What changed at the UK border in 2026
Three changes landed in 2026: the ETA became mandatory to board on 25 February, eGates opened to children aged 8 and 9 from 8 July, and physical immigration documents were replaced by eVisas.
UK travel and visa rules, checked against the source
Fees move, rules change, and most of what is written about UK travel was accurate a year ago. Every post here shows the date it was last checked and links the official page it rests on, so you can see for yourself.
London transport for visitors: what it actually costs in 2026
Tap the contactless card you already own. A day in Zones 1–2 is capped at £8.90, while the paper Day Travelcard for the same journeys costs £16.60 — nearly double for nothing extra.
ETA, visitor visa or student visa: which one you need, and what each costs
An ETA costs £20, a Standard Visitor visa £135, and a Student visa £558. Your nationality decides whether the first is even available to you — the choice between an ETA and a visitor visa is not yours to make.
Can a visitor open a UK bank account? Usually not — and you do not need one
High-street banks must run an immigration status check and normally require a UK address, which a six-month visitor does not have. Students are the exception. For a holiday, your own contactless card does everything a UK account would.