Hi-

We are re-thinking our fall trip to Paris and may substitute a long weekend to London instead. We will need a test after 2 days there, which also could serve as our airline-required test. Does anyone know how easy it is to get a test in London? Do you need an appt or can it be a walk-in?

Thank you in advance.

You need to book and pay for your test before you arrive. There's a long list of providers when you look up the entry requirements. Prices vary.
You either make an appointment to do the test in person or do one at home and send it back. I did the in-person appointment. You can do the test on the 1st or 2nd day after arrival.

Thank you, Tulips. Where can I find this list of testing providers?

If you look up the conditions for entry in the UK and the passenger locator form you will find them.

The gov.UK site lists 125 providers.How do you know where they are located? Also, they say you should look at reviews of the various providers. Where do you find those? Finally, does anyone have a recommendation for a testing provider? Thanks.

"We will need a test after 2 days there, which also could serve as our airline-required test"

You need 2 tests, one before departure, could be an antigen test. It is nothing to do with what the airline requires, the airline only checks that you have the correct COVID test so you can board and this is according to the UK rules.

You also need a day 2 test or day 2 & 8 depending where you are coming from ie a green or amber country.

I've had a number of tests in the UK and abroad, its very easy to get tested, you will need an appointment. These companies are ones I use:-

Expresstest have some London locations, as well as Heathow and Gatwick, they do the day 2 test and are reputable. You may get a discount depending if your airline provides a discount code.

Colllinson also do the day 2 arrivals testing, I used them earlier this month for a rapid PCR test and an RT-LAMP test and an antigen test, so quite happy with them. They have locations at Heathrow/Gatwick and central London. With day 2 testing, I believe you can get tested for that on arrival if that makes it easier. The day 2 test is to be taken on or before day 2.

Randox also have some clinics, I have used their self test kits, they are one of the main test labs/suppliers.

Have you asked your hotel/VRBO/Airbnb host for a nearby location? Safe travels!

Very helpful post--thanks! I had previously seen ExpressTest and counted them out due to poor reviews on Trustpilot. However, that was one of the self-administered kits and it was only 28 GBP versus 69 at the airport. I guess we must pay the price of convenience.

Since it's more than a 100 GBP difference, am wondering if I should risk it with the do-it-yourself kit, given the awful reviews? This trip is a huge treat for our 30th wedding anniversary and the Covid testing expenses are adding up!

I've used Randox self test kits a couple of times, in fact just did one today for day 2 arrivals. I'm not sure how that would work for you. Firstly you collect the sample and then you drop it off as specially designated drop boxes and then Randox process the sample and provide the result. Unless you live in the UK, this does not seem a convenient option, maybe even impossible as you need an address for the kit to be sent to & the drop boxes are not always nearby. Day 2 is a PCR test and there isn't a way for you to test the sample (AFAIK), unlike the antigen test which you need to take pre departure for the UK and can be self test.

I have also used Collinson for day 2 & 8 tests, did the day 2 test on arrival at Heathrow but now they have recently opened a new site at Heathrow away from the terminals on one of the airport perimeter roads, so I don't know how you would get there by public transport. But they do have another site at St Pancras.

So you need 2 tests, one before you board the flight to the UK and another called the Day 2 test. The pre departure test can be done via a self test kit as antigen is accepted but the day 2 for you, I believe in your situation it will be have to be done at a facility/clinic eg Expresstest, Collinson, unless you have a UK address where the kit can be mailed to and you know where the dropbox is or you know how to mail it back to the lab. The day 2 test must be booked/purchased before you depart for the UK, the booking reference you receive will need to be entered onto the UK Passenger locator form.

Here are some other options, I have not used them myself (I've done Randox, Collinson & Expresstest) but they are accredited and on the gov.uk list so should be UKAS.
https://www.citydoc.org.uk/moorgate-travel-health/ they are a provider mentioned on the BA website
https://screen4.org/shop/
Boots the chemist have branches all over London and the UK

Pre departure test for the UK - antigen, self test is ok
Day 2 arrival test in the UK - PCR test, probably better to get done at a clinic eg Collinson, Expresstest citydoc unless you have a UK address and you are prepared to drop the sample off somewhere or somehow

The full info on testing requirements is here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-ambe...and#amber-list

Of note is the vaccination status and how that affects whether you have just a day 2 test or need a day 2 & 8 test with 10 days of self isolation when arriving from an amber country (assuming arrival from the US) . I didn't know this and had a bit of a panic trying to download my vaccination status PDF from overseas as the UK passenger locator form had a section asking about this and it mentioned the airline might want to see the vaccination status, of course, they didn't, they hardly checked any of the paperwork and neither did UK border control.

So you can do the day 2 test on arrival t the airport? That is convenient, but how do you get the results? Or are they the 15 minute test? Thank you for the recommendations for providers.

Expresstest offer day 2 arrivals testing at T2 and T5 for walk-thru

https://www.expresstest.co.uk/directions/

Results are sent by email.

Balthy and everyone else (I didn't see a way to reply to folks, individually),
Enormously helpful information! I appreciate everyone who took the time to reply and will be taking note of all the information in this thread.

I flew into Heathrow recently and had booked a test for 1 hr after landing.

I walked in and was out in 5 minutes. I got the pcr results the next day via email and text.

I looked at the Express Test site.They state they are at Heathrow, but I was not able to see which terminals.Also, they say some are drive-through and some are walk-through, but don't say which is which.We are arriving at T3, I believe (Delta operated by Virgin Atlantic) and wonder how this would all shake out. Thanks.

I think the walk-ins are at Terminals 2 & 5. We arrive at T2 so I purchased the Day 2 tests and scheduled for 1.5 hours after arrival. I figure that should give me enough time to get luggage, freshen up, etc. before the test.

This forum has been SO helpful so will come back to report on my experience!

You can walk to T2 from T3 in the airport or get the free train (not the train to London btw)

Okay. I had a good look at the terminal map. I think I've got it figure out now. Teaches me I need to come to London more often than every four years! Thank you again, Fodorites.

This thread has been extremely helpful. Husband and I will be traveling to LHR in late September.

This may seem obvious, but when arriving in T3 and going to T2 for the Covid test at Expresstest, I am assuming that the test collection site is in T2 outside of security check in, etc? In other words, I pick up luggage in T3 (arriving on Delta), then go over to T2 for the test and I don't have to go through security etc. to get to the Expresstest site, is that right? Sorry, this seems like it would be obvious, but just want to make sure I get it right.

Thank you!