1 popular destinations across South Korea — compare prices from 500+ airlines and OTAs, find the cheapest fares from any UK airport.
Heathrow runs daily direct to Incheon (ICN) on Korean Air and BA. Most regional UK departures connect via Dubai (Emirates), Doha (Qatar) or Hong Kong. Direct fares are typically £600–£900 return; connecting fares from Manchester or Birmingham £100–£250 cheaper.
| Visa (UK passport) | A K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) was required for UK passport holders, but as of 2024 K-ETA is suspended for UK citizens — entry is now visa-free up to 90 days with just a passport. Check ke-ta.go.kr for current status. |
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| Currency | South Korean won (KRW). Cards near-universal; some street food vendors cash-only. T-money card for transport. |
| Time zone | KST (UTC+9) — nine hours ahead of UK winter, eight during BST. |
| Language | Korean. English literacy reasonable in Seoul tourist areas, less elsewhere. Translation apps work well — Papago is the local equivalent of Google Translate. |
| Plug type | Type C/F (European). UK adaptor needed. |
| Best months | April–June (cherry blossom in April, mild May–June). September–November (autumn colours). Avoid July–August (humid, rainy) and January–February (extremely cold but excellent for ski). |
| Flight times from UK | Seoul (ICN) 11h 0m; Busan (PUS) 12h via Seoul/Tokyo |
As of 2024 the K-ETA requirement is suspended for UK passport holders — entry is visa-free for 90 days with just a passport. Always check the latest status at ke-ta.go.kr or via gov.uk before flying as the policy is reviewed periodically.
Yes — daily directs from London Heathrow on Korean Air and BA. Total flight time is around 11 hours. From Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham etc. you connect through Dubai, Doha, Hong Kong or Helsinki.
Korean Air is Skytrax 5-star with stronger cabin product and bigger A380 frequency on the route. BA Club Suite is competitive on business class. Korean Air offers free 30 kg checked baggage in economy as standard.
AREX Express train direct to Seoul Station in 43 minutes for KRW 11,000 (≈£6.50). All-stop AREX takes 64 minutes for KRW 4,250. Airport limousine bus to most Seoul districts ≈KRW 17,000. Taxi ≈KRW 60,000–80,000 (£35–£45) and 50–80 minutes.
Cheaper than Japan, similar to mainland China. Restaurant meals £8–18, transport very cheap (£1–2 per metro journey), accommodation reasonable in Seoul outside the absolute peak districts. The Korean Won has weakened against sterling in recent years, making Korea unusually good value for a developed-economy destination.
