Arriving in the UK
Find useful information to help you plan your arrival in Â鶹´«Ã½
Passport Control
When you disembark from the plane follow the signs to Passport Control. To avoid delays, please:
- remove your passport from its cover and have it open at the photo page
- take off any hats, headphones and sunglasses
- put mobile phones or tablets away when it’s time to see an officer
- stay together when travelling as a family.
Hopefully you will have all your travel documents (and any documents regarding your visit to the UK) in your hand luggage for easy access.
Use the eGates for quicker entry
You might be able to use an automated e-Passport gate instead of having your passport checked by a Border Force officer.
You can normally use eGates if you:
- have a biometric symbol on the cover of your passport
- are aged 10+ (10 to 17 year olds must be accompanied by an adult)
are either:
- a British citizen
- a national of an EU country, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the USA
- a member of the Registered Traveller Service
Those travelling with ID cards cannot use the eGates.
Getting your passport stamped by a Border Force officer
Check GOV.UK's to see if you need to get your passport stamped on entry.
EU/EEA arrivals: Bring your passport rather than an ID card
If you are an , you may find it faster to use your passport rather than your EEA national identity card at the UK border.
This is because:
- passports are faster for our Border Force officers to process
- you can use your EU passport at our eGates
You cannot use an EU, EEA or Swiss national ID card to enter the UK unless you:
- have settled or pre-settled status under the , or Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man’s settlement schemes
- have an , or the equivalent from Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man
- have a
- are an
- are a Swiss national and have a
In these cases, you can continue to use your national ID card to enter the UK until at least 31 December 2025.
Know what you can or can’t bring into the UK
There are on bringing some food products such as fish, eggs and honey, some fruits and vegetables as well as live plants, traditional medicines or products of animal origins.
If you need to bring medicine with you to the UK, you need to prove your medicine is prescribed to you if:
- it contains a ‘controlled drug’
- you have it on you when you’re entering the UK
Check the Gov.UK webpage to find out what you need to do:
When you register at a Doctors Surgery in Â鶹´«Ã½, you will be able to discuss your medication requirements.
Taking : you must declare cash of £10,000 or more to UK customs.
Your final part of the journey to Â鶹´«Ã½
Travelling from your port of arrival to Â鶹´«Ã½
If you have booked a seat on one of
University coaches
leaving from Heathrow Airport, make your way to Terminal 2. You will be emailed more instructions before the date. These coaches only run in September (usually during international student welcome week).
If you are making your own way to Â鶹´«Ã½, you can visit the information desk at the airport for advice and up-to-date information on how to get to Â鶹´«Ã½. Generally, journey by coach is longer than the train but it costs less money.
Coaches
Coaches from Heathrow and Gatwick
and services run from Heathrow and Gatwick airports to Â鶹´«Ã½ approximately every two hours.
Coaches from Bristol and Exeter
and services run from Bristol and Exeter to Â鶹´«Ã½. The coach journey from Bristol takes approximately three hours. The coach journey from Exeter takes approximately one hour.
Trains
Trains to Â鶹´«Ã½ can be booked online via .
Trains from Heathrow
You will need to catch the to Paddington station in London, which takes 15 minutes and runs every 15 minutes. From here, you can then catch the train to Â鶹´«Ã½. The train journey from London Paddington to Â鶹´«Ã½ takes three to four hours.
Trains from Gatwick
You can catch the train to Reading station, where you'll join the train to Â鶹´«Ã½. These services are approximately hourly.
You can catch the train to Reading station, where you'll join the train to Â鶹´«Ã½. These services are approximately hourly.
Trains from Bristol
You will first need to catch the service which connects you to Bristol Temple Meads station, with services approximately every ten minutes during peak times. There are direct trains running every hour during the daytime between Bristol Temple Meads and Â鶹´«Ã½, which take around two hours.
You will first need to catch the service which connects you to Bristol Temple Meads station, with services approximately every ten minutes during peak times. There are direct trains running every hour during the daytime between Bristol Temple Meads and Â鶹´«Ã½, which take around two hours.
Trains from Exeter
You will first need to take a taxi or bus to Exeter St Davids train station. There are direct trains running every hour during the daytime between Exeter St Davids and Â鶹´«Ã½, which take around one hour.
You will first need to take a taxi or bus to Exeter St Davids train station. There are direct trains running every hour during the daytime between Exeter St Davids and Â鶹´«Ã½, which take around one hour.
Arriving at Â鶹´«Ã½
Arriving at the coach station:
Â鶹´«Ã½ Coach Station is in the city centre and about ten minutes’ walk from campus.
Arriving at the train station:
Â鶹´«Ã½ Railway Station is just five minutes’ walk from campus.
Arriving at the seaport of Â鶹´«Ã½:
The ferry port is about 30 minutes’ walk from campus.
Â鶹´«Ã½ Coach Station is in the city centre and about ten minutes’ walk from campus.
Arriving at the train station:
Â鶹´«Ã½ Railway Station is just five minutes’ walk from campus.
Arriving at the seaport of Â鶹´«Ã½:
The ferry port is about 30 minutes’ walk from campus.
Getting a taxi to the University or to your accommodation
If you have lots of luggage, it may be easier to get a taxi or an Uber. A taxi rank is available at each station/port entrance and should not cost more than £10. You can queue up and wait for a taxi or, alternatively, you can call a taxi company in advance or arrange an Uber. Most taxi firms accept cash or debit/credit card.
What to expect if you are travelling through a seaport
For people in vehicles, please have your windows open and any curtains drawn so we can see into your vehicle.
You will need to show your passport and travel documents when requested.
If you are travelling by bike or motorcycle, please remove your helmet, including open-faced helmets.
If the Border Force officer can’t identify you or your passengers, this will delay your journey.