Planning a Trip to the London in 2025? Don’t Miss This New Requirement

Since I’ve been going to London every month for more than seven years, I’m always looking forward to going back and seeing how the city’s sights and scenes change over time. My most recent trip was last month, in 2025, and I learned about a new rule for tourists that you should know about if you want to go there soon. Let’s read below about “Planning a Trip to the London in 2025? Don’t Miss This New Requirement”.

Planning a Trip to the London in 2025? Don’t Miss This New Requirement

New Tourist Visa Requirement In 2025

The UK government made a new rule in 2025 that all visitors from outside the EU had to apply for an electronic travel visa before they could enter the country. This is true even if you are only staying for less than 6 months for business or pleasure.

The visa has to be filled out on the official website. You have to upload your passport, travel information, and answer some basic questions about yourself. It costs about $100 USD per person. As long as you have a valid passport and no criminal record, you should be approved right away. 

How long did it take me to apply?

This visa lets you go on many trips over many years. This means that you only need to apply and pay the fee once, even if you visit London often. Just make sure that your passport is still valid for all of your planned trips.

How to Fill Out

It is simple to apply for an electronic visa. To make an account, just go to the official website. Name, passport number, travel dates, and address are some of the things you’ll need to give.

There are steps on the site to help you upload a digital photo and scans of the pages in your passport. You’ll also have to answer some basic questions about why you’re there, where you’ve been, and any crimes you’ve been involved with.

As long as you give correct information, you will almost certainly be approved. You’ll get an email with a visa document that lets you enter within minutes. Print it out or save it to your phone so you can show it to airport staff when you get there.

With the visa, you can also use faster e-gates and automatic passport checks when you get there, which speeds up the entry process even more. Just make sure you have your valid passport and your printed or digital visa on hand.

Top Tips For Planning a Trip to London

Best Advice From what I’ve learned, here are some of the best ways to apply for a visa without any problems:

• Apply at least two to three weeks ahead of time to give yourself time for any questions or problems. Do not wait until the last minute!
• Make sure that your passport is still valid at least six months after you plan to leave the UK.
• Please make sure that all of your information on your passport is correct. Any mistakes could cause delays.
• To show when you get there, print out at least one copy of the visa. To be safe, make a digital copy.
• Keep your application ID number safe in case you need to get in touch with support.
• Check the box that says “junk email.” Emails that ask for permission are sometimes marked as spam.
• If you need help quickly, you can pay extra for faster service.
• If you need to change any information about your trip after you’ve been approved, you can contact support to have your visa changed.

With the new visa rule, it’s more important than ever for people who want to visit London to plan ahead. You should be fine, though, if you apply early and check your information twice. Most of the time, the approval process is very quick and easy.

How Will This Change Your London Experience?

So how will traveling to London be different if you need a visa? In some ways, not at all. There are still a lot of interesting and fun cultural things to see and do in the city itself. Even though I go back often, I still feel the same magic and energy when I do.

But the new visa process means you have to plan ahead one more time. Setting aside 15 to 20 minutes is enough time to send in your application online. If you run into any problems, it could take longer. You’ll also have to pay an extra $100 USD for each person. That’s not a small thing for a family of four.

On the plus side, getting into the airport is a lot easier when you have a valid visa. I’ve always been scared of the lines for immigration and customs. You can quickly get through the automated e-gates, though, if you have a visa.

The visa also makes it easy to enter and leave the UK for several years. So people who come often only need to apply once for future trips. Just remember to change the information in your passport if it changes.

The new rule makes things more complicated, but as a travel blogger, I don’t think it takes away from the magic of London. One of my favorite cities to explore and take pictures is still this one. It has so much history, culture, arts, and energy. For the visa, you just need to plan ahead a little more.

Top Things To Do in London in 2025

Even though there are new rules about visas, London is still a great place to visit, and I will continue to recommend it after 2025. Here are the best things I did in London the last time I was there that you can add to your own plans:

The New Globe Theater Shakespeare’s iconic Globe

The theater has been completely redone, with a beautiful new look, interactive displays, and amazing performances. It’s something you have to see. Get to the theater early to take a look around before the show.

A Night View of the London Eye Riding this famous ferris wheel is a classic thing to do in London. But I really think you should do it at night, when the city lights are shining brightly. To add to the atmosphere, book the “Champagne Experience” after hours. Abbey Road + The Beatles Story

Abbey Road + The Beatles Story 

When you go to London, you have to see the famous Abbey Road crossing that was on the cover of the Beatles album. Then go to The Beatles Story museum to learn about the band’s history. Relive these music legends’ best years in the 1960s.

Kew Gardens Light Trail 

The beautiful Kew Gardens have a magical light trail that runs after dark. Thousands of colorful lights light up the gardens. Plan ahead because it’s only open some evenings.

The British Museum and New Displays One of the best museums in London seems to be always changing its displays and layout. The new Korean art wing and the interesting Ancient Egypt collection are not to be missed.

Borough Market Food Tour 

The famous food market in London is busier than ever, and there are new vendors as well as old ones. When you go on a walking tour, you can try a huge range of foods and flavors from around the world.

New Skyline Views 

The new observation decks at Spire London and the View at The Shard offer stunning new views of the cityscape. You can see across the city for miles on clear days.

Conclusion

I’m still amazed at how London changes every year, even though I’ve been there a lot in the last seven years. There are always more museums, shows, restaurants, neighborhoods, skyscrapers, and other things opening up. Classics like Big Ben will always be there, but London is always changing.

That’s what makes it such a great place to visit around the world. You could go back many times and still find new things. Even though the new visa rule makes it a little harder to visit one of the world’s most exciting cities, it’s still worth it.

Make sure you apply for your electronic visa early, and give it at least two to three weeks to process. You should make sure that all of your information on your passport is correct. And don’t forget to print out a copy, either on your computer or on paper, to get through the airport faster.

Then get ready for the most exciting trip of your life to London! It’s still on the bucket lists of travelers from all over the world because it has so many things to do, such as famous landmarks, cutting-edge culture, world-class food, and endless activities.