Porto, Africa Safari, Kathmandu, Mexico, Brazil, Caribbean, USA Road Trip, and City Breaks from the UK — Travel Guide 2026

August 3, 2026 George 0 Comments

From a weekend city break in Porto to an African safari, a Nepal trekking expedition, a Mexican beach holiday, or an epic American road trip — the world has never been more accessible from the UK. This guide covers the most-searched international holiday destinations for British travellers in 2026: Porto city breaks, Africa safari holidays, Nepal and Kathmandu flights, Mexico and Brazil, Caribbean islands, USA road trips, Red Sea holidays, and the best European city breaks from across the UK.

For Bali, Thailand, Japan, Hawaii, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Australia holidays from the UK, see our article on Bali, Thailand, Japan, Hawaii, and Asia-Pacific holidays from the UK.

Porto City Break and Flights from London

Porto has become one of Britain’s favourite European city break destinations — and rightfully so. Portugal’s second city offers a UNESCO-listed historic centre, world-class Port wine, extraordinary azulejo tile art, a vibrant restaurant and bar scene, and a compact, walkable layout that makes it ideal for a 3-4 night break. Porto is also one of the most affordable European city break destinations for British travellers.

London to Porto Flights

Route Detail	Information	Notes
Flight time	Approximately 2 hours 15 min	One of the shorter long-weekend breaks
Airports	London Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton	Multiple UK airports serve Porto (OPO)
Airlines	TAP Air Portugal, Ryanair, easyJet, BA	Wide range from premium to budget
Budget return (Ryanair/easyJet)	From approximately £40-100	Book early for best prices
Mid-range return	£100-250	TAP Air Portugal; good baggage allowance
Best booking window	6-12 weeks ahead	Prices rise quickly for popular summer dates

Top Things to Do in Porto

Ribeira district: UNESCO-listed waterfront neighbourhood — colourful buildings, wine bars, traditional restaurants serving bacalhau (salt cod)
Livraria Lello: One of the world’s most beautiful bookshops — frequently cited as an inspiration for Harry Potter’s Hogwarts library
Port wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia: Cross the Dom Luís I bridge to the south bank for tours and tastings at Taylor’s, Graham’s, and Sandeman
São Bento railway station: The main train station features 20,000 hand-painted azulejo tiles depicting Portuguese history — stunning and free to enter
Foz do Douro: Porto’s coastal neighbourhood where the Douro river meets the Atlantic — excellent seafood restaurants
Clérigos Tower: Baroque church tower with panoramic views over the city

Porto City Break — Practical Tips for UK Travellers

Currency: Euro — the pound typically offers good exchange rates for Porto
Getting around: Porto is best explored on foot in the city centre; trams (historic), metro, and Uber are useful for wider exploration
Best time: May-June and September-October for ideal weather without summer peak crowds
Stay in: Bonfim or Cedofeita neighbourhoods for an authentic local experience; Ribeira for the classic tourist setting

Africa Safari Holidays from the UK

An Africa safari holiday remains one of the most bucket-list experiences for British travellers — and 2026 offers excellent options across East and Southern Africa. From the Masai Mara’s Great Migration to the Serengeti’s year-round wildlife, the Okavango Delta’s water safaris to South Africa’s Big Five reserves, there is an African safari for every budget and travel style.

Best African Safari Destinations for British Travellers

Destination	Best For	Approx. Cost
Kenya (Masai Mara)	Great Migration (July-Oct); excellent Big Five viewing	£3,000-8,000pp for 7-10 days incl. flights
Tanzania (Serengeti)	Year-round Big Five; Ngorongoro Crater	£3,500-9,000pp for 7-10 days incl. flights
South Africa (Kruger/Cape)	Self-drive safari options; Cape Town combo	£2,500-6,000pp for 10-14 days incl. flights
Botswana (Okavango)	Most exclusive; water safari unique	£5,000-15,000pp — premium destination
Zimbabwe (Hwange/Victoria Falls)	Victoria Falls combo; less crowded	£3,000-7,000pp for 7-10 days

South Africa Safari Holidays — Best Value Option

South Africa is the most accessible and best-value African safari destination for British travellers. The Kruger National Park — one of Africa’s largest game reserves — can be explored on a self-drive basis, dramatically reducing costs compared to guided safaris in East Africa. Combine Kruger with Cape Town (one of the world’s great cities) and the Garden Route for a 10-14 day South Africa holiday that covers wildlife, wine (Stellenbosch and Franschhoek), dramatic coastline, and iconic Table Mountain. Direct flights from London Heathrow to Johannesburg (South African Airways, British Airways) take approximately 11 hours. Return economy fares start from approximately £550-800.

Africa Safari — Best Time for British Travellers

Kenya/Tanzania: July-October for the Great Migration river crossings; January-March for calving season
South Africa (Kruger): May-September (dry season) — vegetation thins and animals gather at waterholes
Botswana: May-October (dry season) — Okavango Delta flooded, concentrating wildlife

Nepal and Kathmandu Flights from the UK

Nepal has become increasingly popular with British adventurers — the Himalayas, trekking to Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, and the cultural richness of Kathmandu make it a genuinely transformative destination. The good news: flights to Kathmandu from London have become more competitive in recent years.

London to Kathmandu Flights

Flight time: Approximately 9-11 hours; most flights require one connection
Common connections: Delhi (Air India), Doha (Qatar Airways), Dubai (Emirates), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines)
Airlines: Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Air India, Emirates, and Nepal Airlines all operate services
Return fares: From approximately £450-700 economy; book 3-6 months ahead
Kathmandu airport: Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) — the only international airport in Nepal

Nepal Highlights for UK Travellers

Everest Base Camp Trek: The classic 14-day trek from Lukla to EBC (5,364m) — one of the world’s great walking journeys
Annapurna Circuit: Longer trek with extraordinary diversity — from subtropical forests to high mountain passes
Kathmandu Valley: Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple), Boudhanath stupa, Pashupatinath temple, and Durbar Square
Pokhara: Nepal’s second city on Phewa Lake — gateway to Annapurna treks and paragliding with Himalayan views
Chitwan National Park: Jungle safari for rhinos, elephants, tigers, and crocodiles in the subtropical Terai

Mexico Holidays from the UK

Mexico has seen surging interest from British travellers in recent years — the combination of Caribbean beaches (Cancún, Tulum, Playa del Carmen), ancient Mayan ruins (Chichén Itzá, Teotihuacán, Palenque), vibrant Mexico City culture, the Pacific coast’s surf and whale watching, and extraordinarily good food makes Mexico one of the most diverse holiday destinations in the world.

Mexico Destination	Highlights	Best Time
Cancún / Riviera Maya	Beaches, cenotes, Chichén Itzá day trips	November-April (dry season)
Tulum	Eco-chic beach, Mayan ruins above sea	October-April
Mexico City	Culture, food, museums, Teotihuacán	Year-round (dry season March-May best)
Oaxaca	Food capital of Mexico; Zapotec culture; mezcal	October-May
Los Cabos (Baja)	Luxury resorts; whale watching; Pacific coast	November-May

Flights from London to Mexico typically route via the United States (Dallas, Houston, Miami, Atlanta) or via Amsterdam or Madrid. Flight time is approximately 10-12 hours. Return economy fares start from approximately £450-800. No visa is required for British passport holders for stays up to 180 days.

Brazil and Costa Rica Holidays from the UK

Brazil Holidays

Brazil is a spectacular and diverse holiday destination — from the iconic beaches of Rio de Janeiro (Copacabana, Ipanema) and the world-famous Carnival to the Amazon rainforest, the Pantanal wetlands (best for wildlife), Iguazu Falls (shared with Argentina), and the vibrant food scene of São Paulo. Flight time from London to Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo is approximately 11-12 hours via a connection. Return fares start from approximately £500-800. Best time to visit: April-June and August-October for most regions (avoiding the intense summer heat and Carnival crowds of January-February and June-July rainy season in the Amazon).

Costa Rica Holiday

Costa Rica has established itself as the premier eco-tourism destination in Central America — and is increasingly popular with British travellers seeking adventure, wildlife, and sustainability. Highlights include the cloud forests of Monteverde, the Arenal volcano and hot springs, Manuel Antonio National Park (monkeys, sloths, beautiful beaches), white-water rafting, zip-lining through jungle canopies, and world-class surfing on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Flights from London connect via the United States or Madrid. Return fares start from approximately £550-900. No visa required for British passport holders.

Caribbean Islands Holidays from the UK — Tobago and Beyond

The Caribbean remains a perennial favourite for British travellers seeking sun, sea, and rum. Tobago — the smaller, quieter sister island to Trinidad — is one of the Caribbean’s most underrated destinations, offering coral reefs (some of the Caribbean’s best diving), leatherback turtle nesting beaches, rainforest, and a genuinely local atmosphere that distinguishes it from more commercialised Caribbean islands.

Barbados: Direct flights from London (approximately 8 hours, British Airways); upmarket resorts on the west coast; excellent rum
Jamaica: Direct flights from London; Montego Bay, Negril’s seven-mile beach, Blue Mountains
Tobago: Via Port of Spain (POS) or direct flights on some carriers; Little Tobago bird sanctuary; Pigeon Point beach
Saint Lucia: Dramatic volcanic Piton mountains; luxury honeymoon resorts; rainforest hikes
Turks and Caicos: Luxury beach destination; Grace Bay rated among the world’s best beaches

USA Road Trip Holidays from the UK

An American road trip is one of the great travel experiences — and British travellers make the journey in significant numbers every year. The USA’s scale means there are dozens of viable road trip routes, but three consistently top the search lists for UK travellers:

Classic USA Road Trip Routes for British Travellers

Route 66 (Chicago to Los Angeles): The iconic American highway — 3,940km through eight states, passing the Painted Desert, Grand Canyon area, and Joshua Tree. Allow 2-3 weeks minimum.
East Coast (New York to Miami via I-95): New York, Washington DC, Charleston, Savannah, and Miami — culture, history, and beaches on the Atlantic coast. Allow 10-14 days.
North USA Road Trip (Pacific Northwest/Rockies): Seattle, Olympic Peninsula, Oregon Coast, Crater Lake, and down the Cascade Range — some of America’s most dramatic scenery. Allow 10-14 days.
Southern states: Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans, Texas — music, food, and history through America’s Deep South. Allow 10-14 days.

Cheap flights to the USA from the UK are available year-round — New York routes are the most competitive. Return economy fares to New York start from approximately £250-500 booked in advance. An ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) is required for British passport holders visiting the USA and must be obtained before travel.

Red Sea Holidays and European City Breaks

Red Sea Holidays from the UK

The Red Sea — specifically the Egyptian resorts of Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada, and Marsa Alam — offers British travellers some of the best-value winter sun in the world, with direct flights from many UK regional airports. The Red Sea’s coral reefs are among the world’s finest for snorkelling and diving, and the all-inclusive resort model is well-developed. Flight time from the UK is approximately 4-5 hours. Return fares from UK regional airports start from approximately £150-300 including luggage on package deals.

Top City Breaks from the UK

City Break	Flight Time from London	Highlights
Porto	~2 hrs 15 min	Wine, tiles, bridges, Ribeira waterfront
Madrid	~2 hrs 15 min	Prado Museum, tapas, flamenco, Retiro Park
Stockholm	~2 hrs 30 min	Gamla Stan old town, ABBA Museum, waterways
Istanbul	~3 hrs 45 min	Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, Bosphorus cruise
Lapland (day trip)	~3 hrs to Rovaniemi	Northern Lights, Santa’s Village, reindeer safaris

City Breaks from Glasgow

Glasgow is one of Scotland’s best-connected airports for European city breaks. From Glasgow Airport, direct flights reach Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Reykjavik, Dublin, and many other European cities within 2-3 hours. Budget carriers including Ryanair and easyJet offer competitive prices from Glasgow. For longer-haul city breaks from Glasgow, connecting through London Heathrow or Manchester provides access to a much wider network.

For Bali holidays from the UK, London to Thailand flights, Japan holidays, Hawaii, Malaysia, Philippines, and Australia, see our article on Bali, Thailand, Japan, Hawaii, and Asia-Pacific holidays from the UK.

For UK government travel advice and entry requirements, see FCDO Travel Advice — gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. For cheap flight comparison from the UK, see Skyscanner UK — compare cheap flights.

For more UK lifestyle and travel content, see our travel and lifestyle guides on MetroInsight.

Bottom Line


London to Porto	~2 hrs 15 min; from £40 return (budget) — best European city break value
Best Africa safari value	South Africa — Kruger self-drive; from ~£550 return flights
London to Kathmandu	~9-11 hrs via connection; from £450 return
Mexico holidays from UK	~10-12 hrs via connection; from £450 return; no visa required
Brazil holidays from UK	~11-12 hrs via connection; from £500 return
Red Sea holidays	~4-5 hrs direct; from £150-300 return on packages
USA road trip from UK	Fly into New York or Chicago; ESTA required; from £250 return
Best Caribbean from UK	Barbados (direct BA flights ~8 hrs); Tobago, Jamaica, Saint Lucia
Cheapest long-haul	Morocco, Egypt (Red Sea), Turkey — short flights, great value
Independent travel agent	Worth using for complex multi-stop or safari itineraries

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best holidays to Mexico from the UK?

The best Mexico holidays from the UK depend on what you are looking for. For beaches: the Riviera Maya (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum) offers the Caribbean’s turquoise water alongside cenotes and Mayan ruins. For culture: Mexico City combined with Oaxaca is extraordinary — world-class museums, incredible food, and Zapotec archaeological sites. For luxury: Los Cabos on the Baja California peninsula offers upmarket Pacific coast resorts. Flights connect via the USA or Europe; no visa is required for British passport holders; and the Mexican peso offers good value for UK travellers. Best time to visit is November to April (dry season for most of Mexico).

How much does an Africa safari cost from the UK?

Africa safari costs from the UK vary enormously by destination and standard: South Africa is the most accessible and affordable option, with 10-14 day Kruger and Cape Town holidays starting from approximately £2,500 per person including flights. Kenya and Tanzania safaris with guided game drives start from approximately £3,000-3,500 per person for 7-10 days including flights. Botswana is the most exclusive and expensive, with some camps costing £1,000+ per night. The best time for most safaris is the dry season (May-October) when vegetation thins and animals concentrate at water sources.

What are the best city breaks from Glasgow?

Glasgow Airport connects directly to many European city break destinations. The best European city breaks from Glasgow include Amsterdam (approximately 1 hour 40 minutes on KLM), Dublin (1 hour on various airlines), Paris (approximately 1 hour 50 minutes), Barcelona (approximately 2 hours 10 minutes on Vueling and Ryanair), and Reykjavik (approximately 2 hours 30 minutes on Icelandair). For longer-haul city breaks, connecting via London Heathrow or Manchester opens up routes to New York, Dubai, Tokyo, and beyond. Budget carriers from Glasgow offer the best prices when booked 8-12 weeks ahead.

How do I plan a USA road trip from the UK?

Planning a USA road trip from the UK involves: flying into your starting city (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, or Seattle are the most common starting points), hiring a car at the airport, planning your route and accommodation in advance (especially for peak summer season), and obtaining an ESTA before travel. The driving is on the right in the USA. A full UK driving licence is accepted for car hire in the United States. Budget approximately $50-100 per day for fuel, accommodation $80-200 per night (motels to mid-range hotels), and food $30-60 per day. The best road trip months are May-June and September-October, avoiding peak summer heat in the south-west.