What happens when funds are transferred to the UK from outside the UK?

When the payment reaches the UK, the length of time it takes before reaching and being credited to your account very much depends on the instruction given to that payment. If the sender of the transfer asked for the funds to be sent same-day then when the funds reach the UK they will be sent to your bank via CHAPS. If no instruction has been given, they will be sent via BACS which takes three working days.