Where to Get Medicine in London: Pharmacies, Prescriptions & Emergency Help
Getting sick while travelling is one of those things nobody really plans for.
You wake up with a headache. Your throat hurts. You've got a cold, an upset stomach or you've run out of something you take regularly.
Then comes the question:
Where do you actually get medicine in London?
The good news is that you usually don't need to find a hospital for ordinary illnesses. Pharmacies are widely available across London, and pharmacists can advise on many common conditions and recommend medicines that don't require a prescription. Some pharmacies can also provide prescription treatment for certain conditions through the NHS Pharmacy First service.
For visitors, the important thing is understanding the difference between a pharmacy, a prescription, a GP, NHS 111 and emergency medical services.
So if you're visiting London and need medicine, here's how to find it and what to do.
1. Start With a Pharmacy
For most minor illnesses, a pharmacy should be your first stop.
You'll see pharmacies throughout London, including in busy shopping streets, neighbourhood high streets and central areas.
Large chains such as Boots and Superdrug have numerous branches, while independent pharmacies are found across the city too.
For example, central London currently has pharmacies around areas such as Oxford Street, Soho, Covent Garden, Holborn, Mayfair, Westminster and the City.
But don't assume that every branch offers exactly the same services.
A pharmacy may sell medicines and provide pharmacist advice but have different opening hours or services from another branch.
The easiest way to find the nearest pharmacy that is open is to use the official NHS pharmacy finder. The NHS lets you search for pharmacies and filter for particular services.
Best for: Colds, coughs, sore throats, headaches, minor aches and pains and other everyday health problems.
2. Look for Boots or Superdrug
If you're visiting London for the first time, the easiest names to recognise are often Boots and Superdrug.
Both have branches in central London and sell a wide range of over-the-counter medicines and health products.
You'll find Boots branches around major shopping and transport areas, while Superdrug also has numerous central locations.
For example, current listings include a Boots on Regent Street, Boots around the Strand and Tottenham Court Road, and Superdrug branches around Oxford Street, the Strand and London Bridge.
However, here's an important point:
A shop being open does not necessarily mean its pharmacy counter or pharmacist service is available for the same hours.
If you need to speak to a pharmacist or collect a prescription, check the pharmacy's current hours rather than relying only on the shop's opening time.
That distinction can save you a wasted journey.
3. Try an Independent London Pharmacy
Don't assume you need one of the big chains.
Independent pharmacies can be particularly useful because you can speak directly with a pharmacist about what you're experiencing and ask what treatment might be appropriate.
For example, current central London listings include independent pharmacies such as Holborn Pharmacy, Fitzrovia Pharmacy and pharmacies in Mayfair and Westminster.
The NHS says pharmacists can advise on conditions including coughs, colds, sore throats, ear infections and aches and pains, and can recommend treatments that don't need a prescription.
So if you're standing in your hotel room wondering whether you need to see a doctor, talking to a pharmacist can be a sensible first step for a minor illness.
You can explain your symptoms, tell them what medicines you're already taking and ask what they recommend.
4. Pharmacy First Can Help With Some Conditions
One thing visitors may not realise is that pharmacies in England can do more than simply sell medicines.
The NHS Pharmacy First service allows participating pharmacies to provide advice and, where appropriate, prescription medicine for certain common conditions without you first having to see a GP.
The conditions covered include:
Sinusitis
Sore throat
Earache in children
Infected insect bites
Impetigo
Shingles
Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in eligible women
There are age and eligibility requirements for some conditions, and not every pharmacy offers every service, so the NHS recommends checking with the pharmacy before visiting.
This can be particularly useful if you're travelling and don't have a regular GP in London.
It doesn't mean every illness can be treated at a pharmacy.
But for certain common conditions, it can save you from unnecessarily trying to arrange a GP appointment.
5. If You Already Have a Prescription
If you have a prescription from an NHS GP or another authorised prescriber, you can collect your medicine from a pharmacy.
In England, prescriptions can be sent electronically to your chosen pharmacy.
The NHS calls this choosing or nominating a pharmacy. Once you've chosen one, your prescriptions can be sent electronically there for collection.
If you're visiting London and have already been prescribed something, don't simply walk into a pharmacy and assume they'll have it.
You need the prescription to have been issued and sent to that pharmacy, or you need the appropriate prescription information or NHS App barcode where applicable.
It's also worth checking whether the pharmacy has the medicine in stock before travelling across London.
6. What If You've Run Out of Your Regular Medicine?
This is one of the most important situations for travellers.
Imagine you've arrived in London and realised you've forgotten your regular medication.
Don't wait until you're completely out if you can avoid it.
If you're using an NHS repeat prescription and need an urgent supply, the NHS has an emergency prescription service through NHS 111.
The NHS says that if you've completely run out of a medicine you regularly take, NHS 111 online can help identify the best option and may refer you to a pharmacy for an emergency supply.
There are limitations.
For example, NHS 111's emergency prescription service is intended for medicines you are regularly prescribed, and it cannot be used to obtain antibiotics for a new illness or certain controlled medicines.
If you're travelling with prescription medication, the safest approach is therefore to bring enough of your regular medicine for your trip and keep it in its original packaging where possible.
Don't rely on finding an emergency replacement after you arrive.
7. If You Need Medicine at Night
This is where planning becomes important.
Not every pharmacy stays open late.
Some central London branches have relatively long opening hours, but pharmacy services can have different hours from the main shop.
Current listings show, for example, central Boots and Superdrug branches operating into the evening, while many independent pharmacies close considerably earlier.
Opening hours can also change on Sundays, bank holidays and other dates.
The NHS specifically advises using its pharmacy finder to identify an open pharmacy, and London NHS guidance directs people to the NHS Pharmacy Finder or NHS 111 when they need help finding an available pharmacy.
So if it's late at night:
Don't simply search Google Maps and assume the pharmacy counter is open.
Check the NHS listing or contact the pharmacy first.
8. If You Need an Emergency Supply
If you've completely run out of a regular prescription medicine, a pharmacy may sometimes be able to provide an emergency supply depending on your circumstances and the medicine involved.
The NHS says pharmacies can provide certain emergency medicines even without a prescription, although you may have to pay.
A pharmacist will need to assess the situation.
Bring whatever useful information you have, such as:
The name of the medicine
The strength and dose
Your prescription information
Your NHS details if applicable
The packaging or a photograph of the label
Details of your usual pharmacy or prescriber
The more information you can provide, the easier it is for the pharmacist to understand what you normally take.
But don't assume an emergency supply is guaranteed.
Some medicines have additional restrictions, and controlled medicines can require extra checks.
9. If You're Unsure Whether You Need a Doctor
Sometimes the question isn't really:
“Where can I buy medicine?”
It's:
“Do I actually need to see a doctor?”
A pharmacist can be a useful first point of contact for many minor illnesses.
The NHS says pharmacists can assess common conditions, recommend appropriate treatment and refer you to a GP or another healthcare professional if they cannot help you themselves.
If you're unsure what service you need, you can also use NHS 111.
NHS 111 can help you decide what to do and where to go for urgent medical problems that aren't life-threatening.
This is particularly useful for visitors because you don't have to know the London healthcare system before asking for help.
10. If It's an Emergency, Don't Go Looking for a Pharmacy
A pharmacy is not the right place for a medical emergency.
If someone is seriously ill or injured and needs immediate emergency treatment, call 999 or go to A&E.
Don't spend time searching for a pharmacy if the situation is genuinely life-threatening.
For urgent but non-life-threatening medical concerns, NHS 111 can help direct you to the appropriate service.
This distinction is important when you're travelling because unfamiliarity with the NHS can make a relatively simple situation feel more complicated than it is.
Can Tourists Buy Medicine in London?
Yes, visitors can buy many over-the-counter medicines from pharmacies and other authorised retailers.
However, the medicine system in the UK may be different from the one you're used to at home.
A medicine that is freely available in another country may require a prescription in the UK.
Some medicines may also be sold only after speaking with a pharmacist.
So don't assume that because you've bought a particular medicine without a prescription elsewhere, you can automatically do the same in London.
If you're unsure, ask the pharmacist.
That's one of the advantages of using a pharmacy rather than simply picking something off a shelf.
What Should You Tell the Pharmacist?
If you're visiting London and need help, don't be embarrassed about explaining exactly what is wrong.
Tell the pharmacist:
What symptoms you have
How long you've had them
Your age, where relevant
Any medicines you're already taking
Any allergies you have
Whether you're pregnant, where relevant
Whether you have an existing medical condition that affects your medication
If English isn't your first language, you can also show the packaging of a medicine you've used before.
A photograph of the box or label can be useful too.
And if you're taking a regular prescription medicine, having the generic name and strength can be more useful than knowing only the brand name used in your home country.
Where Should You Go for Medicine in London?
The answer depends on what you need.
If you have a minor illness, start with a pharmacy.
If you need ordinary over-the-counter medicine, a pharmacy such as Boots, Superdrug or an independent pharmacy can be convenient.
If you need help with certain common conditions, ask whether the pharmacy offers NHS Pharmacy First.
If you've run out of a regular prescription medicine, use NHS 111 or speak to a pharmacist about your options.
If you're not sure what medical service you need, NHS 111 can help.
And if it is a life-threatening emergency, call 999 or go to A&E.
The important thing is that you don't need to know every part of the NHS before travelling to London.
For most everyday medication needs, start by finding a pharmacy.
And if you need something specific, don't just look for the nearest shop check whether it provides the pharmacy service you need and whether the pharmacist is available.
London has pharmacies all over the city.
You just need to know which one is right for your situation.
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