From 4 July the travel advisory against all but essential travel has changed and from 10 July you're no longer required to self-isolate when returning from more than 50 countries. The quarantine exemption list applies to the whole of the UK. The only exception is Scotland, where arrivals from Spain and Serbia still have to self-isolate. It's important to stress that not all countries deemed safe by the UK government are also ready to welcome UK travellers just yet. Make sure to check FCO advice carefully before booking and be mindful that it can change rapidly.
Despite how excited we might be about travel returning, it's worth noting that these won't be the type of holidays you're used to, from the use of face masks and observing social distancing to new swimming pool and buffet rules in hotels. Do note that many attractions, including museums remain closed in several countries. The pandemic is also an extremely fluid situation so standard travel insurance will be valid to selected countries, but insurers have been reluctant to include COVID-19 cover. However the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) remains valid until 31 December 2020.
Many hotels, B&Bs and hostels opened from 4 July, but expect no buffet service and no minibar. Other measures may include bags placed in rooms to collect towels, while room service will be left outside your door with disposable cutlery and condiments. On-site facilities, like spas can reopen, but with new rules that could include no facial treatments, no refreshments and temperature checks. Campsites and caravan parks have reopened too.
Unsurprisingly, Cornwall and Devon have both seen a huge spike in bookings so you'll want to set your sights on a different coastal county like Kent or destinations further afield, like the Isles of Scilly. The Great West Way comes highly recommended for a road trip, Bradford on Avon is a lovely alternative to busy Bath and further north both North Norfolk and Northumberland offer wild coastal escapes.
Currently, travel to Scotland is allowed and the Scottish government has announced 15 July as the reopening date for the larger tourism and hospitality industry, including hotels, museums and restaurants. Self-contained accommodations as well as caravan parks have already been allowed to open from 3 July and while shared facilities on those sites will open from 15 July, swimming pools are likely to stay closed until the end of the month.
There are many strikingly beautiful corners to explore in Scotland crowd-free. Avoid the usual city break suspects of Edinburgh and Glasgow and head north to Inverness instead. Aberdeenshire in the east offers underrated coastal escapes while both Isle of Raasay and Isle of Harris are beautiful options. Skye, although popular is bigger than you think with enough sights to fill a week. You'll find more Scotland holiday ideas for 2020 here.
They "stay local" advice was scrapped on 6 July and outdoor visitor attractions have been allowed to reopen. As of 13 July pubs and restaurants as well as indoor attractions have reopened and self-contained accommodation, like cottages can now be booked. It's expected that other types of shared accommodation, like campsites could reopen from 25 July.
There are many destinations worth adding to your list. From coastal charmer Aberystwyth to Britain's smallest city St Davids, Wales is a great alternative. For a more remote holiday, you might want to consider all or part of Wales Coastal Path while the remote Holy Island is especially great in late summer and early autumn. Take a look at 30 reasons to love Wales.
Self-contained accommodations have been open in Northern Ireland since 26 June and hotels, restaurants, pubs and bars followed from 3 July. Visitor attractions were also allowed to open from the same date, but on-site hotel facilities like spas remain closed. Both air and ferry routes are open. (Meanwhile, the Republic of Ireland still has a self-isolation rule in place, which will be reviewed on 20 July.)
Arrivals from various countries, including the UK, are no longer asked to self-isolate. Face masks are compulsory on public transport and in taxis and private hire vehicles without a plexiglass screen. Direct flights to at least nine cities are available from London, Manchester, Edinburgh and more, and Eurostar is fully operational as is the Eurotunnel.
Luckily France has many enticing cities and regions to visit without the crowds of Paris or Côte d'Azur. City break options include Toulouse, the capital of France's southern Occitanie region, while Nantes is a city perfectly positioned to discover the enchanting Loire Valley. For a more relaxed holiday with a distinct Mediterranean feel try Corsica or recharge during a long weekend on the French Atlantic coast.
Germany is excellent for scenic road trips following in the footsteps of Brothers Grimm, along the River Rhine from Frankfurt to Rothenburg or through some of Germany's most picturesque towns and villages as well as a fair few surprising sights. City break options besides Berlin include laid-back Leipzig, Munich or Cologne.
UK travellers are exempt from the requirement to self-isolate as long as you've not travelled outside the UK in the 14 days prior to your arrival in Italy. When in Italy, social distancing of one metre must be observed and using masks remains mandatory in enclosed public spaces (all public spaces in Lombardy and Piedmont). Travel between regions is allowed and most attractions have been allowed to open to. Direct flights to at least 11 cities are available from London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol and more.
You'll do well by picking quieter southern Italian escapes in regions like Puglia, Calabria and Basilicata where you'll find tiny but stunning Matera. Discover Italy's Adriatic coast from Ravenna or dive head-first in Tuscany's scenic Serchio Valley. Further north, Parma and Genoa offer fascinating city break options while Brescia is a quieter alternative to more crowded spots on the coast of Lake Garda.
British passport holders can enter, however, travellers from the UK who do not have a UK, EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country passport will not be allowed through (with a few exceptions). Social distancing of 1.5 metres must be observed and face masks are compulsory on public transport. Direct flights are available from London, Manchester, Newcastle and more.
Switzerland is a compact country with cities well-suited for city breaks, city-hopping holidays or combining picturesque hikes and drives with camping and guest houses. The country's largest city Zürich is the obvious choice, but take a punt at Lausanne, Basel or capital Bern and you won't be left disappointed. The Swiss Alps are stunningly beautiful in summer while a three-day driving tour via Bern, Lake Lucern and Lauterbrunnen Valley will show off some of the country's most scenic spots.
If you think you're not hardy enough for Iceland's harsh winters, summer is an equally fascinating season to visit this enchanting country. In case you happen to hang around Reykjavík for a bit after arriving, don't miss its up-and-coming Grandi harbour district. Travel beyond the Golden Circle and you'll have a chance to discover colourful and historic fishing villages like Húsavík, Iceland's second city Akureyri and totally crowd-free corners of the island.
All UK and EU nationals are allowed in the Netherlands without restrictions. You must fill in a health screening form before travelling to be checked upon arrival. It can also be checked at the departure airport or onboard the aircraft so you must have it ready. Public transport in the country should only be used for essential travel and face masks are required on public transport, ferries and in Schiphol, Eindhoven and Rotterdam Airports. Direct flights are available from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Newcastle.
Amsterdam might seem like an attractive option as you can get there via Eurostar, however, it's one of Europe's most popular city break destinations so you'll probably want to avoid it for now. Change trains in Amsterdam Centraal and discover Rotterdam, nearby Utrecht or the canal-ringed Delft. The city of Gouda and Netherlands' cheese trail is unmissable for foodies and while the country's tulip trail might be at its best in spring, there's still plenty to see.
Belgium has reopened its borders to travellers from the UK and the EU as well as other nations like Switzerland and Norway. However, Belgium is operating a traffic light system. Leicester is currently 'red' and those arriving from the city will need to quarantine for 14 days on arrival. Travellers entering from ‘orange’ regions including The Midlands, North East England, Yorkshire, Northern Ireland and North Wales are asked to be vigilant. Rules of social distancing must be observed at all times and wearing of masks is mandatory on public transport and in other public locations where it's impossible to socially distance. There are direct flights to Brussels from London, Manchester and Edinburgh, and Eurostar offers a direct service to Brussels with further connections to Bruges, Antwerp and Ghent.
As travel is only slowly starting to return, this could be a good time for a weekend trip to Bruges, an enchanting canal city that's usually rammed with tourists. Other city break options apart from Brussels, include pocket-sized Antwerp and medieval Ghent with its imposing 10th-century castle and Romanesque cathedral.
Copenhagen is an obvious choice, so if you pick the Danish capital for your post-lockdown break, be mindful that others might have too. If you're set on a city break, why not go to cool Aarhus instead or use the six-night minimum to explore Zealand – a Danish region home to Copenhagen, Kronborg Castle, fossil cliffs and dreamy beaches. Remote Faroe Islands also offer great possibilities for a wildlife-orientated break.
All passengers of all nationalities are now permitted entry to Turkey if they meet the usual Turkish immigration rules. All arrivals will be subject to medical screening, including temperature checks. You'll also need to complete a passenger locator before arrival – details will be provided by your airline. Face masks are obligatory in most public places throughout Turkey. The coronavirus advice is specific to each province so do check the FCO website before travelling. There are direct flights from London, Manchester, Edinburgh and more.
Your safest bet right now is skipping a city break in busy Istanbul and opting for a package holiday to Antalya instead, as travel options within the country are rather limited. Turkey's tourism ministry is also granting certificates to resorts, hotels, restaurants, transport firms and other facilities that meet a high level of health and hygiene requirements, meaning you can check the safety measures of your hotel or resort before booking.
Dubrovnik is the obvious Croatian destination of choice, especially at this time of year, however, it's also extremely busy so you'll have to look elsewhere to enjoy a quieter and calmer getaway. Excellent city breaks include Zadar and Rovinj on the Istrian Peninsula. The latter is also a launchpad to many sleepy hilltop towns within the region. For the ultimate remote break head for Mljet, a much quieter alternative to popular Hvar.
Malta has now reopened its airport and arrivals from the UK are exempt from the requirement to self-isolate. There will be temperature checks on arrival and departure and those with a high temperature will be required to undergo a swab test. Face masks must be worn on public transport, social distancing is strongly encouraged and museums, tourist sites, restaurants and bars have all opened, but with reduced capacity. Direct flights to Malta's capital Valletta are available from London, Manchester, Glasgow and more.
If you're worried that Valletta might be a bit too busy for you to feel relaxed enough, Malta is brilliantly suited to a road trip around the main island. From Sliema and St Julians to the breathtakingly beautiful fishing village Marsaxlokk, there are plenty of stops to add to your itinerary. For the ultimate isolation, plan a holiday to Gozo – blessed with incredible natural beauty, it's one of the 21 islands that make up the Maltese archipelago.
Greece has reopened its borders to travellers from the UK so you won't be asked to self-isolate, however, an online Passenger Locator Form (PLF) will have to be completed at least 48 hours before your arrival. You'll then receive a QR code that you'll need to show to the authorities upon arrival. You must wear a face mask at all times on the plane or ferry travelling to Greece and while at the airport. Travelling within Greece and its islands is permitted. Direct flights are now available from London, Manchester, Leeds and more.
While big-hitters like Crete, Corfu, Santorini and Mykonos are bound to be buzzing with tourists, there are plenty of other gorgeous islands to discover. Sifnos, part of the Cyclades chain (same as aforementioned Santorini and Mykonos, but a lot quieter), Kefalonia and other lesser-known islands, like Lefkada and Kythos are great options – here's how to plan a Greek island-hopping holiday. If you're absolutely bursting for a city break, swap Athens for Thessaloniki.
At the moment the US is off the travel corridors list as is Sweden and Morocco, meaning there's no easing of the quarantine rules. And while Canada, New Zealand and Australia are on the list, the borders of those countries remain closed and entry is limited to citizens only and in case of essential travel.
Here's what the airport experience will look like now we can travel again