I didn't take the GRE either - UK programmes don't require it.
It was all about the quality of my first degree (when I applied for the MLitt) and writing samples.
On an unrelated note, I am just wrapping up the first year of my PhD (oh how time flies!). I passed my first year review (had to submit 10,000 words, though mine was about 12,000 plus appendices) and my first year viva. I just can't believe it's gone so quickly.
This was also my first year of teaching, and I just submitted final marks yesterday, woohoo! No more papers or exams to mark until October. Yay!