How long does it take to fly to the UK?
The quickest flight from Australia to the United Kingdom departs from Melbourne Airport (MEL) and arrives in the UK at London Heathrow Airport (LHR), in England. This flight is run by Qantas Airways, is a direct flight and takes approximately 22h 50min. British Airways and Qantas Airways run other direct flights to the UK. These flights depart from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) and arrive at London Heathrow Airport (LHR). If you are heading north in the UK, to Scotland, the shortest flight you can take is flying with Qatar Airways from Brisbane Airport to Edinburgh Airport. This flight does require one stopover in Doha before going on to the UK. If you are planning on flying to Northern Ireland, you can fly to Belfast City Airport. The quickest flight from Australia to Belfast is with Qantas Airways. This flight has one stopover in London before going on to Belfast. Your total flight time would be 26h 40min, and your departure airport in Australia is Melbourne Airport.
Can you get direct flights to the UK from Australia?
Yes, it is possible to get a direct flight from Australia to the United Kingdom. Two airlines run direct flights: British Airways and Qantas Airways. These flights depart either from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport or Melbournes Airport. The total flight time ranges between 22h 50min and 23h 30min. There are no other airports in the United Kingdom with direct flights from Australia. Flights from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane tend to have the most direct flights. The most direct flights come into London, Manchester, Birmingham or Edinburgh. Some of the airlines you can fly with that have flights with one stopover to the United Kingdom include Emirates, British Airways, Srilankan Airlines, ANA, Qantas Airways, Etihad Airways, Thai Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Japan Airlines. The majority of these airlines come into London and not into the other UK cities. You may stopover in Singapore, Dubai, Toyko, Colombo, Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, or Hong Kong.
What is the best way to travel around the UK?
There are many great ways to get around the UK. Your transport options include trains, buses, taxis and car hire services. Hiring a car to get around the UK is one of the best options. There are many car hire providers located at each of the airports in the UK. If you arrive at London Heathrow Airport, you will find most car hire companies are located further away from the airport. However, there are shuttle buses that can take you to them. If you arrive at Manchester Airport, the car hire companies are located close to the main parking areas for Terminals 1 and 2. These are generally not reached by foot but by shuttle bus. Another form of transport which is used a lot in the UK is the bus. You can take the Airlink bus from bus stop A straight into the city centre if you arrive at Edinburgh Airport. Taking the train is an excellent option if you land at one of London's Airports. If you land at London Heathrow or London City Airport, there are London Underground Stations located at the airports. Other airports in the area have direct routes via the northern or Thameslink train lines so that you can get into the city centre. These airports include London Luton, London Stansted, and London Gatwick Airports.
Does an Australian citizen need a passport or visa to fly to the United Kingdom?
No, you will not need a visa if you have an Australian passport and are entering the UK. Australian citizens can stay in the UK for up to 6 months without a visa. If you stay for more than six months, then UK immigration will require a visa from you. Make sure your passport is up to date and valid until after your trip.