Where can I fly to from the south?

If you call the south of England your stomping ground, you’ve got the pick of the litter when it comes to great-value getaways. Living in this part of the country puts four international airports on your radar, each with its own list of flights to some of the world’s top destinations. Let’s take a peek at some of the big names you could be soaring off to soon with us.

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Thinking of a holiday to these Spanish islands floating off the west coast of Africa? We don’t blame you, they’re classics. Millions of Brits soar off to the likes of Lanzarote, Tenerife and Gran Canaria every year to recharge their batteries. Here, you can expect sandy beaches, scenery and temps from the high 20s to low 30s. You can take off to Lanzarote and Tenerife from both Bournemouth and Gatwick. Flying from either usually takes about four and a half hours.

Tenerife’s the larger of the two, meaning it’s got more beaches to kip on and more towns for you to explore. Plus, this place packs in more than 40 national parks, including Mount Teide National Park, home to the tallest peak in the archipelago. Lanzarote follows much of the same formula, especially when it comes to the coast. You’ve got massive sandy beaches to spread out on, a lot of which are backed up with Brit-friendly resorts. However, the countryside here is something special. The whole island’s bagged UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve status, thanks to all its must-be-preserved mountains and rock formations. Timanfaya National Park is a particular highlight here – its hillsides look like something you’d see in a NASA documentary.

Check out our holidays to the Canary Islands

Got your eye on something a little more exotic? Say hello to Jordan. Our trusted airline partners fly to the capital city, Amman, from London Heathrow Airport – you’ll be in the air for a smidge over five hours. This Middle Eastern nation is steadily rising up the must-see list for a lot of folks, thanks to attractions like the Dead Sea and Petra. Take a dip in the former and you’ll float on top of the water like a leaf.

When it comes to sightseeing, though, Petra’s in a league of its own. You might recognise its UNESCO-backed pink facades and giant canyons from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where it had a starring role as the tomb of the Holy Grail. This ancient city’s believed to have pages in the history book that date back to the 5th century BC. To reach the largest landmarks in Petra, it’s a scenic kilometre-long walk through a winding canyon with walls hundreds of metres high. When you arrive, tombs, temples and monasteries carved right into the rock are yours to explore.

If all this sounds right up your street, check out our Jewels of Jordan tour. It includes all the above, as well as a full tour of Amman’s street markets and a night in a traditional desert camp in Wadi Rum – Lawrence of Arabia made a name for himself here over 100 years ago. Plus, our seven-night tour includes your flights to and from Amman, an English-speaking guide and a bunch of experiences.

Find out more about our Jewels of Jordan tour

The Gambia’s a great pick if maximising your tanning time’s number one on your holiday to-do list. Between July and September, you can expect the mercury to hover around 30°C consistently. Pair that with the country’s sandy shores and massive beachfront resorts and you’ve got the recipe for a summer holiday that’s way off the beaten track in terms of destinations.

Our flights to The Gambia take off from London Gatwick Airport and touch down in Banjul, the capital city. Most of the hotels in our line-up are outside the city centre, in quieter, rural areas with beachside postcodes. You’re not far from Banjul, though, so you’ve got ample opportunity to explore the country’s fourth-biggest city. That is, if you can tear yourself away from the Atlantic shoreline. Banjul’s about a 30-minute drive from lots of the hotels we offer holidays to. During a daytrip, you’ve got markets and museums to explore. Plus, the area around Banjul’s loaded with waterways and wetlands, so there’s no shortage of scenic river tours.

Speaking of nature, in true Africa fashion, holidays to The Gambia are ideal for animal lovers. In between city sightseeing and making sand angles, you’ve got plenty of wildlife to spot. The River Gambia National Park is a great place to start – you’re in for a chance of seeing everything from hippos to crocodiles here. Head out into the bush with a guided safari tour, meanwhile, and you’ll be in elephant and leopard territory.

Check out our holidays to The Gambia

Sometimes all you need to hit reset is a quick European city break. With flights that barely top 90 minutes, Amsterdam should always be in the conversation when you’re picking where to visit. Our trusted airline partners fly direct from London Heathrow Airport and Southampton Airport.  

If it’s culture you’re after, Amsterdam scores an A+. The capital of the Netherlands has picked up the nickname Venice of the North, thanks to its spiders’ web of canals that duck and weave throughout the city. UNESCO has also marked the city centre a World Heritage Site since 2010. Most of the smaller canals are framed with scenic walking routes that show off the city’s signature architecture – think tall, terraced houses painted in more colours than you’d find in a LEGO® shop.

In the middle of all this, you’ve got historic sites to wander around, as well as waterfront bars and restaurants to sample. When it comes to the former, the Anne Frank House is the headliner. Elsewhere, you can shuffle around the exhibits at the Van Gogh Museum, which features original paintings by the legendary Dutch artist. There’s also the Rijksmuseum – the national gallery of the Netherlands – where you can get up close to a handful of paintings by Rembrandt.

Check out our holidays to the Netherlands

We’ve covered Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Now, Asia. And, when it comes to holidays to this part of the world, Thailand’s earnt a spot near the top of the best-destinations list. TUI Airways flies direct to Phuket, an island just off the country’s south-west coast. It takes around 15 hours to fly there non-stop, which you’ll do on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

In terms of things to do, Phuket has its fingers in a lot of pies. For starters, there’s over 40 kilometres of sandy beaches for you to leave footprints in. And, just like The Gambia, a lot of our hotels here are planted right on the coast. There’s also plenty to see in the ways of culture. Phuket’s stocked with dozens of golden temples for you to stroll around, while the capital, Phuket Town, is the place to be if you want to stall-hop and sample street food. We’d recommend trying moo ping – grilled pork skewers marinated in fish sauce, sugar, garlic and coconut milk.

No holiday to Thailand’s complete without seeing its biggest natives, Thai elephants, in the wild. 4x4 safaris into the countryside are your best bet of seeing them in their natural habitats. Alternatively, head to one of the certified sanctuaries scattered around Phuket.

Check out our holidays to Thailand

Ready to book your holiday from the south of England?

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Author: Ben Staff

Last updated: 20.10.23