, including babies. Without one, you will not be allowed to board.

Source: GOV.UK: Apply for an ETA · GOV.UK: ETA guidance · Home Office ETA factsheet (April 2026)

Visa nationals

Citizens of countries on the UK's visa national list need a Standard Visitor visa instead of an ETA. Check your nationality with the GOV.UK visa checker before booking.

Source: GOV.UK: Check if you need a UK visa · GOV.UK: Appendix Visitor visa national list

Passport validity

Your passport must be valid for the whole time you are in the UK. EU, EEA and Swiss visitors cannot use a national ID card unless they have UK settled or pre-settled status or a similar permit.

Source: GOV.UK: Visiting the UK as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

Transit

If you change flights and go through UK passport control, you need an ETA. Transit at Heathrow or Manchester without passing through passport control does not currently need one.

Source: Home Office ETA factsheet (April 2026)

eGates at the border

Adults aged 8 and over with a biometric passport can use eGates if they are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, or from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea or the USA, provided they hold a valid ETA or other digital status. Children aged 8 to 17 must be with an adult.

Source: GOV.UK: Entering the UK, at border control

Before you fly: 7 steps

  1. Check if you need a visa or an ETA on GOV.UK.
  2. Apply for your ETA in the UK ETA app or on GOV.UK, one per traveller, at least 3 working days before you fly.
  3. Make sure your passport is valid for your whole stay.
  4. Add a no-foreign-fee card to Apple Pay or Google Pay for contactless travel.
  5. Install TfL Go or Citymapper and Trainline, and book long train journeys early.
  6. Set up Uber or Bolt with your home number before you leave.
  7. Pack a Type G plug adapter.

The apps that matter in the United Kingdom

Grouped by the job they do. Set up at home means install it and sign in before you fly, while you still have your home number and Wi-Fi.

Entry and official apps

UK ETA app

The Home Office app for applying for your Electronic Travel Authorisation.

Set up at home

It scans your passport chip and your face with the phone camera, which is quicker than the website. Copycat sites charge more, so pay only in this app or on GOV.UK.

Official siteSource: GOV.UK: Apply for an ETA

NHS 111

The NHS urgent medical advice service, by phone (111) or online at 111.nhs.uk.

Use it when you need medical help quickly but it is not an emergency; it tells you where to go. For life-threatening emergencies call 999.

Official siteSource: NHS: When to use 111

Taxis and ride hailing

Uber

Ride hailing in London and many other UK cities.

Set up at home

Set it up with your home number and card before you fly so the verification text arrives while you still have signal.

Official siteSource: Uber UK

Bolt

Ride hailing, often cheaper than Uber, in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Bristol and other cities.

Set up at home

Compare prices with Uber for airport runs and late nights.

Official siteSource: Bolt: Cities

Freenow

Taxi-first app, now Freenow by Lyft, for booking licensed taxis and paying in the app.

Set up at home

Useful in London when you want a taxi rather than a private hire car, with no cash needed.

Official siteSource: Freenow UK · TaxiPoint (Feb 2026)

Metro, buses and city transport

TfL Go

Transport for London's own journey planner with a live Tube map, step-free routes and service status.

Pair it with contactless pay as you go: tap the same card or phone in and out on yellow readers (buses and trams are tap in only) and daily and weekly caps apply automatically. Keep your phone charged, because a flat battery can mean a maximum fare.

Official siteSource: TfL: Contactless and mobile pay as you go

Citymapper

Door-to-door transit directions mixing Tube, bus, rail, walking and bikes, strongest in London.

Handy for comparing bus versus Tube times and for knowing which carriage to board for the exit.

Official siteSource: Citymapper

Trains and long-distance travel

Trainline

Buys UK train tickets across all operators, with e-tickets on your phone.

Advance fares for long trips are cheaper when booked early. Trainline adds a booking fee, so you can also buy direct from the train company or via National Rail Enquiries for times and disruption.

Official siteSource: Trainline · National Rail Enquiries

Railcard app

Holds digital Railcards that take a third off most rail fares in Great Britain.

Set up at home

A Two Together Railcard costs £35 a year and saves 1/3 for two named adults travelling together (after 09:30 on weekdays, any time at weekends). It can pay for itself on one long return trip; check eligibility on railcard.co.uk.

Official siteSource: Railcards

Paying

Wise or Revolut

Multi-currency cards that let you hold and spend pounds at a close-to-market rate.

Set up at home

Contactless works almost everywhere in the UK, including on transit. Add the card to Apple Pay or Google Pay before you fly.

Official siteSource: Wise · Revolut

Food and delivery

OpenTable

The main restaurant booking app in the UK, especially in London.

Popular London places release tables weeks ahead; turn on notifications for cancellations.

Official siteSource: OpenTable UK

Wetherspoon

Order and pay app for JD Wetherspoon pubs, so you can order from your table.

Enter your table number and pay by card. The company confirmed in April 2026 that the app is staying.

Official siteSource: Morning Advertiser (April 2026)

Deliveroo

Food and grocery delivery in most UK cities; Just Eat and Uber Eats cover similar ground.

Check all three for the same restaurant, as fees and delivery times differ.

Official siteSource: Deliveroo · Just Eat · Uber Eats

Deals and bookings

TheFork

Restaurant bookings with set-menu or à la carte offers at some places in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Liverpool.

Smaller UK selection than OpenTable, but worth checking for offers on the restaurant page before you book.

Official siteSource: TheFork UK

Money: Pound sterling (GBP)

The UK is close to cashless: contactless cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay work in shops, pubs, taxis and on London transport. Carry a little cash for small market stalls. Choose to pay in pounds when a card machine offers your home currency, which avoids a poor exchange rate. Many restaurants add a discretionary service charge to the bill, so check before tipping again.

Practical things to know

Plugs
Type G (three rectangular pins); 230 V.
Emergency number
999 or 112 for police, fire and ambulance. 111 for urgent but non-emergency medical advice.
Mobile data
An eSIM or a prepaid SIM from a UK network works without registration. Check your home plan, as many no longer include free roaming in the UK.
Tipping
Around 10 to 12.5 percent in restaurants if service is not already on the bill. Rounding up for taxis is common; no tip at the bar in pubs.
London transport
Tap the same card or phone in and out. Fares are capped daily and weekly (Monday to Sunday), so there is no need to buy a travelcard in advance.

Questions travelers ask

Do EU citizens need an ETA for the UK?

Yes, most EU, EEA and Swiss citizens need an ETA for short visits. Irish citizens do not, and nor do people with UK settled or pre-settled status.

How much does the UK ETA cost?

£20 on GOV.UK or in the official UK ETA app. Other websites may charge more, so avoid them.

How long is a UK ETA valid?

Up to 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner. You can make multiple trips of up to 6 months each.

Can I use my bank card on the London Underground?

Yes. Tap a contactless card or phone on the yellow reader. Use the same card or device to tap in and out so daily and weekly caps work. Foreign cards may carry overseas fees from your bank.

Do I need an ETA if I am only changing planes in London?

Only if you go through UK passport control. Transit at Heathrow or Manchester without passing through passport control does not currently need one.

Sources

Checked on 22 October 2026. Entry rules change, so confirm with the official links before you travel.

Found a mistake? Report a correction and we’ll check it against the source.

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