United Kingdom duty-free allowance

What arriving travelers can bring into United Kingdom without paying duty — from official customs guidance.

Alcohol

4 L spirits

+ 42 L beer + 18 L wine

Full rule

42L beer + 18L still wine + EITHER 4L spirits (>22%) OR 9L fortified/sparkling wine or other drinks up to 22% (splittable, e.g. 2L spirits + 4.5L fortified)

Tobacco

200 cigarettes

or 50 cigars / 250 g

Full rule

200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco OR 200 heated-tobacco sticks (splittable proportionally)

Goods & gifts

GBP 390

GBP 270 by private plane/boat

Full rule

GBP 390 other goods (GBP 270 if arriving by private plane or boat)

Cash · declare from

GBP 10,000+

Full rule

GBP 10,000+ must be declared entering/leaving Great Britain (Northern Ireland: EUR 10,000 vs non-EU); penalty up to GBP 5,000

Depends on: same allowance regardless of origin country since Brexit; separate regime for arrivals into Northern Ireland (EU rules from EU); age 17+ for alcohol/tobacco

Good to know

one of the most generous alcohol allowances anywhere (42L beer + 18L wine); allowances cannot be pooled with other travelers

From United Kingdom's official customs guidance, checked 2026-07-31 ·verify at the source · Guidance, not law — allowances change and the customs officer has the final say. Verify before you fly.

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