The 59 places exempt from quarantine in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Please note: This information in this article is correct as of 8.30am on 27 November 2020. 

The UK Government has announced a national lockdown from 5 November for a month. Under this they state "Overnight stays and holidays away from primary residences will not be allowed- including holidays in the UK and abroad"

What does this list mean?

This list for the UK is formed of the destinations (including countries and territories) that have a low risk of coronavirus.

It is important to remember that England, Ireland, Wales  and Scotland have different lists, so the countries on each won't always be the same. 

Don't forget! Just because a destination is on the list, it does not necessarily mean you can visit from England or Scotland. 

It does mean that people currently in those countries can come to the UK without having to quarantine. Before travelling, it is still paramount that you check the travel restrictions in place for the country or island you want to visit.

That said, some places on the list do allow travellers from England and Scotland to visit, which means you can go on holiday there without having to self-isolate on arrival or on return. Again, it's important you check the official travel advice for individual destinations.

What's new on the list?

Estonia and Latvia have been removed from the list. Those returning to the UK from Estonia or Latvia before 4am on Saturday 28 November will need to self-isolate. 

Aruba, Bhutan, Mongolia and Timor-Leste have all been added to the quarantine exemption list, along with the Pacific Islands of Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. Anyone returning to the UK from these destinations after 4am, Saturday 28 November will not be required to self-isolate. 

The full list of 59 destinations that are exempt from quarantine 

The 17 destinations you can actually go to (without isolating while you're there)

You don't need to isolate on arrival to these countries, or on return to England or Scotland. However, other measures may be in place such as the requirement to take tests or fill out forms, so it is important to check the specific advice for each destination.

While Portugal has been scrapped from the list, the Portuguese island of the Azores is still on the exemption list for England. 

Here are ten reasons you should visit for a last-minute break this year. 

Likewise, the Portuguese island of Madeira is also on the exemption list for England. 

Here are 9 great things to do in Madeira 

Be aware that while St Barthélemy is still on the exempt list, St Martin has been taken off, meaning you will need to self-isolate on your return to the UK from St Martin. 

Be aware that foreign tourists can only visit certain places in Cuba: Cayo Coco, Cayo Cruz or Cayo Guillermo, Cayo Santa Maria and Cayo Largo del Sur. On arrival in these places, you will have your temperature checked and a PCR test. Anyone showing symptoms and anyone that tests positive will be hospitalised. 

Please note, those wishing to go to Saint Lucia need to complete a pre-arrival registration form. This will include the need for details of proof of a negative test and proof of a COVID-19 certified hotel booking. You will need a certificate showing a negative test taken seven days before arrival. 

Check out our travel guide to Saint Lucia

Be aware that travellers from mainland Spain will still have to self-isolate on their return to the UK. 

Here's how to spend a short break in Tenerife.

Make sure you check the entry requirements for Cambodia before you travel. 

Check out our Cambodia travel guide. 

Find out what travelling to Iceland is like during the pandemic. 

Keep in mind that visit and tourist visas are currently being issued by the Dubai authorities only. Tourists and visitors cannot travel to Abu Dhabi by air.

You will need proof of a negative COVID-19 test no older than seven days.

You will need proof of a negative test that's been taken 120 hours (or less) prior to your arrival. 

The 39 destinations exempt from England and Scotland's quarantine (but still have travel restrictions)

Be aware that you will still have to isolate on your return if you transit though Denmark. 

See our Faroe Islands travel guide

Be aware that you will may have to isolate on your return if you transit though Denmark (check Denmark's status). 

Check out our full travel guide to Greenland

Spot bears and sleep with reindeer in the Finnish Lakeland

Discover Dominica here

See our full travel guide to Grenada

Top things to see and do in Barbados

See our travel guide for Saint Kitts and Nevis

How to seek out Australia's most exciting wildlife

Explore New Zealand's life-changing adventures

Discover more about Fiji

Reasons to visit Mauritius

Why you should visit the Seychelles

Reasons you should visit Cat Ba Island

How to spend 24 hours in Taipei City

19 things to do in Hong Kong without spending a penny

See our full travel guide to Japan

Here's how to explore Macau's old neighbourhoods

Here's 11 things you must do in South Korea

Here's 21 things to do in Singapore that are absolutely free

Here are some great adventures you can have in Thailand

Here's the best adventures to have in Chile. 

Here's 7 travel highlights of Laos 

Be aware, Bonaire and Saba are not open to British travellers. St Eustatius has opened its borders to UK travellers on the condition that they take a test before arrival and on day 12 of quarantine, complete a travel questionnaire, request entrance by email 72 hours before departure, are screened at the border and go into a 14 day quarantine. 

Please note, Israel is not on Scotland's travel corridor list.

Please note, the Northern Mariana Islands are not on Scotland's travel corridor list.

Please note, Uruguay is not on Scotland's travel corridor list.

These include: Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.

What about Ireland, the Channel Islands and British Overseas Territories?

It would appear that Ireland is already exempt from quarantine as part of the common travel area. The Channel Islands are exempt from quarantine in the UK, as is the Isle of Man.

The FCO have also noted on their official website that, in addition to this list, they "will be exempting the British Overseas Territories." However, Turks and Caicos has now been removed from the exemption list. From 4am on 14 August, anyone returning from Turks and Caicos and to the UK will need to self-isolate for 14 days. 

The remaining British Overseas Territories include: Akrotiri and Dhekelia, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

More important coronavirus updates:

Where can we travel within the UK?

Daily border update: Where's open and where's closed?

Lyn Hughes: Why the world needs us to travel