Goods worth £390 come in duty free, and the rule that catches people

Trek Guide Arriving in Great Britain from outside the UK: £390 of goods, plus alcohol and tobacco limits. Go over, and duty is due on everything. By Bishnu Adhikari · Oct 3, 2026 Read the full story

If you arrive in Great Britain from outside the UK, you can bring in goods worth up to £390 without paying duty, or £270 if you come by private plane or boat, plus fixed limits on alcohol and tobacco. Those limits apply only from age 17. Go over them and you… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

How much can I bring back in goods without paying duty?

Up to £390 worth of other goods, or £270 if you arrive by private plane or boat. GOV.UK sets these as the value of goods you can bring in without paying tax or duty, and the test is the value of what you are carrying, not what you paid. A £390 handbag and a… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

How much alcohol and tobacco can I bring?

For beer, wine and spirits: 42 litres of beer, 18 litres of still or sparkling wine, and 4 litres of spirits or other drinks above 22% ABV. Tobacco is one of 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars, 250 g of loose tobacco, or 200 sticks for heated tobacco… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

What happens if I go over the limit?

You pay duty and tax on the whole value of the goods, not just the amount over the allowance. That is the rule that surprises most people, because a £400 bag bought abroad costs duty on its full value, not on £10. Keep receipts for everything you buy abroad… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

Does the age rule apply to me?

Yes if you are 17 or over, and no if you are younger, which catches families out. GOV.UK states that there are no personal allowances for alcohol, tobacco and vaping products for under-17s, but they still have to be declared before arrival. A family with… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

Frequently asked questions

Goods worth up to £390, or £270 if you arrive by private plane or boat, GOV.UK says for arrivals in Great Britain from outside the UK. 18 litres of still or sparkling wine, according to GOV.UK, for people aged 17 or over. Yes. GOV.UK says going over the… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

Keep reading

Foreign transaction and ATM fees, and how to dodge them. The quiet fees that drain a trip. Getting VAT back on purchases abroad. Which to carry, and where each one works. Sources: GOV.UK, "Arriving in Great Britain" (personal allowances for goods, alcohol… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

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