Best UK airports to Bangkok
Only Thai operates direct from the UK (LHR). 1-stop routes via Doha or Dubai give better onward Asian connections.
| Departure airport | Lowest return seen | Typical return | Flight time | Live price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Gatwick | £428trip starting in December | £526 | 12h 22m | Check price |
| London Heathrow | £467trip starting in November | £492 | 12h 22m | Check price |
| Manchester | £492trip starting in December | £519 | 12h 26m | Check price |
| Birmingham | £564trip starting in May | £606 | 12h 26m | Check price |
| Edinburgh | £588trip starting in June | £631 | 12h 24m | Check price |
Return fares seen for each route, checked 12 Oct: the lowest seen and the typical fare, which is the middle of the lowest fares seen for each month. They are past observations, not live prices: use Check price for today's fare. London (all airports) combines every London airport (flight time shown from Heathrow). Flight time is an estimate from the great-circle distance at 800 km/h plus 24 minutes for taxi, climb and descent.
BA suspended direct LHR-BKK in 2020 and hasn't resumed. If flying premium cabin, Qatar Qsuites and Emirates First Class via Doha/Dubai often beat Thai's aging 777 Business for the same fare.
Airlines to Bangkok from the UK
Cheapest months to fly to Bangkok
Lowest return fare seen for a trip starting in each month, from London Heathrow, checked 12 Oct. These are past observations, not live prices: use the search box for today's fare. Green marks the cheapest third of the months shown, red the dearest third.
When to fly to Bangkok
From the fares we recorded, checked 12 Oct.
Suvarnabhumi (BKK) to city
Build your Bangkok trip
Bangkok flight FAQs
The lowest return fare we saw to Bangkok was £428, from London Gatwick, for a trip starting in December (checked 12 Oct). The typical return from London Gatwick is £526, the middle of the lowest fares seen for each of 12 months. These are return fares seen on those dates, not live prices.
From London Heathrow, the lowest return fare we saw was for a trip starting in October and November: £467 each, against £692 for July. That is the lowest fare seen for each of 12 months, checked 12 Oct. These are return fares seen on those dates, not live prices.
In the return fares we recorded, checked 12 Oct, the lowest to Bangkok was £428 from London Gatwick, then London Heathrow £467, Manchester £492 and Birmingham £564. By typical return, the middle of each airport's monthly lowest fares, the lowest was £492 from London Heathrow, then Manchester £519 and London Gatwick £526. These are return fares seen on those dates, not live prices.
Estimated non-stop flight times to Bangkok: London Heathrow about 12h 22m (9,578 km); Manchester about 12h 26m (9,631 km); Birmingham about 12h 26m (9,629 km); Edinburgh about 12h 24m (9,604 km); Glasgow about 12h 29m (9,669 km); Bristol about 12h 34m (9,730 km). These are great-circle estimates at 800 km/h plus 24 minutes for taxi, climb and descent; airlines' scheduled times are usually a little longer.
In the week to 12 Oct we saw non-stop flights to Bangkok sold by Norse Atlantic UK from 2 UK airports, British Airways from 1 UK airport, EVA Air from 1 UK airport and Thai Airways from 1 UK airport. These are airlines seen on non-stop fares when we checked, not a timetable.
Direct Thai Airways LHR-BKK takes 11h 20m eastbound, 12h 15m return. 1-stop via Doha/Dubai/Istanbul adds 3-4 hours but is often cheaper. BA suspended direct flights in 2020 so Thai is currently the only direct UK option.
UK passport holders get a free 30-day visa-free stamp on arrival at Suvarnabhumi. Extendable once for 30 more days at Immigration offices (THB 1,900). Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond arrival. Thailand requires proof of onward travel and sufficient funds (rarely checked).
Suvarnabhumi (BKK) is Thailand's main international airport, 30km east of Bangkok. Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai in 26 minutes, THB 45. All UK direct and 1-stop flights use BKK. Don Mueang (DMK) is 25km north, used by AirAsia and Thai Lion for regional flights.
Yes — Bangkok is Southeast Asia's best aviation hub. AirAsia and Thai VietJet connect to Ho Chi Minh City (1h 45m), Siem Reap (1h), Singapore (2h 20m), Bali (4h 20m) and every Thai island (45m-1h 30m). 2-3 nights in Bangkok + island-hopping is the classic Thailand itinerary.