You may bring goods valued at less than 390 pounds into the United Kingdom without having to pay the 2.5 percent duty on the total worth of the goods. If the duty owed is less than 9 pounds, it will be waived.
Travelers from beyond the European Union are allowed to bring in any combination of 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco. For example, if you bring 25 cigars, you may also bring 125 grams of tobacco since half of each allowance will equal the total allowance of tobacco.
You may bring either 1 liter of an alcoholic beverage above 22 percent alcohol by volume or 2 liters of alcoholic beverages under 22 percent alcohol by volume. You may take up to 16 liters of beer and up to 4 liters of wine out of the U.K.
Travelers with firearms, live animals, endangered plants, rough diamonds and fur skins must have the appropriate documentation. Banned items include illegal drugs, gravity knives, self-defense sprays, stun guns, obscene material and pirated products.
Goods purchased within the U.K. may be subject to a value added tax or VAT. The VAT is refundable to travelers who reside outside the U.K. and leave within three months of purchasing the goods. To qualify for the VAT refund, you must receive a receipt after declaring the goods at customs.
Stop at one of three customs channels when entering and exiting airports and ports within the United Kingdom. Use the red channel to declare goods or if you have commercial goods. Choose the green channel if you are traveling from beyond the European Union, have goods within the legal allowance and no banned items. Use the blue channel if you are coming from the European Union with no banned goods.
You may be stopped by a customs official who will ask to search your bag. This occurs in addition to going through one of the channels.
