How specifically can I benefit from travel insurance for a UK holiday?

A staycation in the UK doesn’t necessarily mean you can go without travel insurance. Policies can still provide you with a valuable safety net should the unexpected happen. To find out how cover could save you from losing out financially, we take a closer look at travel insurance for UK holidays.

What does travel insurance for UK holidays include?

The biggest difference is that in the UK, you won’t need cover for medical treatment as it’s provided by the NHS. However, travel insurance for the UK can cover the cost to moving you to a hospital closer to home if you become ill while you’re on holiday.

Otherwise, UK travel insurance is similar to other European and worldwide policies and should cover you for:

Cancellation and curtailment

If your holiday is cancelled or cut short for reasons out of your control, your policy should compensate you. As with other travel insurance policies, you’ll need to be aware of what counts as a reason for cancellation—generally this includes illness, injury or bereavement. Simply changing your mind wouldn’t be considered a valid reason for cancelling or cutting short your trip.

Lost, stolen or damaged items

If you have home insurance, some policies will cover personal possessions that you carry with you (for instance, jewellery or your phone) but it’s unlikely to cover anything else you might take on holiday. For example, if a suitcase and its contents were stolen.

Travel insurance for your UK trip should cover the items you take on holiday up to an agreed amount.

Public liability and legal expenses

Public liability covers costs if someone blames you for injury or damage to their property, for example, if someone tripped over your suitcase and hurt themselves badly. Legal expenses can also help cover costs if you decide to take someone to court.

What extra features can I add to my staycation travel insurance?

Travel insurance is typically only designed to cover you for usual holiday activities, for instance, swimming, snorkelling and sightseeing. For lots of us, this is perfectly adequate but if you’re planning on doing anything a little bit more adventurous, it’s crucial that your policy reflects this.

For example, if you’re keen to kayak or have a go at white water rafting, climbing or caving, tell your insurer. They’ll be able to include adventure sports or water sports cover as part of your travel insurance policy. If your insurance doesn’t reflect your activities, your policy won’t be valid and you won’t be able to make a claim.

Does travel insurance for UK holidays cover Covid?

Some policies do provide cover if you need to cancel or cut short your holiday because of Covid-19. That said, it’s important to check what your policy says, as terms will vary and not all insurers will include this.

Does UK travel insurance come with conditions?

Yes, most UK travel insurance policies will set out strict guidelines about what counts as a holiday. Again, it’s important to check what your contract says but your holiday will usually need to be:

It’s worth bearing in mind that UK travel insurance doesn’t normally cover you if you’re staying with friends or family.

Does UK travel insurance cover the Channel Islands?

The Channel Islands are not part of the UK (they are Crown Dependencies) and their health service is not part of the NHS.

The good news is that the government has agreed that UK residents can access emergency treatment for free within the Bailiwick of Guernsey (which covers Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm). To get the care you need, it’s recommended that you take your global health insurance card (GHIC) with you.

If you’re visiting Jersey, there are different arrangements. Jersey has a limited healthcare agreement with the UK so while emergency care is free, anything you need after that is not. Their visitor information website strongly advises that you have travel insurance as non-emergency treatment and repatriation could set you back around £5,000.

How much does UK travel insurance cost?

Travel insurance for a UK holiday will set you back around £5 if you’re travelling or £10 if you’re a couple. However, premiums will vary depending on your own circumstances which is why it’s always worth comparing quotes.

To work out your premium, insurers will consider:

Is it better to buy single trip or annual travel insurance?

If you’re planning to take more than one holiday in a year, annual travel insurance can represent better value for money.

Our own research found no difference in price between a single or annual policy for Europe (both costing £10.90 for a solo traveller for ten nights). There was also minimal difference in the cost of a single or annual policy for worldwide travel (£28.70 and £29.90 respectively).

It’s also worth knowing that if you buy an annual policy for Europe or worldwide travel, it may already include cover for the UK. So, if you already have an annual policy, it’s worth checking what it covers before you end up buying insurance you already have.

Do I need insurance for UK holidays?

Thanks to the NHS, you won’t need medical cover for a staycation. However, if you are taken ill or need a hospital stay, UK travel insurance can help cover the cost of moving you to a hospital closer to home.

Plus, don’t forget that insurance for a UK holiday can also compensate you for a range of other issues such as cancellation or stolen luggage. With that in mind, UK travel insurance can be an inexpensive but valuable precaution should something go wrong.

To see how much UK travel insurance might set you back for your staycation, simply fill in our quote form. In just a few minutes, you’ll be able to compare a range of quotes that can give you peace of mind and reassurance to enjoy a stress-free holiday.