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Quick answer
Most US visitors need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) rather than a visa. It costs £20 per person, including children, and allows stays of up to 6 months. Apply only through GOV.UK before you fly, then give your driver your flight number so the pickup moves with your landing time.
Do US citizens need an ETA to visit the UK?
Most visitors from the USA need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) instead of a visa for short trips. GOV.UK states that each person travelling needs one, including babies and children, and that you also need one if you pass through border control at a UK airport on the way to another country. British and Irish passport holders, and people with permission to live, work or study in the UK, do not need one.
| Question | Answer (per GOV.UK) |
|---|---|
| Fee | £20 per person |
| Maximum stay per visit | Up to 6 months |
| Children and babies | Each traveller needs their own ETA |
| Where to apply | The official GOV.UK service only |
GOV.UK warns that other websites may charge more and imitate government services. Apply on the official page at gov.uk/eta, and check there for current processing times before you book non-refundable travel.
What happens between landing and meeting your driver?
- Disembark and follow signs to border control. Have your passport ready and be prepared to say where you are staying and why you are visiting.
- Collect your bags. Allow time here after a long-haul arrival, especially at busy Heathrow terminals.
- Walk into arrivals. With a meet-and-greet transfer, your driver waits with a name board rather than leaving you to find a taxi rank.
- Ride to your hotel. A fixed price per vehicle means no meter, and you are dropped at the door.
How should you plan your first transfer?
Book before you fly and give the driver your flight number so the pickup follows your landing time. Our transfers include 60 minutes of free waiting from landing, which covers the border queue and baggage reclaim. If your flight is delayed, see what happens to your pickup when a flight is delayed or cancelled.
Most US visitors land at Heathrow and head for central London - our Heathrow to central London comparison covers the four ways in. Arriving at Gatwick instead? See the Gatwick guide.
What else is different when you arrive in the UK?
- Driving is on the left, and cars are right-hand drive, so a driver is often simpler than renting for a first trip.
- Luggage: tell your driver the number of large cases so the right vehicle is sent.
- Phone: keep a mobile number switched on after landing so the driver can reach you.
Ready to book? Use the instant quote form or read the booking checklist first.
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Book the transfers mentioned in this guide
Heathrow Airport Transfers — fixed-price quote
Gatwick Airport Transfers — fixed-price quote
Get a Quote — fixed-price quote
FAQs — fixed-price quote