- Ideal trip length
- 5 to 10 nights
- Best time to go
- May to September
- Time zone
- GMT, GMT+1 in summer (British Summer Time)
- Currency
- Pound sterling (GBP)
Entry update8 April 2026
Visitors from visa-free countries, including Singapore, the US and Australia, need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation before they fly. The fee rose to £20 on 8 April 2026. Each ETA lasts two years, or until your passport expires.
About United Kingdom
London has some of the world's great hotels, and each neighbourhood feels different: Mayfair for classic grandeur and shopping, Knightsbridge for Hyde Park and Harrods, Covent Garden and Holborn for theatre and museums. Most visits start with four or five nights in the city, with afternoon tea, a West End show and the museums, many of which are free.
Beyond London, the Cotswolds, Oxford and Bath make easy day trips or a country-house stay, and fast trains reach Edinburgh in about four and a half hours for the Highlands and whisky country.
When to go
Late spring and summer bring long days, gardens in flower and the social season, from Chelsea to Wimbledon. September is calm and often fine. London is good year round, and festive in December, while Scotland is at its best from May to September.
Places to go
London
Grand hotels, royal parks, theatre and museums, with a different mood in every neighbourhood.
See hotelsThe Cotswolds
Honey-stone villages and country-house hotels, under two hours from London.
Ask me about hotels hereScotland
Edinburgh, the Highlands and whisky country, best from May to September.
Ask me about hotels hereMy picks in United Kingdom
The hotels I'd start with, and who each one suits.
3 MICHELIN KeysForbes Five-Star
Virtuoso
Claridge's
London, United Kingdom
3 MICHELIN KeysForbes Four-Star
The Peninsula PenClub
The Peninsula London
London, United Kingdom
2 MICHELIN KeysForbes Five-Star
Rosewood Elite
Rosewood London
London, United Kingdom
3 MICHELIN KeysForbes Five-Star
Mandarin Oriental Fan Club
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London
London, United KingdomBefore you go
Arriving
Getting there
London Heathrow has direct flights from Singapore, a little over 14 hours.
Getting around
The Tube and black cabs make London easy. Fast trains reach Bath, Oxford and Edinburgh, and a driver is best for the countryside.
Visa and entry
Visitors from visa-free countries, including Singapore, the US and Australia, need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before they travel. It costs £20, lasts two years or until your passport expires, and allows stays of up to six months each visit. Apply on the official GOV.UK site or app.
Checked November 2026
Money and culture
Money
Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere, including on the Tube and buses.
Tipping
Restaurants often add a 12.5 percent service charge. Otherwise 10 to 15 percent is usual, and taxis are rounded up.
Local customs
Queue patiently, and book popular restaurants and afternoon tea well ahead.
On the ground
Language
English.
Plugs and power
Type G, the same as Singapore, so no adapter is needed.
Safety
The UK is safe for visitors. Watch for pickpockets in busy areas, and keep phones secure on the street.
United Kingdom: quick answers
When is the best time to visit United Kingdom?
May to September. Late spring and summer bring long days, gardens in flower and the social season, from Chelsea to Wimbledon. September is calm and often fine. London is good year round, and festive in December, while Scotland is at its best from May to September.
How long should I spend in United Kingdom?
5 to 10 nights is a good length for a first visit. Tell me what you enjoy and I'll shape the route around it.
Which luxury hotels do you recommend in United Kingdom?
My picks are Claridge's (London), The Peninsula London, Rosewood London and Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London. Each hotel page has my write-up, what guests say and the benefits I can add.
Do I need a visa for United Kingdom?
Visitors from visa-free countries, including Singapore, the US and Australia, need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before they travel. It costs £20, lasts two years or until your passport expires, and allows stays of up to six months each visit. Apply on the official GOV.UK site or app.
Updated November 2026
More ways to experience United Kingdom
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Restored 1920s carriages between Paris and Venice, with special routes across Europe each year.
Explore Day trainBritish Pullman
Belmond's vintage day train from London, for long lunches, dinners and celebrations.
Explore Overnight trainBritannic Explorer
The first luxury sleeper train in England and Wales, with journeys to Cornwall, the Lake District and Wales.
ExploreI choose the London neighbourhood to match your plans, book the shows, teas and tables that sell out, then add the countryside or Scotland by train.
- Benefits arranged before you arrive.
- One point of contact from start to finish.
- Hotels matched to how you travel.