How has London changed since Brexit?
Those who used to live in the United Kingdom about seven years ago will tell you that in the days following the referendum that marked the beginning of Brexit, there was tension in the streets and the atmosphere outside the country's borders was shocking.
What followed was a close result that would have enormous political significance in the years to come and would have left out one of the European Union's longest-standing members.
Some clung to the fact that they wanted to free themselves from the ‘heavy burden of European bureaucracy and excessive regulation’ and hoped for a greater control over immigration policy.
Others saw the project as a diplomatic umbrella, unrestricted access to a market of millions of potential customers and a way to curb the independence aspirations of the Scots and Irish, among other things.
The exit from the European Union was completed on December 31st, 2020, ending a 47-year relationship.
London has changed since Brexit.
Aside from the need to show a valid passport for EU citizens entering the country (beforehand a national ID card would suffice), the United Kingdom has updated its entry rules for European citizens, including tourists.
From this year 2025, a new type of authorization is required to travel even just for a few days.
After years of doubt, speculation, and setbacks, it seems that Brexit has become a reality for European tourists as well.
Starting October 1st 2021, with the introduction of the passport requirement, we had a first glimpse of the British government's future direction for managing EU tourism.
Now, other new fundamental rules have been introduced that are essential to know if you plan to travel to the country.
From April 2025 in fact European Union citizens are required to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before traveling to the United Kingdom.
The passport must be valid for at least the entire duration of your stay in the UK and it is necessary to apply for this electronic authorization.
In fact, the ETA is not a visa but rather an authorization digitally linked to the applicant's passport.
The system is similar to the United States ESTA and aims to strengthen border security and better regulate entry into the country.
The ETA allows a stay in the UK for up to six months and the cost is negligible.
Currently, the ETA costs about £10 and applying is simple: simply apply online or via the app, and once accepted, the authorization is valid for two years.
Applying for an ETA is quick and easy, but it must be done before departure.
Travelers must submit the application well in advance and to apply for an ETA, you must:
- pay a fee
- provide your contact details and passport information
- provide a valid photo in accordance with the digital photograph regulations
- answer a series of questions

For most applicants, a response arrives within seconds.
However, some applications may take longer, up to three working days and, for this reason, the British government recommends applying well in advance.

Another major change we see in London is in our pockets.
Indeed, while inflation has affected almost all European economies, Brexit and the pandemic have made things particularly complicated in London.
In many cases, the increases are following the same trend as other markets and are partially triggered by the decline of the pound.
The case of tourist attractions is scandalous, with many owners now hoping to recoup two years' worth of income lost during the pandemic by raising prices in a crazy way.
London has always been expensive, breaking all records in terms of real estate price increases and growth, but with Brexit and the post-pandemic era, the situation is completely out of control and today you can't expect to find anything for an affordable price.
In conclusion, I can say that the city has changed in terms of regulations, habits and prices.
The cost of living has increased, but luckily salaries have also increased.
The difficulty today for a European citizen is having to find work from home in order to be sponsored by a British company and be able to legally move to the United Kingdom.