Country guide
Flights to the United Kingdom
A small country with excellent trains and more than one way in
Most American itineraries to the UK land in London, and for a first trip that is the right instinct. But the country is small, the rail network is genuinely good, and flying into a regional airport is often both cheaper and closer to where you actually want to be.
The practical planning question is rarely which airline but how much ground you are trying to cover. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are close together by American standards and quite different from each other, and the temptation to do all four in a week is the most common way to ruin the trip.
Cities we have guides for
Where to go beyond the obvious
Scotland
Edinburgh and Glasgow are around four and a half hours from London by train, or a short flight. The Highlands need a car and repay several days rather than one. Edinburgh in August is the Festival, which is extraordinary and books out completely.
The South West
Bath, Bristol and the Cornish coast. Bath is ninety minutes from London by train and works as a day trip; Cornwall does not, and needs a car plus several days to justify the journey.
The North
Manchester, Liverpool, York and the Lake District. York is a two-hour train from London and among the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe. The Lakes need a car.
Wales and Northern Ireland
Cardiff is two hours from London by rail; Snowdonia needs a car. Belfast is a short flight or a ferry, and note that Northern Ireland is in the UK while the Republic of Ireland is a separate country with its own entry rules.
When to go
The UK has no dry season, only wetter and less wet, so waiting for good weather is not a strategy. May, June and September give the longest days and the best odds, and are the months most experienced visitors choose.
July and August bring the crowds and the highest prices without a reliable improvement in weather. Edinburgh in August is a special case: the Festival makes the city extraordinary and accommodation genuinely scarce.
November to February is cheap and dark, with sunset before four in the afternoon in Scotland. Cities hold up well in winter; the countryside is a harder sell.
Getting around
Trains are the default and they are good. Book long-distance tickets in advance for a large saving, because walk-up fares on the day are punitive in a way that surprises visitors used to a fixed price.
A car is worth it only for the countryside — the Highlands, the Lakes, Cornwall, Snowdonia. In cities it is a liability, with congestion charges, expensive parking and driving on the left in dense traffic.
Domestic flights make sense for London to Scotland if time is short, though the train is competitive once you count airport time at both ends.
The basics
- Currency
- Pound sterling (GBP)
- Language
- English
- Time zone
- GMT, or BST from late March to late October
- Power
- Type G plug, 230V
- Driving
- On the left
- Entry for US passports
- An Electronic Travel Authorisation must be approved before departure. Apply well ahead and confirm current rules with UK immigration.
Before you book
Book train tickets in advance
Advance fares on long-distance routes cost a fraction of the walk-up price. This is the single biggest saving available on a UK trip and it has nothing to do with the flight.
Contactless beats any travel card
In London and increasingly elsewhere, tapping a bank card or phone gets you the same capped fares as a local card. Buying a visitor travelcard usually costs more.
Ireland is a separate country
The Republic of Ireland is not part of the UK and has its own entry requirements and currency. Northern Ireland is part of the UK. A trip combining Dublin and Belfast crosses a border.
Consider flying out of a different airport
An open-jaw itinerary into London and out of Edinburgh or Manchester often costs little more than a return, and saves a long backtrack at the end of the trip.
Routes to the United Kingdom
Flight times are non-stop estimates from great-circle distance. Actual schedules and whether a non-stop exists on your dates come from a live search.
Airport guides
FAQ
Flights to the United Kingdom — common questions
If yours isn't here, just call — we're happy to explain.
Which UK airport should I fly into?
London Heathrow has the most transatlantic flights and the best onward connections, which makes it the sensible default for a first trip. But if your destination is Scotland, the north of England or Wales, flying into Edinburgh, Glasgow or Manchester can save several hours of backtracking, and the fare is often comparable. Price the whole journey rather than just the flight.
Do I need a car in the UK?
Not for the cities, where a car is an active liability given congestion charges, parking costs and driving on the left in heavy traffic. For the Highlands, the Lake District, Cornwall or Snowdonia, a car is close to essential because public transport thins out quickly outside the towns. Many people hire one for part of the trip only.
How many days do you need in the UK?
A week is enough for London plus one other region, done properly. Two weeks lets you add Scotland or the South West without rushing. Attempting England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland in a single week is the most common planning error, and it turns the trip into a series of train stations.
Still have a question? We're happy to explain — just call.
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