Travelling to the UK from Spain by road

With complications in traveling by air and closures of borders, many people have found it difficult to not be able to travel at all from Spain to the United Kingdom. Due to travel restrictions, you should check the UK Visa from Spain before planning the trip. However, since nobody can stop travellers, the question arises, “Can people travel from Spain to the UK by road?” Well, there are a lot of things to take care of when you plan to do so, including certain documentation, routes, time, distances, and much more. 

Whether you are planning to travel to the UK with your friends, family, partner, or solo, there are certain things you need to keep in mind before leaving for the road to the UK. This is why we are here to help you. In this article, we will be sharing all the necessary details with you concerning your road trip from Spain to the UK. After reading this article, you will be entirely prepared to plan the itinerary and leave for the vacation. So without delaying any further, let us get started.

Can you drive from Spain to the UK?

Even after the coronavirus restrictions, you can travel to the UK from Spain by road because Spain ended the alarm on the 9th of this month. However, you will still have to go through the bureaucracy, form-filling, testing, and quarantine. It is crucial to take into consideration all these aspects prior to making the decision of travelling between the two nations since all these imply additional expenses as well. 

If you are thinking about the approximate time it will take or the amount of distance you will have to cover on your journey, well, it varies. It can take as much as 24 hours to cover the distance of 1318 miles if you travel from Bilbao to Belfast. However, if you are traveling from Bilbao to London, you will have to cover just 857 miles, which will take nearly 15 hours. 

Driving from Spain to the UK

When you drive from Spain to the UK, you will have to follow three different kinds of restrictions and rules – those of the UK, France, and Spain. These are explained properly below based on the present requirements of each nation.

• Departure from Spain 

If you wish to travel to the UK from Spain by road then you are fortunate because the State of Alarm of Spain was removed on 9th May, which implies reduced regional border checks while traveling by road. However, it is crucial to plan your route prior since some municipalities continue to have closed borders due to a higher number of COVID positive cases. 

• Entering France

Entering this nation will be easy as well if you have the required documents and tests. Beginning on 3rd May, France has permitted travelers from other European Union nations to enter the country for all kinds of reasons, including family visits and tourism intents. Nonetheless, you must show a negative PCR COVID test report, which is taken within 72 hours of entering the nation. You must also self-certify on a signed affidavit that you do not possess any symptoms associated with the infection. Irrespective of the mode of transport for traveling, this rule is applicable for all visitors aged 11 or above. 

In order to finish your entry to the nation, a certificate is required, which can be downloaded from the French Ministry website. The supporting paperwork must be shown to the higher authorities at border checks. In case you fail to show this certificate and proof of a negative PCR test report, then you will not be allowed to enter the nation, irrespective of the reason for your visit. 

• Entering the United Kingdom 

Unlike other stages of the journey, this one is complicated. The European Union tourists are permitted to enter the United Kingdom beginning from 17th May. however, all EU nations, except Portugal, are on the amber list, which includes France as well. So entering the UK from an amber nation means that you will have to follow the rules associated with the amber list, which include the following:

• Quarantine at the place you are staying or at your home for a period of 10 days. 
• Fill out a passenger locator form.
• Book as well as pay for the COVID-19 travel tests for Day 2 and Day 8, which are taken once you arrive in England. This rule is applicable to all visitors aged more than 4 years.
• Take a COVID-19 test before arriving in the nation. 

All the above-mentioned rules are applicable until France becomes a part of the UK’s green list. If this happens, then you will not be required to be quarantined for 10 days. Moreover, you will have to take the PCR test only on the second day of your arrival in England. Nonetheless, you will still be required to fill out the passenger locator form and take a test prior to your arrival in the nation.