Overview
South Korea packs ancient palaces, buzzing night markets, mountain temples and some of Asia's best food into a compact, easy-to-travel country. It is a straightforward long-haul choice for UK travellers, with direct flights from London and a fast rail network once you land. Whether you are planning a first trip to Seoul, a food weekend in Busan or an island escape to Jeju, this page brings together live fares and practical advice for booking flights to South Korea from the UK.
Best time to fly to South Korea
Spring (April to May) and autumn (late September to November) are the standout seasons, with mild temperatures, low rainfall and either cherry blossom or fiery autumn colour. Summer (June to August) is hot and humid with a monsoon spell in July, while winter (December to February) is cold and dry — good for skiing but bitter inland. Fares tend to climb around blossom season, the Chuseok holiday and Christmas; check the When to book chart above to see how prices move across the year.
Main gateway cities & airports
Almost every UK traveller arrives at Incheon International Airport (ICN), the country's main hub, about an hour west of central Seoul. Gimpo Airport (GMP) sits closer to the city but mainly handles domestic and short regional flights. For the south coast, Gimhae International Airport (PUS) serves Busan, and Jeju International Airport (CJU) is the gateway to the island. Most connecting itineraries route through Incheon before any domestic hop.
Airlines and routes
Korean Air and British Airways both fly direct from London Heathrow to Seoul Incheon, with a typical flight time of around 11 hours outbound and a little less coming home. From Manchester, Edinburgh and other UK airports you will usually connect once — good options include Emirates via Dubai, Qatar Airways via Doha, Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, KLM via Amsterdam and Lufthansa via Frankfurt or Munich. One-stop routings often work out cheaper than direct and add only a few hours to the journey.
Popular places to visit in South Korea
- Seoul: grand Joseon-era palaces, the Bukchon hanok quarter and round-the-clock street food and shopping.
- Busan: a laid-back port city with city beaches, the colourful Gamcheon Culture Village and superb seafood.
- Jeju Island: volcanic craters, lava tubes, waterfalls and the hike up Hallasan, South Korea's highest peak.
- Gyeongju: the open-air museum of the ancient Silla kingdom, with royal tombs and hillside temples.
- Jeonju: a preserved hanok village and the home of bibimbap, ideal for a slower few days.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to South Korea
- Travel in the shoulder weeks either side of peak season — early April or mid-November — and avoid Korean public holidays.
- Compare direct London departures with one-stop routes from your local airport; the connecting option is often noticeably cheaper.
- Use the price charts on this page to spot the cheapest months, then set your dates around them.
- Book long-haul roughly two to five months ahead and stay flexible by a day or two around weekends.
Travel essentials
British passport holders can currently visit South Korea visa-free for stays of up to 90 days for tourism; rules on the K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorisation) for UK nationals have changed several times, so we will confirm what you need at the time of booking. Your passport should be valid for the length of your stay. The currency is the South Korean won (KRW); cards are accepted almost everywhere and a rechargeable T-money card covers buses, metro and many taxis. For the best fares, book a few months out and keep an eye on the When to book chart above.
