Travelling to the USA from the UK
New York, California, Florida… Visit the USA with your ESTA for up to 90 days.
before
- Apply for ESTA online (72h before, $21)
- Valid biometric passport
- Travel insurance (health essential)
- Buy US eSIM
- Book accommodation and internal flights
during
- Download Uber/Lyft
- Budget for tips (15–20%)
- Offline Google Maps for road trips
after
- Respect 90-day ESTA limit
British citizens can visit the USA for up to 90 days via the ESTA ($21, valid 2 years). Direct flights from London to NYC take ~7 hours. Budget £100–£200/day for a comfortable trip. Top destinations: NYC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Grand Canyon, Florida. Best time to visit: April-June and Sept-October.
USA visa for British citizens
- UK biometric passport
- Return flight
USA visa for British citizens
UK nationals use the ESTA programme ($21, 90 days max, valid 2 years). No paid work allowed on ESTA. For work, you need B-1 (business), H-1B (employment), E-2 (investor treaty), or O-1 (extraordinary ability) visa.
Practical tips for your trip to the USA
Before departure
- Apply for ESTA online ($21, 72h before)
- Biometric passport required
- Travel insurance strongly recommended
- Get eSIM before departure
- Book accommodation and domestic flights
On the ground
- Customs: do not mention work
- Tips 15–20% mandatory at restaurants
- Uber/Lyft for urban transport
- Rent a car outside major cities
- Outlet shopping and state tax variations
Health and safety
- No mandatory vaccinations
- Health insurance essential (ER = $3,000–10,000+)
- Emergency: 911
- CVS/Walgreens pharmacies open late
- Gun laws vary by state
ESTA is quick and easy to obtain online. Be careful with form details — any errors can lead to denial. At arrival, border control can take 30–90 minutes — allow plenty of time for connections.
USA travel budget
- Hostel ($30–$60)
- Fast food + supermarket
- Public transport
- Hotel 3★ ($100–$180)
- Restaurants
- Car rental
- Activities
£1 ≈ $1.27
Travel budget
NYC: £170–340/day. Mid-size cities: £85–170/day. Return flight London–NYC: £350–700. Tips 15–20% mandatory at restaurants. Car rental: $40–80/day. Gas is much cheaper than the UK.
Best time to visit the USA
A vast country with a climate for every season
Best time to visit the USA
East Coast/NYC: April–June, September–October. California/West: Year-round. Florida: November–April (avoid hurricane season June–Nov). Alaska: June–August. Summer (June–Aug) is peak season everywhere. Off-season (Jan–Mar) offers lower prices.
Internet & connectivity in the USA
Internet and eSIM
Good 4G/5G coverage in urban areas (T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon). eSIM recommended — much cheaper than UK roaming. Free wifi at Starbucks, libraries and airports. Rural areas may have dead zones.
Average speed: 200 Mbps
No, UK citizens can travel to the USA under the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA). This allows stays of up to 90 days for tourism or business. The ESTA costs $21 and should be applied for at least 72 hours before departure.
Budget around $80–120/day for budget travel (hostels, fast food, public transport) and $150–250/day for comfortable travel (3-star hotel, restaurants, car rental). Major cities like NYC and San Francisco are 30–50% more expensive.
It depends on the region. For the East Coast and national parks, May-June or September-October are ideal. California is great year-round. Avoid summer in the South (extreme heat) and winter in the Northeast (severe cold).
Officially no. The ESTA prohibits any form of paid work on US soil, including remote work for a foreign employer. Many digital nomads do it in practice, but it carries immigration risk.
Healthcare in the USA is extremely expensive (an ER visit can cost $1,000–3,000+). Travel insurance is essential. Compare SafetyWing, World Nomads and others on our comparator.
A valid UK driving licence is accepted in most states for tourist visits. An International Driving Permit is recommended but rarely required. For stays over 3 months, some states require a local licence.