Thank you, Balthy. I am just hoping that the regulations loosen up on this by May. Fingers crossed.

I have read newspaper articles that the worst peak of the Omicron outbreak in the UK may be shortly past, and that it is now on a downward slope. Still, I am surprised about going to the trouble to postpone a trip but just a couple weeks until the end of January. I don't understand the mad desire to spend January in London during a bad pandemic breakout, but that's not my idea of a fun time.

At best, in London it might be a week or two past the highest peak. And hospitalizations tend to follow the infection peaks, of course, as it takes a while.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...odelling-wrong

Just word of mouth, but I hear from quite a few people who have covid in London. Even people who are careful and wear masks everywhere get it. You can also see services being cut back, restaurants and pubs having staff shortages. I wouldn't want to be stuck in quarantaine far from home in a hotel. If you make the trip to London, you want to go to the theatre, restaurants, museums.

It’s in the news today that pre-testing before the flight will no longer be required as of Friday, and that a rapid test is ok on arrival.

Tulips, I could be happy with visiting museums and hanging out in outdoor areas like Borough Market.. but I’d want a cozy apartment to heat up my Waitrose Mac and cheese at night! I hope the people you know are having mild symptoms.

Yes, those I heard from have mild symptoms.

We went to Borough Market a few days before Christmas. It was very quiet. Had a cheese sandwich at that place everyone raves about. There's normally always a queue. Nobody waiting now. It was a very nice cheese sandwich indeed, with the addition of leeks.
We stayed in several nights, but are lucky to have a cozy apartment and plenty of good food stores in the area.

I live in Europe, and I think you are beyond nuts to postpone your trip to the end of January. It's freezing cold here, everything is closed to people who don't have Covid passes, there is no cultural or nightlife, you can't hang out at cafés or eat in restaurants, you can't visit museums, you can't go to the movies; it's a wasteland. What On Earth would possess you to come here now? You're out of your mind.

It was announced today that the test to depart for the U.K. has been scrapped and you can choose to have a PCR or antigen on arrival. Full info on gov U.K.

There was/is/can be a shortage (depending where you live & how early you get to the pharmacy) of the free NHS antigen tests that you use at home. But tourists aren’t entitled to those hence my question about the shortage. Test centres where you pay have plenty.

Thanks, and yes, I've been reading about that here and elsewhere. It's such good news and I hope it holds through my May trip (and beyond!)

actually, they give those tests to anybody. I got some in a Boots. I was ready to pay but they said nope, they are free.

That was a month ago, maybe things have changed.