Go on vacation to England. UK: a visa is needed, Schengen is not suitable for Russians

So, you have finally decided to visit the wonderful country of England or other countries of the commonwealth. In this regard, a huge number of questions arise as to what and how to do, and what is just not worth doing. This article is intended for those who want to see all the beauties of England, Scotland or Wales, get acquainted with the historical heritage, or without spending a lot of money.

Let's take a look at what needs to be done to save money in England.

1. Visa

Regardless of whether you are planning your trip on your own or want to go on an organized tour of England through a travel agency, you must apply for an English visa. How can you save money on an English visa, you may ask? Here the recipe is simple, after reading our you can easily apply for a visa YOURSELF,without overpaying several thousand agencies.

Remember, that:

1. The agency does not guarantee a visa and does not provide any advantages.
2. Self-completed documents contain far fewer, if any, errors.
3. Contacting the agency will not exempt you from a personal visit to the British consulate.

2. Type of trip (tour or on your own)

It will be up to you to decide whether it will be an organized tourist tour to England from an agency or an independent trip. The pros and cons of each of the options are obvious, let's take a look at them.

PACKAGE TOUR

You don't need to spend a lot of time to organize

High degree of comfort (transfers, hotels, meals)

Does not require knowledge of English (there is a guide)

Easy cost forecasting

- Higher cost

- Small selection and low degree of freedom

- Imposing additional services

- Time and effort spent on organizing the "crowd"

INDEPENDENT TRIP

Complete freedom of choice and movement and time

Selecting only the services you need

No overpayment to intermediaries and agencies

Savings at every planning stage

- Take time to plan

- Knowledge of English is desirable

If your choice is package tour,then we recommend buying a tour on the Internet search engines - aggregators that offer all tours from all tour operators in Russia and neighboring countries and often give better prices than the tour operators themselves.

3. Insurance

Insurance to the UK is not only needed to obtain a visa, it is also a great way to save money when dealing with any unforeseen situations, such as lost luggage or urgent medical care. This should not be neglected. In order not to overpay for insurance, you need to buy it through the Internet services. The buying process is simple, you need to select a country (in our case, the UK), travel dates and number of people. As a rule, the system offers a choice of several options (tariffs), after reading the description of which you need to choose the optimal one. We recommend comparing insurance prices on several sites.

4. Air travel

Air travel to England or the UK will not be the most expensive item in the budget if you plan it in advance, avoid flights on holidays and weekends.

Everyone knows that it is more profitable to buy tickets in advance. But in order to save money, you need to know when this "in advance" comes exactly for your route. There is no ideal booking time throughout the country or from Russia to England: it all depends on the cities of departure and arrival.

For example, according to the statistics of search portals, regardless of the month of flight, if you buy a ticket 5-6 months before the date of your flight to London, you will save about 40% of the cost of the same ticket a week before departure.

5. Accommodation

Living in England, in London in particular, is one of the most expensive items in any traveler's budget. There are a lot of hotels in London, there are hotels where celebrities stay, hotels-attractions.

RECOMMENDED:

However, our goal is to get the maximum return for the minimum money, we do not need pretentious and just status hotels, we do not need a view of the MI-6 headquarters), we need a simple hotel in London that will allow us to visit all the sights of the capital of England and Great Britain , feel the rhythm of English life and enjoy the atmosphere of history and one of the most interesting countries in the world.

1. We recommend using the service aggregator of all hotel reservation systems HOTELLOOK , it shows the best prices given by this or that booking system for a specific hotel, very often you can see that the vaunted booking is not at all cheaper.
2. After choosing the required city and dates, and searching, you need to set the hotel price per night filter in order to fit into your budget. Do not forget to mark the desired location: star hotels, hostels or regular apartments.
3. After that, you can click on the button and see all the hotels on the map, which greatly simplifies the whole process. You choose a hotel in London (or any other place) according to your parameters and as close as possible to the place you need.
4. Pay attention to the following points: is there free parking at the hotel (if required), the availability of Wi-Fi, whether public transport stops, metro stops are located nearby, whether there are additional surcharges. By the way, what is good about the above-mentioned HOTELLOOK service? which shows the final cost of the booking.

Total for hotels in England:

1. If you are traveling in a small group of 1-2 people, then for you there is nothing more economical than hostels. As a rule, they are located in the best tourist places, close to public transport, hostels are always fun and interesting, you can meet new foreign friends and just have a good time.
2. If there are many of you, several people or a large family, then it is better to choose a private apartment. You must be careful when choosing, since often in this type of accommodation there is no reception or reception desk, all contacts are made directly with the owner, who may not speak your native language. However, you get a full range of services, including a kitchen, washing machine, and other things necessary for a normal life. There is nothing more economical than a pack of oatmeal brought from Russia for an independent breakfast!)))

Surely you are planning a sightseeing tour of London or all of England (Great Britain) for this you need:

You can organize the purchase of excursions in London in advance via the Internet.

Personal professional Russian-speaking guide, transfers. They come to the hotel for you, what could be better and more comfortable? And of course, buying online is the most economical option.

Game designer from Mogilev Yulia Pepler decided to arrange super-rich May events for herself, and with a team of friends set off on a trip to England and Scotland. Stonehenge, Loch Ness, castles from Harry Potter and the Isle of Skye - how to fit it all in one trip - in a first-person story.

Julia Pepler

Preparing for travel

We went on a journey as our student fraternity - almost all the participants in our trip were graduates of one of the Mogilev lyceums. We spend every May in a new place and traditionally call it a “hike”. This year, the choice fell on Scotland, and I could not stand aside.

When we started planning the route, it became clear that the trip would consist of two conventional parts: England and Scotland. According to the plan, we were going to fly from Vilnius to Luton (the airport is located 48 km from London), then rent a minibus and move towards Edinburgh, from where we had planned a flight to Kaunas. This time they decided not to waste time on London itself - everyone has six-month visas, so you can see the capital another time.

It is better to find out everything related to car rental in advance - the conditions of all companies are different, not to mention local laws. For example, it is important that the card with which you will pay the rent is at least Visa classic. Initially, 14 people were going to go on our trip, and we wanted to take a big bus. But it turned out that despite the fact that one of us has international rights and category D, in the UK only a resident of the European Union or the United Kingdom itself with a driving experience of 2 years or more can carry more than 8 people. I had to book 2 minibuses. So we became 16. By the way, renting one 16-seat bus would cost us £ 1100, for one 9-seat bus we paid about £ 1200. You also need to be careful with the insurance - weigh the pros and cons. We chose a slightly more expensive option, and in the end it paid off (we smashed the headlight in the parking lot on the trolley fence).

Our team included the inspirer and organizer of the "hike" - Alexander Machekin, who developed the route. We selected the places that guidebooks and other travelers advised to visit, put everything on a map and laid out an approximate route. Initially, it was clear that our route was “with a margin”: about 30% of the points that we had planned for ourselves had to be sorted on the spot.

Before starting the trip, we all stocked up with waterproof and windproof jackets. It is also advisable to have waterproof pants and trekking boots, although you can do without them - it's just a matter of your comfort. We also had sleeping bags and several tents with us. We have never used the latter. They also took food with them (porridge, tea, kozinaki, noodles and homemade granola) - it helped us out if we did not have time to stop by the store. Most often, we bought in supermarkets (Tesco extra deserved our special love).

Flew

We flew to England on a Wizzair low-cost airline. At the airport, a free shuttle bus picked us up at a special stop to the right of the exit and took us directly to the car rental location. We got two brand new minibuses of the simplest configuration. They had a significant disadvantage - on the road, those who were driving in the rear seats were thrown around the cabin, like on an attraction. We knew that if you rent a car, you must inspect it together with a company employee and ask about everything in detail. Our driver drew attention to the AdBlue level (this is a reagent that is needed for cars running on a diesel engine). An employee of the company told us not to worry - everything is in order with the reagent. But, as you know, this story will still have a sequel.

We bought several SIM cards at the gas station. For £ 10 we got 2 GB of internet and a few dozen included minutes. After activating the SIM card, Sasha immediately went to book accommodation. Everything was done promptly through booking.com, because on airbnb.com you still need to wait for confirmation from the hosts. We booked on the go: we just looked how much more we want to travel until the end of the day - and looked for a hostel or a house nearby. Cards were accepted almost everywhere, cash was needed only on toll roads and markets.

Fabulous cities of middle England

The first stop was Cambridge, where we did not stay long. It is interesting to take a walk here, eat at the street market in the center, and play in a bookstore. The most popular transport for the locals is a bicycle.

And then there is Windsor: pleasant streets, flowering trees and cafes that have probably been here for centuries. Right on the road in front of the current residence of the British monarchs there is a statue of Queen Victoria, and in a small neat park - already Queen Elizabeth II with corgi frolicking around. I do not know how it happened, but we were always close to our "second minibus", although at times we had to go in two cars and separate on the way. You walk, you come to some interesting bar - and Masya gets out of it from our second bus and smiles. The old bar, which is located exactly on the royal alley, has a wonderful bar counter, a lot of tables, books and visitors with dogs. It seems that there are dogs everywhere, and all the establishments are dog-friendly. From the window of the second floor of the bar, cardboard Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are waving to you (the wedding of the century was then on the nose). Behind the bar you can see an incredibly long and photogenic alley. We took a selfie here, and after a couple of weeks I looked in the chronicles as a wedding team with the same royal wedding carriage was driving along this very path. We did not get to Windsor Castle, because everything in Great Britain closes after 17.00. After 18.00 at best.

Our first overnight stay was in Oxford. We rented a two-storey house: it was designed for fewer people, but we initially agreed that the “hike” format meant that someone would sleep in sleeping bags where they could comfortably nestle.

Strawberry cromlech

Of course, we couldn't pass Stonehenge. In advance, we together decided not to waste time on a paid excursion, since we have such a tight schedule. But you better not do as we do. Drive to the tourist center, buy a ticket (£ 18) and take the free shuttle bus to Cromlech. With a ticket, you will be able to get much closer to the stones, but still they are not allowed into the center - they take care.

We stood a little further, but this did not upset us. Tears came to my eyes from an overabundance of emotions. We got out the champagne and strawberries we bought the day before in the supermarket and celebrated this important point of our trip.

The locals know better

Without slowing down the pace, we moved to the village of Bayburi, which every guide referred to as "the most picturesque village in England." All houses here are built of a special stone - shell rock or oolite. Around - a surprisingly harmonious combination of grooming and neglect, which can be said about the whole island. It seems that the locals have some kind of methodological manual, which indicates which bushes should be cut out of intricate figures, and which ones should be left to grow. By the way, we asked a local woman how the name of the village was pronounced correctly, and she insisted on “Bayburi”. But if you look for it on Russian-language resources - write "Biburi" - so you will find more information.

You can get around the village very quickly. A local attraction here is a trout farm. There is also a souvenir and a cafe, where trout is a signature dish. We ordered a fish mix (£ 7.9) cooked in three different ways: baked with a creamy sauce, smoked and a third, which we called “herring under a fur coat” - in some kind of salad with beets. And the ordered tea was brought to us without demand with milk (£ 1.5).

Having looked into the hometown of William Shakespeare, where, according to legend, his father's house was preserved, we moved to the last stop of the day - Birmingham.

Watch your back

Birmingham, sorry for the philosophical reasoning, was intended to balance all this beauty that we experienced during the day. Surely, walking around the city center on a sunny day, we would get a different impression of it. But then, at dusk, we saw continuous industrial buildings, and many, many young people walking. We checked into an anthill hostel with an intricate system of moves, part of the team went to the bar, the second part passed out on clean sheets. In the morning, pulling things out in the foyer, I turned around at Polina's shout from our team - she ran in from the street and stamped her feet yelling “Stole! Stole! They stole everything! " At night our car was opened, and a forgotten purse disappeared from the glove compartment by an evil accident. “I'm being deported! I won't be able to come back here anymore! " She continued. We rushed to inspect the neighborhood in search of an abandoned passport, asked at the reception where the nearest police station is. Polina, gradually coming to her senses, checked her bag - and lo and behold! - She shifted the passport and card. So only cash was stolen. Polina was even somehow delighted (the biggest nightmare - not to get to the UK anymore - was over), said that it was just money and there weren't many of them. It was decided not to write a statement to the police - anyway, the money could not be returned.

"Around - a surprisingly harmonious combination of grooming and neglect, which can be said about the whole island"

Manchester

Here our division into two minibuses played into our hands - we divided into those who are interested in the Old Trafford stadium, where the Manchester United team trains, and those who care about it.

Those who did not go to the stadium were sent for a walk around the city. Manchester turned out to be a very beautiful, lively and modern city. It was lunchtime, so everywhere we met Englishmen in luxurious business suits, with street food in one hand and a leather briefcase in the other. It's amazing how in this cold everything was already in bloom, because when we left, the leaves were still trying to bloom in Belarus, although the temperature was much higher.

Another bus with a full complement visited the museum at the stadium (£ 18) and spent a lot of money on souvenirs: T-shirts, scarves, mugs and caps, and even bed linen with the symbols of your favorite club.

Pudding that is not pudding

We went to York to spend the night. If you want to see the largest medieval stained glass window in the world, be sure to check out York Minster (£ 10), but remember - after 6 pm it will turn into "Closed".

We rented a two-story house again. Not pleased with one bathroom at all, and even combined with a toilet. Only the cookies, carefully left by the owners, lifted the mood. These are the famous Scottish Shortbread - shortbread cookies with a pleasant creamy taste. In York we really wanted to taste the famous Yorkshire pudding. Of course, we had an idea of \u200b\u200bpudding in our heads, and it was strikingly different from what we found in York. Yorkshire pudding is a baked batter mold filled with different sauces and fillings.

Another incident happened in York. When we were unpacking our things, one of the sleeping bags fell out and rolled under the stairs. We discovered this already in another parking lot, when his mistress needed a sleeping bag. Later we contacted the owners and they kindly agreed to send a sleeping bag to Belarus. For their trouble with the mail, the Yorkers asked for another £ 10.

When the ruins shake as much as the preserved castle

In North Yorkshire, on a consolation by the North Sea, we were greeted by Whitby Abbey, or rather what was left of it. They say it has the largest number of ghosts in England. After paying £ 6 for entry and audio guides, we headed towards the abbey. It rained constantly, as if by order, creating a suitable atmosphere. After passing a small pond, we approached the well-preserved ruins, and the audio guide in excellent English said that the first abbess was Hilda, and she also turned all the snakes that pestered the locals into stones. The abbey was destroyed twice: the first time by the Vikings, and the second by German cruisers during the First World War. Through incredibly beautiful arches you can see the sea here. From the ruins one can only guess about the former greatness of the temple. No wonder he impressed Bram Stoker so much. In his book, it is in Whitby that Count Dracula descends from the ship in the form of a creature resembling a dog and runs to the abbey and the adjacent cemetery.

Even magic won't help with the operating mode

Since the trip turned out to be so cinematic, it would be wrong not to stop by Alnwick Castle, which became the prototype of the Hogwarts School of Wizardry. We were in a hurry here to be in time before closing time, checked the schedule - everything is fine, we still have 1.5 hours. But here's what the guidebooks don't report: the castle is open until 17.30, and the ticket office is closed at 15.45. At 16.00 we could no longer buy a ticket, so we walked around the castle from the other side and admired it from afar. On the way, we found a narrow bridge with the figure of a lion. Apparently, the lion is another local landmark - its image with its tail sticking out with an arrow is here on every guidebook or postcard.

A little distressed, we moved to Bumboro Castle, which we obstinately read as Bamburgh. Huge, in the sunset rays, he seemed no less beautiful than Alnick. We went up to it and heard the sound of the sea. Even though it was northern and cold, we ran to him as to an old friend. Here we spent perhaps even more time than in Alnike. Someone took off their shoes and ran into the water to go at least ankle-deep, someone began to walk with delight, and everyone was photographing the rainbow ahead.

"Before, the Scots believed in unicorns (the maid said in a whisper that there is no" before "- everyone still believes)"

Scotland and the Scots

And although officially this is one state, the difference between England and Scotland is very felt. The fences seemed to be taller, and people were friendlier. Instead of plains mountains could be seen, sheep in the fields often came across with black muzzles, and besides cows, we also met musk oxen. Funny cartoon, with long red hair and bangs that obscure the eyes - this is a local pride.

The Scottish friendliness amazed us. In the first store, an elderly woman salesman spoke to us. She asked where we were from and what places we intend to visit. Having familiarized herself with the route, she nodded approvingly, wished a good trip and certainly good weather. After the British, who have never given us even a mean smile, the Scots seemed like angels descended from heaven. We, of course, immediately informed her about this. She smiled and said that yes, the Scots are like that. “We also drink a lot!” - she laughed at last.

Do you believe in unicorns?

In the most important Scottish castle - Stirling - we were offered to buy an Explorer pass (£ 30), which gives the right to visit 77 attractions for free. Of the 5 days that it is valid, you can use free admission only 3 days, but in one day you can visit as many castles as you like. The subscription pays off with interest. We figured that entrance to Stirling alone costs £ 15, and to Edinburgh Castle - £ 18.

In the castle, a cute tour guide maid answered the most burning question at the time: why are unicorns so cool here? It turned out that the unicorn is the official symbol of Scotland! Previously, the Scots believed in unicorns (the maid said in a whisper that there is no "before" - everyone still believes). And it was not for nothing that he was depicted on the coat of arms of Scotland along with three lions (a lion is a symbol of royal power), because only three lions can kill one unicorn

Finding Nessie and the most atmospheric overnight stay

Of course, apart from Stonehenge in terms of must-see places, there was Loch Ness. Now I understand why people so want to see "something" in this troubled water. The wind raises such waves that something supernatural is seen in each black ridge. The view from the coast is picturesque: the lake is divided by two mountains covered with fog.

There is a hotel by the road, on the territory of which the "statue" of Nessie is located. The hotel room is expensive, but here is a photo of the green-skinned beauty - free (and priceless). The area here became completely mountainous, and we moved up the serpentine road to the next night at Camping Pod Heaven. Four-seater barrel houses were waiting for us, with inflatable mattresses, sockets and lamps inside. On the territory there is a convenient toilet and shower, an open sink with hot water, a long common table. There is no kitchen, but there are several barbecues. A small electric kettle can be rented for £ 1. A small group of Poles shared a coal with us - a little drunk, they themselves approached and invited to the grill, and we thanked us in return.

The next day we went to inspect the local species - there is no way to describe them. I don't know what can be more beautiful than mountains and sea.

Another setback: home stretch

It is very difficult to divide the Scottish part of the trip into any “blocks”, because it is sheer ecstasy. It is impossible to detach from the car window, there is no strength to stop taking these blurry photos with a smartphone. It seems that the air will now rupture the lungs, and a current runs through the body after each turn. Overhanging rocks, overgrown with gorse, give way to pastures and mirror lakes.

We arrived at Eilen Donan Castle, who, like many points on our journey, is also a movie hero. The Highlander was filmed here. Purring that very song of the Queen group, we filmed it already for our video report. We returned to the minibus, started moving, and realized that the gears had stopped shifting. Looking sideways at the AdBlue meter, we called the number indicated on the car rental documents. They described the problem, decided on the cause (the ill-fated blue liquid is over!). We were redirected to the technical assistance department. To the technical assistance department, which is closed on weekends! We split up with the second minibus, and the guys didn't have to arrive soon. Two volunteers from us decided to hitchhike to the nearest gas station and buy a reagent. The guys turned around very quickly, and already in the car they said that Chichvarkin had thrown them in a red Audi before refueling. They spoke to him first in English and then in Russian. They were ashamed to take a picture. Is it a joke? We didn't get it, but the guys still don't confess. There is no evidence, only their true eyes.

AdBlue worked, we moved to the Isle of Skye.

Get to another planet without leaving your car

Previously, Skye could only be reached by ferry, but in 1995 a road bridge was opened. We settled down to a snake of cars crawling towards the island. Skye is like another planet. On the left, green grass lines the valley, which suddenly bends and rips apart with piercing black rocks that go into the clouds. On the right is a cliff, the road wobbles around the rocks, and you can see a mountain stream ahead that flows to the edge of the island and breaks down. And so 40 minutes of the trip. Mountain landscapes give way to futuristic stone valleys. We drove into the interior of the island, periodically stopping and going out to look at the natural environment. The further we drove, the more it rained, and everything around was enveloped in fog. There are 2 hiking trails on the island: 3 and 6 kilometers. Be sure to go through one of them. We were afraid of slippery ground and endless rain, and now we regret it.

This day finished us off with the next two stops. Remember the second Harry Potter movie and the Weasley flying car? The scene of the catching train was filmed here on the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Many tourists go up to the observation deck on the right, but you come on the left. Here you can go upstairs, to the railway itself and even higher. It is interesting that if you try in reality to follow the route described by J.K. Rowling, it is here, not far from the viaduct, that the Hogwarts School of Wizardry should hide from people.

And the control shot - the Glencoe Valley, where we were advised to visit by all the Scots we talked to. Here, my artistic skills are not enough to try to convey at least an approximate atmosphere of this place. The mountains, of course, are not as high as in the Himalayas, but no less beautiful.

The biggest "failure"

In Edinburgh we spent the last day of the trip. After the deserted mountain roads, the city crowded with tourists was a little scary and crushing. Be sure to try the Scottish breakfast here (£ 5 average). On the plate there will be scrambled eggs, and potato pancakes, and sausage, and beans in tomato sauce and, of course, haggis (twisted spicy offal). This is a good option to try it, because if you don’t like it, you will still leave full.

"We managed to check the visas, but we literally didn't have enough 5 minutes to return."

We arrived at the airport 5 hours before departure. The rented cars were left in the parking lot nearby, the keys were put into a special box. We repacked our things, weighed everything, checked in our luggage. Passed the control, became at the beginning of the boarding queue. And they didn't fly away. The ticket checker said that he could not let us on board without a visa check, this is an internal Ryanair rule. And where did it have to be done? Downstairs, at the very beginning of the airport. In the next few seconds, we made a big mistake. I had to stop and calmly discuss what to do. But we didn’t stop, we ran. Through the entire airport, with things, not knowing exactly where we need to. At such moments, probably, some capabilities and forces of the organism are activated. We managed to check the visas, but literally 5 minutes were not enough for us to return. Later, rewinding this situation over and over again, we found many solutions. Moreover, at other airports it was important for us to ask what should be done. We found out that the visa-check could have been hand-delivered to us by the same employee who checked the tickets. We could drop things and run without them. The flight could have been delayed, but they did not. Even for the sake of 16 people. Of course, we were upset, confused, tired and devastated. But no one went into hysterics. At the airport, at the same visa-check counter, thirteen of us changed tickets for London - Warsaw (goodbye, ordered and paid minibus in Kaunas). At our own expense we had to buy a ticket to London and find a way to get to Minsk. Miraculously, the right bus route was found directly from Warsaw airport. The money spent on the trip was added another $ 110. The remaining two people flew through Dusseldorf, and one through Vilnius. We were lucky that we had one day off left - May 9th. We spent the next day on the road. We haven't slept for about 35 hours and haven't eaten for a long time. But we were happy that we were moving home.

Photo: Julia Pepler, Christophe Vrankenne, Andrew Ridley, Stijn Hoekstra, Daniel Quarg

Before going to England, you need to do some thorough preparation for an exciting trip. You should take into account not only the climate and the possibility of a little understanding of the language, but also the fact that you are going to an interesting, but at the same time, very conservative country.

What is UK

Great Britain is the United Kingdom, which includes Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. This fabulous country is simply overflowing with traditions that must be followed impeccably. Otherwise, your actions will simply be regarded as disrespectful, or even an insult to all English. Of course, not all locals are so stiff, but still ... you shouldn't tempt fate.

Regardless of the purpose of the trip, you must be well informed about the laws of the country and about your own rights. Well, further preparation for the visit entirely depends on the intentions and tasks.

What types of travel can be, and what visas should be obtained

A visit to England can be motivated by different reasons and pursued by different ideologies. Someone may just love travel, someone goes to England out of curiosity. Someone has a business there, and someone wants to improve their level of knowledge and get a European education. And someone else is destined to create a family there. Accordingly, for each of these reasons, it is necessary to obtain a proper visa option.

Apart from what may be multiple or single, she must fit a certain category... In other words, an English visa can be:

• tourist;
• guest;
• business;
• educational;
• visa for a wife (husband);
• children's;
• transit.

In the case when it comes to tourism, then all preparation begins with the collection of useful information. You need to find out as much as possible about all the attractions and interesting places that you should visit. It is not entirely advisable to count on excursions, as they are expedited. The guide talks quickly and very little. Therefore, it is advisable to purchase a map of the city you are going to. By the way, they are available right in the metro and at the "train stations", in Russian (especially for our compatriots), and completely free of charge.

And even in the event that you are not good at English, the local friendly Englishmen will still come to the rescue. All you need to do is go up to any of them and point your finger at the place where you would like to get, and they will explain how and what to do.

Also, you should know that the cost of visiting attractions is quite high. However, if you cooperate with a group, then such a trip to England will cost you an order of magnitude cheaper.

In the event that you go to England to study, in addition to convenient things, you must correctly collect a package of documents. It depends on the age category of the future applicant and on the training program. But in any case, you should accurately calculate the budget, taking into account the health insurance along with the services.

But then, when your purpose of visiting England is to start a family there with a native resident, then to a greater extent you need to study all the English justice. The situations are different. And, unfortunately, it is not uncommon for our girls and women to marry an Englishman, and after a while the husband took out a loan, the responsibility for which falls on the shoulders of his wife (and it doesn't matter if she is a former wife or a real one). Do you think this will pass you by? God forbid, but you have to be ready for any situation.

In a word, the process of preparing for a trip to England should consist of several stages:

1. Collection of information;
2. Preparation of documents;
3. Obtaining the required visa.

When you travel with a group on a tour, you lose the main thing - orientation in space. When you drive yourself, you always immediately understand whether this is your place or not. Having traveled almost all of Europe on bus tours, now I understand that once again in Paris, M ...

Tourist Guide, Active Holidays, UK Travel Report, London; Great Britain, Edinburgh

I decided to extend the June holidays with an independent week-long trip, which I had long dreamed of - through London to Scotland. I planned the whole trip myself, it turned out unforgettable. Interesting, intense, and in many ways unexpected. I highly recommend visiting the UK. You need to see this country in your life. It is not like the whole of Europe, it is not like any other country in the world, and all its former colonies are also different from it. She is different even in their cities.

I will not describe my every day in detail. I will give only brief instructions on each step of planning your trip. This is the main thing for those who think to decide on such a voyage.

FLIGHTS

To London: I bought the cheapest tickets for June 10 in 2 weeks of AeroSvit airline. The ticket price is 11,500 rubles (round trip). The price is small, but in transit through Kiev with a long stop (for 12 hours). My advice: if a ticket with a connection is less than 6,000 rubles cheaper than a direct flight, and you do not dream of visiting Kiev, Riga or Amsterdam (with additional costs), buy a direct flight. I had to spend the night in Kiev. In one hotel, booked in Boryspil (not far from Kiev airport) called ALTARIS, they didn’t even check in me, supposedly their prices changed, and they cannot accept them according to the documents they had booked from Booking. In general, this hotel, and in general a change in Ukraine, I do not advise anyone. But if the price differs significantly from other airlines, then fly with Ukrainian AeroSvit. In general, their planes are good.

To Edinburgh (capital of Scotland): flights within Britain are cheap. You cannot compare with our flights in Russia. Easyjet's London-Edinburgh-London ticket was purchased from their corporate website for £ 60. The price is not the cheapest as the flight is in the evening. You can fly for 50 pounds if the earliest flight is at 6 am. The airline is quite decent, tickets are given without a seat, you can choose any seat on the plane. Food and luggage are not included in the price, and they are not needed if you fly for only an hour and for a couple of days.

I wrote about obtaining a visa in the last article. Again, I recommend only one thing - to get a visa yourself a month before the trip. It's actually very simple and saves you money.

In London:

i recommend the good hostel Palmers Lodge (Metro Swiss Cottage). Lovely mansion with a beautiful interior, free internet cafe, good breakfast. The price for a bed in a 6-bed female room is 22 pounds per day (1100 rubles). Cheaper in a room with a lot of people of both genders. But I did not dare to go to a crowded hostel. This hostel is very pleasant, there is an opportunity to communicate with people from all over the world, to practice English. I regret that I lived there only for a day, and on the way back from Scotland I moved to a single room in another hotel.

Such a beautiful mansion is occupied by the Palmers Lodge hostel - an excellent hotel designed for travelers, students and their parents.

Hotels in London are very expensive. And finding a single room in the city center is not easy. I managed to find the Holly House hotel near Victoria station for 2500 rubles per day. Luxurious location close to the metro and many attractions. But the hotel is one star! This means not the best service, old furniture, poor breakfast. The hotel employs exclusively Indians in their own casual clothes. For a stopover for a couple of days, I recommend the hotel to those who arrive at Gatwick or Luton airports, because from the express train to the hotel 5 minutes on foot!

There are 1 * hotels on HUGE STREET in central London (rooms from £ 45)

In Edinburgh:

Edinburgh is a city with stunning historic architecture. Be sure to visit Edinburgh. Live in mansion hotels or even castles. I lived in a 7-room mansion not far from the center for 1300 rubles a day (single room!). Edinburgh Thistle Guest House is very small, cute and truly Scottish. Overlooking miniature mansions of past eras, a clean park, next to a bus stop for a 5-minute ride to the city center.

Beautiful view from the window of the micro-room at the Edinburgh Thistle Guest House

TRANSPORT

London has perhaps the most expensive transport in the world. Tourist card for metro and buses for 7 days is 35 pounds (1,750 rubles). It's only for a week! So stock up on double-decker and subway travel. Taxi (black English cab) is a very expensive form of transport, from the airport you will be lucky for at least 80 pounds, and around the city from 10 pounds for a short distance.

Aeroexpress to Gatwick Airport - 18 pounds, express bus to Luton - 17 pounds. This is only one way. In general, the road from the airport and back requires serious investments.

Transport is cheaper in Edinburgh. Taxi from the airport - £ 20. The bus from the airport is 3.5 pounds (180 rubles) - the price is very divine. Buses around the city - 1.4 pounds (75 rubles), a day pass 3.5 pounds (180 rubles). If you know the city, take a travel card for a day, despite the fact that the city is small, you can get lost.

In general, 100 pounds (5000 rubles) per week should be planned for transport.

WHERE TO GO

In London: Westminster underground station with the main attractions around it (Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey), book an afternoon tea ceremony in one of the restaurants at http://www.afternoontea.co.uk/ (from £ 9), walk to Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, main streets (Oxford Street, Bond Street, Baker Street), Soho and Mayfair districts, Camden Town Market, residential areas of Chelsea and Kensington, jog in Royal Hyde Park.

To Edinburgh: Edinburgh Castle (very easy to find, a unique structure on a cliff in the very center of the city), Royal Mile is a tourist street with very narrow unique streets, Princess Street is the most pedestrianized street in Edinburgh with many shops, a whiskey museum and a souvenir shop, itself the city is unique, calm. If you want to live in the 19th century, you will definitely come here!

Traveling abroad for the purpose of travel, employment or study requires nationals of other countries to have an appropriate document, which confirms the legal right to stay abroad. Visa and passport are the main documents that need to be processed by Russians to cross the borders of Great Britain.

There is an opinion about the strictness and increased rigidity of visa controls in relation to Russian applicants by the authorities of the United Kingdom. But you can apply for a visa to travel to the UK on your own by submitting applications at the offices of the Teleperformance Visa Application Center. In 2020, it was this company that took over the management of the UK visa centers in Russia, whose offices are located in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Novosibirsk. Read more about UK Visa Application Centers at Visa4UK.

UK Visa Application

Many Russian citizens go to England for sightseeing in the country, less often for other purposes. Stonehenge alone attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.

But in order to obtain permission to enter the UK, Russian citizens need to apply for a visa on their own or using the services of organizations specialized in this matter. To see the popular sights of London, to plunge into the atmosphere of old England, to study at prestigious universities, you need a visa to enter the UK.

The complexity of the procedure for obtaining a visa for applicants from Russia is somewhat exaggerated. Many citizens of the Russian Federation turn to third-party organizations in an effort to simplify and speed up the process of obtaining permission to cross the border of the United Kingdom. It is not much more difficult and longer to obtain a visa for an adult or a child on your own than applying to specialized organizations. With proper preparation and submission of documents for consideration, there are no particular difficulties in obtaining a visa to the UK.

Visiting Britain on a Schengen visa

Despite the fact that the United Kingdom is a member of the European Union, it is not possible to enter the UK via Schengen. The basis for obtaining permission to cross the state border is the presence of a national British visa. She, in turn, does not provide an opportunity to travel to other EU countries.

For tourists and citizens traveling to the countries of the European Union with a visit to the UK, you need to obtain two visas - Schengen to an EU country and a national British visa.

Types and types of English visas

Depending on the purpose of the trip, Russian nationals can obtain various British visas. The purpose of the visit must be consistent with the valid reason for visiting the UK by foreigners. Types of visas differ in the length of stay of foreign citizens in the United Kingdom and the list of documents required for consideration. Types of British visas:

• • Tourist visa
    Issued to foreigners who come to England to attend exhibitions, concerts, sporting events or to travel around the country. A tourist visa provides Russian citizens with ample time to explore British attractions. With a tourist visa, you can stay in the United Kingdom from six months to a year. At the same time, the document imposes a number of restrictions - you cannot work, study, receive any type of income, marry when visiting the UK on a tourist visa. You can see the sights, relax, travel. For violation of the rules, a foreign citizen can be deported from the country.
  • Visitor visa
    The basis for obtaining such a visa is an invitation from the UK from a private person. By and large, a visitor visa opens up the same opportunities as a tourist visa with a stay in the Kingdom of up to a year. Most often, a visitor visa is issued when you need to travel to England for a long time, and there is an inviting party in the country who is ready to host guests so as not to spend extra money on staying at a hotel or hotel - very expensive. Moreover, the inviting party acts as a guarantor of the return of the guest back to the Russian Federation after the expiration of the document. On a visitor visa, you can go to visit relatives or friends, meet old acquaintances or stay with them for the purpose of travel.
  • Transit visa
    The name itself defines the document as a short-term residence permit in the United Kingdom. Many flights are carried out with transfers, while a person ultimately needs to get not to England, but to another country. So that there is no conflict with the British authorities until the moment you transfer to the desired flight, you should take care of obtaining a transit visa. Nuance: a visa-free regime for a foreign citizen is possible, but only within the international zone of the airport or if you have a Canadian, Australian, Schengen, American or New Zealand visa. If a person plans to leave the international zone for some time while waiting for a flight, a transit visa is required.
  • student visa
    In order to provide quality education in prestigious educational institutions in the UK, some parents send their children to study in England. In this case, you must obtain a student visa. As a rule, the basis for obtaining it is a document from a higher educational institution on the applicant's passing exams and enrolling in a training course. Student visas are of two types: ordinary - issued for a short stay in the country in order to listen to language courses, Tier4 - issued for students for a long period of study, amounting to several years. A visa to Britain allows young people to remain English students for more than one year.
  • Work Visa
    Not all Russian citizens go abroad to see local attractions. Many visa applicants indicate in the “purpose of visit” column - employment. It is assumed that nationals of the Russian Federation wishing to work in the UK have a good education and high qualifications. A work visa is issued on the basis of an invitation from a British employer. A visa allows a Russian citizen to stay in the United Kingdom for one year or more. Important: the presence of a work visa gives a Russian citizen employed in the UK guarantees of observance of labor rights provided for by British law. For registration, you need to submit an impressive list of documents.
  • Family visa and marriage document
    Russian citizens whose close relatives are British nationals can apply for a long-term visa to stay in the United Kingdom. A marriage visa is valid for six months - during this time, the marriage must take place, after which documents are submitted for obtaining a visa for a spouse.
  • Urgent visa
    In urgent cases, you can get an urgent visa. Any type of visa can be issued urgently for those applicants who request a semi-annual or annual document. The service is not free - an additional consular fee is added to the standard visa application fee. Urgent visas are issued only at the Moscow Center.

  List of basic documents for applying for British visas

  Visa control for entering the UK is quite strict. The applicant must provide a mass of personal information that will convince the commission for the consideration of papers and certificates to make a positive decision on the request. The list of documents depends on the type of visa you need to apply for. The main list of papers is the same for all Russian citizens wishing to visit the UK. Depending on the purpose of the visa, the main list is submitted with additional documents. What is included in the list of papers on the main list for obtaining a British visa:

  1. Application form. It is filled out on the website of the Embassy in a special section "UK Visas & Immigration". After filling out the form, print out.
  2. International passport with a couple of blank pages for pasting a visa. The validity period is not less than six months from the moment of departure abroad.
  3. If there are invalid passports available, they must be provided.
  4. Copies of all pages of overseas IDs, both valid and old.
  5. A photograph in good quality, size 3.5x4.5 cm. Requirements for photographs are strict and must be followed strictly.
  6. Confirmation of the applicant's ability to pay to travel and his material status.
  7. A document confirming social status - a certificate from the place of work with an indication of the position, paper on business ownership.
  8. A document confirming marital status, or a paper on divorce or death of a spouse.
  9. Confirmation of a booked room in a hotel or other place of residence.
  10. Purchased air tickets, tickets for other transport or providing a plan for an upcoming trip.
  11. If a visa is issued for a period of more than six months, they provide a certificate stating that the person is not sick with tuberculosis.

  An extract from a valid bank account, a document from the tax service, a salary certificate or other document proving the availability of funds for travel and residence abroad is suitable as confirmation of the financial status and solvency of a citizen. The main list of documents is suitable for obtaining a tourist visa. For other types of visas, additional papers must be provided.

  List of additional documents

  Since the purpose of a visit to the UK may vary, Russian nationals receive different types of British visas. In addition to the main list of documents, additional papers and certificates must be attached to them. So, depending on the purpose of the visit, the following is additionally attached to the main list of documents:

  • Registration of a guest or family visa. You must provide an invitation from a friend, relative, family member. The inviting party must provide information confirming the status: biometric passport information, full name, copy of visa stamp, letter of permission to stay in the UK. In addition, the inviting party must prove their financial position.
  • To obtain a work visa, an official invitation from a British company (organization, enterprise) is additionally submitted for the employment of a Russian citizen. The document must be executed on a letterhead indicating the date and purpose of the visit. The company must provide papers confirming its activities. The applicant submits a letter from the employer indicating work experience and qualifications, as well as a diploma or professional certificate.
  • When applying for a visa to study in the UK, the student must provide a letter from the educational institution with the main list of documents indicating the cost, duration, date of study and the name of the course. It is obligatory to have a diploma of completed education or akdemspravka, a certificate of knowledge of the English language. If necessary, indicate information about the foreign sponsor - passport and financial documents.
  • To obtain a visa for marriage in the UK, you must confirm the application for marriage, provide a receipt for payment of various marriage fees, and prove the applicant's ability to marry / marry. In addition, they attach a certificate of decent proficiency in English and indicate the details of the upcoming marriage abroad.

  In the case of a transit visa, a Russian citizen must indicate a detailed travel itinerary, if necessary, provide visas of the countries where the Russian citizen is sent.

  When filling out the documents submitted to the visa center, it is necessary to ensure the translation of the texts of certificates and papers by a competent translator with his personal signature. You can translate the papers into English yourself or resort to the help of third-party organizations indicating the name of the translator and his contact information.

  When submitting documents outside the capital visa center, you must make two copies of each paper and certificate. In some cases, the applicant may be invited to the consulate for an additional interview.

  UK Visa Fee Cost

  For today 15 Feb. 2020 the cost of the visa fee to the UK is the ruble equivalent of the amount indicated in the table below:

  How to properly fill out a visa application form

• The first step to getting a UK visa is filling out an application form. You can fill it out yourself, but the process is quite laborious, since the document contains many points. The more accurately and accurately the information is entered into the form of the questionnaire, the sooner the document will be considered by the appropriate authority.
• 
  The main requirement is that the questionnaire is filled out in English. The document is divided into several sections:
  1. Passport / Travel Document.
  2. Personal data and contacts (Personal Details).
  3. Family Details.
  4. Employment data.
  5. Friends and relatives in the UK (Family and Friends).
  6. Medical Information (Medical Treatment).
  7. Additional Information.

  These are the main sections of the questionnaire, each of which contains many questions in English. All questions must be answered as accurately and correctly as possible. This allows you to increase the chances of getting a positive result when considering documents. If you have difficulties with translation, you should entrust the job to a good translator from English.

  Photo requirements for a visa

  When applying for a visa to the United Kingdom, the applicant must take a photograph.

  

  There is a whole list of requirements for photo quality, and they must be observed:

  • Color photograph taken at least one month prior to submission.
  • The photo must be taken against a light gray or cream background.
  • There must be one visa applicant in the frame.
  • The size of the photo for a UK visa is 3.5 x 4.5 cm.
  • A person's gaze is directed strictly to the camera, without emotions on his face.
  • Accessories, hairstyles, glasses that cover the face are not allowed.
  • The requirement for the distance from the chin to the crown is 29-34 mm.
  • To obtain a child visa, a child is photographed without parents.
  • Headwear is only allowed for religious reasons.
  • Children under the age of one year can be photographed with their eyes closed.
  • A child under six years of age is not allowed to look directly into the camera.

  With regard to the specific registration of a visa for children, a child's birth certificate should be prepared. The consent of the other parent must be provided if the trip abroad is initiated by one of the responsible guardians. The consent must be notarized and signed. It indicates the duration of the trip and the country of travel of the child.

  How to apply for a British visa yourself

  Every Russian citizen can apply to a visa center in the Russian Federation to obtain a permit to travel to the UK. A visa of any kind is issued only through the centers of the Teleperformance company.

  In 2017, British consulates and embassies do not accept such applications directly. What to do to get a visa to the United Kingdom:

  • Login to the official website of UK Visas & Immigration.
  • Registration, account activation, choice of visa type.
  • Filling out the questionnaire, clicking the "confirm application" button.
  • Submitting an electronic application, clicking "submit application".
  • Appointment for submission of documents - "Book Appointment".
  • Payment of the consular fee for obtaining a visa to England.
  • Re-registering and creating an account on the Teleperformance website.

  After that, the applicant receives an invitation with a number by e-mail, which allows him to visit the visa center to submit documents. You must have with you a completed printed form, a receipt for payment of visa services and a list of required documents.

  Applying for a visa to the UK on your own is not much more difficult than obtaining a permit to travel to some other country. With minimal knowledge of the English language and following the instructions, citizens will be able to obtain a document without much difficulty.

  Validity of documents and cost of registration

  In 2017, the cost of obtaining a visa and the amount of the visa fee depends on the type of document. All types of visas (guest, tourist, work and others) can be single or multiple. Accordingly, you can come to the UK one or more times. The applicant must pay:

  • Visa center services.
  • The cost of a visa to England.
  • Consular fee.

  It is important to take into account that the consular fee does not depend on the type of visa - multiple or single. In case of refusal, the applicant will not be refunded the amount of the consular fee. The cost of the visa itself to the United Kingdom is paid by non-cash method. The duration of the documents depends on the type and type of visa being issued.

• If you have any difficulties with the language when filling out the questionnaire, then you can use an online translator. The form of the questionnaire depends on the purpose of the trip.

  Terms of consideration of documents for a tourist visa

  At visa centers, an applicant's application is considered on average from ten days to two weeks. However, with a significant workload of visa officials, it may take two months to review documents from the date of submission. When applying for a visa valid for more than a year, the documents are considered for a long time.

  Before planning a trip to the UK, you must apply for an entry permit in advance. To clarify how long documents can be considered, you can use statistics on this issue collected in various cities.

Consulate staff guarantee that the documents will be reviewed within 15 working days from the date of submission.

• You can check the readiness of documents directly on the website of the visa center using the options for tracking the readiness of visas to the UK. To do this, you need to go to your personal account on the official website and use the number assigned to the applicant's questionnaire to clarify the status of the application.

• Refusal to obtain a visa

  When applying for a visa to the United Kingdom, the applicant must be prepared for a negative result when considering the application. It is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of British migration policy and recognize the fact that Russian citizens with a large income have the greatest chances. After all, a wealthy tourist or a well-to-do traveler is much more attractive to London than the average Russian. In addition, a visa can be refused for various reasons:

  1. Inaccurate, inaccurate, inaccurately filled in the questionnaire.
  2. One of the submitted documents was declared invalid.
  3. The package of documents as a whole does not meet the requirements.
  4. The applicant did not comply with the regime on previous trips.
  5. Doubts arose as to the applicant's identity and status.

  In such situations, the applicant will be refused a visa. But that should not be a reason to abandon the intention to travel to the United Kingdom. With the correct submission of documents, applicants have every chance of a positive review of the application. You need to fill out the documents correctly, resort to the help of experts in the absence of proper knowledge of English. The more documents are collected confirming solvency and material security, the higher the likelihood of receiving a positive response to the application.

  Obtaining a UK visa on your own is a difficult but doable procedure.

• Additionally, the applicant can provide certificates of ownership of some property. You need to pay all visa fees, collect the required documents and submit papers as early as possible.

  How and where to check the readiness of a visa to the UK

  There are several ways to check if your UK visa is ready.

  1. You can call the Visa Application Center, which is listed in this article just below.
  2. You can write a letter on the website of the visa center with a request to clarify the dates of readiness.
  3. The fastest and easiest way: check the status in your personal account on the TLSContact website. When entering under your username and password, on the left in the vertical menu, select the item: Manage my Application. You will see the statuses of your review, as in the picture below. If the status Ready for collectionlights up green - you can go to the visa center and collect your passport.

  
  

  Useful video: how to get a guaranteed visa to England

• UK Visa Application Centers

  There are 5 UK visa centers in Russia. You can apply at any of them, regardless of your registration or registration. Below are the addresses of all UK Visa Application Centers in our country.