Travel Insurance for the UK

UK travel insurance

After a year of coronavirus travel restrictions, more and more people are looking at staycations and taking a break here in the UK.

In fact, in a recent survey^, 36% of our customers said that they will be interested in a UK staycation, once restrictions were lifted. And with all the wonderful sights and scenes the UK has to offer - why not!

Whilst travel insurance isn’t necessarily the first thing you think of when staying in the UK, there are plenty of reasons it should still be part of planning your holiday.

Why do I need travel insurance for UK holidays?

Be it a two-week holiday to the Cornish coast or just a city break to Edinburgh, travel insurance will provide that safety blanket for you, should things not go the way you planned it.

A lot of time and money goes into any holiday, whether it’s abroad or not, so it’s always important to make sure you are covered should things go wrong. Be it a loss of your personal belongings, or a last-minute cancellation of accommodation.

Above all, it’s peace of mind so that you can enjoy your holiday as you should. Travel insurance for the UK is therefore something you should consider if you’re planning a domestic trip – however big or small.

What does UK travel insurance cover?

A standard UK only travel insurance policy is likely to cover you for loss of belongings, medical expenses, personal accident, and cancellation to name just a few benefits.

If you were to miss an internal flight, or a ferry, or even a train due to circumstances beyond your control – you’d be more than entitled to put forward a claim if you have specialist UK travel cover on your side.

Again, if the coach company you travel with cancels on you on the last minute, or is delayed for example – you’ll be glad to have taken out this type of policy.

How does COVID-19 affect UK travel insurance?

Like any trips abroad, COVID-19 is going to have an impact on your travel insurance cover.

As COVID-19 is a known event, most travel insurance providers will now exclude anything related to the virus from most areas of your policy.

As an example, if you've booked a holiday in the UK but are unable to go due to the government lockdown rules, then it is unlikely that you will be covered for cancelling your trip - as this would be considered an impact of the virus.

However, there are some policies that can offer you more protection, and in some circumstances, cancellation due to COVID-19, such as if you contract COVID-19 and cannot travel, or you need to self-isolate at the time of your trip. We'll let you know which policies can offer an enhanced level of cover when you get a quote.

You can also find out more information by reading our COVID-19 guide.

What if my UK accommodation or flights are cancelled due to COVID-19?

Holidays cottages and hotels will differ from flights and package holidays as it depends on the terms and conditions in your booking contract as to whether you’re able to get a refund. You should consult your contract and then your insurance provider to check whether you are entitled to any compensation.

However, if you’ve booked a package holiday then you are more likely to be able to claim for any losses. Again it’s recommended you check with the travel agent or operator first and then your insurance provider.

If you are taking an internal flight or booked a package holiday that has been affected by COVID-19 then you may be ATOL protected.

Make sure that the travel company supplies you with an ATOL certificate when you book, and this will provide you with extra protection should the company you’ve booked with cease trading.

Do I need travel insurance for the Isle of Man?

Simply put yes, but remember that Isle of Man holidays are not covered under specialist UK travel insurance policies.

Why? Because the Isle of Man isn’t actually part of the UK. The Isle of Man has its own separate healthcare system, so should you need to be flown back to the UK in the event of a medical emergency, you could end up paying for it yourself if you don’t have the right medical insurance.

So, when searching for travel insurance quotes, it’s important to say that you’re travelling to the Isle of Man – whether that’s a separate trip, or as part of a wider holiday in the UK.

Do I need travel insurance for the Channel Islands?

Again, you’d be forgiven for thinking the Channel Islands such as Jersey and Guernsey are part of the UK. But they are not part of the UK and therefore won’t be covered under a standard UK only policy.

All you need to do is declare specifically which islands you intend to visit before searching to make sure you get the most suitable cover.

Finding the best travel insurance for UK holidays

Finding insurance specifically for UK holidays is easy. All you need to do is select the UK (and any other relevant places) as your destination of travel to find quotes.

Just make sure you let your insurance provider know about any pre-existing medical conditions too.