Arrival & Transport

Great Britain is easily accessible by plane from Germany. The flight time is only 1.5–2.5 hours, and London is one of the best-connected airports in the world.

✈️ London — Six Airports

London has six airports — choosing the right one saves money and nerves:

• Heathrow (LHR) — Largest airport, 24 km west. Lufthansa, British Airways, Swiss. Heathrow Express (25 min., £25) or Piccadilly Line (60 min., £5.50 with Oyster) to the center
• Gatwick (LGW) — 45 km south. EasyJet hub, also Eurowings. Gatwick Express (30 min., £20) to Victoria Station
• Stansted (STN) — 60 km northeast. Ryanair base! Stansted Express (47 min., £20) to Liverpool Street
• Luton (LTN) — 55 km north. Wizz Air, easyJet. Bus to St Pancras (60 min., £12)
• London City (LCY) — In the middle of the Docklands! Ideal for business travelers. Swiss, British Airways. DLR to the center (20 min., £3)
• Southend (SEN) — Farthest out, few connections

✈️ Other Airports

• Edinburgh (EDI) — Direct flights from Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf. Tram to the center (35 min., £7.50)
• Manchester (MAN) — Gateway to Northern England, Lake District, Liverpool. Direct flights from several German cities
• Birmingham (BHX) — Central England, ideal for Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon
• Glasgow (GLA) — Alternative to Edinburgh for Scotland
• Bristol (BRS) — Good for Bath, Wales, Southwest England

Flight Prices (Guidelines from Germany, one-way)

Savings tips: Ryanair (from Stansted) and easyJet (from Gatwick/Luton) regularly offer flights from €15–25 one-way. But: Strictly adhere to hand luggage rules! Extra charge for luggage from €20. With Ryanair, the small hand luggage must fit under the front seat — the overhead compartment costs extra. Open-jaw flights (to London, return from Edinburgh) are ideal for Great Britain tours.

The Eurostar connects Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam with London St Pancras International — and is a fantastic alternative to flying. The journey through the Eurotunnel under the English Channel takes only 35 minutes, with a total travel time from Paris to London of 2:15 hours.

🚄 Connections

• Paris Gare du Nord → London St Pancras: 2:15h, from €39 one-way
• Brussels Midi → London: 2:00h, from €35
• Amsterdam Centraal → London: 3:52h, from €40

From Germany, you can reach the Eurostar via Thalys/ICE to Paris or Brussels. The combination Cologne → Brussels (ICE, 1:47h) → London (Eurostar, 2:00h) is a comfortable, eco-friendly alternative to flying — total travel time under 5 hours, city center to city center.

At the station: The Eurostar has passport control and security checks like a flight — be there at least 60 minutes before departure. London St Pancras is a magnificent Victorian station with a champagne bar, and arriving in the middle of the city (King's Cross/St Pancras) is unbeatable in convenience.

For travelers with their own car or motorhome, ferries are a practical alternative. The crossing has its own charm — fresh sea air, duty-free shopping, and the white chalk cliffs of Dover on the horizon.

⛴️ Main Routes

Alternatively: The Eurotunnel Le Shuttle from Calais to Folkestone transports cars through the tunnel — only 35 minutes travel time, departures every 20 minutes. From €80 per car. Faster than the ferry, but less atmospheric.

Outside of London, a rental car is the best way to discover Great Britain — especially for the Cotswolds, the Lake District, the Scottish Highlands, and Wales. The roads are well-developed, the signage is excellent, and the scenery along the route is often the real highlight. But: In Great Britain, you drive on the left!

🚗 Driving on the Left — Survival Guide

Driving on the left is daunting at first, but after an hour it becomes routine. The most important rules:

• Book automatic! The gear stick is on the left — shifting with the left hand is confusing at first. Automatic eliminates this source of error completely
• Roundabouts: Clockwise! Traffic comes from the RIGHT. Roundabouts are everywhere — learn to love them
• Wipers instead of indicators: The indicator lever is on the right of the steering wheel. The first few days, you'll wipe every time you turn
• “Keep left": After parking, refueling, or a break — the most dangerous moment is the restart when you automatically drive on the right
• Narrow country roads: Especially in the Cotswolds, Cornwall, and the Highlands: single-track roads with passing places. Whoever is closer to a bay pulls in

Prices & Booking

Rental cars in Great Britain: From £25–40/day for a small car in the off-season, £50–80/day in summer. Automatic is significantly more expensive (+30–50%), but highly recommended for left-hand driving novices. Book through comparison portals (billiger-mietwagen.de, CHECK24) at least 6 weeks in advance. Cheaper at airports than in city centers.

Refueling: Petrol and diesel are expensive — £1.40–1.60 per liter. Motorway services are the most expensive. Supermarket petrol stations (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda) are the cheapest.

The British rail system is one of the oldest in the world (since 1830!) and one of the — let's say — "most characterful". It is fast, connects all major cities, and offers fantastic scenic views. But: It is also expensive, confusingly organized (dozens of rail companies), and not always punctual. Still: For travel without a car, the train is the best option.

🚂 Important Connections

BritRail Pass

The BritRail Pass — exclusively for non-British travelers — offers unlimited travel across the entire network. Must be purchased online BEFORE departure (britRail.com).

Worth it from 3–4 longer journeys. Advance tickets (fixed train, not flexible, book weeks in advance) are often cheaper than the pass — do the math!

Booking tips: Book tickets on nationalrail.co.uk or the Trainline app. Advance tickets (fixed train) are the cheapest, but non-refundable. Off-Peak tickets (outside peak times) are more flexible and slightly more expensive. Anytime tickets (any train) are the most expensive — often absurdly so. Tip: Split Ticketing — sometimes it's cheaper to buy two tickets (London → Didcot + Didcot → Bath) instead of one (London → Bath). Tools like Trainsplit.com calculate this automatically.