Overview
Baltimore rewards travellers who look beyond the obvious East Coast cities. Maryland's largest city pairs a working waterfront with red-brick charm, strong museums and one of America's best crab and seafood scenes. It also makes a sensible base for Washington DC, roughly 30 miles to the south. Flights to Baltimore from the UK land at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). If you are hunting cheap flights to Baltimore, check the When to book chart above before you commit.
Best time to fly to Baltimore
Late spring (April to June) and early autumn (September to October) are the sweet spots, with warm days, cooler evenings and the harbour at its liveliest. July and August turn hot and humid, and the Atlantic hurricane season can bring heavy rain through the autumn. Winters are cold but quiet, and fares outside the Christmas and New Year peak are usually the lowest of the year — the price charts on this page show the pattern.
Airlines and routes
British Airways operates the only nonstop service from the UK, flying London Heathrow to BWI in around eight hours westbound and closer to seven coming home. From Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Birmingham and other regional airports you will usually connect — via a US hub such as Newark, Philadelphia, New York JFK, Chicago or Charlotte with United, American or Delta, or through Dublin with Aer Lingus, where you clear US immigration before boarding. Allow roughly nine to thirteen hours in total, depending on the layover.
Things to do in Baltimore
A compact centre and walkable neighbourhoods let you see a lot in a few days.
- Inner Harbor: the redeveloped waterfront heart of the city, with promenades, historic ships and harbour boat trips.
- National Aquarium: one of the finest in the US, home to sharks, rays and a glass-roofed rainforest.
- Fort McHenry: the star-shaped fort whose 1814 defence inspired the American national anthem.
- Fells Point: cobbled streets, historic pubs and waterfront restaurants in a former shipbuilding quarter.
- American Visionary Art Museum: a joyously offbeat collection of self-taught and outsider art near Federal Hill.
At Baltimore/Washington International (BWI)
BWI sits about 10 miles (15 km) south of central Baltimore, typically 20 to 30 minutes by road. Light rail runs from the terminal to downtown and the Camden Yards area, while a free shuttle links the terminal to BWI Rail Station for MARC commuter trains (inexpensive, mainly weekdays) and Amtrak services to Baltimore Penn Station and Washington. Taxis and ride-hailing are plentiful, and car hire desks are on site if you plan to explore Maryland.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Baltimore
- Book roughly two to five months ahead for transatlantic economy; genuine last-minute bargains to the US are rare.
- Fly midweek and steer clear of school holidays, Thanksgiving week and the run-up to Christmas.
- Keep your dates flexible and use the When to book chart above to spot the cheaper weeks.
- Compare the British Airways nonstop against one-stop fares with US and Irish carriers — a connection often costs noticeably less.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders do not need a visa for tourism or business stays of up to 90 days, but you must hold an approved ESTA under the Visa Waiver Programme before you fly; apply online well ahead and check your passport is valid for your whole stay. The currency is the US dollar, and contactless card payments are accepted almost everywhere, so carry only a little cash. No vaccinations are required for entry from the UK, but travel insurance with strong medical cover is essential, as US healthcare is very expensive.
