Overview
Memphis is Tennessee's largest city and the undisputed home of American music, where Beale Street's blues clubs, Sun Studio's recording booth and Elvis Presley's Graceland estate sit alongside soulful barbecue and the slow-moving Mississippi River. It's a characterful, walkable city that rewards a few days' exploring, and increasingly popular with UK travellers seeking something different from the usual US city break.
Best time to fly to Memphis
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) bring the most comfortable weather, with mild temperatures and fewer of the thunderstorms and heavy humidity that mark the summer months. Winters are mild but can be damp; summer is hot and sticky, though it's also when the Memphis in May festival season is in full swing. Use the When to book chart above to compare fares across the year and spot the best-value months for your dates.
Airlines and routes
There are no direct flights to Memphis from the UK, so you'll connect through a major US hub. American Airlines routes travellers via Charlotte, Philadelphia or Dallas-Fort Worth, often in partnership with British Airways from Heathrow, while Delta connects via Atlanta or Detroit, sometimes codesharing with Virgin Atlantic. United offers routings via Chicago or Newark. The transatlantic leg typically takes 8-9 hours, with a further 2-2.5 hour domestic hop, so allow roughly 13-16 hours door to door including your connection.
Things to do in Memphis
Once you land, Memphis packs a remarkable amount of history and culture into a compact centre. Highlights include:
- Graceland: Elvis Presley's famous mansion and museum complex, one of America's most-visited historic homes.
- Beale Street: the legendary strip of blues bars and live music that put Memphis on the map.
- National Civil Rights Museum: housed in the former Lorraine Motel, a moving and essential piece of US history.
- Sun Studio: the modest recording studio where Elvis, Johnny Cash and B.B. King all cut early tracks.
- Stax Museum of American Soul Music: a celebration of the label that shaped soul music, built on the original studio site.
At Memphis International Airport (MEM)
Memphis International Airport sits around nine miles southeast of downtown. Taxis and rideshare services take roughly 15-20 minutes into the centre depending on traffic, and car hire is widely available if you plan to explore further afield, including nearby Mississippi and the Delta blues trail. Local MATA buses also connect the airport to downtown for budget-conscious travellers.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Memphis
- Book connecting flights 3-5 months ahead for the best fares on transatlantic routes to Memphis.
- Fly midweek (Tuesday or Wednesday) rather than at weekends, when fares to US hubs are typically higher.
- Keep your dates flexible and check the price charts on this page, as shifting by even a few days either side can cut costs.
- Compare American, Delta and United routings via different hubs, as connection city and layover length can make a noticeable difference to the total fare.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders travelling to Memphis for tourism or short business trips can generally enter the US under the Visa Waiver Programme, applying for ESTA authorisation online in advance rather than a full visa; your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay. The local currency is the US Dollar (USD), so budget your trip in pounds and convert as needed. No specific vaccinations are required for entry, but comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended for any US trip given the cost of healthcare.
