Where can you travel without quarantining upon return? Latest updates here.
The quarantine rules are changing all the time as different countries battle to bring down cases. But the current restrictions in place are listed here.
As we head into the final few weeks of summer, people all over the UK are hoping to squeeze in a cheeky summer holiday and travel to a new part of the world before autumn begins.
However, after initially getting cases under control, many nations are experiencing a resurgence of coronavirus – forcing the British government to bring in quarantine restrictions surrounding travel.
Simply put – any passengers arriving from a nation that is not on the UK’s ‘travel corridor’ list will have to isolate for two weeks when they get home.
The quarantine rules are changing all the time as different countries battle to bring down cases. But the current restrictions in place are listed below.
Which countries require a quarantine upon return to the UK?
A number of nations have had to be added to the ‘red’ list in recent weeks due to a rise in coronavirus infection rates.
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The Government is advising against all but essential travel to these countries.
Passengers touching back down in the UK from nations on the red list must self-isolate for a period of 14 days.
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Those who do not run the risk of being fined up to £1,000 in England.
Andorra
The Bahamas
Belgium
Canada
Luxembourg
Portugal
Spain
The United States
Anyone returning from most parts of Central and South America will be required to isolate upon arrival in the UK, with several nations in this part of the world closing borders to visitors.
Many countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia are also on the red list. Exemptions are listed later down the article.
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Which countries are considered ‘at risk’ of being added to the red list?
Some nations are teetering on the brink of the UK’s red list, with pockets of COVID-19 creeping up over the past few days.
France is currently at risk of having travel quarantine restrictions imposed, and anyone planning to visit should be aware that new rules could be introduced soon.
Croatia, Greece and Norway have also seen a rise in cases.
The nations listed below are currently on the ‘travel corridor’ list, meaning you will not need to self-isolate when you get back to the UK upon your return.
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However, it is important to note that many of these countries do have restrictions of their own in place – which may require you to self-isolate when you arrive.
Remember to check the Government website for the latest updates before you book and travel.
Antigua and Barbuda
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Barbados
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
Curaçao
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
French Polynesia
Germany
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Macau
Malta
Mauritius
Monaco
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Réunion
San Marino
Serbia
Seychelles
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Korea
St Barthélemy
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Pierre and Miquelon
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Switzerland
Taiwan
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
Vatican City
Vietnam
You can also learn more about travelling to different parts of the world – and the restrictions in place for these countries – online.
Visit the Government foreign travel advice page and click on a particular country to find out about the current guidelines and recommendations.
News
Man had taken ‘at least 20 lines of cocaine’ before killing toddler in tram-van crash
Daisy Jackson
A man has pleaded guilty to killing toddler Louisa (Lulu) Palmisano by dangerous driving, following a horror crash between a tram and a van in February.
The court heard that Rawal Rehman, 36, had taken ‘at least 20 lines of cocaine’ in a seven-hour window leading up to the crash.
On 22 February 2025, shortly before 10am, Rehman’s Mercedes sprinter van failed to stop at a Stop sign and collided with a tram.
His vehicle then mounted the pavement, striking three-year-old Lulu and both her parents who were walking hand-in-hand down Booth Street.
Tragically, Lulu – who her family described as the ‘sweetest, kindest, and most generous little girl’ – suffered fatal injuries.
Several passersby rushed to assist the family, including a junior doctor.
She was taken to hospital but died soon after of her injuries, which included a major head trauma.
Rehman, meanwhile, abandoned his van and left the scene in a taxi, later identified by documents in his vehicle and arrested two days later. He claimed to have panicked when questioned as to why he fled the scene.
He pleaded guilty at Manchester crown court on Tuesday 22 April to causing the death of Lulu by dangerous driving.
The scene of the tram-van crash that killed Lulu. Credit: The Manc Group
Prosecutor Rachel Shenton told Manchester Crown Court that he had visited two massage parlours in the city hours before and that he had taken ‘at least 20 lines of cocaine’ in seven hours.
Abbie Clarke, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: “This was a devastating incident which shocked our community, and our thoughts go out to Lulu’s family who must bear this unimaginable loss.
“Rawal Rehman ignored the stop signs and tram warning signs when he drove straight into the path of an oncoming tram, and it is clear his driving fell far short of what is expected of a competent and careful driver.
“Rehman failed to take responsibility for his actions. He fled the scene in a taxi and denied that he drove dangerously in interview, only accepting responsibility on his third hearing before the court.
“He must now face the consequences for his role in this wholly avoidable tragedy.”
Social media beauty spots and selfies blamed for record rise in mountain rescue callouts
Daisy Jackson
There’s been a record rise in the number of young people needing help from mountain rescue teams – and social media has been blamed for luring unprepared people into potentially dangerous situations.
As well as these viral beauty spots – such as Mam Tor – the rise in call-outs has also been attributed to ‘poor-quality map apps’ which can stop functioning when in areas with poor phone service.
According to an exclusive report in The Guardian, it’s now tourists under the age of 24 who are most likely to need mountain rescue’s assistance while out walking.
The data provided by Ordnance Survey said that the number of call-outs from this age group has almost doubled between 2019 and 2024.
Overall rescues increased by 24% over a similar period.
A spokesman for Mountain Rescue said that young people are drawn to places like the Lake District after seeing images on social media, but are often not dressed or equipped properly for the conditions.
Nick Giles said people are often ‘too reliant on mobile phones’ and unprepared for the changes in weather and terrain that come with hiking.
Mike Park, chief executive of Mountain Rescue England and Wales, told The Guardian: “We know from incident reports that more and more people are tempted into risky locations by Instagram posts and the navigation apps being used aren’t always suitable for an outdoor environment.
“Add to that a tendency to follow popular routes online without knowing the hazards and context, and it’s not surprising that those likely to be relying most on their phones are the ones getting into difficulties.”
Before you head out on any hike or walk, you should make sure you’re prepared and equipped – see Mountain Rescue’s tips HERE.
The Manc -
11th August 2020 
