It’s understandable that you may not want to spend hours on a plane, so short flights from the UK are very popular. Moreover, travelling travelling long-haul flights to distant destinations usually implies a lot of paperwork, although nowadays this process is faster and quicker thanks to e-visas, like the ESTA or the eTA Canada.
So if you are looking for some countries closer to home then this is the list for you. With lots of short haul flights from the uk leading to fantastic destination choices! There are a few destinations with direct flights 1-2 hours and the rest of mainland Europe is around 2-4 hours away. I haven’t included available fares for these locations as they are very variable. I suggest checking searching for cheapest month for your desired destination using Skyscanner. This will help find the cheapest and best time to travel.
Here are some great short-haul flights from the UK, from short-haul winter sun destination to the perfect city break. It’s obviously closer using London airports such as London Heathrow, London Gatwick or even London city. But I’ve also included flight time from Edinburgh to give an idea of the shortest flights time from other UK airports. Domestic flights are not included in this list, although you could also travel short haul from Heathrow Airport to Scotland too.
It’s also important to check both budget airline prices alongside the biggest airlines, or even considering rail travel one direction. It’s possible to get fairly cheap flights with package holidays too, so don’t rule them out!
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Destinations 1-2 Hours From London
Norway
It’s under 2 hours to fly from London to the capital of Norway, Oslo. From here you can explore the beautiful fjords of Norway, take trains or drive across to find glaciers, trolls and colourful wooden houses. If incredibly hot summers are not for you, then you may prefer the cooler temperatures of Norway. Several low cost airlines fly here, so it’s a good idea to check ticket sales when each UK airline release them.
Oslo itself is perfect for a long weekend trip. The city has plenty of green spaces and many interesting museums to visit. Highlights are the Kontiki Museum, Viking Ship Museum and the Norwegian Science Museum. You can tour Oslo by bike, sightsee by boat on the fjord or simply wander around and taste the food at the many cafes dotted around the city.
Day trips can take you across the famous Flam railway and Bergen. Or take a chance to hike in the stunning forests surrounding the area.
Flight Time From London to Oslo: 1 hour 55 minutes
Flight Time From Edinburgh to Oslo: 1 hour 45 minutes
Denmark
The capital of Denmark, Copenhagen, is easily under 2 hours flight from the UK. With plenty of interesting places to visit in the city and easy public transport to visit the rest of the country it’s a perfect destination to visit from the UK.
There a various museums to visit throughout the city, plus just wandering around enjoying the pretty areas of Copenhagen can be fun too. Outside the city there are plenty of fantastic places to visit, from Legoland to viking burial grounds and beautiful windmills. There’s definitely more to Denmark than Copenhagen.
Flight Time From London to Copenhagen: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Flight Time From Edinburgh to Copenhagen: 1 hour 45 minutes
Switzerland – Short Haul Flights From the UK
It’s a fairly short flight to either Geneva or Zurich from London. At only 1 hour and 40 minutes average flight time you can be ready to experience the delights of this famous watch making country.
Switzerland is the place to go for amazing scenic train journeys through the alps, visiting glaciers and testing delicious chocolates. You can be swimming in stunning lakes in the summer, yet travel up the mountains to enjoy snow covered peaks. It’s also a great place to experience Christmas markets.
Flight Time From London to Geneva: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Flight Time From Edinburgh to Geneva: 2 hour and 15minutes
Germany – Best Places To Fly Short-Haul Routes
Frankfurt in Germany is one of the main hubs for air travel and a good starting point to explore Germany. Although you will find other German cities a similar flight time away from the UK. Germany is the place to go for Oktoberfest or amazing Christmas markets. It’s also a great place to head to if you enjoy food!
Interesting sights to visit include the Black Forest, Berlin Wall, Rhine Valley, theme parks such as Europa Park and beaches in the North. Plus there is a LOT of history packed into this one country, making it a favourite for tourists and those with TEFL jobs!
Flight Time From London to Frankfurt: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Flight Time From Edinburgh to Frankfurt: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is well known for it’s many fairytale castles. If you are looking for Instagrammable fortresses in the forest, then this will be the place for you! At under 2 hours is not far from home either.
Aside stunning castles you will also find some of the most beautiful countryside in Europe to walk through and have amazing adventures.
Flight Time From London to Prague: 1 hour and 55 minutes
Flight Time From Edinburgh to Prague: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Netherlands – Short Haul Flights From the UK
One of the closest countries to the UK, it’s not far by train or plane, especially from London. It’s also possible to travel by overnight ferry from Newcastle to the Netherlands.
Arrive in Amsterdam to explore the network of canals, if you’re organised you can even stay on a houseboat (something that I would LOVE to do!). After a relaxing wander you can pop into various museums throughout the city, including the poignant Anne Frank Museum.
If you have kids then Efteling theme park will be at the top of your list, along with Mardurodam, where you can see the Netherlands in miniature. Of course you can’t miss out the windmills and the stunning fields of tulips in the springtime!
Flight Time From London to Amsterdam: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Flight Time From Edinburgh to Amsterdam: 1 hour and 35 minutes
Destinations 2-4 Hours From London
Greece
Greece is a popular place to fly to and actually not too bad on the pocket either. The majority (and cheaper) flights fly into Athens, but it’s not far to get away to less busy areas of Greece. There are thousands of islands in the country of Greece, around 200 of which are inhabited. They boast stunning golden sandy beaches and are filled with historical sites, perfect for family holidays! The Greek islands also tend to have mild winters, so although it’s not warm it’s not as cold as the UK either!
The mainland of Greece also has plenty of beautiful areas to visit, even skiing in the winter! One of the most unusual places to visit in Northern Greece is Meteora, where you can see ancient monasteries perched on top of huge rock pillars. You’re bound to have a great time exploring!
Flight Time From London to Athens: 3 hours and 40 minutes
Flight Time From Edinburgh to Athens: 4 hours and 10 minutes
Portugal
Head to Portugal for more beautiful beaches, or even as a short stopover on the way to the Azores. Portugal itself has plenty to see itself, with Sintra (an almost Disney like castle) a popular choice, alongside the Algarve area in Southern Portugal and touring Lisbon itself via the tram network. There is a rich history in Portugal and you will find historic towns alongside inclusive resorts.
Portugal has a huge range of activities, from adrenaline thrills to turquoise waters and museums. It’s the perfect place to visit if you’re looking for a wide selection of activities. Especially for kids!
Flight Time From London to Lisbon: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Flight Time From Edinburgh to Lisbon: 3 hours and 10 minutes
Croatia
The most popular destination to fly into Croatia is Dubrovnik, although there are also cheap flights into Split, Pula and Zagreb. We’ve previously headed to the area around Pula, which is the ideal destination for a family friendly holiday in Croatia. Dubrovnik is a UNESCO World heritage Site and a brilliant city for a long weekend break, or stretch out to another week or so and head North toward Split.
Many tourists visiting Dubrovnik are keen to see the Game of Thrones filming locations, this is where King’s Landing was filmed after all! There’s plenty of history in the city and fantastic views along the coast. Do not forget to pay a visit to Plitvice Lakes National Park, North of Zadar. If you head into Zagreb there are some unusual museums, including the museum of broken relationships and the mushroom museum!
Flight Time From London to Dubrovnik: 2 hours and 40 minutes
Flight Time From Edinburgh to Dubrovnik: 3 hours and 10 minutes
Italy
Rome is a very popular tourist destination in Italy, with tourists flocking to see the colosseum and the Pantheon. However, the country has plenty of other amazing places to visit. Outside of the main cities the countryside is stunning, wine tasting and taking pictures by sunflower fields are popular. Quaint little villages to wander around and plenty of museums are spread throughout the country.
Travel easily throughout the country by the extensive train network and find plenty of interesting attractions. From volcanoes (such as Mt Etna or Vesuvius) and ancient cities to beaches or a boat trip. There’s plenty to see!
Flight Time From London to Rome: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Flight Time From Edinburgh to Rome: 3 hours and 5 minutes
Finland – Short Haul Flights From the UK
I was quite surprised to see how much quicker it is to travel to Helsinki from Edinburgh than London! So this definitely pushes a return visit to Finland up my list! Many people visit Finland in winter to head up to the Finnish Lapland. Whether you are visiting Santa in Lapland or just trying out winter sports such as dog sledding, it’s a magical wonderland!
During the summer the Finnish lakes are popular with locals and tourists alike. There are plenty of outdoor activities available. Or head into the cities to find museums and learn more about the history of the country.
Flight Time From London to Helsinki: 2 hours and 50 minutes
Flight Time From Edinburgh to Helsinki: 2 hours and 35 minutes
Iceland
There are often some good value deals on flights to Reykjavik from the UK. Although many people visit Iceland in the winter for a chance to see the Northern Lights and enjoy the hot pools in the snow, it’s perfect for summer too.
During the summer you can access the full ring road around the island and have more places to discover. From hot springs and rivers in the middle of nowhere to whale watching, this is a country you need to visit if you love the outdoors! Perhaps horse riding on the sweet Icelandic ponies interests you or visiting the gorgeous beaches of volcanic black sand and diamond-like ice!
Flight Time From London to Reykjavik: 3 hours and 15 minutes
Flight Time From Edinburgh to Reykjavik: 2 hours and 30 minutes
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