My British passport expires early next year, so I decided to renew it while I was back in the UK for a few months. I applied on-line, paid £82.50 for the standard service, and sent my old passport to an address in Corby, on 23 May. I received an e-mail advising me at each stage of the process, and received my new passport, and my old passport back, this morning, 6 June. That is a fortnight, only 14 days, from when I applied! I am quite impressed.