Cheap Flights to Orlando and Florida from the UK

Orlando has been Britain's favourite long-haul family destination for decades. It combines Disney, Universal and SeaWorld with warm weather, cheap car hire and plenty of villa rentals, and many families return year after year. Miami, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and the Gulf coast add beaches, cities and cruises.

The flight is about nine hours from London, and fares are keenly priced because of heavy competition and charter-style capacity. The cheapest times are not the ones most families choose, so a little planning can reduce the cost significantly.

Orlando suits families who want theme parks, Tampa and the Gulf coast suit beach lovers, and Miami and Fort Lauderdale suit city and cruise breaks. Prices for flights, hotels and car hire differ, so compare before you commit.

If you want parks and beaches in one trip, a week in Orlando followed by a week on the Gulf coast is popular, and an open-jaw ticket makes it simple. Check the one-way car hire fee, which can be high.

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are the main full-service carriers, with TUI flying from regional airports and other airlines connecting through hubs. Low-cost carriers have occasionally flown the Atlantic, but schedules change.

Check what the fare includes, since baggage, seat selection and meals vary. Virgin Atlantic and British Airways offer premium economy, which many families find worth the extra on a nine-hour flight. Our page on British Airways explains its cabins.

British citizens travelling to the US for tourism for up to 90 days need an approved ESTA. Apply online through the official US government website at least 72 hours before travel. The fee rose in 2025 and is now around 40 dollars, and approval usually lasts two years for multiple visits.

Each traveller, including children and babies, needs their own ESTA. Use only the official site, since look-alike sites charge more. Your passport must be an e-passport and valid for your stay, and rules change, so check before you book.

For summer, Christmas and Easter, book nine to twelve months ahead, since the cheapest seats and best villas sell first. For other times, four to six months is usually enough.

Switch on an alert for the route and watch it for a week or two. Our guides to tracking fare drops and the best time to book flights in 2026 explain how, and the page on how far in advance to book international flights gives the wider picture.

Park tickets are a major cost. Multi-day tickets reduce the cost per day, and Disney and Universal each have their own pricing, with discounts for buying in advance. Check whether tickets from UK retailers or packages are cheaper than at the gate.

Lightning Lane and Express passes add to the cost, so decide whether you need them. Visit on weekdays outside school holidays for shorter queues. Our family vacations service can help organise tickets.

Car hire in Florida is cheap compared with the UK, but extras add up. Pre-book to get the best price, and check what insurance is included. UK visitors often buy a separate excess cover, which is cheaper than the rental desk's.

Tolls are electronic on many roads, and rental companies charge a daily fee for their transponders. Ask how it works before you drive away. Our car rental service can compare options for you.

Florida has more than theme parks. Cocoa Beach and Kennedy Space Center are about an hour from Orlando, the Gulf beaches at Clearwater and St Pete are 90 minutes away, and Miami and the Keys offer a different trip.

A two-centre holiday, a week in Orlando and a week on the coast, is a popular choice. An open-jaw ticket, flying into Orlando and home from Miami or Tampa, avoids backtracking. Our guide to multi-city versus round-trip tickets explains how.

Hurricanes seldom hit Orlando directly, but tropical storms can close the parks and disrupt flights. If you travel from August to October, buy a flexible ticket or insurance that covers named storms, and buy it before a storm is named.

Airlines often waive change fees when a storm approaches, and the parks have refund policies. Keep an eye on the forecast from a week out, and have a plan for if you are delayed at either end.

Long-haul fares to Florida normally include a checked bag, but basic fares may not. Check the allowance, particularly if you plan to shop, as outlet malls are a draw.

Our comparison of basic and standard fares explains what changes between fare types, and the guide to carry-on size rules explains cabin limits.

Four weeks before you go, check that every traveller has an approved ESTA and a passport valid for the stay. Two weeks before, book park tickets, dining reservations and any Lightning Lane or Express passes, and arrange car seats.

In the final week, check the weather, download the park apps, confirm your car hire and airport transfers, and pack a small bag of essentials for the plane. A written list stops arguments, and saves a lot of stress on the day.

If your flight is delayed or cancelled, UK rules entitle you to care, rebooking or a refund, and compensation in some cases on flights departing the UK. Photograph your boarding pass and receipts, and use the app to sort out a new flight.

What an airline owes you after a delay is explained in delay and cancellation rights. Storms can disrupt flights, so allow a buffer.

Let us know which UK airport suits you, your dates and how many are travelling, and a specialist can compare nonstops and packages, check villas and car hire and find the best deal. We can also arrange tickets and insurance.

Have a play with the live fares below, shifting the dates by a day or two each time. Found a fare you like? A quick call lets us check the baggage terms and change conditions before any money leaves your account.