Overview
Appleton sits in the Fox Cities of north-east Wisconsin, strung along the Fox River between Lake Winnebago and the city of Green Bay. It's a relaxed, walkable Midwestern city, best known as the boyhood home of Harry Houdini, with a lively College Avenue downtown, a strong arts scene and easy access to lakes and state parks. For UK travellers it makes a comfortable base for visiting family, combining a trip with Milwaukee and Chicago, or heading north to Door County.
Best time to fly to Appleton
Wisconsin has four very distinct seasons. Late spring to early autumn (May to September) is the most reliable window, with warm summer days around 25°C, outdoor festivals and long light evenings. September and early October bring cooler air and vivid autumn colour. Winters are genuinely cold and snowy, often well below freezing from December to February, so pack accordingly if you travel then. Fares generally ease outside the US summer holidays and the Thanksgiving and Christmas peaks – check the When to book chart above for the current picture.
Airlines and routes
There are no direct flights from the UK to Appleton, so you'll connect through a US hub. American Airlines, alongside British Airways, routes via Chicago O'Hare, Philadelphia or Charlotte; United flies via Newark or Chicago; and Delta, with Virgin Atlantic, connects through Detroit, Minneapolis or Atlanta. The transatlantic leg from London is around 8 to 9 hours, followed by a short one-hour hop to Appleton on a regional partner aircraft. Allow 13 to 16 hours in total depending on your layover. Flights from Manchester, Edinburgh and other UK airports usually route through the same hubs.
Things to do in Appleton
Appleton punches above its size for museums, live music and the outdoors.
- The History Museum at the Castle: Home to a superb Harry Houdini exhibition exploring the escapologist's Appleton roots.
- Hearthstone Historic House Museum: The first home in the world lit by a hydroelectric power plant, back in 1882.
- Fox Cities Performing Arts Center: The region's flagship venue for touring Broadway shows, concerts and comedy.
- High Cliff State Park: Bluff-top trails, an observation tower and marina views over Lake Winnebago, about 20 minutes away.
- College Avenue: The heart of downtown, packed with independent restaurants, breweries, coffee houses and the Trout Museum of Art.
At Appleton International Airport (ATW)
Appleton International is a small, easy airport in Greenville, roughly 6 miles (about 15 minutes by road) north-west of downtown Appleton. Major car hire firms have desks in the terminal, and given how spread out the Fox Valley is, hiring a car is the practical choice for most visitors. Taxis and Uber or Lyft serve the airport, some hotels run shuttles, and Valley Transit operates a limited local bus connector. There is no rail link.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Appleton
- Book ahead: Aim for roughly two to four months out; the transatlantic and connecting legs both tend to be cheaper booked early rather than last minute.
- Fly midweek and off-peak: Tuesday and Wednesday departures, and travelling outside July, August and US holiday weekends, are usually the best value – see the price charts on this page.
- Stay flexible: Shifting your dates by a day or two, or accepting a slightly longer layover, can cut the fare noticeably.
- Compare hubs and airports: Check American, United, Delta and Virgin Atlantic, and price up flying into Green Bay, Milwaukee or Chicago O'Hare and driving.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders travelling for tourism don't need a visa for stays of up to 90 days, but you must apply online for an ESTA under the Visa Waiver Programme before you fly, and hold a passport valid for the length of your stay. The local currency is the US dollar; card payments are accepted almost everywhere, so compare card fees and exchange rates before you travel to get the best value in pounds. No special vaccinations are required, but do take out comprehensive travel insurance with strong medical cover, as US healthcare is expensive.
