thai girlfriend back to uk

[Governor]

And I have even heard that occasionaly an older British man as married a younger woman and moved to the UK, sometimes with the same outcome - suspect that is just a rumour though.

[STEVE G]

This has nothing to do with the Schengen area, which Ireland, Romania and Bulgaria also haven't signed.

I suppose if the UK had signed the Schengen agreement, then there would be free travel from the continental EU to the UK as there is between countries here.
Purely by coincidence, I happened to pass through the village of Schengen yesterday afternoon here in the south of Luxembourg where the agreement was signed.
It lies near the borders with France and Germany on the Moselle river and by strolling over a bridge, you can have been in three different countries in a matter of minutes.
Obviously like most european borders these days, there is nothing but a sign at the side of the road and no passport control.

[Governor]

Often wondered where the name came from, I have travelled throughout Europe but have never been to Luxembourg, though as a kid I used to listen to Radio Luxembourg.

I think that's one of the reasons the UK didn't sign the Schengen agreement, the UK is believed to have a far bigger pull factor than mainland Europe, with most illegals transiting Europe in the hope to get to England, the genuine visitors suffer as a result.