Toronto's skyline, Banff's Rockies, Montreal's bistros, Vancouver's wilderness, and the Northern Lights over Yukon. Canada is the vast, friendly, English-speaking long-haul choice.
Canada is the UK's third-favourite long-haul destination — around 700,000 Brits visit annually. It's the calmer, friendlier cousin of the USA: similar road trips, similar scenery, warmer welcome, less tipping anxiety, and health insurance doesn't need to cost a fortune.
Two main itineraries: East Coast (Toronto + Niagara Falls + Montreal + Quebec City) for history and cities; West Coast (Vancouver + Whistler + Banff + Jasper) for mountains and lakes. Winter trips = ski holidays (Banff, Whistler, Mont Tremblant). Summer = Rockies road trips. Iceberg watching in Newfoundland. Northern Lights in Yukon (Nov–March).
Prices are similar to the UK — possibly a bit higher, but without the US-style aggressive tipping. Expect 15% tips at restaurants. Most direct flights from the UK to Canada are 7 hours (Toronto) to 9h 30m (Vancouver).
| Visa (UK passport) | eTA required — CAD $7 (~£4), apply online at Canada.ca/eTA. Valid 5 years, multiple entries, up to 6 months per visit. Apply before you fly. |
|---|---|
| Currency | Canadian Dollar (CAD, $). 1 GBP ≈ 1.75 CAD. Cards accepted everywhere including Tim Hortons. Tipping 15% at restaurants. |
| Time zones | Canada spans 6 zones. Toronto/Montreal/Ottawa = Eastern UTC-5 (5h behind UK winter). Vancouver = Pacific UTC-8. Calgary = Mountain UTC-7. |
| Language | English + French. Quebec is French-speaking (many signs English/French both). Rest of country English. |
| Best months | June–September for cities/Rockies. December–March for ski + Northern Lights. |
| Flight times from UK | YYZ 7h 30m · YUL 7h · YOW 7h 45m · YYC 8h 45m · YVR 9h 30m |
| Plug type | Type A/B (two flat pins + ground, like USA). UK adaptor needed. 110V. |
| Sales tax | NOT included in shelf prices. GST + provincial tax = 5–15% added at till (varies by province). |
June–September is peak for cities, hiking and Rockies road trips — warm days (20–28°C), long daylight. December–March is ski and Northern Lights season — brutally cold (-20°C possible in Toronto, -40°C in Yukon) but magical. May and October are shoulder — spring/autumn colours, fewer crowds, good prices.
Warm, long days, cities + Rockies at peak. Highest prices.
Mild. Banff autumn colours spectacular. Best value.
-20°C in many cities. Ski + Aurora only.
UK passport holders need an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) — apply online at Canada.ca/eTA for CAD $7 (~£4). It's valid for 5 years for multiple trips of up to 6 months each. Use the official site only — scam sites charge £50+ for the same thing.
Canadian Dollar (CAD, $). 1 GBP ≈ 1.75 CAD. Cards accepted everywhere; contactless tap is universal. Tipping 15% at restaurants is expected (sometimes auto-added for groups of 6+).
June–September for cities, road trips and Rockies hiking. December–March for ski trips (Banff, Whistler) and Northern Lights (Yellowknife, Whitehorse). May and October are shoulder — Banff autumn foliage is stunning.
Toronto 7h 30m, Montreal 7h, Ottawa 7h 45m, Calgary 8h 45m, Vancouver 9h 30m. All direct. Return flights are usually 1–2 hours shorter thanks to the jet stream.
Yes. Your UK photocard licence is valid for up to 6 months of tourist use. Driving is on the right. Distances are enormous — Toronto to Vancouver is 4,400km (longer than London to Athens). Consider flying domestically for cross-country trips.
Yes — one of the safest countries on Earth. The main challenges are weather-related: winter driving needs snow tires and care; wildlife encounters in the Rockies (bear spray is sold in outdoor shops for a reason). Healthcare is excellent but expensive without travel insurance — always buy comprehensive cover.