History · Bazaar · Culture. Compare cheap flights to Istanbul from UK airports — flight time 4h from London.
You book direct with the airline or travel agent.
Istanbul is a medium-haul destination from the UK — around 4h in the air from London, which makes it a realistic short break. Travellers come for the history, the bazaars and the culture. We track fares from 12 UK departure points including London Luton, Manchester and London Heathrow — each has its own comparison page below.
Most visitors aim for Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. The lowest return fare we have seen is £139 for a trip starting in November, from London Luton (checked 4 Nov). On the ground, Turkish lira (TRY) is the local currency and Turkish the dominant language — English coverage is solid in tourist quarters and at the airport. Visa: Visa-free for UK passport holders for stays up to 90 days.
| Departure airport | Lowest return seen | Typical return | |
|---|---|---|---|
| London Luton (LTN) | £139 (trip starting in November) | £390 | Check price |
| Manchester (MAN) | £151 (trip starting in January) | £249 | Check price |
| London Heathrow (LHR) | £155 (trip starting in February) | £169 | Check price |
| Bristol (BRS) | £158 (trip starting in January) | £233 | Check price |
| London Gatwick (LGW) | £160 (trip starting in February) | £214 | Check price |
| Birmingham (BHX) | £171 (trip starting in December) | £273 | Check price |
| London Stansted (STN) | £190 (trip starting in March) | £201 | Check price |
| Edinburgh (EDI) | £193 (trip starting in December) | £219 | Check price |
| Glasgow (GLA) | £203 (trip starting in November) | £222 | Check price |
| Newcastle (NCL) | £213 (trip starting in February) | £221 | Check price |
| East Midlands (EMA) | – | – | Check price |
| Liverpool (LPL) | – | – | Check price |
Return fares seen for trips starting in the months ahead, checked 4 Nov. Typical return is the median of the monthly lowest fares. These are stored fares, not current prices; use Check price to see what is available now.
Direct answer. The lowest return fare we have seen for Istanbul is £139 for a trip starting in November, from London Luton (checked 4 Nov). It is a fare seen on that date, not a current price.
Across the 10 UK departures with fare history, the typical return (the median of the lowest fare seen for each month) runs £169 to £390. The same trip can price very differently from different airports, so compare more than one departure. Prices change daily; the live search shows what is available now.
Key fact: Lowest return fare seen for Istanbul: £139 from London Luton (trip starting in November, checked 4 Nov).
Direct answer. CompareFlights has 12 UK departures for Istanbul: London Luton, Manchester, London Heathrow, Bristol, London Gatwick, Birmingham, London Stansted, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, East Midlands and Liverpool. Each has its own fare page.
You book direct with the airline or travel agent. We do not sell tickets or add fees. Airlines seen flying non-stop to Istanbul from UK airports include easyJet, Turkish Airlines and British Airways.
Key fact: London Luton has the lowest stored return fare for Istanbul: £139 (checked 4 Nov).
Direct answer. Aim for Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct if you want Istanbul at its best: that window balances weather and crowds.
Before you commit, the admin: Visa-free for UK passport holders for stays up to 90 days. Currency is Turkish lira (TRY); Turkish is the main language, with English widely understood in tourist areas.
Key fact: Best months to visit Istanbul: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Flight time from London: about 4h.
Direct flights from London to Istanbul take approximately 4h. Total journey time depends on your departure airport and any connections.
CompareFlights has 12 UK departures for Istanbul: London Luton, Manchester, London Heathrow, Bristol, London Gatwick, Birmingham, London Stansted, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, East Midlands and Liverpool. Each departure has its own fare page, and the search opens.
The lowest return fare we have seen for Istanbul is £139 for a trip starting in November, from London Luton (checked 4 Nov). The typical return from there (median of the lowest fare seen each month) is £390. These are fares seen on that date, not current prices; the live search shows what is available now.
In the return fares we recorded, checked 4 Nov, the lowest to Istanbul was £139 from London Luton, then Manchester £151, London Heathrow £155 and Bristol £158. By typical return, the middle of each airport's monthly lowest fares, the lowest was £169 from London Heathrow, then London Stansted £201 and London Gatwick £214. These are fares seen on those dates, not current prices; the live search shows what is available now.
Visa-free for UK passport holders for stays up to 90 days
Turkish lira (TRY) — most major hotels and restaurants in Istanbul accept card payments, but cash is useful for smaller establishments and tipping.
Turkish. English is widely understood in tourist areas, hotels, and major restaurants.
