Flights to the UK and Ireland from the US
44 route guides to 4 UK & Ireland airports from US cities, with entry rules, flight times and the best months to go.
Quick answer: London Heathrow (LHR), Dublin (DUB) and Edinburgh (EDI) have the most nonstop flights from the US, and from the East Coast they are among the shortest transatlantic trips, about six and a half to seven hours. The two countries have different entry rules: the UK requires US citizens to hold an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before they travel, while Ireland has no ETA scheme, is outside the Schengen Area and does not use the EU Entry/Exit System. Neither needs a visa for a tourist trip.
Facts checked November 2026. Schedules and entry rules change, so confirm with the airline and the official government site before you travel.
UK & Ireland flights at a glance
| Main gateways | London Heathrow (LHR), Manchester (MAN), Edinburgh (EDI), Dublin (DUB); also Gatwick and Shannon |
|---|---|
| UK entry for US citizens | No visa for a visit; UK ETA required before travel (changing planes without passing UK border control is currently exempt) |
| Ireland entry for US citizens | No visa for up to 90 days; no ETA; not Schengen, so no EES |
| Typical nonstop flight time | About 7 hours New York to London; a little less to Dublin (recent schedules) |
| Time difference | Usually 5 hours ahead of New York, 8 hours ahead of Los Angeles |
| US preclearance | Dublin and Shannon: clear US immigration and customs before the flight home |
| Quietest months | Usually January to March, outside school holidays |
Where you can fly in UK & Ireland
Each city links to every route guide we publish into that airport; each guide covers the airlines, connections and baggage rules, with live fares when the page loads.
Two countries, two sets of entry rules
UK: US citizens have needed an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) since 8 January 2025 to visit England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Apply on GOV.UK or the official UK ETA app, where the current fee is listed, and do it before you book non-refundable plans. GOV.UK says you need an ETA if you pass through UK border control. If you only change planes and stay airside, you do not currently need one, under an exemption the UK has described as temporary, so check GOV.UK before you fly.
Ireland: US citizens can visit the Republic of Ireland visa-free for up to 90 days. There is no Irish ETA. Ireland is in the EU but not in Schengen, so there is no EES fingerprinting at Dublin or Shannon, and days in Ireland do not count toward your 90 Schengen days. The State Department sets no minimum passport validity for Ireland beyond the length of your stay.
Northern Ireland is part of the UK. A trip from Dublin to Belfast has no passport check on the road or train, but you still need a UK ETA to be there legally. The two countries share a Common Travel Area, which covers British and Irish citizens, not US visitors.
Which US cities fly nonstop as of November 2026
London: Heathrow has nonstops from most large US airports on British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American, Delta and United, plus JetBlue from New York and Boston. Gatwick has a smaller set of US flights.
Dublin: Aer Lingus flies Dublin from New York, Boston, Chicago, Orlando, Miami, Washington, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Los Angeles, alongside Delta, United and American. Aer Lingus ended its Denver and Minneapolis flights in autumn 2026, its Las Vegas flight ends in early December 2026, and Seattle is now summer-only. Shannon, in the west, has a smaller set of US flights.
Edinburgh: United flies Newark and Delta flies New York JFK, with Delta adding winter flights in early 2027, and American flies Philadelphia and New York JFK; other flights, including United's from Washington Dulles and Chicago, run in some seasons only. Manchester has a smaller set of US nonstops since Aer Lingus closed its Manchester transatlantic base in March 2026. Check the airline for your dates, because many flights to Scotland and Ireland are seasonal.
Flying home through Ireland: US preclearance
Dublin and Shannon have US Customs and Border Protection preclearance. You clear US immigration and customs in Ireland before boarding, and you land in the US as a domestic arrival, which can save time at a busy US airport and lets you connect onward without collecting your bags.
Allow extra time at Dublin for the preclearance hall on the way home, and arrive at the airport earlier than you would for a normal European departure.
Getting around: trains, ferries and short flights
In London, the Heathrow Express runs to Paddington and the Elizabeth line runs across central London. Trains from London reach Manchester in about two hours and Edinburgh in about four and a half, so many visitors fly into London and travel north by rail.
Dublin Airport has no rail link; buses and taxis run to the city. Irish Rail connects Dublin with Cork, Galway and Belfast. Ferries cross the Irish Sea between Dublin and Holyhead in Wales and between Belfast and Scotland.
Short flights link London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Dublin many times a day. Flights between Ireland and the UK have no routine passport control on arrival in the UK, but airlines ask for photo ID, so carry your passport.
Best and quietest months
June to August is peak season, with long daylight and the busiest flights, and August is festival month in Edinburgh. St Patrick's Day in mid-March fills Dublin.
May and September are usually a good balance of weather and space. January to March, outside school holidays and St Patrick's week, is typically the quietest and the cheaper time to fly, and December is busy around Christmas. Rain is possible in any month in both countries. The fare grid on each route guide shows what is live for your dates.
Booking tips for the UK and Ireland
Get the UK ETA approved before you pay for the trip, and make sure the name matches your passport exactly. If your trip is Ireland only, you do not need one.
Fly into one city and home from another: into Dublin and out of Edinburgh, or into London and out of Dublin. On one ticket the airline protects both ends.
Connecting through Dublin to Europe keeps you outside the UK ETA scheme and gives you preclearance on the way home. Connecting through London to Europe needs an ETA only if you pass through UK border control.
Route guides to UK & Ireland
London (LHR)
- Atlanta to London flights
- Boston to London flights
- Chicago to London flights
- Dallas to London flights
- Denver to London flights
- Detroit to London flights
- Honolulu to London flights
- Las Vegas to London flights
- Los Angeles to London flights
- Miami to London flights
- Nashville to London flights
- Newark to London flights
- New York to London flights
- Orlando to London flights
- Philadelphia to London flights
- Phoenix to London flights
- Portland to London flights
- San Diego to London flights
- San Francisco to London flights
- Seattle to London flights
- Washington to London flights
Manchester (MAN)
Edinburgh (EDI)
Frequently asked questions
Do US citizens need an ETA for Ireland?
No. Ireland has no ETA scheme, and US citizens can visit visa-free for up to 90 days. The UK ETA is needed only if your trip includes England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Do US citizens need an ETA for the UK?
Yes, since 8 January 2025, for visits to the UK. Apply on GOV.UK or the official UK ETA app. Passengers who change planes without passing through UK border control are currently exempt, under a temporary exemption, so check GOV.UK before you fly.
Is Ireland in the Schengen Area?
No. Ireland is in the EU but outside Schengen, so EES does not apply at Irish airports and days in Ireland do not count toward the Schengen 90-day limit.
How long is the flight from New York to Dublin?
About six and a half to seven hours eastbound on recent schedules, and longer flying back. Check with the airline for your flight.
Do I need a UK ETA to visit Belfast from Dublin?
Yes. Belfast is in Northern Ireland, part of the UK, so a US citizen needs a UK ETA even though there is no passport check at the land border.
Which Irish airports have US preclearance?
Dublin and Shannon. You clear US immigration and customs in Ireland and arrive in the US as a domestic passenger.
What is the cheapest month to fly to London or Dublin?
Usually January to March, outside school holidays and St Patrick's week. Check the fare grid for live prices on your dates.
