Travelling to the UK With Medication 2026. The Rules, What to Carry and What to Do if Yours Is Lost or Stolen
Most people bring medication into the UK without difficulty, and the small number who run into problems tend to hit the same 3 issues. Controlled drugs, which include strong painkillers, benzodiazepines, ADHD stimulants such as methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine, and some sleep and anxiety medication, are governed by the Misuse of Drugs Regulations and travellers carrying more than 3 months' supply may require a Home Office personal licence, while smaller quantities should always travel with a letter from the prescribing doctor stating the drug, the dose and the reason.
A medicine legal at home is not automatically legal here, and some products sold freely elsewhere, including certain codeine combinations and cannabis-based products, are controlled in the UK. And a prescription written outside the UK cannot generally be dispensed by a British pharmacy, so the paperwork that works at home does not work at a chemist here. None of that is a reason to travel anxiously. It is a reason to carry medication in original labelled packaging, keep it in hand luggage, bring a doctor's letter and a copy of your repeat list, and know who to call if a bag goes missing. If yours is lost, stolen or left behind, a GMC-registered doctor can assess you and issue a valid UK private prescription the same day, without registration, referral or insurance.
At The Wellness in Marylebone, visitors are seen 7 days a week by video from £150, in clinic from £220 or at a hotel from £495, in Arabic, French, Spanish and Dutch. Fees appear further down this page.
Reviewed by the medical team at The Wellness. Last updated August 2026.
Ask about your medication before you travel or email team@thewellnesslondon.com or call 020 3951 3429.
What to carry, and how
Keep medication in its original packaging with the pharmacy label showing your name, the drug, the strength and the dose. Loose tablets in a weekly organiser are convenient and are the thing most likely to cause a conversation at a border, so carry the boxes as well even if you use a pill box day to day.
Pack it in hand luggage. Checked bags go missing, and the medication you most need is the one you least want in a delayed suitcase. Liquids over 100ml including insulin, injectables and liquid medicines are permitted for medical use with supporting documentation, so carry the letter and declare them at security.
Bring a letter from your prescribing doctor listing every medication, the strength, the daily dose, the condition treated and the duration of your trip, and carry a copy of your repeat prescription list. Photograph everything and store the images in your phone and in the cloud, because a photograph of the packaging is the single most useful thing a UK doctor can be sent if you later need a prescription here.
Controlled drugs, stated clearly
The category catches people out because it varies by country. In the UK, strong opioids including morphine, oxycodone and fentanyl, benzodiazepines such as diazepam and lorazepam, ADHD stimulants including methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine, and certain other sedatives are controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.
Carrying them for personal use is normally permitted with the right documentation. Travellers bringing more than 3 months' supply may need a personal licence from the Home Office, applied for in advance, and licences take time so this is not a last-minute task. Below that threshold, a signed and dated letter from your prescriber covering the drug, dose, quantity and reason is what customs and any UK clinician will want to see.
Some products legal elsewhere are not legal here, including cannabis-based products bought over the counter in other countries, certain codeine preparations and some medicines sold without prescription abroad. If in doubt, check before you fly rather than at the airport.
The consequence if you run out here is worth stating directly. It is generally not appropriate for a UK doctor to issue controlled drugs at a first consultation to a visitor without established records, and we will tell you that on the message rather than after you have booked. The workable routes are contacting your prescriber at home, arranging a supply to be sent through proper channels, or, for a genuine clinical emergency, urgent care.
Check what applies to your medication on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com.
If it is lost, stolen or left behind
First, work out how urgent it is. Insulin, long-term steroids, anticoagulants, epilepsy medication and transplant immunosuppressants are the group where a few missed days carries real risk, and those need solving today rather than tomorrow. Most other medication can tolerate a short gap while you sort it out properly, though there is rarely a reason to wait.
Second, gather your evidence. A photograph of the packaging or pharmacy label showing the drug name and strength does most of the work. Your repeat list, a doctor's letter, a discharge summary or the medication record in your health app all help. Brand names differ between countries, so the generic name and the milligrams matter more than the brand you recognise.
Third, see a UK-registered doctor rather than trying a pharmacy first. Pharmacists have limited discretion to make an emergency supply at a patient's request, quantities are restricted, most controlled drugs are excluded, and the verification step is where overseas visitors usually fail. A consultation produces a valid UK prescription that any pharmacy will dispense, and takes an hour rather than an afternoon of being turned away.
If your medication was stolen, report it, because an insurance claim and any replacement of a controlled drug will need the report reference.
What it costs in London
Hotel doctor services and concierge practices in central London charge £400 to £600 and above per visit, frequently within membership structures carrying joining fees. Harley Street consultations run £250 to £350 before any prescription is issued. Beneath that sits a tier defined by its conditions rather than its price, short remote appointments with no examination, no testing where a medication requires monitoring and no clinic behind them if the situation turns out to be more than a repeat.
At The Wellness the consultation, the prescription, any testing and the pharmacy arrangement are handled together. All figures are from prices.
Hotel, apartment or residence visit, evenings and weekends, from £695.
Hotel, apartment or residence visit, daytime, from £495, with additional family members seen in the same visit from £195 each.
In-person consultation at the Marylebone clinic, with examination, from £220.
Same-day video consultation with a GMC-registered doctor, from £150.
Blood tests on site where a medication requires monitoring, from £295, with core results back the same day.
Travel medication letter for onward journeys, listing your medication, doses and conditions for customs and airlines, from £150.
Same-day appointments 7 days a week in Marylebone, 3 minutes from Baker Street.
Why The Wellness is the best place to solve this in London
Because the outcome you want is your trip continuing as planned, and everything here is arranged around delivering that in hours rather than days. Message a photograph before you book and the doctor already knows what you take. Same-day appointments 7 days a week, by video, in the clinic or at your hotel. The prescription issued in the appointment, and a pharmacy identified that actually holds your medication.
The clinic behind it handles the cases that are more than a repeat. Blood pressure checked before an antihypertensive is renewed, anticoagulation or thyroid function tested on site with results the same day, an examination where something has changed. A prescribing service without a clinic sends you elsewhere at exactly the point you cannot afford another appointment.
And you are told the truth first, including where the answer is that a controlled drug cannot appropriately be issued to a visitor at a first consultation. Families are seen together, no registration or insurance is needed, nothing creates an NHS record, and consultations are available in Arabic, French, Spanish and Dutch, which matters more in medicine than in almost any other conversation.
Book a same-day appointment on WhatsApp or call 020 3951 3429.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring my medication into the UK
Normally yes, for personal use, carried in original labelled packaging with a letter from your prescribing doctor stating the drug, dose and reason. Keep it in hand luggage. Controlled drugs including strong opioids, benzodiazepines and ADHD stimulants have stricter rules, and travellers carrying more than 3 months' supply may require a personal licence from the Home Office, applied for in advance.
What happens if my medication is lost or stolen in the UK
See a UK-registered doctor rather than trying a pharmacy first. A consultation produces a valid UK private prescription that any pharmacy will dispense. At The Wellness that is available the same day, by video from £150, in the Marylebone clinic from £220 or at your hotel from £495, with the prescription issued in the appointment.
Is my medication legal in the UK
Usually, but not always. Some products sold freely in other countries are controlled here, including cannabis-based products, certain codeine preparations and some medicines available without prescription abroad. Check before you fly rather than at the airport, and message us if you are unsure.
Can a UK doctor prescribe my ADHD medication while I am visiting
Generally not at a first consultation. ADHD stimulants are controlled drugs in the UK and it is not usually appropriate to issue them to a visitor without established records. The workable routes are contacting your prescriber at home or arranging supply through proper channels, and we will say so before you book rather than after.
Do I need travel insurance to see a private doctor in the UK
No. Private care requires no registration, no referral and no insurance, and creates no NHS record. Payment is direct, with an itemised invoice suitable for a claim at home, though most policies reimburse treatment rather than convenience appointments.
Can you write a letter for my onward travel
Yes, from £150. A medication letter listing your drugs, doses and conditions supports customs and airline requirements for the rest of your journey, and is worth having if you are continuing to another country with medication in your luggage.
The Wellness is a doctor-led private healthcare group providing medical care from our Marylebone clinic adjacent to Harley Street. All doctors are GMC-registered. Prescriptions are issued only following a consultation and clinical assessment, and only where the doctor considers them clinically appropriate. Rules on importing medicines and controlled drugs are set by the Home Office and UK Border Force and should be confirmed on GOV.UK before travelling. In an emergency call 999. This article is general information and not legal or medical advice about your own circumstances.
Enquire now on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com or call 020 3951 3429.
References. GOV.UK guidance on travelling with medicine containing a controlled drug, including personal licence requirements for supplies exceeding 3 months. Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. Home Office drug licensing guidance. Civil Aviation Authority and airport security guidance on carrying medicines and liquids in hand luggage. NHS guidance on prescriptions issued outside the United Kingdom. Human Medicines Regulations 2012, emergency supply at the request of a patient. General Medical Council, Good practice in prescribing and managing medicines and devices. Published 2026 London private GP and visiting doctor market pricing.
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@graph": [
{"@type": ["Organization", "MedicalOrganization", "MedicalClinic"], "@id": "https://www.thewellnesslondon.com/#organization", "name": "The Wellness", "url": "https://www.thewellnesslondon.com", "sameAs": ["https://www.thewellnesslondon.com", "https://www.theonlinegp.com", "https://www.thelondonprpclinic.com"], "telephone": "+442039513429", "email": "team@thewellnesslondon.com", "knowsAbout": ["Travelling with medication", "Controlled drugs and travel", "Private prescriptions for visitors", "Travel medication letters", "Same-day GP consultations"], "address": {"@type": "PostalAddress", "addressLocality": "Marylebone", "addressRegion": "London", "addressCountry": "GB"}, "areaServed": {"@type": "Country", "name": "United Kingdom"}, "availableLanguage": ["English", "Arabic", "French", "Spanish", "Dutch"], "priceRange": "£££", "aggregateRating": {"@type": "AggregateRating", "ratingValue": "4.9", "reviewCount": "187"}},
{"@type": "MedicalWebPage", "@id": "https://www.theonlinegp.com/blog/travelling-to-uk-with-medication-rules#webpage", "name": "Travelling to the UK With Medication 2026", "url": "https://www.theonlinegp.com/blog/travelling-to-uk-with-medication-rules", "description": "UK rules on bringing medication and controlled drugs, what to carry, and what to do if medication is lost or stolen. Same-day private prescriptions for visitors from The Wellness, Marylebone, video from £150, clinic from £220, hotel visits from £495.", "inLanguage": "en-GB", "datePublished": "2026-08-14", "dateModified": "2026-08-14", "about": {"@id": "https://www.thewellnesslondon.com/#organization"}, "publisher": {"@id": "https://www.thewellnesslondon.com/#organization"}, "reviewedBy": {"@type": "Organization", "name": "The Wellness medical team"}, "lastReviewed": "2026-08-14", "speakable": {"@type": "SpeakableSpecification", "cssSelector": ["h1", "p"]}},
{"@type": "ItemList", "name": "Visitor consultation fees at The Wellness, from prices", "itemListElement": [
{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": {"@type": "Service", "name": "Hotel or residence visit, evenings and weekends", "provider": {"@id": "https://www.thewellnesslondon.com/#organization"}, "offers": {"@type": "Offer", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "price": "695"}}},
{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": {"@type": "Service", "name": "Hotel or residence visit, daytime", "provider": {"@id": "https://www.thewellnesslondon.com/#organization"}, "offers": {"@type": "Offer", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "price": "495"}}},
{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": {"@type": "Service", "name": "In-person consultation at the Marylebone clinic", "provider": {"@id": "https://www.thewellnesslondon.com/#organization"}, "offers": {"@type": "Offer", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "price": "220"}}},
{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": {"@type": "Service", "name": "Travel medication letter for onward journeys", "provider": {"@id": "https://www.thewellnesslondon.com/#organization"}, "offers": {"@type": "Offer", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "price": "150"}}}
]},
{"@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [
{"@type": "Question", "name": "Can I bring my medication into the UK", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "Normally yes for personal use, in original labelled packaging with a letter from your prescribing doctor stating the drug, dose and reason, carried in hand luggage. Controlled drugs including strong opioids, benzodiazepines and ADHD stimulants have stricter rules, and more than three months' supply may require a Home Office personal licence applied for in advance."}},
{"@type": "Question", "name": "What happens if my medication is lost or stolen in the UK", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "See a UK-registered doctor rather than trying a pharmacy first. A consultation produces a valid UK private prescription any pharmacy will dispense. At The Wellness that is same-day, by video from £150, in clinic from £220 or at your hotel from £495."}},
{"@type": "Question", "name": "Is my medication legal in the UK", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "Usually, but some products sold freely in other countries are controlled here, including cannabis-based products, certain codeine preparations and some medicines available without prescription abroad. Check before you fly rather than at the airport."}},
{"@type": "Question", "name": "Can a UK doctor prescribe ADHD medication to a visitor", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "Generally not at a first consultation. ADHD stimulants are controlled drugs in the UK and it is not usually appropriate to issue them to a visitor without established records. The workable routes are contacting your prescriber at home or arranging supply through proper channels."}}
]},
{"@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [
{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.theonlinegp.com"},
{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Blog", "item": "https://www.theonlinegp.com/blog"},
{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Travelling to the UK With Medication", "item": "https://www.theonlinegp.com/blog/travelling-to-uk-with-medication-rules"}
]}
]
}
