United Kingdom overview
When is the best time to fly to the United Kingdom?
Peak season
Made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, travellers planning flights to the United Kingdom could find it hard to choose just one place to visit. The United Kingdom is a year-round flight destination and from north to south, travellers are spoiled for choice with the range of attractions. Peak season for flights to London and the major tourist centres are the summer months (June to August) when temperatures range between 14C and 30C. At this time there are an abundance of events taking place, so be prepared for queues and crowds, especially in London which hosts the City of London Festival, Wimbledon, British Summer Time Hyde Park and many more. Scotland has its own fun in the sun with the Edinburgh Festival running throughout most of August. Christmas and New Year is peak travel time for Brits so be prepared for lots of people on your flight during this period.
Off Season
Winter (December to February) is the off season in the United Kingdom with single digit temperatures and rain, hail, sleet and snow lashing the country. But it’s not all bad news, winter means fewer tourists and more chance of scoring discounted hotel rooms and cheap flights. Although many attractions close for the season, many museums and theatres are in full swing. This is also the best time to visit the United Kingdom for participating in winter sports. Scotland has five main areas for winter sports: Nevis Range, Glencoe, Glenshee, Cairngorm and the Lecht.
When is the best time to book a flight to the United Kingdom?
For the best weather plan your visit to the United Kingdom between April to October. Not only will there be more chance of good weather, you’ll also be in British Summer Time which means longer evenings; in winter the evenings are much shorter and there are less daylight hours. The shoulder seasons of spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) can be great times to pick up cheap flights to the United Kingdom, before the tourist season gears up (or gears down). The best time to book to get the lowest price on a flight to the United Kingdom is eight weeks in advance. It pays to shop around to get the best deal as there will be plenty of choice available. If you are flexible on dates look at flights leaving either side of your departure day for big potential savings, mid-week departures are generally cheaper than weekend flights.
How long is the flight to the United Kingdom?
Flights from Sydney to the United Kingdom – 22 hrs 50 mins
Flights from Melbourne to the United Kingdom – 21 hrs 10 mins
Flights from Brisbane to the United Kingdom - 21 hrs 25 mins
Flights from Perth to the United Kingdom – 18 hrs 45 mins
Which airlines operate flights to the United Kingdom?
There are many airlines that operate flights to the United Kingdom from Australia including: Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Air, Cathay Pacific, China Air, Emirates, Qantas, KLM and national carrier British Airways. Although London is the main port of call for most airlines, it is possible to fly direct to other cities such as Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh for a reasonable price.
How to get from the airport to the city centre?
All major airports in the United Kingdom have excellent rail connections to the city centres. Even in London it only takes 15 minutes to reach Paddington Station via the Heathrow Express. Buses and taxis can be found outside the arrivals terminals, and all the major car rental companies are represented at airports and in cities around the UK.
