Laws in United Kingdom
How the United Kingdom is classified on 47 of the 48 laws this site maps, grouped by subject. Each links to the full answer and its source.
Body & Life
- Abortion
- Legal on request Abortion is available on request, subject to a gestational limit.
- Euthanasia
- Illegal Active euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal, though passive euthanasia is permitted.
- Suicide Laws
- Not a crime
- FGM Laws
- Specifically banned FGM is banned by a dedicated law or an explicit criminal provision.
- Surrogacy
- Altruistic only Altruistic surrogacy is legal, but commercial arrangements are prohibited by the Surrogacy Arrangements Act 1985.
- Organ Donor Consent
- Opt-out (presumed consent) All four UK nations presume consent to donation unless you opt out — Wales since 2015, England 2020, Scotland 2021, Northern Ireland 2023.
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- 18 Minimum age to gamble: 16.
- Cryptocurrency
- Legal Cryptocurrency is legal to own and trade.
- Online Gambling
- Legal & regulated Online gambling is legal and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission under the Gambling Act 2005.
Daily Life
- Jaywalking
- Varies by region Jaywalking is legal in Great Britain but an offence in Northern Ireland.
- Public Smoking Bans
- Comprehensive ban The United Kingdom has had smoke-free workplace laws in effect across the whole country since July 2007.
- Driving Age
- 16–17 Minimum age to drive a car: 17.
- Homeschooling
- Legal Homeschooling is legal.
Animals & Environment
- Fur Farming
- Banned Fur farming is banned.
- Cosmetic Animal Testing
- Banned The UK banned animal testing on cosmetics and ingredients in 1998.
- Dog Meat
- Slaughter/sale restricted Sale is illegal, but consumption is legal.
- Plastic Bag Bans
- Taxed / charged Plastic bags are legal but carry a mandatory charge or tax.
Civic & Family
- Voting Age
- 18 The voting age is 18 for UK general elections; 16 for Scottish and Welsh devolved elections, and a reduction to 16 for all elections has been announced.
- Compulsory Voting
- Voluntary Voting is voluntary.
- Minimum Working Age
- 14–15 Minimum working age: 14.
Relationships & Sexuality
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Marriage legal Same-sex marriage is legally performed and recognized.
- Same-Sex Activity
- Legal Same-sex sexual activity is legal.
- Age of Consent
- 16–17 The age of consent is 16.
- Sex Work
- Varies by region Great Britain decriminalizes selling sex, but Northern Ireland criminalizes buying it, creating regional variation.
- Pornography
- Restricted Online pornography requires age verification under the Online Safety Act 2023.
- Divorce
- Legal Divorce is legal and generally available, including unilaterally without fault.
- Non-Binary Recognition
- Not recognized The UK has no legislation recognizing a non-binary gender category.
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Joint adoption legal Same-sex couples can jointly petition to adopt.
- Incest Laws
- Criminal offense
- Marriage Age
- 16–17 Minimum marriage age: 16.
Speech & Belief
- Blasphemy Laws
- Varies by region Blasphemy is abolished in England, Wales, and Scotland, but remains a common law offence in Northern Ireland.
- Apostasy Laws
- Legal There are no legal penalties for apostasy in the UK, and ex-Muslims can freely question their former faith.
- Holocaust Denial
- No specific law No specific law criminalises Holocaust denial.
- Flag Desecration
- Legal / protected speech There is no specific law making flag desecration a criminal offense.
- Conversion Therapy
- No ban Conversion therapy is not currently banned nationwide, as legislation is still pending in England, Wales, and Scotland.
Justice & Weapons
- Death Penalty
- Fully abolished Fully abolished for all crimes.
- Gun Laws
- Highly restrictive / banned Civilians cannot obtain handguns.
- School Corporal Punishment
- Banned Corporal punishment is outlawed in state and government-funded private schools under the Education Act 1996.
- Military Conscription
- No conscription
- Jury Trials
- Jury trials used Jury trials are a regular part of the justice system in the United Kingdom's legal jurisdictions.
Substances
- Cannabis
- Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only; recreational use remains prohibited.
- Drinking Age
- 18–20 Minimum age to buy alcohol: 18.
- Smoking Age
- 18 Minimum age to buy tobacco: 18.
- Psilocybin Mushrooms
- Illegal Psilocybin is a controlled substance; possession is a criminal offence.
- Salvia Divinorum
- Illegal Possession of salvia divinorum is a criminal offence.
- Khat
- Illegal Khat was made illegal in the United Kingdom on 24 June 2014.
- E-Cigarettes
- Regulated E-cigarettes are legal and regulated; disposable vapes are banned from June 2025 but reusable devices remain legal.
Nearby countries
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.