Flights from Bilbao to United Kingdom from 16EUR*

Flights to the UK from Bilbao

Vueling flies direct from Bilbao to 4 British cities: London, Edinburgh, Manchester and Birmingham. None of these flights lasts more than 2 and a half hours, which makes the UK one of the easiest international destinations to reach from northern Spain.

Where you land shapes the whole trip. London for the city, Edinburgh for Scotland, Manchester and Birmingham for the north and the Midlands, with a balance of price and proximity that the capitals cannot match.

What documents you need to travel to the UK

The UK is not part of the European Union or the Schengen Area, so its entry rules differ from those in the rest of Europe. A passport is mandatory and the Spanish ID card (DNI) is not accepted, not even for children.

Spanish citizens do not need a visa for short tourist stays, but they do need an electronic travel authorisation, applied for online before flying. It is the step most people find out about too late. Check the current requirements and your passport’s validity on the travel documents page before you book.

Because the flight leaves the Schengen Area, you go through passport control before boarding. Allow for that extra time at the airport.

What to know when you land in the UK

From the airport into town. In London it depends on which airport you land at, and the journey can take between half an hour and an hour by train or Underground, so check it before you book accommodation. Edinburgh has a tram from the terminal to the centre in just over half an hour. Manchester and Birmingham both have direct trains from the airport itself and sit closer to their cities.

The pound. The UK’s currency is the pound sterling. Cards work almost everywhere, buses and taxis included. Scotland issues its own banknotes, which are valid across the whole country, even if they sometimes cause hesitation in shops in England.

Trains between cities. The main cities are well linked, but fares climb steeply if you buy on the day. Booking ahead changes the cost of the trip, and it is what lets you combine London with Manchester or Edinburgh without going back to the airport.

Plug sockets. The UK uses type G plugs, with three rectangular pins, at 230V.

The weather is changeable and rainy all year round, with mild summers in the south and cooler ones in Scotland. A light waterproof layer will see you through the whole trip, July included.

What to do in the UK

London

It works as well for a packed weekend as for a full week. The British Museum, the National Gallery and Tate Modern are free to enter, and areas like Shoreditch, Notting Hill or the streets around Borough Market feel like three different cities within one. It is the obvious way in, and also the busiest.

Edinburgh and the Highlands

Edinburgh brings together a medieval old town, a castle on volcanic rock and a cultural life that goes into overdrive in August with the Festival Fringe. Further north, the Highlands offer lochs, castles and silence, and this is where a hire car really opens up the trip.

Manchester and the north of England

Music, football and industrial buildings turned into cultural spaces. The Peak District is less than an hour away and adds hills to a city break. Manchester gets far fewer international visitors than London, and you notice it in both the prices and the atmosphere.

Birmingham and the Midlands

The UK’s second city, with a revamped centre, navigable canals and a well-regarded food scene. It is also the most practical base for Stratford-upon-Avon and the Cotswolds, just over an hour away by road.

Luggage for your flight to the UK

What you can take depends on the fare you choose when booking. The simplest fare includes a personal item that goes under the seat in front, and from there you can add cabin or checked luggage.

If you are travelling with special equipment, such as a bike, musical instruments or sports gear, check the conditions before you fly, as it is handled separately. The current rules are set out in Vueling’s luggage policy.