✓ Fact-checked against official UK sources
Visitor Guide UK exists to give travellers clear, accurate and up-to-date information about visiting the United Kingdom. This page explains exactly how we do that — including how we use research tools, how we fact-check, and how we handle corrections.
Our Commitment to You
Every article we publish is written with three priorities in mind:
- Accuracy first. Where a fact can be verified — a price, a date, a rule — we verify it against an official source before publishing.
- Usefulness over volume. We'd rather publish a shorter, more useful guide than a long article padded with filler.
- Transparency. If we're unsure about something, we say so. If we use a tool to help research, we explain how.
How We Research Articles
Each article begins with a question travellers are actually asking — usually one we've seen asked across forums, search results or social media. From there, our editorial process is:
Gather primary sources
We start with official sources: GOV.UK, National Rail, VisitBritain, the Met Office, and the relevant government department for any rule or regulation.
Cross-check with secondary sources
Where official data doesn't cover a topic (like typical prices or crowd levels), we cross-check across multiple travel publications and consumer bodies.
Use research tools — including AI
We use AI writing and research tools to help draft, structure and fact-check content quickly. Every AI-assisted article is then reviewed, edited and verified by a human before publishing.
Publish with sources listed
Wherever possible, we list the official sources used at the bottom of each article, so you can verify the information yourself.
Our Use of AI Tools — Disclosed Honestly
Some of our articles are drafted with the help of AI writing tools. We disclose this openly because we believe you deserve to know how our content is produced.
Here is exactly how AI is used on this site:
- Drafting and structuring. AI tools help us outline an article quickly, suggest section headings, and draft first-pass paragraphs.
- Not used for facts. AI never decides what a price is, what a rule says, or what the weather is like. Those facts come from official UK sources, and we verify them manually.
- Human review is mandatory. Every article is read, edited, fact-checked and approved by a member of our editorial team before it goes live.
- Not used for opinions or recommendations. Our recommendations — which cities to visit, which hotels are good value, which tips actually save money — come from research and human judgement, not AI generation alone.
How We Fact-Check
Every factual claim in our articles is checked against a primary source where one exists. This includes:
- Prices and fees — verified against GOV.UK, operator websites (Trainline, National Rail, hotel chains), and VisitBritain.
- Rules and regulations — verified against GOV.UK, the Home Office, the EU Commission, and the relevant UK authority.
- Dates and schedules — verified against the official body that publishes them (for example, bank holidays come directly from GOV.UK).
- Weather and climate data — sourced from the Met Office and Open-Meteo, with historical averages noted as estimates.
- Distances and journey times — taken from National Rail and operator websites, presented as typical or approximate times, not live schedules.
Sources We Trust
Wherever possible, we rely on these primary sources:
- GOV.UK — official UK government information on passports, visas, travel advice, bank holidays and regulations.
- National Rail — official UK rail timetable and fare information.
- VisitBritain — the UK's national tourism agency, for tourism data and destination information.
- Met Office — the UK's national weather service, for climate averages and seasonal data.
- Transport for London (TfL) — for London transport fares, caps and rules.
- European Commission — for EU/Schengen entry rules affecting UK travellers.
When We Get Something Wrong
Despite our best efforts, information changes. Prices rise, rules change, and schedules update. If you spot something on our site that looks incorrect or outdated:
- Tell us. Email us at the address on our Contact page with the article URL and what you think is wrong.
- We'll verify. We'll check against our primary sources within 5 working days.
- We'll correct. If the information was wrong, we'll update the article and add a note in our change log. If it was right, we'll reply and explain why.
How Often We Update Articles
UK travel information changes frequently. Our update schedule:
- Evergreen guides (like "How to pay in the UK") — reviewed every 6 months.
- Price and fare articles — reviewed every 3-4 months, as prices rise.
- Rule and regulation articles (like passport validity, ETA) — reviewed immediately when GOV.UK announces a change.
- Seasonal articles (like packing lists) — reviewed once a year, ahead of the season they cover.
Every article shows a "Last updated" date at the top, so you know when it was last reviewed.
What We Don't Do
To be clear about our editorial boundaries:
- We don't publish sponsored content disguised as editorial. If a link is a paid partnership, we'll label it clearly.
- We don't accept payment for positive reviews. Our recommendations come from research, not from who pays us.
- We don't claim to have visited every place we write about. Some articles are based on research from official sources, and we're transparent about that.
- We don't give legal or immigration advice. Where we cover visas or entry rules, we link directly to GOV.UK and recommend consulting a qualified adviser for your specific situation.
Who We Are
Visitor Guide UK is an independent travel information site, run by a small editorial team based in the UK. We are not affiliated with any government body, tourism board, or commercial travel company. Our purpose is simple: to help visitors plan better trips to the UK with clear, honest, well-researched information.
If you have questions about our editorial standards, or want to suggest an article topic, please use our contact page.