Cheap flights to the United Kingdom from EUR15*

Not many places in the world pack in as much culture, heritage and natural beauty as the United Kingdom. Bound by shared traditions and a rich history, and spiced with a plethora of distinctive local flavours, the union of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland never ceases to captivate, intrigue and delight, with each country worthy of your attention in its own right. Explore the UK’s bustling urban centres, such as London, Liverpool, Glasgow and Belfast, and dive into their thriving arts, music and culinary scenes. Marvel at the royal palaces, castles and stately homes peppering the landscape or try life in the slow lane in the charming British countryside. If you’re a lover of the great outdoors, choose from natural parks such as the idyllic Lake District and the dramatic Scottish Highlands, or walk the country’s stunning coastline, offering some of the world’s best long-distance hiking trails, unspoilt beaches and quirky towns. And don’t leave the UK without immersing yourself in the local customs and idiosyncrasies that make this land unlike anywhere else in Europe.

 

Fly to the United Kingdom to:

• Discover London’s iconic landmarks and world-class museums, bustling street markets and nightlife scene, or find peace in the English capital’s leafy parks.
• Eat your way around the globe in London, one of the world’s most cosmopolitan metropolises, offering something for every palate and every budget, from Michelin-starred restaurants to street food markets.
• Walk in the footsteps of the Beatles in Liverpool. Visit the Fab Four’s childhood homes, stroll down Penny Lane and peek through the red gates at Strawberry Fields.
• Wonder at street art in Bristol, including murals by Banksy, the city’s most famous, albeit still anonymous, son.
• Shop until you drop in Birmingham’s Bullring shopping centre, then tuck into a bowl of fiery Balti curry, the city’s signature dish.
• Roam the vast heather moorland of the Yorkshire Dales National Park or explore the rolling hills and glistening lakes of the Peak District, both near Doncaster and Sheffield.
• See the sun set on a Scottish loch, such as Loch Lomond near Glasgow. Or head to Loch an Eilein in the Cairngorms National Park, voted Scotland’s favourite picnic spot.
• Tour the Speyside whisky trail near Aberdeen, home to more than half of Scotland’s world-famous malt whisky distilleries.
• Go castle-hopping in Wales. Don’t miss fairytale-likefairy-tale Caernarfon in the north and Caerphilly, Britain’s second largest castle.
• See where the world’s most famous ocean liner was built at Belfast Titanic, a multimedia museum recounting the ship’s tragic story in Northern Ireland’s capital city.
• Discover the Giant’s Causeway on Northern Ireland’s rugged coast. The vast expanse of basalt columns is a magical sight to behold, so make sure to have your camera handy.
• Bask in centuries of Welsh history in one place. Visit the Cardiff Castle, cycle along The Taff through Bute Park or go souvenir shopping at The Royal Arcade.

 

Brimming with heritage

The United Kingdom sits on the very edge of Europe on an archipelago. Be that as it may, the country has played a central role in both European and world history. Its rich past has been marked by kings and queens, wars and rebellions, innovations and social reforms and the rise and fall of the largest empire the world has ever seen. Likewise, its colourful cultural fabric has been woven by many, from the Romans through the Celts to the Saxons and the Vikings, and enriched by centuries of cross-cultural encounters. Be prepared for a cultural overdose in the country that boasts some of the world’s finest museums (there are over 170 just in London) as well as 29 32 World Heritage Sites. After all, this is the land that has given us Shakespeare and Harry Potter, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, football, fish and chips and the kilt.

 

Living history

There’s much to drool over here, including the stone circles of Stonehenge, the 117-km Hadrian’s Wall, the cobbled streets of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and the Edwardian castles of Wales. If you’re a royal groupie, check out where Queen Elizabeth II spends her days: admire her working residence, London’s Buckingham Palace and take a day trip to her weekend retreat in Windsor or visit Balmoral Castle in Scotland, her summer residence. For a more chilling experience, make your way to the Tower of London and its infamous prison, aptly called Bloody Tower, or see Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace and its Haunted Gallery, where you may even get to hear the screams of Henry’s fifth wife, Catherine Howard. If you’re a fan of Georgian architecture, head to Bath, the city of Jane Austen, and marvel at the magnificent Circus and Royal Crescent. Hunting Game of Thrones filming locations? Look no further than Northern Ireland. Its 18th-century Castle Ward, an hour’s drive from Belfast, doubled as Winterfell in the series, while the harbour village of Ballintoy served as Lordsport on Pyke, the Greyjoy clan’s island base.

 

Epic landscapes

A word of warning: choosing between national parks in the UK is like trying to pick your favourite child. Follow in the footsteps of Wordsworth in the Lake District and fall in love with the park’s rocky hilltops and glittering lakes, or go for a walk in the brooding moorland of Yorkshire. Climb Wales’s highest peak, Snowdon, and be rewarded with sweeping views over rugged peaks, green valleys and blue tarns. For something even more dramatic, book a hiking holiday in the Scottish Highlands and find solitude in a narrow glen or by a tranquil loch. And then there’s the sea. Check out the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, a vast display of interlocking basalt columns, believed to be the handiwork of giants. Or fly to Bristol and explore the picture-perfect coastline of Devon and Cornwall, home to some of the best beaches in the United Kingdom. Fancy a challenge? Walk the 1000-kilometre South West Coast Path, snaking its way up the shore from Somerset to Dorset, featuring over 200-million-year old rocks and cliffs, picturesque villages and verdant clifftops.

 

Quintessential British experiences

But what makes any visit to the United Kingdom truly special is its people and their peculiar ways. No one drinks tea like the Brits or queues like the Brits. Or does humour like them: dry, sarcastic and often verging on the self-deprecating. Having a pint in a local pub and joining in the friendly banter is an experience in itself. Don’t know what to say? Just start talking about the country’s ever-changing weather, the locals’ favourite go-to topic. As for food, nothing quite beats a full English breakfast (or its regional variations) in the morning, especially after a heavy night or before a long walk. The hearty brekkie features fried bacon and sausages, eggs, tomatoes and mushrooms, baked beans and black pudding on request. Treat yourself to a generous portion of battered fish and chips and make sure to try the nation’s no. 1 comfort food, chicken tikka masala. Come Sunday, head to a pub for a traditional Sunday roast, consisting of meat of your choice, roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and boiled veggies, served with a rich gravy.