Where Can I Fly My Drone in the UK? Rules, Distances and Saf...

Introduction

Drones are popular, affordable and great fun, but they can injure people, affect privacy and cause damage if flown carelessly. UK flying rules are set by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and sit in the Air Navigation Order 2016 (as amended) and the UK UAS Regulation. The CAA’s Drone and Model Aircraft Code (often called the Dronecode) explains the practical do’s and don’ts.

This guide gives you plain-English answers to “Where can I fly my drone?”, along with the distances you must keep from people and places, how visual line of sight (VLOS) works, and what registration you need before you even take off.

What You’ll Learn

• Where you can fly: streets, parks, countryside, and near homes or crowds
• What the Dronecode expects, including the 120 m (400 ft) height limit
• How the Open category (A1/A2/A3) affects distances from people and built-up areas
• What “visual line of sight” means in practice and when BVLOS needs special approval
• Operator ID vs Flyer ID, and who needs which
• When you need CAA permission or an Operational Authorisation
• Practical steps to avoid complaints, police reports, and collisions

Core Concepts

Registration: Operator ID and Flyer ID

• Operator ID (who’s responsible for the drone)

  • Required if your drone or model aircraft is 250 g or more, or has a camera (unless it’s a toy).
  • The Operator ID must be labelled on the drone.
  • A parent or guardian usually holds the Operator ID for younger children.

• Flyer ID (who flies the drone)

  • Required to fly a drone that is 250 g or more, or any drone with a camera unless classed as a toy.
  • It involves an online test on CAA rules.
  • Always carry evidence of your Flyer ID when flying.

If you’re flying without the correct ID, you risk enforcement action. Register and pass the test on the CAA website before you fly.

Categories and Distances: A1, A2 and A3

The UK uses risk-based categories. Most hobby and many low-risk business flights sit in the Open category:

• A1 (fly over people, not over crowds)

  • Typically for drones under 250 g (C0/C1) and some class-marked drones.
  • You may fly close to people but must not fly over a crowd.
  • Keep your distance where possible and never cause danger or nuisance.

• A2 (close to people, with extra training and suitable drone)

  • For C2-class drones with an A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CofC).
  • Keep at least 30 m horizontal distance from uninvolved people (can be reduced to 5 m in low-speed mode where permitted by the drone class marking).

• A3 (far from people)

  • For many non-class-marked drones from 250 g up to 25 kg (this is where most older consumer drones now sit).
  • Stay well away from people and never fly over them.
  • Keep at least 150 m horizontally from residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas. This usually rules out built-up streets, housing estates, retail parks and busy public parks.

Note on “congested areas”: older rules referred to “congested areas” (places used for residential, industrial, commercial or recreational purposes). The A3 requirement to stay 150 m from these areas is broadly the modern equivalent for many drones.

VLOS, Height Limits and Airspace

• Visual Line of Sight (VLOS)

  • You must keep direct, unaided sight of your drone throughout the flight. Glasses or contact lenses are fine; binoculars or FPV goggles do not count as unaided.
  • In practice, VLOS typically means no more than about 500 m horizontally and 120 m vertically from you, but you must always be able to judge the drone’s position and orientation.

• Height limit

  • Maximum 120 m (400 ft) above the surface unless you have specific permission.

• Airports and airspace

  • Do not fly in an Airport Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ) without permission.
  • Use an app such as Drone Assist (Altitude Angel) or check the CAA airspace map to see FRZs, restricted areas, NOTAMs and temporary restrictions.

Safety Rules That Apply Everywhere

• Do not endanger people, animals or property. If your flight could cause harm, don’t fly.
• Do not drop or release items from your drone.
• Keep clear of emergency service activity.
• Respect privacy laws: don’t record people without a valid reason; avoid peering into homes or gardens.
• Check local byelaws: many councils and landowners restrict take-off and landing on their land, even if overflight is legal.

Commercial Use and Authorisations

• The old “permission for commercial operations (PfCO)” is gone. What matters now is the risk category and whether you stay within the Open category limits.
• Many paid jobs can be done in the Open category if you meet A1/A2/A3 rules.
• If you need to fly closer to people or in ways that exceed Open category limits (or beyond VLOS), you’ll need a Specific category Operational Authorisation from the CAA with an approved risk assessment (e.g., PDRA-01 as a common route).

Key Examples or Case Studies

• Flying a 249 g mini drone on your street

  • Likely A1. You can fly near people but not over a crowd. Keep it at or below 120 m, maintain VLOS and avoid traffic. Even with a small drone, don’t cause nuisance or risk to road users. Operator ID and Flyer ID are still required for most camera-equipped drones.

• Taking a 900 g drone to a local park

  • If it’s non-class-marked (typical for many models), you’re in A3. Parks are “recreational areas”, so you must be 150 m away from them. If the park is busy, this is not a suitable location. Choose a large open field in the countryside well away from people and built-up areas instead.

• Filming a summer fete

  • Crowds are always off-limits in the Open category. Overflying a crowd is prohibited. To film safely and legally you’d need proper planning, crowd management, and usually a CAA Operational Authorisation. Coordinate with the organiser and landowner well in advance.

• Flying near an airport

  • The FRZ around airports is a no-go without permission. Even if you’re several kilometres away, the FRZ shape may include your location. Always check an airspace app and get permission if required.

• Beyond VLOS for surveying

  • BVLOS needs robust mitigations (e.g., detect-and-avoid or segregated airspace) and a CAA authorisation. Without that, keep every flight strictly VLOS.

Practical Applications

• Before you buy or fly

  • Check your drone’s weight and class marking (C0–C4). This determines A1/A2/A3 limits.
  • Get your Operator ID and Flyer ID from the CAA and label your drone.
  • Read your drone’s manual and enable safety features (geofencing, return-to-home).

• Pick a suitable location

  • A1 (sub-250 g/class-marked): quiet open spaces are still best; avoid crowds and sensitive sites.
  • A3 (most older 250 g–25 kg drones): choose large, open countryside well away from houses, shops, parks and groups of people. Keep 150 m from residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas.

• Check airspace and local rules

  • Use Drone Assist or the CAA map. Look for FRZs, restricted zones and NOTAMs.
  • Confirm local byelaws or landowner rules for take-off and landing (council parks, National Trust land, etc.).

• Run a quick risk assessment

  • Weather: wind limits, precipitation, sun glare, low light.
  • Site layout: launch/landing area, obstacles, trees, masts, power lines, roads and water.
  • People and animals: set a “safety bubble” and use a spotter if helpful.
  • Plan for loss of GPS, compass errors and a safe return-to-home route.

• Fly with care

  • Keep below 120 m and within VLOS at all times.
  • Keep your distance from uninvolved people; never fly over a crowd.
  • Do not drop anything from your drone.
  • Keep fingers clear of props; arm the drone only when ready to take off.
  • If anything looks unsafe, abort and land.

• After the flight

  • Log your flight and any issues (battery performance, GPS warnings).
  • Review any footage for privacy concerns before sharing.
  • Maintain batteries and firmware; store LiPos safely.

Summary Checklist

• Confirm Operator ID and Flyer ID are valid and on hand
• Identify your category (A1/A2/A3) from the drone’s class and weight
• Choose a site that fits your category (A3 usually needs 150 m from built-up and recreational areas)
• Check airspace (FRZs, NOTAMs, temporary restrictions) and local byelaws
• Keep below 120 m (400 ft) and maintain VLOS without aids
• Stay away from people; never fly over a crowd
• Do not drop items; avoid emergency scenes
• Plan for wind, failsafe and loss of GPS; have a safe abort route
• If you need to fly closer than Open category limits, seek CAA authorisation first

Quick Reference

Notes:

• “Crowd” means any group where people cannot move away quickly, such as concerts, marches or sports events.
• For closer flights than Open category allows, you’ll need training, risk assessment and a CAA Operational Authorisation.