In short
What do UK travellers most need to know before booking the USA?
UK passport holders visit for up to 90 days under the Visa Waiver Programme, but you must hold an approved $40 ESTA before you fly. There's no GHIC cover so comprehensive insurance is essential, the price on the shelf excludes sales tax and an expected 15–20% tip, and the country is continent-sized — so pick one or two places and go deep.
The United States is the long-haul trip where the language is the easy part and the small print is the hard part. The instinct is to chain New York, Vegas, the Grand Canyon and LA into one fortnight; the reality is that the country is the size of a continent, and two of those places done properly beat four glimpsed from a departure lounge. This guide is built around that one honest call, plus the two decisions that actually move the needle before you book — your ESTA and your health cover — and the UK-specific details that competitor pages skate over: the authorisation you need before you fly, the GHIC that does nothing, the tax and tip that aren’t on the label, and the price in pounds.
The short version
- Get an approved ESTA ($40, ~£30) on the official site before you fly — a valid ESTA still doesn't guarantee entry.
- Your GHIC is worthless in the US — buy comprehensive insurance with a high medical limit (at least £5 million).
- The sticker price isn't the final price: budget 25–30% over it for sales tax and an expected 15–20% tip.
- Fly direct from your nearest UK airport — Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow all run nonstop.
- Pick one or two destinations and go deep; trying to 'do' a continent in a fortnight is the classic US mistake.
Entry requirements for UK travellers
The US is not visa-free in the way Europe is. UK passport holders can visit for up to 90 days for tourism, business or transit under the Visa Waiver Programme, but only if you hold an approved ESTA before you fly — and a valid ESTA still doesn’t guarantee entry, because the border officer makes the call on the day. Everything below is taken from the GOV.UK foreign travel advice for the USA; rules can change, so confirm on GOV.UK before you travel.
The pre-departure work that genuinely matters here is the ESTA, and there are two traps. First, apply on the official ESTA website or app — copycat sites charge a hefty mark-up for the same $40 authorisation. Second, the ESTA isn’t open to everyone: a criminal record, a past deportation or overstay, or travel to certain countries (Iran, Iraq, Syria, Cuba and others) rules it out and forces a full visa application, which takes far longer, so check your eligibility well before you book non-refundable flights.
Key points before you book
- Hold an approved ESTA ($40, ~£30) before you fly — apply on the official site, not a copycat charging extra (GOV.UK).
- Up to 90 days visa-free for UK passport holders; a criminal record or certain past travel forces a full visa (GOV.UK).
- No GHIC cover and no reciprocal healthcare — you pay treatment in full, so comprehensive insurance is essential (GOV.UK).
- Your UK prescription isn't valid; carry medication in labelled packaging with a copy of the prescription (GOV.UK).
- Drinking age is 21 and ID is strictly checked — carry your passport for bars and clubs (GOV.UK).
- Cannabis is federally illegal even where a state allows it; never carry it between states or to an airport (GOV.UK).
- Rules can change — confirm on GOV.UK before you travel.
Passport validity
Your passport must be valid for the entire length of your stay — there's no months-beyond-departure rule for US entry (GOV.UK). You also need a full British Citizen passport to use the Visa Waiver Programme; other categories of British national can't apply for an ESTA and must get a visa.
Visas
Under the Visa Waiver Programme, UK passport holders can visit for tourism, business or transit for up to 90 days without a visa — but you must hold an approved ESTA before you travel, applied for via the official ESTA website or app (GOV.UK). The ESTA costs $40 (~£30), is valid for two years or until your passport expires, and now requires a selfie photo. You're ineligible for the ESTA — and need a full visa instead — if you have a criminal record, have been arrested, were previously deported or overstayed, or have travelled to certain countries including Iran, Iraq, Syria, Cuba and others; a valid ESTA does not guarantee entry, the border officer decides on the day (GOV.UK).
Health
There is no reciprocal healthcare agreement and no GHIC/EHIC cover — you pay the full cost of treatment, and hospitals can demand a deposit on admission (GOV.UK). Bills run into the tens of thousands of dollars, so comprehensive travel insurance with high medical and repatriation limits is essential, not optional. Your UK prescription isn't valid in the US — to fill medication you'd need a prescription from a US provider, so carry enough for your trip in its original labelled packaging plus a copy of the prescription (GOV.UK). Check vaccine recommendations before you travel.
Safety & security
GOV.UK flags that terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in the US, targeting crowded places, transport and events, and that gun crime exists but rarely targets tourists. Violent crime is concentrated in specific neighbourhoods rather than tourist areas, but you should take care in unfamiliar areas, especially alone at night. The border regions of Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas have significant drug-trafficking activity (GOV.UK). Risk varies enormously by city and even by block, so the practical move is to check the specific neighbourhood, not the whole country.
Local laws & customs
The legal drinking age is 21 nationwide — expect to show photo ID (carry your passport) even if you're obviously older, and bars routinely refuse anything but a passport from foreign visitors (GOV.UK). Open-container laws vary by state, and drinking alcohol in public or in a vehicle is illegal in many places. All illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties; cannabis may be legal under some state laws but remains illegal federally, so don't carry it between states or to an airport (GOV.UK). Always carry your passport showing your entry permission. To drive, you can use your UK photocard licence, though some states ask for an International Driving Permit (the 1949 version) alongside it.
GOV.UK is the official source for United States entry rules — always check it before you book.
Read GOV.UK adviceGOV.UK updated 2 Jun 2026 · Departly checked 8 Jun 2026
Why insurance, not your GHIC, is the one to get right
Your GHIC does nothing in the US
There is no UK–US reciprocal healthcare agreement, so the GHIC you’d use in Europe is worthless here. GOV.UK is explicit that you pay the full cost of any treatment, and hospitals can demand a deposit on admission. US medical bills are among the highest in the world — a serious claim can run to tens of thousands of dollars — so comprehensive travel insurance with a high medical limit and repatriation cover is essential, not optional, for the United States.
Buy it the same day you book the flights, before the dates blur into the holiday. Beyond the headline cover, check the medical limit is right for the US: a Europe-only policy’s limit is often too low here, so look for at least £5 million, and declare any pre-existing conditions and planned activities like skiing, road trips or theme parks. One more US-specific job: UK prescriptions can’t be filled in the States, so carry enough medication for the trip in its original labelled packaging, with a copy of the prescription.
Travel insurance for United States
This is the one to get absolutely right. There is no UK–US reciprocal healthcare deal, so your GHIC does nothing and you pay the full cost of treatment — and US medical bills are among the highest in the world, with hospitals able to demand a deposit on admission.
- Buy comprehensive cover with high emergency medical, hospital and repatriation limits — a serious US claim can run to tens of thousands.
- Check the medical limit is at least £5 million for the US; lower limits common in Europe-only policies aren't enough here.
- Declare pre-existing conditions and any planned activities (skiing, road trips, theme parks), and keep the insurer's 24-hour line saved offline.
Flights from the UK
The US is the rare long-haul you can fly direct from all over the UK, not just Heathrow — Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow all run nonstop services. New York is about 8 hours from London (and the cheapest gateway, often the best-value way into the country even if you’re heading on), the West Coast around 11 hours, and Florida roughly 9. Westbound is slower than the return leg thanks to the jet stream, so plan your first day around an afternoon landing.
Flights from the UK
Long-haulThe US is the rare long-haul where you fly direct from all over the UK, not just Heathrow. New York is ~8 hours from London (and the famously punchy ~6h45 westbound headwind-free days do happen), the West Coast ~11 hours, Florida ~9. Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow all run nonstop services; westbound is slower than eastbound thanks to the jet stream.
Fly from
Main arrival airports
- JFK New York JFK — the classic East Coast gateway; ~£8 and ~50 min to Manhattan on the AirTrain plus subway
- EWR Newark — often cheaper than JFK and faster to Midtown; ~£12 on the AirTrain to NJ Transit
- LAX Los Angeles — the main West Coast gateway, ~11 hours nonstop from Heathrow
- MCO Orlando — the Florida theme-park gateway, served nonstop from several UK airports
When to go
The US has no single best season, because it spans climates from the desert Southwest to the snowy Northeast. As a rule, spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) give the best balance of weather, crowds and price almost everywhere, with September the cheapest month for flights. But match it to your destination: skip the desert Southwest and Florida in high summer, target early-to-mid October for New England’s autumn colour, and aim for December–March if you’re skiing the Rockies.
When to go
Sweet spot: Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) are the sweet spots almost everywhere — comfortable temperatures, smaller crowds and lower flight prices than the summer and Christmas peaks. The catch is that 'best time' depends heavily on where you're going: the Southwest and Florida are brutal in high summer, New England peaks for autumn colour in October, and ski areas run December to March.
Summer (June–August) is peak season and peak prices, hot and humid in the east and south and scorching in the desert Southwest — fine for the Pacific Northwest and northern coasts, punishing for the Grand Canyon or Florida in August. Autumn (September–October) is the all-rounder: New England's foliage peaks in early-to-mid October, and flights dip to their cheapest in September. Winter (December–February) is ski season in the Rockies and the time for Florida and the desert Southwest, but cold and snowy in the Northeast and Midwest, with Christmas and New Year a pricey crowd-magnet in New York. Spring (April–May) brings mild weather and cherry blossom in Washington DC before the summer crowds arrive.
What it costs
Everything here is priced in pounds at roughly $1.33 to £1 (June 2026). Direct return flights run about £350–£600 to New York and £450–£800 to the West Coast or Florida, and a mid-range 12-night trip for two — New York plus a road trip, including flights — comes to around £4,600–£5,000, or about £2,300–£2,500 each before shopping. The trap that catches UK visitors out is that the price on the shelf or menu isn’t what you pay: sales tax is added at the till and a 15–20% tip is expected on top, so budget 25–30% over the sticker.
What it costs
Direct return economy runs roughly £350–£600 to New York and £450–£800 to the West Coast or Florida, peaking over summer, Christmas and Easter. The cheapest months are usually September and January; booking a couple of weeks ahead rather than last-minute saves around 30%. New York is the cheapest gateway and often the best-value way into the country even if you're heading elsewhere.
Daily budget per person
| New York subway single ride | ~£2.20 |
|---|---|
| Coffee-shop coffee | ~£3–4 |
| Casual sit-down dinner (before tip + tax) | ~£15–22 |
| ESTA (per person, 2-year validity) | ~£30 |
| Mid-range hotel, New York, per night | ~£150–260 |
| Hire car, per day (mid-size) | ~£35–60 |
All dollar figures here use $1 ≈ £0.75 (June 2026). Remember the two hidden add-ons: sales tax (none to ~9% depending on the state and city) is added at the till, and a 15–20% tip is expected on sit-down meals and many services. Budget 25–30% over the sticker price.
A realistic first-trip itinerary
The single biggest US mistake is treating a continent like a country and trying to string New York, Vegas, the Grand Canyon and LA into one fortnight — you'll spend the trip in airports. Pick a theme instead: one iconic city done deep, a two-city East or West Coast pairing, or a focused regional road trip. This is a 7-day East Coast skeleton built around New York; swap in a West Coast or national-parks version on the same principle of going deep, not wide.
- 1Day 1
Land in New York — go easy
You'll arrive in the afternoon after ~8 hours and a 5-hour time jump, so don't over-plan. Take the AirTrain and subway in from JFK (~£8) rather than a ~£60 cab, drop your bags, walk one neighbourhood, eat early and sleep — the jet lag eastbound is the kinder direction, but a packed first evening still backfires.
- 2Days 2–4
New York proper
Central Park, the High Line, the Met or MoMA, a walk over Brooklyn Bridge at golden hour and a Broadway show if you book ahead. Buy a single 7-day unlimited MetroCard/OMNY cap rather than per-ride tickets, and skip the pricey observation decks you don't need — pick one (Top of the Rock for the Empire State Building in your photo) rather than all three.
- 3Day 5
Pick up the car, head out
Collect a hire car outside Manhattan if you can — city-centre rental and parking are brutal. Drive up the Hudson Valley, out to the Hamptons, or south towards Philadelphia and DC. Remember you're driving on the right; take the first hour slowly, and note that many US petrol stations want a US ZIP code at the pump, so pay inside with a card.
- 4Days 6–7
A region, not a dash
Spend the back half somewhere within a few hours' drive rather than crossing the country — coastal New England, Washington DC's museums (most are free), or a loop back via the Hudson Valley. Drop the car back before you fly so you're not paying city parking, and leave plenty of buffer for US airport security, which is slower than you expect.
Where to base yourself
The neighbourhood matters more than the city in the US. In New York, Midtown puts everything on the doorstep at a price, while Brooklyn gives you more space and a local feel for a short subway hop. Los Angeles is a driving city, so a walkable beach base like Santa Monica saves you hours in the car. In Las Vegas, always check whether the quoted room rate includes the “resort fee” that the Strip tacks on — Downtown is cheaper and more walkable. For the Florida theme parks, International Drive in Orlando is the practical, if charmless, base.
Midtown / Manhattan (New York)
Walkable to most sights and on every subway line, at a real price premium — expect £150–260 a night for a small mid-range room. Worth it for a short first trip when you'd otherwise burn time commuting; book early because New York rarely gets cheaper.
Good for: First-timers who want everything on the doorstep
Brooklyn (Williamsburg / Brooklyn Heights)
More space and character for your money than Manhattan, with quick subway hops to the sights and some of the best skyline views. The trade-off is a 20–40 minute commute to Midtown attractions; fine if you value neighbourhood life over being in the thick of it.
Good for: Better value and a local feel
Santa Monica / Venice (Los Angeles)
The beach base most first-timers actually enjoy, walkable and breezy, against an inland hotel where you'll need the car for everything. LA is a driving city, so picking a walkable pocket like this saves you hours; it's pricier but worth it.
Good for: A first LA trip without living in the car
The Strip vs Downtown (Las Vegas)
The Strip puts you among the big resorts but stings you with 'resort fees' on top of the room rate; Downtown (Fremont Street) is cheaper, older-school and more walkable. Always check whether the quoted price includes the resort fee — it can add £25–40 a night.
Good for: Choosing between spectacle and value
International Drive (Orlando)
The practical theme-park base, packed with hotels, restaurants and shuttle links to the parks, at the cost of being a charmless tourist strip. Fine if the parks are the whole point; rent a car if you want to escape it for a day.
Good for: Families doing the Florida theme parks
Getting around a continent
Getting around United States
There's no one answer in a country this size — the right tool depends entirely on the distance. For long hops (New York to LA, say) domestic flights are the only sensible choice; budget carriers like Southwest, JetBlue and Frontier are cheap if you travel light, but watch the baggage fees, which can double a fare. For a regional trip or anything off the main rail spine, hire a car: it's the freedom that makes US travel sing, and you can use your UK photocard licence (some states also want an International Driving Permit). Amtrak trains are scenic and comfortable but slow and limited outside the Northeast Corridor (Boston–New York–Washington), where they're genuinely useful and often beat flying once you count airport faff. Within a city, New York, Chicago, Washington and San Francisco have proper public transport, but most US cities are built for cars, so factor in Uber/Lyft or a hire car. Two driving notes that trip up Brits: you drive on the right, and many petrol pumps demand a US ZIP code, so pay inside.
- Long hops (coast to coast): fly. Southwest, JetBlue and Frontier are cheap but charge for bags — pack light.
- Regional trips and national parks: hire a car. Your UK photocard licence works; some states also want a 1949 IDP.
- Northeast Corridor (Boston–NY–Washington): Amtrak often beats flying once you add airport time.
- In-city: NYC, Chicago, DC and San Francisco have real transit; most other cities need a car or Uber/Lyft.
- You drive on the right — take the first hour slowly, and watch for ZIP-code requests at petrol pumps (pay inside).
- Add up budget-airline baggage fees before booking — they can double a headline fare.
There’s no single right answer in a country this size — the tool depends entirely on the distance. Fly for coast-to-coast hops, where budget carriers like Southwest and JetBlue are cheap if you avoid their baggage fees; hire a car for regional trips and national parks, using your UK photocard licence (some states also want a 1949-version International Driving Permit); and take Amtrak on the Boston–New York–Washington corridor, where it often beats flying once you count airport faff. Within New York, Chicago, DC and San Francisco the transit is good, but most US cities are built for cars. Two things trip up Brits behind the wheel: you drive on the right, and many petrol pumps demand a US ZIP code, so pay inside.
Staying connected
UK roaming to the US is expensive — America sits outside the inclusive EU-style zones, so EE charges £5 a day, Vodafone £7.39 and Three around £14 for a week, and some plans don’t include the US at all. Over a fortnight that’s £50–£100+. A travel eSIM at £14 for 5GB, or £25 for a week’s unlimited data, is the obvious value move; install it before you fly and switch it on when you land. US coverage is excellent in cities but patchy in remote areas and national parks, so download offline maps before a road trip.
Stay connected in United States
UK roaming to the US is expensive — America sits outside the EU-style inclusive zones, so EE charges £5 a day, Vodafone £7.39 a day and Three around £14 for a week. Over a 10–14 day trip that's £50–£100+, and only some pricier UK plans include the US at all.
- A travel eSIM is typically £14 for 5GB or £25 for a week unlimited — a big saving over daily roaming.
- US 4G/5G is excellent in cities but patchy in remote areas and some national parks, so download offline maps before a road trip.
- Install and set up the eSIM before you fly, then switch it on when you land — keep your UK SIM for calls and texts to home.
Money: cards, sales tax and tipping
The US is overwhelmingly card-first — a contactless Visa or Mastercard covers almost everything, from cabs to coffee, and you'll rarely need much cash. Carry a little (~£40 in small dollar bills) for tips you can't add to a card, the odd cash-only spot and tipping housekeeping. The two things that catch UK visitors out are baked into how Americans price: sales tax (from zero in a handful of states up to ~9% in cities like New York and Chicago) is added at the till, not shown on the shelf, and tipping is expected — 15–20% on sit-down meals, $1–2 a drink at a bar, and increasingly prompted on a screen even for counter service. Budget 25–30% over the sticker price. One rule that saves money: when a card terminal asks whether to charge in pounds or dollars, always choose dollars — choosing GBP (dynamic currency conversion) hands the merchant a poor rate and costs you 3–5%.
Fee-free travel money
Skip the airport exchange desk — a fee-free travel card gives you the real exchange rate abroad.
Before you fly
Two small UK-specific jobs round out the trip: pre-book your airport parking, which is almost always cheaper booked ahead than on the day, and double-check the essentials before you fly — your ESTA, insurance or medication — so nothing slips through in the last 48 hours.
Airport parking & lounges
Pre-book your UK airport parking or a lounge — it's almost always cheaper booked ahead than on the day.
How we know this
How we know this
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice — USA — entry, ESTA, passport validity, health, safety and local laws
- US Customs and Border Protection — official ESTA site — the $40 ESTA fee, two-year validity and selfie requirement
- NHS Fit for Travel / TravelHealthPro — vaccine recommendations and travel-health advice
- Skyscanner, momondo & Amtrak — indicative flight fares, gateways and rail times
GOV.UK last updated 2 Jun 2026.