Putting aside the obvious and massive downgrade from an EU passport to a non-EU one, I prefer the old design with normal font size and a burgundy cover.

And if anyone thought the new blue passports are actually made in the UK then wait till they find out that they're actually manufactured... in the EU.

I have to renew mine at the end of this year, it expires next April but the 10 years from issue is December. As we have a uk trip planned for February i will apply for the new one online in November. It looks straight forward anough🤞

Another alternative if it suits anyone is to do it by appointment whilst in the UK, my wife did this and it was super easy, the application goes in online and the appointment is really just to collect the passport, she was in and out in no time at all with new passport in hand. Costs a bit more but very easy for anyone who doesn’t want to be without a passport for any length of time.

Was it still necessary to send in the old passport beforehand, therefore limiting travel on said passport?

Nothing sent in just the online application, that’s why we did it as my wife couldn’t be without her passport.

Makes sense if you need to hang on to your current passport whilst a new one is being processed. It's quite lucky that the UK allows this as in Australia for instance any new passport application... instantly invalidates your current passport.

I assume that upon collection of the new passport they took the old one and applied some scissors to it?

Yes, usual corner clipped and handed back !

Just to add that the personal appointment fast track system is only available if there are no complications to your application (changes of name etc).

A foreigner in Spain is, by law, required to be able to produce evidence of Identity. That wouldnormally be a passport or ID card. A TIE is not a national ID issued by the foreign country, so in the absence of a UK ID card, the UK passport is the only legally acceptable document. So, in theory, if you don't have a valid passport in your possession, you are breaking the law. That said, other documentation such as a TIE it Spanish driving licence would probably be accepted.

During our last passport renewal for one of our daughters we flew into Luton, got a photo of her taken at one of the malls, and then filled in the online passport application form and went to the post office to send off her current (UK) passport.

Two days later we flew out using her other (EU) passport and the new (UK) passport arrived a few weeks later directly to our Spanish address. Multiple passports definitely help!

If you're in Spain then just a TIE will do (even banks accept just the TIE on its own). If you're at the Spanish or Schengen border or in the Schengen area then TIE + passport are necessary. If you're outside the Schengen area then you just have to show the passport.

Just completed the online renewal form (overseas) and uploaded a digital photo to renew my 14yr old son's UK passport.
Luckily my neighbour is going to London on Tuesday from Uruguay so popped both the old passports in an envelope and used the Royal Mail prepaid label tracked/signed service.

Stroke of luck - he'll just pop it in a red letterbox upon arrival in London!! Saved me a few quid and a lot of time.

I did include the Uruguayan passport, no photocopies. Did not want to scan every single page of his passport as it says even blank pages!!
Had expired anyway so not worried about sending in the originals.

I recently did the online application for new passport. It was very straightforward from applying to receiving new passport took 2 weeks and my old passport was received back by me about 4 days after I received the new passport. The passport office updated me at each stage including receiving and sending the old passport .

I got mine in 3 weeks from sending to receiving here in Japan. Used my phone for the passport photo, everything online. Apart from returning my old passport of course. I received new and cancelled passport at the same time which was a surprise.
As commented, excellent service, credit where it's due.

I would suggest returning the old passport is a needless bureaucratic waste of time and causes inconvenience. I do not understand why they demand it is returned?

I agree with sending it in as it makes the renewal process easier.
Sending it back to you cancelled with the corner cut off. That to me is a waste of time.
I don't care about keeping my old passports to be honest (although the last time Im glad they did send it back as there were a couple of work visa's that I needed to use)

Just renewed the wife's and faced a few extra questions as she was born in Kenya and doesn't have a Uk birth cert (her parents were in the RAF and here was no hospital on base).