We are hoping to travel to London later this summer. Does anyone know if the 2 week quarantine has to be in the Heathrow neighborhood, or are you allowed to take a rental car to a smaller town? Thank you.
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
I can’t see anything about rental cars, but the advice is to avoid public transport. You should avoid contact with people as much as possible, so I don’t know how this fits with meeting car hire staff. It’s not advisable to drive after a long flight, so ideally you should be as close to Heathrow as possible.
As far as I can see, you can stay anywhere. You need to stay at the address provided for 14 days and not leave the house and garden, so no walking or jogging in the park or popping out in the hire car. You should get food delivered and not go to the supermarket. It’s going to be expensive to hire a car for it to sit there for 14 days not moving.
Posted by
Washington DC Region, USA
7049 posts
Posted by
Freedonia
14926 posts
Should you decide to go and self isolate be aware that supermarkets offering online ordering and delivery do not accept non-UK credit cards. (I've tried and contacted a few supermarket chains to inquire.) Restaurant delivery services do accept them. (At least Deliveroo does. )
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11289 posts
Frank II, I have used a US credit card 4 times with Waitrose online for delivery orders.
Posted by
Freedonia
14926 posts
This was last summer and the closest Waitrose to me (in Manchester) was delivered by Ocado. They, along with ASDA and Tesco, wouldn't accept U.S. credit cards.
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
Checks are being made that people are where they say they will be, so no you can’t sneak out. It’s a £1,000 per person fine if you are caught in breach and a possible criminal prosecution. Presumably possible deportation.
We are trying to protect our population and advising people to sneak out and break the law isn’t acceptable advice!
Your travel insurance is unlikely to cover you for any Covid medical expenses. There have been some local flare ups and there is talk of localised lockdowns being reinstated. It’s not the kind of holiday that I would want to go on at present.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
No reason to hire a car for 14 days if you choose to base in a town where you can return the car, which means a lot of options. If you have a long drive, the link provided above also says you’re allowed to make an overnight stop. Also permitted to use public transport to your destination if necessary.