Photo © Plume Creative

Travel insurance when visiting Great Britain

What to know when planning your British getaway.

    As featured in:

  • As featured in:

If you’re planning a holiday to Great Britain - home to our British royals, historic castles, sprawling country-sides and Shakespearian folklore settings, you may want to consider travel insurance, so that you can enjoy your British adventure.

Your World Nomads’ policy includes coverage for:

What should you look out for when travelling to Great Britain?

Lost or stolen or damaged baggage cover

It can be upsetting to touch down at Heathrow airport and find your baggage isn’t on the carousel when you arrive. There’s also the chance that your sporting gear could get stolen on public transport or from your hotel. This is where World Nomads Travel Insurance may help ease the pain and may provide coverage (up to the policy limits) for loss, theft or damage to baggage or personal items if your specific situation falls within the covered risks insured by the policy.

What to do if your bags are stolen or damaged: if your bags have been stolen or damaged you’ll need to file a report with your airline or travel carrier, tour operator, or lodging provider. In the case of a theft, you’ll need to report it to the local police or relevant authority. Be sure to obtain a copy of the policy report, written reports, luggage receipts, travel documents and all correspondence with the carrier or service provider. Insurance won’t cover things such as losing bags or valuables that were left unattended; this includes if they were left unattended in a car (even if the car is locked). So, if you left your backpack on a tour bus while visiting Stonehenge that’s a loss you most likely won’t be reimbursed for.

You may also need to take depreciation into account, so read your policy to understand how depreciation will affect your claims.

Family on Tower bridge
Family on Tower bridge. Photo credit: Getty images / Sol de Zuasnabar Brebbia

Delayed baggage

You may be covered for the replacement of necessary personal effects if your bags were lost in transit to Great Britain. There is a waiting period of 12 hours before your benefits begin. Your plan may cover the cost of toiletries, and some basic clothing until you are reunited with your luggage.

What to do if your bags are delayed: You’ll need to report the incident and file a claim directly with the air carrier first. Do your best to get copies of all receipts, written reports, luggage receipts, travel documents and all correspondence with the carrier or service providers. If needed, you can make a claim.

Travel insurance tip 1:  Don’t leave your bags and valuables out of your sight and reach. Try and carry your portable electronic devices, valuables, travel documents, cash and credit cards with you at all times. Remember that if you buy anything, before or during your trip, keep all receipts.

Airplane travelers waiting for luggage from a conveyor belt.
Airplane travelers waiting for luggage from a conveyor belt. Photo credit: Getty images / S izusek

Overseas emergency medical coverage

It’s important to know that Canada and the UK do not have reciprocal healthcare agreements. You may want to consider travel insurance for overseas emergency medical emergencies before you enter the UK. If you’re injured in an accident or suddenly get sick while travelling, and you've bought a policy for the activities you're doing, you may be covered for emergency medical treatment including:

  • Direction to the closest appropriate care
  • Hospitalization
  • Out-patient treatment for medical emergencies
  • Prescribed medicines, X-rays, and laboratory tests
  • Being brought home if medically necessary

You must contact us before seeking medical attention, emergency evacuation or repatriation. If your situation is life-threatening, seek medical help immediately and call us as soon as medically possible or have someone contact us on your behalf.

Your policy may also be able to help with these travel related issues

  • Trip cancellation: You may recover non-refundable, pre-paid holiday costs should you need to cancel your trip due to a covered reasons such as a confirmed and documented diagnosis of sickness, as certified by a doctor, before your departure.
  • Trip interruption: During your holiday, you might have to return home early because of sudden or unforeseen events affecting you, a travel companion, or an immediate family member. With trip interruption coverage, you may be eligible for reimbursement for a one-way, economy-fare ticket home to Canada and any pre-paid, unused portions of your trip that you would forfeit due to a covered reason. Please refer to the Trip Interruption section of your policy for more information.

Travel insurance tip 2: In some parts of the UK (including Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) the local inhabitants may speak in Gaelic, Welsh or Irish language. In the event you suffer a medical emergency, our 24/7 assistance team can provide assistance with corresponding with hospital staff when you don’t speak the local language.

A group of friends having fun kayaking on Derwent Water in The Lake District
A group of friends having fun kayaking on Derwent Water in The Lake District. Photo credit: Getty images / SolStocka

Coverage for activities and sports when in Great Britain

If you’re thinking of trekking or hiking in remote parts of the UK like Pembrokeshire in Wales’ southwest, or kitesurfing in Troon, on the west coast of Scotland, World Nomads may provide you with the coverage you need for your adventure activities. World Nomads offers travel insurance coverage for more than 150 activities and sports. Carefully examine your policy documents to make sure your planned activities are included. If the adventure sport isn’t listed, you may need to upgrade your policy to ensure you’re covered for everything you plan to do. All adventure, sports, work or volunteer activities must be added when you purchase your policy. If you have any questions our customer service team can also assist you.

This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms and conditions of the policy. It is important you read and understand your policy as it contains benefits, conditions, exclusions and pre-existing condition exclusions. If you do not understand your coverage, or if you have questions about your coverage, just ask us.

Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you

Trip Cancellation

Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.

  • Explorer Plan: $5,000
  • Standard Plan: $2,500
Trip Protection
  • Unexpectedly hospitalised?
  • Travel buddy unfit to travel?
  • Been made redundant?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Insurance

Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.

  • Explorer Plan: $10 million
  • Standard Plan: $5 million
Emergency Medical Insurance
  • Need meds quick?
  • Accidentally injured?
  • Suddenly sick?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation

We’ll get you to hospital or home quickly.

  • Explorer Plan: $500,000
  • Standard Plan: $500,000
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation
  • Banged up abroad?
  • Need a hospital urgently?
  • Medivac home?

Help starts here.

Protect your gear

Covers the theft, damage or delay of your bags, tech and sports gear.

  • Explorer Plan: $3,000
  • Standard Plan: $1,000
Protect your gear
  • Passport or tech stolen?
  • Airline lost your gear?
  • Bags delayed?

Help starts here.

  • Emergency Medical Expenses
  • Emergency Dental for Injury or Sickness
  • Bedside Companion Travel and Subsistence
  • Emergency Professional Services
  • Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation
  • Return of Travel Companion/Dependent Children
  • Return to Your Trip Destination
  • Return of Remains
  • Travel Accident
  • Flight Accident
  • Trip Cancellation
  • Trip Interruption
  • Trip Delay
  • Baggage and Personal Effects Theft or Damage
  • Baggage and Sporting Equipment Delay
  • Travel Documents Theft or Damage
  • Sporting Equipment Theft or Loss by a Common Carrier
  • Covered Adventure Sports listed in Policy
Assistance Services Included
  • LiveTravelTM Emergency Assistance
  • Worldwide Travel Assistance
  • Adventure Travel Hotline
  • 24/7 Security
  • Travel Medical Assistance
  • Bag Trak
This is a general summary for Canadian residents only. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions of the travel insurance plans described. Coverage may not be available for residents of all provinces. Check the Travel Insurance Policy for full details.

True Claims Stories

  • Never travel without insurance. This was the first time I ever purchased travel insurance and I am so glad I did. A few days into my trip to Spain I twisted my foot heading down to the metro. Thanks to World Nomads I was able to get medical attention in Spain and since, as luck would have it, I had a fracture that required surgery, they got me a flight home the next day. Filing a claim was surprisingly easy and when the claim was finally processed, I was reimbursed for all of my expenses including things like the extra week in the hotel I didn't get to take advantage of.
    L.D.
    U.S. resident in Spain
  • I recently had a serious injury traveling on my own & the team was amazing. Being confused with a brain injury they took care of everything. Claiming was no problem, they were on the phone constantly to see if all was OK. I can't recommend them enough. Absolutely fantastic & l will always travel with World Nomads Insurance. Thanks guys for getting me home safely.
    A.B.
    Australian in Thailand
  • I was bitten by a monkey at the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur. I went to a nearby clinic and they gave me a rabies shot, antibiotics to take for 4 days, pain medicine, and anti-inflammatory medicine.
    T.R.
    Canadian in Malaysia

24/7 emergency assistance

Whether you need medical or dental assistance or advice, emergency evacuation or travel assistance, our team are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.

Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?

Telephone +1 866 878 0192 (toll-free from Canada and the Continental U.S.) or +1 416 646 3723 (collect from anywhere else in the world)

Contact the team