Duty Free Allowances Double in Time for the Holidays

If you are heading for the UK for the holidays and plan on bringing gifts for friends and family, the good news is that, as of today, Britain's Duty Free Allowances for goods from outside the EU have more than doubled.

In line with the rest of the EU, the UK has raised the allowances of goods individuals can bring into country to reflect the needs of modern travelers and the real prices of goods today. This is the first change in Duty Free Allowances in 15 years.

Here's what's new:

• The allowance for still table wine has risen from 2 liters to 4 liters
• A new allowance of 16 liters (28 imperial pints) of beer has been introduced
• Limits on perfumes and colognes have been removed
• Limits on tobacco products and spirits or fortified wines remain the same but can now be made up of a mix and match selection of products.
• In the biggest change of all the Duty Free Allowance for all other goods, including small electrical goods, gifts and souvenirs has more than doubled, from £145 to £300, and will rise again, to £340, on January 1.

  Get the full story on what you can - and cannot - bring into the UK, along with the latest Duty Free Allowances