Visitors to This Popular Summer Destination Should ‘Exercise Increased Caution,’ Warns U.S. State Dept.

Tourists visiting the United Kingdom will need to be extra alert during their travels this summer.

On Thursday, May 8, the U.S. Department of State reissued a travel advisory for the U.K. due to a “risk of terrorist violence,” per the advisory. As the U.K. continues to experience increased terrorist threats, the advisory warns popular tourist locations could be unsafe for visitors.

The advisory states that terrorist groups could “attack with little or no warning” in areas like transportation hubs, shopping areas, local government buildings, hotels, restaurants and churches among other common public locations. 

The Level 2 advisory was reissued after the department’s “periodic review” in order to urge travelers to “exercise increased caution” while visiting the popular destination.

There are four travel advisory levels. Level 1 advises travelers to “Exercise normal precautions,” per the State Department’s website. The Level 4 travel advisory is labeled as “Do not travel” and warns travelers to avoid making any trips to a certain location.

In the U.K,, “There is also risk of isolated violence by dissident groups in Northern Ireland, focused primarily on police and military targets,” the advisory continues. 

The U.S. Department of State’s 2023 Counterterrorism Report gave an overview of terrorism in the U.K. and noted an increased threat level within Northern Ireland. At the time, the report indicated that terrorism was the “third-highest rating,” meaning that “officials believed an attack was ‘likely.’” 

The terrorist threat level within Northern Ireland, which is monitored separately from the rest of the the U.K., was increased from “substantial” to “severe,” per the report. The increase in threat level meant a terrorist attack was no longer just “likely” but “highly likely.”

There were also two terrorist attacks reported in the U.K. for 2023, one of which took place in Northern Ireland. 

The remainder of the advisory encourages tourists traveling to the U.K. to stay alert and be mindful of their surroundings while in public spaces, especially in crowds. Travelers should also make sure to monitor any breaking news in case they need to adjust travel plans. 

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Those traveling to the U.K. are encouraged to sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, also known as STEP, the advisory recommends. The program allows for U.S. citizens to log their travel plans and receive alerts from the Department of State in case an emergency within the country takes place.

Travelers are urged to check the U.K.’s Country Security Report, which provides helpful information like the location of the U.K.’s embassy and consulates. The Traveler’s Checklist can also be useful when creating a contingency plan while abroad, as well as staying up to date on the CDC’s latest Travel Health Information page.

In addition to the U.K.’s advisory, updated travel advisories were recently released for Turks and Caicos in early March, as well as the Bahamas on March 31. Both locations were also issued a Level 2 advisory.