Staying at home will help stop the COVID-19 outbreak. If you are a U.S. citizen who is staying at home in the United Kingdom, here are some resources that may be of assistance.
To keep up with events as they happen, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
This page was last updated on April 16, 2020 at 16:00 BST.
Protect Your Health

If You Feel Sick
If you believe you have symptoms of COVID-19, there are a number of resources:
The UK National Health Service (NHS) has posted an informative guide and self-test at: https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19/
We also recommend you consult the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for specific information about the disease, as well as another symptom-checker.
Here is where to get help:
- If you are not in need of emergency medical attention, first use the 111 Online Coronavirus service to find out what to do next.
- Follow the advice from the online tool.
- Only call the NHS 111 number if you cannot get help online.
- If you are directed to call 999, the operator will ask where you are and for your phone number in case you get cut off.
- An ambulance crew might arrive wearing protective clothing so that the virus is not spread.
- Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital as an alternative to calling an ambulance.
- If you have a genuine medical emergency, dial 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Health Care in the United Kingdom
If you need to see a doctor whilst you are in the UK, regardless of your residency status, you can receive treatment in an NHS facility. However, visitors to the United Kingdom do not qualify for free treatment under the National Health Service.
In the United Kingdom, the ER is called Accident and Emergency, or commonly referred to as A&E. Any care beyond emergency treatment received at an NHS facility will likely incur a fee. As such, all travelers should have sufficient medical insurance to cover the cost of all medical treatment received while in the United Kingdom. To find out more about the UK National Health Service visit www.nhs.uk
The U.S. Embassy London website has additional medical information.
The U.S. Government assumes no responsibility for payment of medical expenses for private individuals. In addition, the U.S. Medicare Program does not provide coverage for hospital or medical costs outside of the United States.
Mental Health
Your wellbeing is more than physical. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues may arise as the confinement period continues. These resources may be of help:
- NHS Every Mind Matters offers tips on mental wellbeing while self-isolating in the UK.
- Phone a free Helpline in the UK if you are having suicidal thoughts.
- American Psychiatric Association offers free mental health webinars.
- Disaster Distress Helpline offers crisis counseling as well as substance abuse and mental health advice. Or, you can call 1-800-985-5990 for U.S.-based advice.
- The U.S.-based National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1- 800-273-8255 or you can chat with Lifeline.
If you want to help others while you are in the UK, the NHS has established a volunteer responder program. Read more on the NHS England website. Note: Recruitment to this scheme was temporarily paused on 29 March 2020 to process the initial 750,000 applications. Further information will follow.
The listing and links above are provided as a point of reference and are not intended to be exhaustive. The inclusion of a specific company or organization does not constitute a recommendation, and the Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability, reputation, or quality of services provided by the companies or organizations whose names appear on such lists.
Be Safe

- Emergency Services, dial 999
- Nonemergency Services, dial 101
Staying at home will help stop the COVID-19 outbreak. If you are a U.S. citizen who is staying at home in the United Kingdom, here are some resources that may be of assistance.
Self-quarantine and social distancing help reduce the spread of COVID-19, but for many dealing with domestic violence, staying home may put people at risk. External factors such as financial strain and stress compound the issue, and when the community is encouraged to remain in their homes an abuser may take advantage of an already harmful situation. If you are experiencing domestic abuse, call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline at 0808 2000 247.
For victims of domestic violence and abuse during COVID-19:
- UK Domestic Abuse information
- Galop (for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people). Tel: 0800-999-5428
- Men’s Advice Line, Tel: 0808-801-0327
- Rape Crisis (England and Wales), Tel: 0808-802-9999
- Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Hotline, Tel: 0800-027-1234
- Scottish Women’s Aid, Tel: 0131-226-6606
- Wales Domestic Abuse Helpline, Tel: 0808-80-10-800
- Women’s Aid Federation (Northern Ireland), Tel: 0800-917-1414
To keep up with events as they happen, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.
Support for Children and Young People:
- Fact Sheet for Children – Coronavirus (color PDF / 1 page)
- Childline – Call: 0800-1111
- Victim Support – Call: 08-08-16-89-111
- National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) – Call 0808-800-5000
- Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB) is the UK branch of the International Social Services (ISS) network. Their free Advice Line opens between 9.30am-4.30pm from Monday-Friday to discuss international cases and provide advice and guidance. Advice Line Tel: 020 7735 8941 or email info@cfab.org.uk
Support for the Homeless
Protect Your Mental Health
Emotional support
- Samaritans– Support for anyone experiencing suicide thoughts (24hr helpline, 365 days), Tel: 116 123 free from any phone
- Hub of Hope – Put in postcode to find out about local support and services in your area
There are also many resources available for online counseling in the United States. Here are a few:
- National Domestic Violence Hotline, or call 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE)
- National Child Abuse Hotline/Childhelp, or call 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
- National Sexual Assault Hotline, or call 1-800-656-4673 (HOPE)
- National Center for Victims of Crime, or call 1-202-467-8700
- National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women, or call 1-800-903-0111 x 3
- Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community, or call 1-877-643-8222
- National Center for Elder Abuse, or call 1-855-500-3537
- Northwest Network of Bisexual, Trans, Lesbian & Gay Survivors of Abuse, or call 1-206-568-7777
- National Resource Center on Domestic Violence(and vawnet.org), or call 1-800-537-2238
- Futures Without Violence: The National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence, or call 1-888-792-2873
- Childhelp USA/National Child Abuse Hotline, or call 1-800-422-4453
- Domestic Violence Initiative , or call 1-303-839-5510/ 1-877-839-5510
- Deaf Abused Women’s Network (DAWN)or email: Hotline@deafdawn.org, or call 1-202-559-5366
- INCITE! Women of Color Against Violenceor email natl@gmail.com
- Asian and Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence or call 1-415-954-9988
- Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence (CAAAV), or call 1-212- 473-6485
Other Services
If you are looking for counseling, legal advice, or to help someone back home, here are some more resources:
- National Human Trafficking Resource Center/Polaris Project, or call 1-888-373-7888 | Text: HELP to BeFree (233733)
- National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, or call 1-510-465-1984
- Center for Judicial Excellence(email info@centerforjudicialexcellence.org),
- Casa de Esperanza, or call 1-651-772-1611
- National Latin @ Network for Healthy Families and Communities, or call 1-651-646-5553
- The Audre Lorde Project, or call 1-178-596-0342
- LAMBDA GLBT Community Services, or call 1-206-350-4283
- National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, or call 1-202-393-5177
- Trans Lifeline, or call 1-877-565-8860
- Legal Momentum, or call 1-212-925-6635
The listing and links above are provided as a point of reference and are not intended to be exhaustive. The inclusion of a specific company or organization does not constitute a recommendation, and the Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability, reputation, or quality of services provided by the companies or organizations whose names appear on such lists.
Know The Law

During this time, your movements outside your house are restricted. A stay-at-home order was put into effect throughout the United Kingdom on March. All non-essential public services in the United Kingdom remain closed.
Stay at home. You should only leave the house for very limited purposes:
- shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible
- one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk (this includes walking a pet), or cycle– alone or with members of your household
- any medical need, including to donate blood, avoid or escape risk of injury or harm, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
- travelling for work purposes, but only where you cannot work from home
- you should not be meeting friends unless you live in the same household
- you should not be visiting family members who do not live in your home
If you leave your home or gather in public for any reason other than those specified, the police may:
- instruct you to go home, leave an area or disperse
- instruct you to take steps to stop your children breaking these rules
- take you home – or arrest you – if you do not follow their instructions or where they deem it necessary
- issue a fine (fixed penalty notice) of £60, which will be lowered to £30 if paid within 14 days.
- issue a fine (fixed penalty notice) of £120 for second time offenders, doubling on each further repeat offence
Individuals who do not pay their fine could be taken to court, with magistrates able to impose unlimited fines.
Daily information on the COVID-19 outbreak in the United Kingdom is available at the U.S. Embassy London dedicated webpage.
The text of the recent UK government regulation is available at Legislation.Gov.UK:
The listing and links above are provided as a point of reference and are not intended to be exhaustive. The inclusion of a specific company or organization does not constitute a recommendation, and the Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability, reputation, or quality of services provided by the companies or organizations whose names appear on such lists.
Connect

If you are feeling like you want to connect with other U.S. citizens, there are a number of resources still going strong at this time.
Associations for Americans are listed below:
- American Women’s Group in London
- American International Church
- American Society in London
- American Hour Online
- Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas
- FOCUS
- UK Yankee
By Region
- England : American Expats in England
- Scotland : American Expats in Scotland
- Wales: English Speaking Union
- Northern Ireland: Ulster American Women’s Club
- Chilterns: Chilterns American Women’s Club
- Manchester : American Expats in Manchester
- Surrey: American Women of Surrey
- Thames Valley: Thames Valley American Women’s Club
Political
For Military Veterans
For U.S. military veterans and their families, The American Legion, London, The Not Forgotten, TAPS, Chelsea Pensioners, and the Royal British Legion offer a variety of support services.
The listing and links above are provided as a point of reference and are not intended to be exhaustive. The inclusion of a specific company or organization does not constitute a recommendation, and the Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability, reputation, or quality of services provided by the companies or organizations whose names appear on such lists.
Nourish

Being confined at home without the freedom to shop at any time can be a source of stress and anxiety. The following resources are available to ensure you have food and other necessities for daily life, even when in confinement.
Waitrose & Partners, M&S, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Aldi, and Iceland are local grocery chains mostly open from approximately 08:00 – 20:00, with the first hour of the day reserved for the elderly, vulnerable, NHS staff, and social carers.
Most also offer delivery or pick-up services as well. Abel and Cole offers fresh organic produce boxes for delivery. Good60Sixty’s website focuses on deliveries by local independent shops and artisan producers from Borough Market. The New Covent Garden Market also has a variety of food boxes available for delivery by Premier Food Service Provider. Please check websites for updates on hours and options.
Uber Eats, Just Eat, and Deliveroo are available for online food delivery. The delivery person will put your food at a safe distance from the door. Payment is made online. Check out The Nudge’s online site listing restaurants that deliver but aren’t listed on food apps. CULTUREWhisper has a round-up of top cafés, restaurants, and bars delivering to your door.
The listing and links above are provided as a point of reference and are not intended to be exhaustive. The inclusion of a specific company or organization does not constitute a recommendation, and the Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability, reputation, or quality of services provided by the companies or organizations whose names appear on such lists.
Teach

With a good Internet connection, families can access websites that offer learning tools for all levels.
- YouTube channels such as Smarter Every Day and Lab 360 offer educational videos and science experiments!
- Other digital educational resources are offering a few weeks of free access to programs that typically have a monthly fee (Scholastic,BrainPop and Kahoot).
- Study.com is offering a discount on its materials.
General resources for children’s education at all levels:
A list of public resources and private companies currently offering free educational online resources in the U.K. and the U.S.: www.tes.com
Websites supporting British curriculum:
- BBC Teach offers resources to support children follow the British curriculum and other links
- The Institute of Education, a leader in children’s online education, includes resources on coronavirus, primary and secondary curriculum assistance
- TES offers worksheets for primary and secondary curriculum resources.
- The Royal Shakespeare Company provides resources for parents and teachers to encourage children to learn more about Shakespeare
Websites supporting the American curriculum:
- Resources for AP students including live reviews, live trivia, and study guides: https://app.fiveable.me/
- Test Prep for SAT, ACT, etc.: www.bwseducationconsulting.com/
- Grammar practice for Middle School: www.classroomcereal.com
- Math practice (counting to algebra and geometry): www.mathscore.com
- Math as a fun part of your daily family routine: bedtimemath.org
- Elementary Math through 6th grade: boddlelearning.com
- A wide range of math content from middle school through AP Calculus: https://deltamath.com/overview
- Reading passages for grades 3-12, with reading comprehension and discussion questions: www.commonlit.org
- K-5th Science lessons: https://mysteryscience.com/
- PBS Kids videos on YouTube
Supporting Students with Exceptional Needs
Online learning for children with special needs often involves additional considerations. Here are some resources for parents.
- Looking for an educational app or website? Common Sense Media provides information and reviews on the best special education applications and websites based on recommendations by educators.
- The Center on Online Learning and Students with Disabilities has a wealth of research on online learning for students with disabilities. This is not a turn-key resource for parents seeking online lessons, but studies, guidance, and policies.
- Not specifically for children with special needs, PBS Kids offers many online education resources. If you can’t get in because access is blocked outside the United States, there are PBS Kids videos on YouTube.
The listing and links above are provided as a point of reference and are not intended to be exhaustive. The inclusion of a specific company or organization does not constitute a recommendation, and the Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability, reputation, or quality of services provided by the companies or organizations whose names appear on such lists.
Entertain

Combatting boredom is important. Many platforms (from traditional to Instagram to Youtube) are offering a wide variety of suggestions for you and your family:
Read!
JSTOR, a digital library that normally requires a subscription, is putting 6,000 of its e-books and more than 150 journals online for free.
Scribd, an online library, containing e-books, audiobooks, and magazine articles, is making its content accessible for free for 30 days.
Project Muse is making its academic content temporarily available. This includes the Music Library Association, which has articles on music history; the National Bureau of Asian Research; and the University of California Press.
At Home with Penguin, featuring live-streamed video conversations from the homes of some of the world’s best-loved authors.
British Library has a vast digital collection to explore.
Project Gutenburg, Open Library, ManyBooks, and LibriVox are other services available by subscription or with a free account.
Google Books, Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books and Audible are offering a selection of free e-books if you have an account. No membership is required, however, some require a credit card to open an account. Search for “free books”. The selection is restricted – no current best-sellers.
Professional Sports – Complimentary offerings will provide access to full length and condensed replays of all games from the 2019-20 season, as well as an expansive archive of classic games and content. Check terms and conditions.
Virtual Concerts and Talks – We can’t visit it right now, but we can appreciate culture online.
- The Metropolitan Opera, New York
- BBC Radio 4 Desert Island Discs
- How To Academy Talks
- BBC Culture in Quarantine
Virtual Theatre –
- Sadler’s Wells (dance)
- Shakespeare’s Globe
- National Theatre
- Viral Film Festival
- The Show Must Go Online
- Royal Opera House
- London Symphony Orchestra
- The Show Must Go On
Virtual Museum Tours – Now’s the time to appreciate many of the museums of the world online.
- British Museum, London
- Guggenheim Museum, New York
- National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
- Musée d’Orsay, Paris
- National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul
- Pergamon Museum, Berlin
- Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
- Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
- The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
- Uffizi Gallery, Florence
- MASP, São Paulo
- National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City
- The Mucem, Marseille
- The Stay at Home Museum
Learn to Cook – In person classes are a no-go for now, but many schools are offering online classes
- Borough Market Online
- Bread Ahead Online Baking
- Live Grilled Cheese Toasties from Morty & Bob’s
- Home Cooking with The Athenian
Learn to Play the Guitar, Bass or even the Ukeule
Fender is offering three months of free lessons to the first 1 million who sign up for Fender Play. There’s no cost. No catch. Just music!
There’s even a Virtual Pub Quiz!
Also, look to your internet/television providers for movie rentals.
The listing and links above are provided as a point of reference and are not intended to be exhaustive. The inclusion of a specific company or organization does not constitute a recommendation, and the Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability, reputation, or quality of services provided by the companies or organizations whose names appear on such lists.
Stay Fit

The single most important action we can all take, in fighting coronavirus, is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives. When we reduce our day-to-day contact with other people, we will reduce the spread of the infection. You are, however, allowed one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle – alone or with members of your household.
However, there are still resources available for staying fit indoors:
Yoga:
- Core Power Yoga is streaming classes for free on its YouTube channel at 2pm and 7pm.
- LV Yoga Fareham is offering free yoga classes, which are being live-streamed on its Facebook page.
- Fly LDN is running Instagram Live yoga classes on a daily basis, at 8am, 12:30pm and 6pm.
Body Weight Training, HIIT, and Cardio:
- 305 Fitness is offering free dance fitness classes on its YouTube channel, at 4pm and 6pm 10pm.
- Fitness instructor Don Saladino, whose clients include Ryan Renolds, is offering a free 4 week body weight program .
- Barry’s UK is bringing its intense workouts to Instagram Live, the list of classes is available on the club’s Instagram page.
- Boxing studio Rumble is offering a wide variety of free online classes via Instagram Live.
Kids:
- Fitness instructor Joe Wicks is offering a daily PE lesson on his YouTube channel The Body Coach TV.
- Yoga instructor Anne Monaghan is offering yoga classes for children on Facebook.
Dance:
- The Royal Academy of Dance is offering beginners ballet for adults.
- Sadler’s Wells Theatre is offering family dance workshops.
- The English National Ballet is offering ballet classes.
- Matthew Bourne’s Dance Company is offering open company classes on Wednesdays at 10am BST. (also on Facebook)
The listing and links above are provided as a point of reference and are not intended to be exhaustive. The inclusion of a specific company or organization does not constitute a recommendation, and the Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability, reputation, or quality of services provided by the companies or organizations whose names appear on such lists.
Help for Four-Footed Friends

Across England and Wales, most veterinarians remain open with reduced services and hours. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the UK’s regulator for veterinary practitioners, has advised that practices may remain open under current government guidance, but only for the provision of essential services. Some vets continue to provide retail services for pet food and other supplies.
Many clinics now require customers to consult by telephone before bringing in their four-legged loved ones. As the situation continues to change, it is best to reach out to your local veterinary clinic directly before visiting.
Pet-owners are allowed to take dogs for a walk as a form of exercise, provided they keep a safe distance from others. If your household has more than one dog, or your dog requires more than one walk per day, adults in your household must take turns to ensure they are in compliance with the government’s guideline of one outdoor exercise daily per person.
You should also have a plan for your pet if you get sick and are unable to provide care. Have extra food, litter for cats, and other necessary supplies on hand and be ready to make the handover if necessary.
- Nationwide: Medivet
- Cornwall: Kernow Veterinary Group
- London: Anne’s Veterinary Group
- Swansea: Animal Doctors Veterinary Clinic
- Midlands and northern England: White Cross Vets
What does your pet need immediate care?
If any of the below apply to your pet, you should contact your nearest veterinarian clinic:
- Breathing difficulties
- Collapse
- Eye problems
- Ingestion of poisonous or other harmful substances
- Loss of thirst & appetite
- Male cats struggling to pass urine
- Open wound injuries
- Rabbits not eating
- Seizures
- Swallowing hazards
- Swollen abdomen or retching (especially large dogs)
- Struggling to give birth
- Trauma (e.g. car accidents)
- Vomiting or diarrhea (especially if your pet appears quiet or depressed or if it is going on for a long time – more than 24 hours)
The listing and links above are provided as a point of reference and are not intended to be exhaustive. The inclusion of a specific company or organization does not constitute a recommendation, and the Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability, reputation, or quality of services provided by the companies or organizations whose names appear on such lists.