Do I need travel insurance for the UK?
It’s definitely worth thinking about.
You may not need to worry about medical cover for your UK staycation, as you’ll be able to receive free care on the NHS if you fall ill or get injured while you’re away. However, medical emergencies aren’t the only things a travel insurance policy will pay out for.
For example, you might still want to be covered for cancellation, delays or the loss, theft or damage of your possessions on a holiday in the UK.
Some travel insurance policies have a minimum number of nights away or miles from home before they’ll offer cover for a UK holiday.
Customers with pre-existing medical conditions
If you have a serious health condition, your travel insurance is likely to be more expensive. Whatever happens, tell your insurance provider the truth. If you give false information or miss something out, your claim could be rejected.
When you declare any medical conditions on our website, we’ll only show you quotes from insurance providers that will cover them with no exclusions.
If your condition is more serious, MoneyHelper has a directory of insurance providers who may be able to provide quotes over the phone. You can call them on 0800 138 7777.
What does travel insurance for the UK cover?
A typical UK travel insurance policy could include cover for:
Transport/flight cancellations and delays
You may need to take a domestic flight, train journey, ferry crossing or coach to your holiday destination. Travel insurance could cover the costs of any cancellations or delays during your trip.
Holiday cancellation or curtailment
If you have to cancel or cut short your UK holiday because of illness, a family bereavement or another reason beyond your control, you could recover costs for a holiday cottage deposit or rail tickets, for example.
Check the policy T&Cs carefully though, as holiday cancellation cover varies among insurance providers.
Damage, loss or theft of your luggage
Baggage insurance could cover the cost of replacing your personal belongings, including your phone and clothing, if they’re lost, damaged or stolen. Always check the policy limits, particularly for single valuable items, to make sure you’re fully protected.
Personal liability
If you’re held responsible for causing damage or injury to another person while you’re away, this could cover any legal expenses.
What isn’t covered by UK holiday travel insurance?
UK travel insurance typically won’t cover you for:
Emergency medical care – you can be treated for free by the NHS.
High-risk activities and sports, unless you have specific cover.
Reckless behaviour, drunkenness or drug use – you won’t be able to claim for events that were illegal, or involved drug or excessive alcohol use.
Some travel insurance providers will also exclude certain types of UK staycation. For example, you may not be covered for:
Mini breaks or day trips – you may need to have a minimum number of nights away in booked accommodation to qualify for cover.
Holidays close to home – your UK holiday destination may need to be a minimum number of miles away from home (or a ferry crossing away) to be covered.
Staying at a friend or relative’s house.
Am I already covered for UK travel?
You might be. Before buying UK travel insurance, check whether you have appropriate cover already in place through:
Your home contents insurance may include cover for personal possessions that are lost or stolen outside the home. If your contents insurance doesn’t include this, you might be able to add it for an extra cost.
An existing annual travel insurance policy. Check it covers loss of personal possessions and cancellation costs for a UK holiday.
Some premium and paid-for bank accounts include annual travel insurance policies as part of their standard package, so it’s worth checking before taking out a new policy.
Does global travel insurance cover UK holidays?
Yes, worldwide policies could cover you when you’re on holiday in the UK. But it’s not always the case, so it’s worth checking the small print.
Single trip vs annual multi-trip UK holiday insurance policies
If you already have an annual travel policy covering Europe or worldwide destinations, your UK trips may already be covered. Just check if there are any exclusions for UK travel.
If you’re taking out a new policy, you can choose the UK as the region you want to cover. Whether you need a single-trip or annual policy will depend on how often you take a UK holiday.
If you’re regularly going on weekend breaks in the UK as well as longer holidays in the summer, you might find it’s worth taking out an annual UK travel insurance policy. But if you don’t holiday in the UK very often, then single-trip policies could be a better option for you.
If you’re planning any long trips around the UK, check the limit on how many days that any one trip will be covered for.
UK-only policies aren’t that common, so you might find that the best deal for you includes European cover as well.
How to reduce the cost of UK holiday travel insurance
To cut the cost of your UK holiday insurance, it can help to:
Know in advance how many trips you’re likely to take in a year, so you can check whether an annual or single-trip policy will be better value.
Consider a higher voluntary excess – the amount you agree to pay towards a claim. Just be sure you can afford it if you need to make a claim.
Choose the level of cover you want carefully. Consider, for example, how much you’re spending on transport, accommodation and other activities, and get the right amount of holiday cancellation cover. There’s no point paying for cover you don’t need.
Check your policy to see if it already covers the sports and activities you’ll be enjoying before you opt for an add-on like adventure sports cover.
Travel insurance for a caravan holiday
Caravan travel insurance offers cover if your holiday has to be cut short or your personal possessions get lost, stolen or damaged.
If you own your own van, you’ll doubtless want caravan insurance for your home-away-from-home too. It can protect your caravan from damage and theft when you’re not using it for holidays.We can also help if you need to insure your motorhome or campervan, whether it’s a luxury RV or a cute Dormobile.
Money-saving tips for travelling in the UK
Book late – if you can be flexible about where you go, you may be able to find a great deal with a last-minute booking.
Book early – getting ahead of the game can save you money too. You can sometimes find special deals at the beginning of the year.
Avoid peak periods if you can – bank holidays and school summer holidays are typically more expensive because of greater demand.
Holiday off the beaten path – if you don’t have much flexibility on dates, you could look at travelling to a less well-known destination.
Watch out for discounts – if you earn points on your grocery shop, or from a rewards credit card, check to see if you’re eligible for any discounts on accommodation, dining out or excursions.
Use a Railcard if you’re travelling by train – you can save up to a third off selected train fares. Your Railcard will also give you access to a variety of days out. Find a digital Railcard with Trainline
Find local free attractions – wherever you go in the UK, there are enjoyable things to do for free. From outdoor experiences like beaches and national parks, to cultural attractions like museums, sculpture trails and more.
Compare insurance for your UK holiday
Start a quote today. We’ll help you compare travel insurance providers that offer cover for your UK holiday.
Compare travel insurance to see if you can save.
Start a quoteUK travel insurance for frequent business travel
If you’re self-employed or run your own company, it’s worth taking a look at business travel insurance. It could cover you if your travel plans suffer because of missed flights or ferries. It could also offer financial protection if an expensive piece of equipment – like a laptop or smartphone – is lost, stolen or damaged while you’re away on business.
Your employer should take care of your business travel insurance if you’re an employee, but you’ll need your own travel insurance if you’re tagging a holiday onto the end of a business trip.
Standard travel insurance policies, wherever you’re heading, may not cover business-owned items or work-related plans, so always check before you travel.
FAQs
What other types of travel insurance could I consider for a UK holiday?
Whether you’re planning a white-water rafting trip to Wales or a golfing weekend in Scotland, you may want to consider specific cover to suit your needs:
Extreme sports insurance for high-risk sports, including rock climbing and sky diving.
Winter sports cover offers protection for skiing and snowboarding.
Water sports cover for activities like windsurfing, jet-skiing, sailing or deep-sea fishing.
Golf travel insurance can cover your golfing equipment.
Business trip insurance may offer more comprehensive cover than standard travel insurance.
Cruise insurance can cover you for missed ports, cabin confinements and unused excursions.
Does UK travel insurance cover the Channel Islands?
Some, but not all, UK policies will cover you for trips to the Channel Islands – check your policy to be sure.
In Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm and the Isle of Man, as a UK resident you’ll be entitled to free emergency medical treatment under a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK.
The agreement includes trips to accident and emergency as well as urgent GP appointments. Depending on which island you’re travelling to, you’ll need to show either a valid GHIC or EHIC card, or proof of residence in the UK.
Should I get travel insurance for domestic flights?
If you have travel insurance and you’re unable to make your domestic flight for a reason specified in your policy, then you can claim compensation for the cost of your flight.
If your flight is cancelled by the airline, then you may be entitled to a full refund from the airline, which means you won’t need to claim on your travel insurance.
Can I get UK trip insurance with a pre-existing medical condition?
As long as you declare your condition during your application, you should still be able to get UK travel insurance with a pre-existing medical condition.
If you’re struggling to find cover for your UK staycation, Moneyhelper have a directory of specialist providers who could help.
Make sure you understand what you will and won’t be covered for. For example, if you have an unexpected flare-up of a pre-existing condition and have to cancel, it may or may not be covered by your policy.
With more than eight years’ experience in writing and sub-editing content, Karen started her career in fashion before making the move to insurance. She now specialises in producing clear, engaging content that helps people make better financial decisions.
Karen’s areas of expertise include insurance products, such as car insurance, travel insurance and life insurance, as well as utilities such as energy comparison.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
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