Is it still possible to travel to the UK from Germany? Do I need to make a Covid test? What are the entry restrictions? Do I have to quarantine? Is there a lockdown? Are restaurants, pubs and museums open? Many questions and it’s not always easy to find an answer these days as regulations change pretty often. In this article I’ll tell you more about the current situation (December 2020) in the UK and what to expect when you decide to come here.
I’ve been living in London since end of October 2020. When I travelled to the UK from Germany there weren’t any entry or quarantine restrictions. However, the situation has changed as both UK and Germany were in lockdown in November. If you’re thinking about coming to the UK this is what you have to expect and to take into account:
**Please note that I don’t take any responsibility for the correctness of these statements, they are based on my personal research and experience.
Do I need to do a COVID-19 test?
No, if you travel to the UK from Germany you don’t need to do a Covid test. (status 03.12.2020)
Do I have to quarantine?
Yes. If you spent the past 14 days in Germany or in another country which is NOT on the travel corridor list, you need to self-isolate. (status 03.12.2020) You also must complete a passenger locator form before entering the UK. It’s important you do this any time in the 48 hours before you arrive in the UK. In this form you must state where you spent the past 14 days and also claim where you’re gonna spend the next 14 days – so where you’re gonna quarantine. If you have not completed the form by the time you reach UK border or you change your quarantine spot without informing the government you may be fined. It’s best to regularly check the travel corridor list as well, as it changes regularly.
Are there any other entry restrictions?
No. I haven’t experienced any. Neither in Germany nor in the UK there were any problems leaving or entering the country. The two things above are the most important things to take into account.
Is the flight different from “normal times”?
Yes, but it’s not a big change. You have to wear a mask during the whole flight. Sometimes people are sitting right next to you, sometimes they aren’t – I guess it depends on the flight as I flew with Lufthansa each time. There’s one big advantage: The empty airport. It takes less than 15 minutes dropping your luggage and going trough security & customs.
Is there a lockdown in the UK?
No, the national lockdown ended on 02.12.2020. However, there are local restrictions which come into place. Different tiers of restrictions apply in different parts of the country. Tier 1 = medium alert, Tier 2 = high alert, Tier 3 = very high alert. So depending on where you are located, different restrictions apply.
What is the situation like in London?
London is in Tier 2. Meeting others and traveling is still restricted, but many businesses and venues reopened (e.g. retail, gyms, leisure centres, hairdressers, restaurants, cafes, pubs, cinemas, museums…). All in all we still have to be cautious, but the situation could definitely be worse.
I hope I could give you a quick overview on the situation here and on current entry requirements. If you have more questions just let me know in the comments and I’ll add them to the list! I feel really safe and comparatively free here. The past weeks I focused on exploring parks and doing outdoorsy activities with an appropriate distance to others. London is a lovely city – even during Covid-time.
