Getting to Iceland from UK

The UK is well connected to Iceland. Wherever you live, from London to Glasgow, there's probably a nonstop flight to Keflavik, Iceland's international airport, within a couple of hours' drive. The flight is short: about 3 to 4 hours from London and 2.5 to 3 hours from Glasgow, according to Icelandair.

Who flies from where

This list comes from the Keflavik Airport destinations page as of September 2026, checked against the airlines' own sites where they'd load. Seasonal routes change year to year, so confirm with the airline before you plan around one.

Icelandair

Icelandair is Iceland's national airline and flies year-round from:

• London Heathrow and London Gatwick
• Manchester
• Glasgow
• Edinburgh

Icelandair is also the only one of these airlines that sells onward flights through Keflavik to North America, with a free stopover in Iceland if you want one.

easyJet

easyJet flies from Edinburgh, London Luton and Manchester all year. In winter it adds Birmingham, Bristol and London Gatwick, and a new Newcastle route starts on 27 October 2026, twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

British Airways

British Airways flies between London Heathrow and Keflavik all year.

Jet2 and TUI

Jet2 flies to Reykjavik in winter only. Its 2026/27 programme runs from 9 October to 7 December 2026 and from 29 January to 12 April 2027, with scheduled flights from Birmingham, Leeds Bradford, London Stansted, Manchester and Newcastle. Bournemouth and Edinburgh get a few one-off Jet2CityBreaks trips around the school holidays. TUI has winter flights from London Gatwick and Manchester.

There's no nonstop flight from Northern Ireland. If you're there, see getting to Iceland from Ireland; Icelandair flies from Dublin.

The old low-cost airlines are gone

When I first wrote this page, the budget choice was Iceland Express. WOW air bought it in 2012 and then collapsed in 2019, and PLAY shut down on 29 September 2025. Today the low-cost options from the UK are easyJet and Jet2.

Getting a good fare

• Fly off-season. Fares are usually higher in June, July and August, and around Christmas and New Year. September to May, outside the holidays, is cheaper, and it's northern lights season too.
• Book early for summer, but keep an eye out for sales. Airlines still drop fares on quiet dates.
• Compare the whole trip. Low-cost fares often don't include a checked bag. Add the bag before you compare prices.
• Check the arrival time. A late-evening landing is fine if you've booked a room near the airport; see Reykjavik airport hotels.

By ferry

You can't drive across the ocean to Iceland, but you can take your car on a boat. Smyril Line's Norröna sails from Hirtshals in northern Denmark to Seydisfjordur in east Iceland, calling at Torshavn in the Faroe Islands. There's no ferry from the UK itself, so you'd drive to Hirtshals first.

The ship only reaches Iceland for part of the year. On Smyril Line's 2026 schedule there are no Iceland sailings from early January to early March, or from 22 November to 31 December. In summer the crossing leaves Hirtshals on Tuesday at 11:30 and docks in Seydisfjordur on Thursday at 08:30, about 45 hours. Spring and autumn crossings take longer. Fares depend on season, cabin and vehicle; check the booking page. It makes sense if you want your own car for a long trip. More in ferries to Iceland.

FAQ

Do UK citizens need a visa for Iceland?

No, not for a short visit. Iceland is in the Schengen area, so British visitors come under the EU's Entry/Exit System, which registers non-EU travellers at the border. The EU says its separate ETIAS travel authorisation hasn't started yet and that it will announce the start date several months ahead.

How do I get from Keflavik into Reykjavik?

The airport is about 50 km from the city. Take the Flybus, Straeto bus 55 (2,400 ISK for adults as of 2026), or a taxi. See getting between Reykjavik and Keflavik.

Is Iceland worth it for a weekend from the UK?

Yes. With a flight of three to four hours you can land on Friday, do the Golden Circle on Saturday, and fly home on Sunday. See what to do with two days in Iceland.

>> more on flights to Iceland

Photo by Tricky