The Union Jack, the Queen and lively pubs are among some of the reason to book a flight to the UK. But beyond these clichés is a country with great history and some of the most wonderfully diverse landscapes on the planet. Made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland travelers thinking of booking a flight to the UK could find it hard to choose just one place to visit. The obvious choice might be England and its thriving capital London or the seaside town of Brighton and the picturesque villages of Cornwall. Those in search of a little more adventure or an active holiday should head to Wales where its mountainous terrain and hiking trails will keep even the most jaded adventurer agape.
The cities of Scotland, particularly Edinburgh and Glasgow, are always popular with travelers booking flights to the UK. But venture further north to Perthshire and the Grampian hills of Angus to get a taste of the rich Scottish countryside. The counties of Northern Ireland offer visitors traveling to the UK a range of activities including fishing, and rock climbing in Down or strolling through acres of apple orchards in Armagh. For a brilliant time, book a flight to the UK.
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The UK has a temperate climate. The weather is generally mild, but it varies according to region. The west (Wales) gets more rain than the east (rain that hasn’t fallen on Ireland); Scotland and the north of England get the snow in wintertime; and the south east enjoys the lion’s share of the sun and mild, dry weather. When booking your UK flight keep in mind that the weather is changeable. Bring an umbrella and always carry one with you on your trip.
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Peak Season:
The UK is a year-round destination and flights to the UK are always packed with travelers eager to explore the country's main attractions. Peak summer months are busiest, especially in London, and the major tourist centers. Summer (June to August) temperatures range between 57 and 87 degrees Fahrenheit.
Spring (March to May) and Autumn (September to November) can be great times to visit. The tourist season is just gearing up (or gearing down) so cheap flights to the UK can be found, and the weather can be sunny and warm. May and September, in particular, can enjoy very good weather.
Off season:
The UK has a temperate climate. The weather is generally mild, but it varies according to region. The west (Wales) gets more rain than the east (rain that hasn’t fallen on Ireland); Scotland and the north of England get the snow in wintertime; and the south east enjoys the lion’s share of the sun and mild, dry weather. When booking your UK flight keep in mind that the weather is changeable. Bring an umbrella and always carry one with you on your trip.
Find cheap flights to the UK
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Several airlines connect cities around the UK including BA, Ryanair, easyJet, bmi, bmibaby and Flybe. Air Southwest operates services to the south west of England. ScotAirways connects Scottish cities and Eastern Airways links the east of the UK with Scotland.
Train service is decent, if expensive. In London, the underground rail is punctual and comprehensive. Buy an Oyster card to get around more cheaply. Buying a ticket at the station is much more expensive than using the card - £1.50 for a zone 1 ticket as opposed to £4 at the station. There are trams in several cities including Manchester and Sheffield. Croydon has a Tramlink and Blackpool, the resort town in Lancashire, has the UK’s only remaining “traditional” tramway.
The National Express bus service is an economical way to get around the UK and it offers a very good service. London buses are fast and regular, linking up the capital day and night. There are good bus services in other cities around England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Postbus is a nationwide service of more than 200 routes, mostly in remote areas.
Car-rental is easy. All the major companies are represented at airports and in cities around the UK.
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- The UK has a proud theater tradition. London’s West End is the largest theater district in the world. The reconstructed Shakespeare's Globe on London's Bankside has exhibits, educational programs, and, of course, an annual season that runs from May to October. In Shakespeare’s Day, the cheap areas of the theater were filled by “groundlings”, theater-goers who had paid one penny to watch the performance. Outside London, the Minack Theatre, an open-air theatre in Cornwall is celebrating its 75th anniversary season with a performance of The Tempest, the play for which the theater was created.
- Follow the Ridgeway National Trail from Avebury, a stone circle about 5,000 years older than Stonehenge. Unlike Stonehenge, you can wander among the stones. Close to Avebury are the white horses – five large white horses - cut into the chalk downs. The Cerne Giant, in Dorset, is another giant chalk figure. Beside the sea in Cornwall is Tintagel Castle, said to be King Arthur’s birthplace.
- Get a glimpse of the Royal Family (maybe) by visiting Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle, two of the Queen’s official residences. You may spy them at Balmoral in Scotland during the summer months, going to service at Crathie Parish Church on Sunday morning or at the Highland Games in Braemar every September.
- London is an expensive city, but culture vultures can enjoy museums and galleries free of charge. These include the National Gallery, Royal Academy, Tate Britain and Tate Modern, the Imperial War Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Outside London are The National Football Museum in Preston; The Baltic Centerfor Contemporary Art in Gateshead and the national museums of Scotland and Wales to name just a few.
- Among the top seaside resorts are Whitby, Yorkshire; Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk; Frinton-on-Sea, Essex; Swanage, Dorset; and Sidmouth, Devon.
- United Kingdom hotels are vast and plentiful. Find a London hotel in the trendy Kensington District. Want to stay a little further outside the city? Book a Whitby hotel or Wales hotel and then take the train directly into London.
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Major airports in the UK include:
Heathrow (LHR)
Gatwick (LGW)
Stansted (STN)
Manchester (MAN)
Edinburgh (EDI)
East Midlands (EMA)
Birmingham (BHX)
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If a visa is not required, travelers should hold a return or onward ticket, or proof of funds for the duration of stay. Passports must be valid for the period of intended stay in the UK. All citizens of non-EEA member states traveling to the UK for more than six months require an Entry Clearance visa.
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U.S. travelers must hold a valid passport; a visa is not required. UK immigration officials will decide on length of stay up to six months depending on reason for travel.
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