By Plane
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)
| Period | London | Edinburgh/Manchester |
|---|---|---|
| Off-season (Nov–Mar) | €20–70 | €30–90 |
| Shoulder (Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct) | €40–110 | €50–130 |
| High season (Jul–Aug) | €60–180 | €80–200 |
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.
💡 Tipp
The best airport hack for London: Fly to Stansted (cheap with Ryanair), but DO NOT transfer with the expensive Stansted Express, instead take the National Express Bus to Liverpool Street (£12, 75 min.) or directly to Stratford International (DLR connection). Even cheaper: the Stansted Shuttle from Greater Anglia (train to Tottenham Hale, from £8 with advance booking).
