Flights from Valencia to United Kingdom from 131EUR*

Travel to the UK from Valencia

The direct flight from Valencia to London takes around 2 hours 15 minutes, and a little longer to Edinburgh, Manchester and Birmingham, further north. All 4 are among the British cities Vueling flies to direct.

Each one points to a different side of the UK: London if you want the city, Edinburgh for Scotland and the Highlands, Manchester for the north of England and Birmingham for the Midlands. The search tool on this page shows every destination available on your dates.

What documents you need to travel to the UK

The UK is no longer part of the European Union and has never been in the Schengen Area, so a passport is mandatory and the Spanish ID card (DNI) is not accepted, not even for children.

On top of a passport that stays valid for the whole stay, Spanish and other EU citizens need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), applied for online before boarding. Without it, you will not be allowed to board. No visa is required for short tourist stays, although border checks are more thorough than on a flight within the European Union.

If your children are travelling without both parents, bring the relevant authorisation with you. Because entry requirements are changing, check the latest conditions on the travel documents page before you book.

As the flight leaves the Schengen Area, you will go through passport control. Factor in 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 fly into, and the journey can take anywhere from half an hour to an hour by train or Underground, so it is worth checking before you book somewhere to stay. Edinburgh has a tram from the terminal to the centre in a little over half an hour, Manchester has direct trains from the airport itself, and in Birmingham they leave from Birmingham International station, linked to the terminal by a shuttle.

Plugs. Plugs in the UK are type G, with 3 rectangular pins, at 230V.

The pound. The currency is the pound sterling. No business is obliged to accept euros, and in practice almost none do. Cards and contactless work almost everywhere, London's Underground and buses included.

Trains between cities. The main cities are well linked by rail. That is what lets you combine London with Manchester or Edinburgh without going back to the airport. In Scotland, a car gives you more freedom to explore the Highlands.

The time. The UK is 1 hour behind Spain all year round: both countries change their clocks on the same dates, but they sit in different time zones.

The weather is changeable and often wet. In summer, temperatures in London range from 15 to 22°C, and in winter they drop, with a wind that rarely lets up. A waterproof jacket will see you through the whole trip, whatever the season.

What to do in the UK

London

In London, the British Museum, the National Gallery and Tate Modern are all free to visit. Neighbourhoods such as Shoreditch, Notting Hill or the streets around Borough Market feel like 3 different cities within one, and the food scene now holds its own against any capital in Europe.

Edinburgh and the Highlands

Edinburgh has its castle dominating the skyline and an Old Town that is a World Heritage Site. Every August, the Festival Fringe turns the city into the stage for the world's largest arts festival. Further north, the Highlands offer lochs, castles and silence.

Manchester and the north of England

Manchester brings together music, football and converted industrial buildings, with an urban energy quite unlike London's. The Peak District is less than an hour away by car, and Liverpool, with its music scene, is under an hour by train.

Birmingham and the Cotswolds

Birmingham is the country's second city, with a regenerated centre, navigable canals and a well-regarded food scene. It is the most practical base for Stratford-upon-Avon and for the golden stone villages of the Cotswolds, a little over an hour away.

Luggage for your flight to the UK

How much luggage you can take comes down to the fare you book. The simplest fare includes a personal item that fits under the seat in front, and from there you can add cabin or checked luggage.

A weekend is easy with cabin luggage. For a week or longer, or a trip that involves hiking with your own gear, which comes with specific conditions, it pays to check first. You will find the current conditions in Vueling's luggage policy.