uk travel and covid

The UK's new Covid-19 travel rules: what you need to know from October 2021

Traditional windmills on the island of Mykonos, Greece.

The traffic light system has been replaced with a new streamlined system. From 04:00 on 4 October, the amber and green lists became one single ‘rest of the world’ category. The red list will remain for countries considered high risk. Here’s what you need to know.

What’s the rest of the world (ROW) list?

The rest of the world list encompasses any country that’s not on the red list, formerly the green and amber lists. These are the countries you can travel to right now, in theory. Though, there are different entry requirements for countries around the world. Many, for example, are not accepting international travellers right now. The Skyscanner Covid-19 map is a useful resource. 

What do I have to do when returning to England from a country on the ROW list?

There are two options: one for fully vaccinated travellers and one for unvaccinated travellers.

Fully vaccinated travellers will no longer have to prove a negative PCR test result before re-entering the UK. To be deemed fully vaccinated, you must have been vaccinated in the UK, EU, US or one of 18 other recognised countries and have completed your course 14 days before arrival. You will, however, have to have a  day two test  back in England.

For the full list of rules for vaccinated travellers, check out the government guidelines.

Unvaccinated travellers will have to take a pre-departure Covid-19 test before returning to England, complete a passenger locator form and book and pay for a day two and a day eight test to be taken after arrival in England. In addition to this, the 10-day quarantine at home remains in place for unvaccinated travellers.  Test to Release  is still an option for unvaccinated passengers who wish to shorten their isolation period.

What is the red list and what does it mean?

The Department for Travel has published the full red list on its website — please check before travelling. Red list rules apply to all travellers, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated. There are currently 54 countries on the red list. It will be reviewed every three weeks. On Monday 11 October, 47 countries will be removed from the red list, leaving just seven on this list. The seven countries will be: Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Venezuela. All other countries fall into the rest of the world list. 

What are the red list rules?

Before arriving in England, travellers must take a pre-departure Covid-19 test, book a quarantine hotel package and complete the passenger locator form. All rules are detailed on the government travel advice website . 

Is anything else due to change?

Later in October, the day two PCR test requirement will be eased. This will be replaced with a cheaper lateral flow test.

Please note: this is England-specific. Other parts of the UK has their own rules/systems in place. Check out rules for Scotland , Northern Ireland and Wales . 

For the latest updates, visit the government’s  travel advice website . 

For more pandemic-related information, see our Covid travel hub

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Introduction

Britain and Northern Ireland currently have no official COVID-19 restrictions in place, however there is still guidance on what to do should you catch coronavirus while here on holiday. For more information, please check the official government websites using the links below.

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Covid international travel rules

Testing and quarantine requirements have been progressively removed since the start of 2022.

Are there any rules for international travel to the UK?

Testing and quarantine requirements have been progressively removed since the start of 2022. Testing and quarantine requirements were removed for fully vaccinated individuals and under 18s on 11 February, and then for unvaccinated individuals on 18 March, along with passenger locator forms for all arrivals. [1] Remaining restrictions were also removed in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. [2]

International travel for leisure in England had first resumed in May 2021. Initially countries were given a red, amber, or green rating with different rules for testing and quarantining on return.

The government simplified this system in October 2021, with only the red list remaining, and the red list was cleared of all countries on 1 November. In late November and early December 2021, some countries were added again, amid concerns about the Omicron variant. These countries were removed again as it became clear that Omicron was circulating widely within the UK. [3]

Arrivals from red list countries were required to take a pre-departure test and book a 10-day stay in a managed quarantine hotel with day 2 and day 8 tests, regardless of vaccination status. For countries not on the red list, arrival requirements depended on vaccination status, with vaccinated travellers subject to fewer requirements than unvaccinated arrivals by the end of 2021.  

The government has stated that it has contingency plans in place for a new variant but these have not been set out in detail. [4]

Is this in line with what other countries are doing?

A small number of countries have also removed all travel restrictions – including Ireland, Iceland, Norway. But many still have some entry requirements, particularly when it comes to testing. Others are also still restricting access for unvaccinated individuals or, in a few cases, for most non-residents. [5]

How do Covid passports for travel work?

Although travel to the UK is no longer dependent on vaccination status, many countries still require proof of vaccination.

A Covid passport for travel is incorporated into the existing NHS app (which is different from the NHS Covid-19 contact tracing app). [6] The app is also available for Welsh residents, while Northern Ireland and Scotland have their own apps. Fully vaccinated children aged 12 to 15 can now request an NHS Covid pass letter for travel. From 3 February 2022 children aged 13 and over will be able to access a Covid pass for travel through the app, and those 12 and over will be able to request a PDF online. [7]

What are the potential challenges ahead?

Since the spread of the Delta variant in spring 2021, with questions about whether India should have been added to the red list sooner, the government has faced a tricky balance between the pressure to open up travel and the need for continued caution about Covid transmission and the spread of new variants.

All travel restrictions when entering the UK have now been removed. However, most other countries still retain some restrictions, meaning that travel from the UK is still affected.

The major question remaining is what the government will do if a new variant emerges. It has said that contingency plans are in place to respond to any future variants but has not set out in detail what those plans would mean for travel. [8]

• Department for Transport and Department of Health and Social Care, Travel to England from another country during coronavirus (COVID-19), 22 June 2021, www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19 ; Department for Transport, Department of Health and Social Care, The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, and The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, All COVID-19 travel restrictions removed in the UK, 14 March 2022, www.gov.uk/government/news/all-covid-19-travel-restrictions-removed-in-the-uk
• Department for Transport and Department of Health and Social Care, Travel to England from another country during coronavirus (COVID-19), 22 June 2021, www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19 ; Scottish Government, Coronavirus (COVID-19): international travel, www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-international-travel-quarantine ; Welsh Government, International travel to and from Wales: coronavirus, 4 October 2021, https://gov.wales/rules-international-travel-and-wales-coronavirus ; NI Direct Government Services, Coronavirus (COVID-19): travel advice, www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-advice
• Department for Transport, Department of Health and Social Care, The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, and The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, Travel Update: 47 countries and territories removed from red list, 7 October 2021, www.gov.uk/government/news/travel-update-47-countries-and-territories-removed-from-red-list ; Department for Transport and Department of Health and Social Care, Travel to England from another country during coronavirus (COVID-19), 22 June 2021, www.gov.uk/guidance/red-list-of-countries-and-territories
• BBC News, Covid travel restrictions have ended in the UK, 18 March 2022, www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60789979
• GOV.UK, Foreign travel advice,  www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
• The app is available to individuals over 16 who are registered with a GP surgery in England. Individuals who cannot access the app can get a paper certificate by calling the NHS 119 helpline after 17 May. Certificates will be available from five days after a second vaccine dose: see Department of Health and Social Care, Using your NHS COVID Pass for travel abroad and at venues and settings in England, 7 May 2021, www.gov.uk/guidance/demonstrating-your-covid-19-vaccination-status-when-travelling-abroad
• Welsh Government, Get your NHS COVID Pass,  https://gov.wales/nhs-covid-pass-prove-your-vaccination-status#section-70614 ; NI Direct Government Services, Apply for a Travel COVID vaccination certificate,  www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/coronavirus-covid-19-covid-certificate-ni-residents ; www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine/after-your-vaccine/get-a-record-of-your-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-status ; www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-covid-pass#children
• BBC News, Covid travel restrictions have ended in the UK, 18 March 2022,  www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60789979

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United Kingdom Travel Restrictions

Traveler's COVID-19 vaccination status

Traveling from the United States to the United Kingdom

Open for vaccinated visitors

COVID-19 testing

Not required

Not required for vaccinated visitors

Restaurants

Not required in enclosed environments and public transportation.

United Kingdom entry details and exceptions

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Can I travel to the United Kingdom from the United States?

Most visitors from the United States, regardless of vaccination status, can enter the United Kingdom.

Can I travel to the United Kingdom if I am vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated visitors from the United States can enter the United Kingdom without restrictions.

Can I travel to the United Kingdom without being vaccinated?

Unvaccinated visitors from the United States can enter the United Kingdom without restrictions.

Do I need a COVID test to enter the United Kingdom?

Visitors from the United States are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result upon entering the United Kingdom.

Can I travel to the United Kingdom without quarantine?

Travelers from the United States are not required to quarantine.

Do I need to wear a mask in the United Kingdom?

Mask usage in the United Kingdom is not required in enclosed environments and public transportation.

Are the restaurants and bars open in the United Kingdom?

Restaurants in the United Kingdom are open. Bars in the United Kingdom are .

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United Kingdom, including England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland Traveler View

Travel health notices, vaccines and medicines, non-vaccine-preventable diseases, stay healthy and safe.

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After Your Trip

There are no notices currently in effect for United Kingdom, including England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

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Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor at least a month before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need. If you or your doctor need help finding a location that provides certain vaccines or medicines, visit the Find a Clinic page.

Routine vaccines

Recommendations.

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (influenza)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)

Immunization schedules

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please see  Your COVID-19 Vaccination  for more information. 

COVID-19 vaccine

Hepatitis A

Consider hepatitis A vaccination for most travelers. It is recommended for travelers who will be doing higher risk activities, such as visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas where a traveler might get infected through food or water. It is recommended for travelers who plan on eating street food.

Hepatitis A - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep A

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers younger than 60 years old traveling to the United Kingdom. Unvaccinated travelers 60 years and older may get vaccinated before traveling to the United Kingdom.

Hepatitis B - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep B

Cases of measles are on the rise worldwide. Travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure, or have not had measles in the past, and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.

All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according to  CDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel .

Measles (Rubeola) - CDC Yellow Book

the United Kingdom is free of dog rabies. However, rabies may still be present in wildlife species, particularly bats. CDC recommends rabies vaccination before travel only for people working directly with wildlife. These people may include veterinarians, animal handlers, field biologists, or laboratory workers working with specimens from mammalian species.

Rabies - CDC Yellow Book

Tick-borne Encephalitis

Avoid bug bites

Learn more about tick-borne encephalitis at your destination .

Tick-borne Encephalitis - CDC Yellow Book

Avoid contaminated water

Leptospirosis

How most people get sick (most common modes of transmission)

• Touching urine or other body fluids from an animal infected with leptospirosis
• Swimming or wading in urine-contaminated fresh water, or contact with urine-contaminated mud
• Drinking water or eating food contaminated with animal urine
• Avoid contaminated water and soil

Clinical Guidance

Airborne & droplet.

• Breathing in air or accidentally eating food contaminated with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents
• Bite from an infected rodent
• Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus (only occurs with Andes virus)
• Avoid rodents and areas where they live
• Avoid sick people

Tuberculosis (TB)

• Breathe in TB bacteria that is in the air from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.

Learn actions you can take to stay healthy and safe on your trip. Vaccines cannot protect you from many diseases in the United Kingdom, so your behaviors are important.

Eat and drink safely

Food and water standards around the world vary based on the destination. Standards may also differ within a country and risk may change depending on activity type (e.g., hiking versus business trip). You can learn more about safe food and drink choices when traveling by accessing the resources below.

• Choose Safe Food and Drinks When Traveling
• Water Treatment Options When Hiking, Camping or Traveling
• Global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene | Healthy Water
• Avoid Contaminated Water During Travel

You can also visit the  Department of State Country Information Pages  for additional information about food and water safety.

Prevent bug bites

Although the United Kingdom is an industrialized country, bug bites here can still spread diseases. Just as you would in the United States, try to avoid bug bites while spending time outside or in wooded areas.

What can I do to prevent bug bites?

• Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats.
• Use an appropriate insect repellent (see below).
• Consider using permethrin-treated clothing and gear if spending a lot of time outside. Do not use permethrin directly on skin.

What type of insect repellent should I use?

• FOR PROTECTION AGAINST TICKS AND MOSQUITOES: Use a repellent that contains 20% or more DEET for protection that lasts up to several hours.
• Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin)
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD)
• 2-undecanone
• Always use insect repellent as directed.

What should I do if I am bitten by bugs?

• Avoid scratching bug bites, and apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to reduce the itching.
• Check your entire body for ticks after outdoor activity. Be sure to remove ticks properly.

What can I do to avoid bed bugs?

Although bed bugs do not carry disease, they are an annoyance. See our information page about avoiding bug bites for some easy tips to avoid them. For more information on bed bugs, see Bed Bugs .

For more detailed information on avoiding bug bites, see Avoid Bug Bites .

Stay safe outdoors

If your travel plans in the United Kingdom include outdoor activities, take these steps to stay safe and healthy during your trip:

• Stay alert to changing weather conditions and adjust your plans if conditions become unsafe.
• Prepare for activities by wearing the right clothes and packing protective items, such as bug spray, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit.
• Consider learning basic first aid and CPR before travel. Bring a travel health kit with items appropriate for your activities.
• If you are outside for many hours in the heat, eat salty snacks and drink water to stay hydrated and replace salt lost through sweating.
• Protect yourself from UV radiation : use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, wear protective clothing, and seek shade during the hottest time of day (10 a.m.–4 p.m.).
• Be especially careful during summer months and at high elevation. Because sunlight reflects off snow, sand, and water, sun exposure may be increased during activities like skiing, swimming, and sailing.
• Very cold temperatures can be dangerous. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location.

Stay safe around water

• Swim only in designated swimming areas. Obey lifeguards and warning flags on beaches.
• Do not dive into shallow water.
• Avoid swallowing water when swimming. Untreated water can carry germs that make you sick.
• Practice safe boating—follow all boating safety laws, do not drink alcohol if you are driving a boat, and always wear a life jacket.

Keep away from animals

Most animals avoid people, but they may attack if they feel threatened, are protecting their young or territory, or if they are injured or ill. Animal bites and scratches can lead to serious diseases such as rabies.

Follow these tips to protect yourself:

• Do not touch or feed any animals you do not know.
• Do not allow animals to lick open wounds, and do not get animal saliva in your eyes or mouth.
• Avoid rodents and their urine and feces.
• Traveling pets should be supervised closely and not allowed to come in contact with local animals.
• If you wake in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately.  Bat bites may be hard to see.

All animals can pose a threat, but be extra careful around dogs, bats, monkeys, sea animals such as jellyfish, and snakes. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately:

• Wash the wound with soap and clean water.
• Go to a doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor about your injury when you get back to the United States.

Reduce your exposure to germs

Follow these tips to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others while traveling:

• Wash your hands often, especially before eating.
• If soap and water aren’t available, clean hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Try to avoid contact with people who are sick.
• If you are sick, stay home or in your hotel room, unless you need medical care.

Avoid sharing body fluids

Diseases can be spread through body fluids, such as saliva, blood, vomit, and semen.

Protect yourself:

• Use latex condoms correctly.
• Do not inject drugs.
• Limit alcohol consumption. People take more risks when intoxicated.
• Do not share needles or any devices that can break the skin. That includes needles for tattoos, piercings, and acupuncture.
• If you receive medical or dental care, make sure the equipment is disinfected or sanitized.

Know how to get medical care while traveling

Plan for how you will get health care during your trip, should the need arise:

• Carry a list of local doctors and hospitals at your destination.
• Review your health insurance plan to determine what medical services it would cover during your trip. Consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance for things your regular insurance will not cover.
• Carry a card that identifies, in the local language, your blood type, chronic conditions or serious allergies, and the generic names of any medicines you take.
• Bring copies of your prescriptions for medicine and for eye glasses and contact lenses.
• Some prescription drugs may be illegal in other countries. Call the United Kingdom’s embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you.
• Bring all the medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) you think you might need during your trip, including extra in case of travel delays. Ask your doctor to help you get prescriptions filled early if you need to.

Many foreign hospitals and clinics are accredited by the Joint Commission International. A list of accredited facilities is available at their website ( www.jointcommissioninternational.org ).

Select safe transportation

Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of healthy US citizens in foreign countries.

Be smart when you are traveling on foot.

• Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks.
• Pay attention to the traffic around you, especially in crowded areas.
• Remember, people on foot do not always have the right of way in other countries.

Riding/Driving

Choose a safe vehicle.

• Choose official taxis or public transportation, such as trains and buses.
• Make sure there are seatbelts.
• Avoid overcrowded, overloaded, top-heavy buses and minivans.
• Avoid riding on motorcycles or motorbikes, especially motorbike taxis. (Many crashes are caused by inexperienced motorbike drivers.)
• Choose newer vehicles—they may have more safety features, such as airbags, and be more reliable.
• Choose larger vehicles, which may provide more protection in crashes.

Think about the driver.

• Do not drive after drinking alcohol or ride with someone who has been drinking.
• Consider hiring a licensed, trained driver familiar with the area.
• Arrange payment before departing.

Follow basic safety tips.

• Wear a seatbelt at all times.
• Sit in the back seat of cars and taxis.
• When on motorbikes or bicycles, always wear a helmet. (Bring a helmet from home, if needed.)
• Do not use a cell phone or text while driving (illegal in many countries).
• Travel during daylight hours only, especially in rural areas.
• If you choose to drive a vehicle in the United Kingdom, learn the local traffic laws and have the proper paperwork.
• Get any driving permits and insurance you may need. Get an International Driving Permit (IDP). Carry the IDP and a US-issued driver's license at all times.
• Check with your auto insurance policy's international coverage, and get more coverage if needed. Make sure you have liability insurance.
• Avoid using local, unscheduled aircraft.
• If possible, fly on larger planes (more than 30 seats); larger airplanes are more likely to have regular safety inspections.
• Try to schedule flights during daylight hours and in good weather.

Helpful Resources

Road Safety Overseas (Information from the US Department of State): Includes tips on driving in other countries, International Driving Permits, auto insurance, and other resources.

The Association for International Road Travel has country-specific Road Travel Reports available for most countries for a minimal fee.

Traffic flows on the left side of the road in the United Kingdom.

• Always pay close attention to the flow of traffic, especially when crossing the street.
• LOOK RIGHT for approaching traffic.

Maintain personal security

Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home, and always stay alert and aware of your surroundings.

Before you leave

• Research your destination(s), including local laws, customs, and culture.
• Monitor travel advisories and alerts and read travel tips from the US Department of State.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) .
• Leave a copy of your itinerary, contact information, credit cards, and passport with someone at home.
• Pack as light as possible, and leave at home any item you could not replace.

While at your destination(s)

• Carry contact information for the nearest US embassy or consulate .
• Carry a photocopy of your passport and entry stamp; leave the actual passport securely in your hotel.
• Follow all local laws and social customs.
• Do not wear expensive clothing or jewelry.
• Always keep hotel doors locked, and store valuables in secure areas.
• If possible, choose hotel rooms between the 2nd and 6th floors.

Healthy Travel Packing List

Use the Healthy Travel Packing List for United Kingdom for a list of health-related items to consider packing for your trip. Talk to your doctor about which items are most important for you.

Why does CDC recommend packing these health-related items?

It’s best to be prepared to prevent and treat common illnesses and injuries. Some supplies and medicines may be difficult to find at your destination, may have different names, or may have different ingredients than what you normally use.

If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. If you need help finding a travel medicine specialist, see Find a Clinic . Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling.

For more information on what to do if you are sick after your trip, see Getting Sick after Travel .

Map Disclaimer - The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on maps do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement are generally marked.

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Jersey bus use approaches pre-Covid levels as five million passengers travel in 2023

MORE than five million bus journeys were made in Jersey last year, with usage coming close to matching pre-Covid levels, new figures have shown.

A total of 5.01 million passengers were carried by LibertyBus during 2023 – just 30,000 shy of the 2019 figure of 5.04m.

The operator, which has run the Island’s buses since 2013, heralded an “excellent growth in ridership” and said this had stemmed from efforts to continually monitor feedback from passengers and make improvements to services.

Company director Kevin Hart said that some UK operators were “shouting from the rooftops” after passenger numbers recovered to 90% of pre-pandemic levels. The comparative Jersey figure was 99.4%.

While commuters accounted for 31% of total passenger journeys, with a reduction caused by higher levels of home working, Mr Hart said leisure travel had grown to 37%. There had also been a significant increase in student numbers since the introduction of a fixed £20 annual fare, he added.

“We are immensely proud to witness such excellent growth in ridership,” he said. “We’re always reviewing levels of usage and looking to provide more options where we can, including extra services on Sundays and during the evenings.

“We are doing everything we can to stem the amount of traffic on the roads, and will introduce more commuter services if necessary.”

Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan, said: “It’s brilliant news to see the number of Islanders taking the bus has returned to pre-Covid levels, despite more of our working population now working from home.

“As someone who uses the bus, I have seen for myself the increased numbers on the buses, and we continue to work closely with LibertyBus to ensure that public transport is serving Islanders.”

Senior management from Lothian Buses in Scotland recently heralded the “strong performance” during 2023 in trade media outlet Route One. This saw 110m passenger journeys made last year, compared with 124m in 2019.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Inside the creepy abandoned Morrisons which shut before Covid lockdown

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Footage recorded by ‘urban explorers’ shows an abandoned supermarket covered in graffiti and old TV guides.

The Morrisons in Shirley, West Midlands , closed in 2019 after a review of the company’s branches.

The supermarket giant said at the time they would redeploy staff, however no clear plans were made for the building itself.

Urban explorer and streamer Don Andrew, his brother Kieran and friend Aser visited the site on Sunday morning.

Livestreaming the property on Facebook, the findings were slightly unsettling.

On the floor were remnants of the time just before lockdown, with magazines dating back to January 2020.

In the stream, panels can be seen missing from the ceiling, and strewn wires hanging from above.

‘Once we found the first entrance it was kind of an addiction to keep going back, as mad as it sounds,’ Don told the Sun .

‘The fire exit is wide open, if you’re at the front of the building you can walk straight in there, up the stairs and you’re onto the roof of the car park. 

‘From the car park you can go down the stairs into the Morrisons. But it is pitch black and you need a torch.

‘There’s hanging wires, bits of graffiti, the TV catalogues, the shutters are half open. Pretty much everything is gone.’

Don has been going to the property for almost a year, returning three times since he first discovered he could get in.

‘The first time I went in there it was freaky. It’s part of my town, there’s no windows, it was eerie and spooky. 

‘All I could hear was a door slamming behind me the whole time. It was weird. The more I’m doing it, I’m not as paranoid now.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

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Humza Yousaf accused of lying to MSPs after denying Covid travel ban was politically motivated

New evidence suggests Spain restrictions were eased over fears a vengeful Madrid could stop an independent Scotland from joining the EU

Humza Yousaf has been accused of lying to MSPs after new evidence emerged which supports claims that the SNP lifted Covid travel restrictions to Spain partly for political reasons.

The First Minister told Holyrood last month that decisions on Spanish travel made in July 2020 during the pandemic were based on “purely epidemiological” concerns.

This was despite the UK Covid inquiry having already uncovered evidence suggesting Spain was treated more favourably due to fears it could block an independent Scotland’s membership of the EU as revenge if it was not added to a travel exemptions list.

Now the Scottish Tories have obtained further emails which show that Scott Wightman, a Scottish Government official, said in July 2020 that “politically a decision on Spain” had to be announced in the Scottish Parliament. Just hours later, the rules were eased.

A government briefing note also made clear that “Scotland’s external relationships, including with Spain” had been “adversely impacted by the current restrictions” and called for the rules to be relaxed.

Douglas Ross, the Scottish Tory leader, said that Mr Yousaf had “some serious explaining to do”.

He added: “It would appear from this explosive email chain that the First Minister misled parliament when he assured me at First Minister’s Questions that the decision to exempt Spain was taken for ‘purely epidemiological reasons’.

“These messages reinforce what we learned at the UK Covid Inquiry – that the SNP Government were influenced by the political ramifications of maintaining a travel ban, rather than solely public safety.

“Those who lost loved ones will rightly be appalled that, even at the height of the pandemic, the SNP were still gaming their independence obsession.”

Mr Wightman had written a note, disclosed during Nicola Sturgeon’s evidence to the Covid inquiry, in which he warned that the Spanish Government “won’t forget” if travel restrictions were maintained.

He added: “There is a real possibility they will never approve EU membership for an independent Scotland as a result.”

Mr Yousaf had claimed on Feb 1 that it was a “fantasy” to say that a decision on Spain was taken for “any other reason than epidemiology”.

Quarantine rules for travel to Spain were lifted by the Scottish Government on July 20, 2020, after concerns were raised over the impact on relations with Madrid and the implications for independence.

Spain was removed from an exemptions list on a UK basis days later, following a rise in cases.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Covid travel restrictions – which broadly aligned across the UK – were vital to protect the people of Scotland from the harms of Covid-19. This was the prime focus and intention of ministers, clinicians and civil servants across the Scottish Government.

“The decision to add Spain to the exemption list and the subsequent decision to remove it from the list were both based on the UK Government’s data on the prevalence rate in Spain relative to Scotland’s prevalence rate at the time, as is clear from this correspondence.”

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Upscale hotel in manchester's vibrant piccadilly district.

Perfectly positioned just a stone's throw away from Piccadilly Train Station, Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly proudly emerges as the city's leading 4-star destination following a significant multi-million-pound investment. Immerse yourself in one of our 338 our newly refurbished, spacious bedrooms & suites, featuring modern amenities and contemporary design. Elevate your meetings with state-of-the-art conference facilities boasting Clevertouch screen technology and Hybrid meeting capabilities. Indulge in a day of relaxation at our luxurious Elemis spa and embrace evenings filled with excitement in the vibrant Northern Quarter, mere moments from our doorstep. With unparalleled access to premier shopping, nightlife, and global business hubs, each moment is ripe with opportunity. Our iconic silhouette graces the skyline from Piccadilly Station to the Mancunian Way, seamlessly connecting you to major motorways for effortless travel to other cities across the UK and Manchester Airport.

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Thatcham Town Council fundraising to develop baby memorial garden at London Road Cemetery

Thatcham Town Council (TTC) is fundraising to develop a baby memorial garden .

It wants to create a calm reflection garden in the London Road Cemetery’s children’s burial area .

It is hoped that the area will provide a space for quiet contemplation.

It will include a memorial bay to the left of the current allocated ‘baby section’ space and a memorial garden to the right.

Each area will be enclosed with laurel hedging.

The spaces will each include wooden benches and sympathetic planting.

The memorial garden will include a statue for plaques to be added.

The council has already received a grant from the Peter Baker Foundation along with a matched funding offer of up to £5,000 from Greenham Trust.

All public donations – up to £5,000 – via The Good Exchange will be matched.

The garden came about after stillbirth and neonatal death charity West Berkshire SANDS Group approached the council in 2017 .

At this time, families in Thatcham who had lost children did not have a dedicated area for reflection.

Fundraising began but was stalled after the local SANDS Group closed and Covid followed.

But the town council is endeavouring to complete its project for those who have donated.

Mayor of Thatcham Mark Lillycrop said: “I’m very pleased that we’re taking the opportunity to raise funds to complete the work inspired by SANDS before Covid.

“It’s so important to have an area like this for peaceful reflection in the cemetery, and I look forward to seeing it open to visitors in due course.”

The fundraising link can be found at https://rb.gy/w8tbuh

Regular updates will be posted on the town council website and social media channels.

Thatcham Town Council said: “To everyone who has already donated, and those who make a donation, thank you so very much, it is so appreciated.

“Not just by Thatcham Town Council, but also by the many families who will find some comfort in this very special place.”

Covid: UK to close all travel corridors from Monday

• Published 15 January 2021
• Coronavirus

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson: "We will temporarily close all travel corridors from 0400 on Monday"

The UK is to close all travel corridors from Monday morning to "protect against the risk of as yet unidentified new strains" of Covid, the PM has said.

Anyone flying into the country from overseas will have to show proof of a negative Covid test before setting off.

It comes as a ban on travellers from South America and Portugal came into force on Friday over concerns about a new variant identified in Brazil.

Boris Johnson said the new rules would be in place until at least 15 February.

A further 1,280 people with coronavirus have died in the UK within 28 days of a positive test, taking the total to 87,291.

The latest government figures on Friday also showed another 55,761 new cases had been reported - up from 48,682 the previous day.

Meanwhile, more than two million people around the world have now died with the virus since the pandemic began, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.

• What are the new rules for travellers?
• Why hasn't the UK banned all international flights?
• Scotland to suspend travel corridors from Monday

Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, the prime minister said it was "vital" to take extra measures now "when day by day we are making such strides in protecting the population".

"It's precisely because we have the hope of that vaccine and the risk of new strains coming from overseas that we must take additional steps now to stop those strains from entering the country."

All travel corridors will close from 04:00 GMT on Monday. After that, arrivals to the UK will need to quarantine for up to 10 days, unless they test negative after five days.

Mr Johnson, who said the rules would apply across the UK after talks with the devolved administrations, added that the government would be stepping up enforcement at the border and in the country.

Travel corridors were introduced in the summer to allow people travelling from some countries with low numbers of Covid cases to come to the UK without having to quarantine on arrival.

Trade body Airlines UK said it supported the latest restrictions "on the assumption" that the government would remove them "when it is safe to do so".

Chief executive Tim Alderslade said travel corridors were "a lifeline for the industry" last summer but "things change and there's no doubting this is a serious health emergency".

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said it was the "right step" but called the timing of the decision "slow again", adding that the public would be thinking "why on earth didn't this happen before".

The prime minister warned that the NHS was facing "extraordinary pressures", having had the highest number of hospital admissions on a single day of the pandemic earlier this week.

He said that came on Tuesday when there were 4,134 new admissions, while the UK currently has more than 37,000 Covid patients in hospitals.

Mr Johnson said that once the most vulnerable have been vaccinated by mid-February "we will think about what steps we could take to lift the restrictions".

England is currently under a national lockdown, meaning people must stay at home and can go out only for limited reasons such as food shopping, exercise, or work if they cannot do so from home.

Similar measures are in place across much of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Also speaking at the No 10 briefing, England's chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty said the restrictions would need to be lifted gradually by "testing what works, and then if that works going the next step".

He said the peak of people entering hospital would be in the next week to 10 days for most places, but "we hope" the peak of infections "already has happened" in the south-east, east and London.

"The peak of deaths I fear is in the future, the peak of hospitalisations in some parts of the country may be around about now and beginning to come off the very, very top," he said.

'Easy' to adjust vaccines

A ban on travellers from South America, Portugal and Cape Verde entering the UK came into force on Friday morning as a result of a new, potentially more infectious variant of coronavirus linked to Brazil.

The government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance told the press briefing that some of the new variants may be able to "get round" the Covid vaccines but it was "really quite easy" to adjust the vaccines to deal with mutations in the virus.

New variants causing concern have previously been identified in the UK and South Africa , with many countries imposing restrictions on arrivals from both nations.

Public Health England said a total of 35 genomically confirmed and 12 genomically probable cases of the Covid-19 variant which originated in South Africa have been identified in the UK as of 14 January.

Earlier, a leading scientist said one of the two variants first detected in Brazil had been found in the UK - but not the variant that was causing concern.

"I think it is likely that the vaccine we have now is going to protect against the UK variant and is going to provide protection I suspect against the other variants as well," said Sir Patrick. "The question is to what degree."

• How worrying are the new Covid variants?

Latest figures show that more than three million people in the UK have now received the first dose of a vaccine - 3,234,946 - an increase of 316,694 from the previous day.

Sir Patrick said he expected the vaccines would reduce transmission of the virus but that "we shouldn't go mad" as jabs are rolled out because a risk would remain.

"Just because you've been vaccinated doesn't mean you can't catch this and pass it on, it means you're protected against severe disease," he added.

• LOOK-UP TOOL: How many cases in your area?
• LOCKDOWN LOOK-UP: The rules in your area
• TESTING: How do I get a virus test?
• SYMPTOMS: What are they and how to guard against them?

Meanwhile, the latest estimate of the UK's R number - which is the number of people that one infected person will pass on a virus to on average - is 1.2 to 1.3, compared with 1-1.4 last week.

But in London, where tight restrictions came in earlier, the R number is lower - between 0.9 and 1.2.

In Wales, new laws for shoppers and staff are to be introduced after "significant evidence" coronavirus is being spread in supermarkets.

• LOCKDOWN LEARNING ON BBC IPLAYER: BBC Bitesize is here to help with your homeschooling needs
• IN NEED OF A NEW SERIES TO BINGE IN LOCKDOWN?: The Serpent is a twisting, real-life story of a murderer, thief and seductive master of disguise

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More on this story

South America travel ban over Brazil variant fears

• Published 14 January 2021

BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron: How worried should we be?

• Published 1 July 2022

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• International travel, immigration and repatriation during COVID-19

International travel update, 11 January 2021

From 4am on 15 January 2021, the government will be introducing pre-departure testing requirements for all inbound passengers to England.

For the latest information on pre-departure testing, see the guidance on coronavirus testing for people travelling to England.

Last week, the Prime Minister announced that the government had made the difficult but necessary decision to introduce a new national lockdown .

Both globally and domestically we are seeing significant increases in levels of coronavirus (COVID-19), including the emergence of worrying new strains. It is therefore imperative that we ensure we are doing all we can to protect travel, reduce the risk of imported infections, including from new variants, and protect our NHS while national lockdown and vaccinations take effect.

We already have strong safeguards in place, including a requirement for mandatory 10-day self-isolation for the vast majority of arrivals and our travel corridors system remains critical in managing the risk of imported cases from high-risk countries. We also successfully launched the Test to Release scheme last month, which provides passengers with the option to reduce self-isolation, through isolating for 5 days after they have left a destination not on the travel corridors list and then taking a test. Pre-departure testing does not remove the public health need for international arrivals travelling from non-exempt countries to isolate for 10 days or opt into Test to Release.

However, as a result of increasing instances of COVID-19 around the world, including the emergence of new variants, we are now taking additional steps to add a further layer of protection to safeguard public health.

From 4am on 15 January, we will be introducing pre-departure testing requirements for all inbound passengers to England. Passengers arriving by ship, plane or train will have to take a test up to 3 days before departure and provide evidence of a negative result before they travel.

This will be an additional requirement that applies to all passengers, including those travelling from a travel corridor country, other than those on a very short list of exemptions. This extra layer of protection is in addition to existing self-isolation requirements.

We will establish the standards that tests must meet in regulations. This will include that the test must be of a diagnostic-standard test such as a polymerase chain reaction ( PCR ) test, and could in some cases include LAMP and lateral flow tests within set limits. We will provide clear guidance and advice to passengers regarding testing standards and capacity.

Guidance will be available to passengers and carriers on what to look for to assure tests and the results provided meet the standards required.

We will keep test standards and innovative testing technologies under review.

In addition, we will also set out the information passengers will need to have with them at check-in and the UK border to show they have had a qualifying negative test. This will include set data fields which test result certificates must include. All information on test requirements will be made available to passengers and transport operators through guidance on GOV. UK .

The current advice for those across the UK remains that you must stay at home and not travel abroad unless it is for a permitted exempt reason. The requirements apply equally to visitors from other states and British Nationals, and carriers may deny boarding if passengers are not in receipt of a qualifying negative test. British Nationals that need consular assistance should contact the nearest consulate, embassy or high commission .

If British Nationals test positive for COVID-19 while abroad they should not travel and should follow the local relevant guidance on self-isolation.

Transport operators will be required to check that a passenger has proof of a negative test result before they board their flight, train or ferry, and may deny boarding where appropriate to reduce numbers of non-compliant individuals arriving in England. Border Force will also conduct further checks upon arrival.

If a passenger arrives in England without a pre-departure negative test result they will be fined. We will amend the International Travel Regulations so that fines, starting at £500, can be levied on non-compliant passengers. Operators will also be fined for transporting non-compliant passengers.

Passengers travelling to England from the Common Travel Area (the United Kingdom, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey), will not be in scope of the regulations.

Children under the age of 11 will also not be required to complete pre-departure testing.

There will be a very restricted number of exemptions, including hauliers to allow the free flow of freight, and air, international rail and maritime crew.

Certain limited reasonable excuses for not undergoing testing will also be permitted, for example, lack of testing infrastructure in the departure country. This will apply to 3 overseas territories – St Helena, Ascension Island and the Falklands.

Arrivals from 3 additional countries will be considered to have a reasonable excuse not to comply due to lack of testing infrastructure. However, for these countries this will only apply for a specific, time limited window. This includes:

• Antigua and Barbuda – until 4am Thursday 21 January 2021
• St Lucia – until 4am Thursday 21 January 2021
• Barbados – until 4am Thursday 21 January 2021

If passengers are arriving from one of the above 3 countries after the time limited window has ended, they will be required to meet all pre-departure testing requirements.

Further details on exemptions and reasonable excuses will be set out in regulations and in guidance. We will keep exemptions and reasonable excuses under regular review.

We will be making detailed guidance available to both passengers and transport operators to support the implementation of these changes.

Measures are likely to be in place until the end of the current lockdown, although a review will take place before the end of that period.

The government recognises the continued challenges that the pandemic poses, both for individuals and for businesses.

We have worked closely with the international travel sector during the course of the pandemic and will continue to do so as we emerge from lockdown and are able to encourage people to travel again with confidence. We are also continuing to implement recommendations set out in the Global Travel Taskforce report to support the safe recovery of international travel.

The delivery of a safe, effective vaccine is also the best way to protect the most vulnerable, save thousands of lives and support the removal of many of the restrictions and return to international travel. We are already making great progress, including having currently vaccinated more people than the rest of Europe combined.

In the immediate term our priority has to be on safeguarding public health and the NHS. With the addition of pre-departure testing requirements, our already robust system to protect against imported cases of coronavirus is further strengthened and will provide the greatest overall protection against the risk of transmission during travel to England and after arrival.

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Russia-Ukraine latest: NATO considering €100bn package to 'Trump-proof' war effort

NATO foreign ministers met in Brussels and discussed long-term support for Ukraine, including a proposal for a €100bn five-year fund. Read all the latest on the war - and submit a question on the conflict for our experts - below.

Thursday 4 April 2024 01:03, UK

• 'Great risk' of frontlines collapsing as Russia prepares 'big attack'
• Oil price rises after Ukraine attacks major Russian refinery
• NATO to consider €100bn aid package to 'Trump-proof' aid for Ukraine
• Indian men claim they've been forced to fight for Russia's military in Ukraine
• Explained: How the war has strayed outside Ukraine's borders
• Michael Drummond: Is the Russian fleet abandoning Crimea?
• Big picture : What's happening with war?

Ask a question or make a comment

Our comments box is open once again for you to submit a question on the Ukraine war for Sky News military analysts or correspondents.

We'll pick the best one to answer each week.

We're bringing our live coverage of the Ukraine war to a close for today. We'll be back soon with more updates.

Here's a round-up of the main events:

• NATO foreign ministers met in Brussels for talks on long-term support for Ukraine;
• High-ranking Ukrainian commanders have warned there is a risk of frontlines collapsing and that there could be a "big attack" in August;
• Ukrainian drones hit a major oil refinery and factory producing Shahed drones in the Russian region of Tatarstan, in what appeared to be its deepest strike inside Russia since the war began. Russian authorities said 12 people were injured. Tatarstan officials said industrial production was not disrupted;
• Oil prices have risen after yesterday's Ukrainian attack on a major Russian refinery;
• Ukraine's foreign minister accused allies of not providing enough air defences;
• Russia claimed NATO has returned to a Cold War mindset;
• Finland and Ukraine have signed a 10-year security agreement.

The foreign secretary has reiterated the UK's support for Ukraine at the NATO meeting in Brussels.

Posting on X, Lord Cameron posed with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba and promised to stand with the country "as long as it takes"...

Russia's defence ministry says talks between them and the French defence ministry shows a "readiness for dialogue on Ukraine".

A ministry statement on the talks between Sergei Shoigu and Sebastien Lecornu also said any notion of holding a meeting on Ukraine in Switzerland without Russia was "pointless".

The statement said Mr Shoigu noted any "practical implementation" of President Emmanuel Macron's suggestion of sending French troops to Ukraine would "create problems for France". 

As NATO foreign ministers meet in Brussels, Sky News has learnt that the British government has no national plan for the defence of the UK or the mobilisation of its people and industry in a war despite renewed threats of conflict, Sky News has learnt.

Officials are now starting to develop a cross-government "national defence plan", it can be revealed.

Dr Keith Dear , a former RAF intelligence officer and former adviser on national security, science and technology to the prime minister, argues that it is reasonable for the public to assume there are detailed plans for any anticipated conflicts.

Read his analysis in full here:

Moscow has denied claims it plans to mobilise 300,000 new troops by the end of June.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made the claim as he signed a 10-year security deal with Finland in Kyiv.

Without providing any evidence, Mr Zelenskyy told a news conference: "I can say that Russia is preparing to mobilise 300,000 military personnel by 1 June." 

Later, in his nightly video address, he said: "We clearly understand what Russia is preparing for, what they want, and what they will be drafting soldiers into their army for." 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, quoted by Russian news agencies, said the Ukrainian president's assertion was "untrue". 

The foreign secretary has said that NATO has "never been stronger".

Lord Cameron posted a photo on X of the alliance's foreign ministers posing for a group photograph following a meeting in Brussels.

NATO is celebrating 75 years since its foundation this week.

A cargo ship leaving Russia that made an unscheduled stop in Germany is under investigation for carrying cargo in a possible breach of sanctions, German authorities have said.

The Atlantic Navigator II, managed by Canada-based CISN and sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands, has been detained in Rostock by German customs. 

On board are 251 containers of birchwood, which is subject to EU sanctions against Russia, according to prosecutors.

"Investigations are under way against the captain of the freighter on initial suspicion of a violation of the Foreign Trade and Payments Act," the Rostock public prosecutor's office said.

The ship is also carrying enriched uranium bound for the US.

Enriched uranium is exempt from EU and American sanctions.

The vessel has been held in Rostock since 4 March after leaving St Petersburg on 7 February.

It had to make the unscheduled stop due to propeller damage, according to city authorities.

Romania's President Klaus Iohannis says he has no intention of withdrawing his bid for NATO secretary general, despite strong support within the alliance for Mark Rutte, the outgoing Dutch prime minister. 

Mr Iohannis officially announced his intention to run for the NATO leadership last month. 

He also said he had no plans to seek a different job at a European level. 

Jens Stoltenberg's term in office is due to come to an end on 1 October after a decade.

His mandate had been renewed four times, twice for the standard four-year term and twice for single years in 2022 and 2023 to keep NATO in safe hands during the war in Ukraine.

The appointment process is unofficial and informal, taking place behind closed doors, making it difficult for outsiders to know who will get the job.

Mr Rutte is supported by the four NATO members forming the "quartet" - France, Germany, the UK and the US, as well as several other countries.

The Dutchman has also been endorsed by Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who had previously been mooted as a potential candidate.

The foreign secretary has told NATO members to spend more on defence.

Speaking at the Royal United Services Institute, the UK's leading defence and security thinktank, as the NATO foreign affairs ministers meeting gets under way, Lord Cameron told the audience: "I never needed reminding or understanding of the vital importance of NATO in our national life.

"And it's been extraordinary having supported it all through its quiet years, years in which some people wondered whether it had a functioning brain, I never lost faith in NATO."

The ex-PM said NATO is "so much stronger today than it has been for years", noting Sweden will be welcomed for the first time as a full participant.

He turned to what is next for the alliance, saying its expansion in recent years is part of its success.

"We have a tyrant in Europe who's trying to redraw borders by force," Lord Cameron said. 

"And there are two choices: you can appease that approach, or you can confront that approach.

"It is undoubtedly the right thing to confront it. And that is what we're doing by giving Ukraine such strong support."

He said that if Ukraine wins the war against Russia, it will mean that "NATO will be strong", but if it loses, "the celebrations will be held mostly in Moscow and of course, in Beijing, and in Tehran, and in North Korea".

That would be a "bleak future" given the risk to NATO countries, and would leave others questioning whether they can trust us as allies.

He appealed to NATO members to spend more money on defence, saying: "I think the success will depend on more and more countries reaching 2% [of GDP spending on defence], or more countries seeing 2% as a floor and not a ceiling."

He also said members need to "win the argument for NATO" with younger generations, making the case that it "allows countries to choose their own future".

You can read more news from Westminster in our  Politics Hub

North Korea and Iran's military support for Russia has "serious global security consequences NATO cannot ignore", according to the alliance's secretary general.

Kim Jong Un's secretive nation has transferred ballistic missiles and other weapons to Moscow, while Tehran has supplied Shahed drones, which have regularly been used to destroy and disrupt infrastructure in Ukraine.

In return, Russia has provided technology and supplies that help their own missile and nuclear capabilities.

The West is increasingly concerned Tehran could also send ballistic missiles to Russia.

"Russia's friends in Asia are vital for continuing this war of aggression," Jens Stoltenberg said as ministers met in Brussels.

He also said China was also "propping up Russia's war economy".

"This has regional and global security consequences," Mr Stoltenberg added.

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