Overview
Allentown sits at the heart of Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, roughly 60 miles north of Philadelphia and within easy reach of New York. Pennsylvania's third-largest city pairs a revived, walkable downtown — anchored by the PPL Center arena — with leafy parks, a respected art museum and a genuine slice of American Revolution history. For UK travellers it makes a calm, well-connected base for exploring the mid-Atlantic without the crowds of the big gateway cities. Use the price charts on this page to see how fares to Allentown (ABE) are moving before you book.
Best time to fly to Allentown
Allentown has a proper four-season climate. Summers (June to August) are warm and humid, with highs around 28°C and the busiest, priciest flights. Winters are cold with regular snow. The sweet spots are late spring (May to June) and early autumn (September to October), when the weather is mild, the valley's hills turn gold and transatlantic fares ease off. January and February bring the lowest prices if you don't mind the chill. Check the When to book chart above for the current pattern.
Airlines and routes
There are no direct flights from the UK to Allentown, so you will connect through a US hub. The smoothest options are American Airlines via Philadelphia or Charlotte, and United via Newark or Washington Dulles — all served from Heathrow, with some seasonal flights from Manchester. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic also serve the nearby East Coast hubs. Reckon on around 8 hours to the hub from London, plus a connection and a short 45-minute hop to ABE, for a total door-to-door time of roughly 12 to 14 hours. Many travellers instead fly into Newark or Philadelphia and drive the final 60 to 90 minutes.
Things to do in Allentown
Compact and friendly, Allentown rewards a day or two of wandering:
- Allentown Art Museum: a strong collection of European, American and Asian art in the centre of town.
- America on Wheels: an engaging museum of cars, trucks and the story of American road travel.
- Liberty Bell Museum: the church site where the original Liberty Bell was hidden from British troops in 1777.
- Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom: a large amusement and water park that is a summer favourite with families.
- Cedar Beach Park & Rose Garden: gardens, trails and open lawns just west of the centre.
At Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE)
ABE is a small, easily navigated airport around 3 miles (5 km) north-east of downtown Allentown — about 10 minutes by road. There is no rail link, so most visitors use a taxi, an Uber or Lyft, or a hire car from the on-site desks. LANTA local buses serve nearby stops for budget travel, and many area hotels run their own shuttles.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Allentown
- Book early: for transatlantic travel, roughly two to four months ahead tends to land the best fares — the When to book chart above shows the trend.
- Fly midweek: Tuesday and Wednesday departures are usually cheaper than weekends, and January to March is the quietest season.
- Stay flexible: shifting your dates by a day or two, or comparing a connection through Philadelphia against one through Newark, can cut the price noticeably.
- Compare carriers: check American, United and the major UK airlines side by side on the price charts on this page.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders travelling for tourism do not need a visa for short stays, but must hold an approved ESTA under the Visa Waiver Programme; apply online at least 72 hours before departure and expect a small fee in US dollars. Your passport should be valid for the length of your stay. The currency is the US dollar (USD); cards are accepted almost everywhere, though a little cash is handy for tips. No special vaccinations are required — check the NHS Fit for Travel website before you go, and take travel insurance with solid medical cover given the cost of US healthcare.
