Overview
France is one of the easiest and most rewarding short-haul trips from the UK. Whether it is Paris for a city break, the Alps for skiing or the Riviera for sun, you will find frequent flights and plenty of competing airlines. London to Paris takes as little as 1 hour 15 minutes. This hub covers every French city we fly to, with live fare data to help you time your booking.
Best time to fly to France
Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September to October) are the sweet spot: mild weather, lighter crowds and better value than peak summer. July and August are hot and busy on the Cote d'Azur, and prices climb around the French school holidays. The Alpine ski season runs roughly December to April, with fares to Geneva, Lyon and Grenoble highest over Christmas, New Year and February half-term. See the When to book chart above for how prices shift through the year.
Main gateway cities & airports
Most UK travellers arrive into Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) or the more central Paris Orly (ORY). Other popular gateways include Nice Cote d'Azur (NCE) for the Riviera, Lyon Saint-Exupery (LYS), Marseille Provence (MRS), Bordeaux, Toulouse and Nantes. For Corsica, flights route via Bastia, Ajaccio or Figari, often seasonally or with a connection.
Airlines and routes
France is well served from across the UK. British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2, Vueling and Air France fly direct from London, with direct routes from regional airports such as Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bristol and Glasgow to Paris, Nice and beyond. Typical flight time is about 1 hour 15 minutes from London and 1 hour 30 minutes from Manchester to Paris; allow nearer two hours for Nice or Marseille. Smaller cities may need a connection through Paris or Amsterdam.
Popular places to visit in France
- Paris: world-class museums, cafe culture and landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame.
- French Riviera: Nice, Cannes and Antibes for beaches, seafront promenades and warm Mediterranean summers.
- Provence: lavender fields, hilltop villages and Roman remains around Avignon and Aix-en-Provence.
- The French Alps: Chamonix, Morzine and Val d'Isere for winter skiing and summer hiking.
- Bordeaux & the Dordogne: vineyards, elegant architecture and chateaux in the south-west.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to France
- Book two to four months ahead for peak summer and school holidays; off-season you can leave it later.
- Use the price charts on this page to compare fares by month and find the cheapest dates.
- Fly midweek where possible — Tuesday and Wednesday fares often beat Friday and Sunday.
- Check nearby airports: Paris Beauvais, or Lyon and Geneva for the Alps, can undercut the obvious choice.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders do not need a visa for tourist trips to France: you can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Your passport must be less than 10 years old on the day you enter and valid for at least three months after you intend to leave. The currency is the euro, and cards are widely accepted. Book a few weeks to a few months ahead for the best value, and check the price charts on this page before you commit.
