Top Multi-City Itineraries from London

London is one of the best-connected cities in the world. With five airports — Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and City — and direct flights to virtually every major destination on the planet, it’s the ideal starting point for a multi-city trip.

The challenge isn’t finding flights. It’s knowing which combinations work best, which routes make geographic sense, and how to build an itinerary that flows smoothly from one destination to the next without wasted time or unnecessary expense.

This guide covers the top multi-city itineraries from London, organised by region and travel style — from quick European breaks to ambitious long-haul loops.

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Before You Start: Choosing the Right London Airport

Not all London airports are equal. Choosing the right one for your departure can save money and time.

Airport	Code	Best for
Heathrow	LHR	Long-haul, full-service airlines (BA, Cathay, Emirates, Qantas)
Gatwick	LGW	Medium and long-haul, easyJet, Norwegian
Stansted	STN	European budget (Ryanair, Wizz Air)
Luton	LTN	European budget (easyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air)
City	LCY	Short European hops, business travel

For most multi-city itineraries involving long-haul legs, Heathrow is the natural starting point. For European city breaks, Gatwick, Stansted, or Luton often offer better value.

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1. The Classic European Break (1 week)

London → Paris → Amsterdam → London

The simplest and most popular multi-city combination from London. Two of Europe’s greatest cities, a short flight between them, and easy connections home.

Suggested timing:

• London → Paris: Day 1 (45-minute flight or 2h15 Eurostar from St Pancras)
• Paris: Days 1–3
• Paris → Amsterdam: Day 4 (1h15 flight or 3h20 Thalys train)
• Amsterdam: Days 4–7
• Amsterdam → London: Day 7 (1h flight or 3h45 Eurostar)

Why it works: Both cities are well connected to London and to each other. The Eurostar option means you can avoid airports entirely on both legs if you prefer — and arrive city-centre to city-centre.

Best London airport: Heathrow or Gatwick for Paris; Gatwick or Stansted for Amsterdam.

Tips:

• Consider the Eurostar for both legs — it’s often cheaper than flying once you factor in check-in time and transfers, and far more comfortable.
• Paris in spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) is at its best — warm, less crowded, and photogenic.
• Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum and Anne Frank House both require advance booking.

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2. The Iberian Sun Escape (10 days)

London → Lisbon → Seville → Madrid → London

Portugal and Spain in a single trip, moving east from the Atlantic coast to the Spanish capital. This is one of the best-value multi-city routes from London — all three cities have excellent low-cost connections.

Suggested timing:

• London → Lisbon: Day 1
• Lisbon: Days 1–4
• Lisbon → Seville: Day 4 (1h flight or 6h scenic bus if you prefer)
• Seville: Days 4–7
• Seville → Madrid: Day 7 (2h30 AVE high-speed train — no need to fly)
• Madrid: Days 7–10
• Madrid → London: Day 10

Why it works: The route moves geographically from west to east with no backtracking. Lisbon to Seville is a short hop; Seville to Madrid is best by the AVE train, which is faster than flying door-to-door.

Best London airport: Heathrow or Gatwick for Lisbon; Gatwick, Stansted, or Luton for Madrid on the return.

Tips:

• Avoid Seville in July and August — it regularly reaches 42°C. April, May, and October are ideal.
• The Lisbon waterfront (Belém district) and Sintra day trip are essential.
• Madrid’s Prado Museum is one of the world’s great art galleries — book tickets in advance.

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3. The East Asia Loop (2–3 weeks)

London → Tokyo → Seoul → Hong Kong → London

Photo by Jase Bloor on Unsplash

One of the great long-haul multi-city combinations. Three of Asia’s most dynamic cities, each completely different in character, connected by short regional flights.

Suggested timing:

• London → Tokyo (Narita or Haneda): Day 1 (12h direct from Heathrow via BA, JAL, or ANA)
• Tokyo: Days 1–6
• Tokyo → Seoul (Incheon): Day 7 (2h30 flight)
• Seoul: Days 7–10
• Seoul → Hong Kong: Day 11 (3h30 flight)
• Hong Kong: Days 11–14
• Hong Kong → London: Day 14 or 15 (12h direct from HKG via BA or Cathay Pacific)

Why it works: The three cities sit in a logical east-to-west arc across northeast and east Asia. Flying Tokyo–Seoul–Hong Kong rather than returning to London between each city saves one or two long-haul flights and cuts total flight time significantly.

Best London airport: Heathrow — all three destinations have strong Heathrow connections via full-service carriers.

Tips:

• Book long-haul legs (LHR–NRT and HKG–LHR) well in advance — 3–4 months ahead for good fares.
• Japan requires no visa for UK passport holders; Korea and Hong Kong are also visa-free.
• Tokyo’s JR Pass is worth buying before you leave the UK if you plan to travel between Tokyo and another Japanese city such as Kyoto or Osaka.
• Seoul’s Incheon Airport (ICN) is consistently rated one of the world’s best — connections here are smooth and efficient.

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4. The Southeast Asia Explorer (3 weeks)

London → Bangkok → Hanoi → Ho Chi Minh City → Bali → London

Southeast Asia is multi-city travel at its most rewarding. Four countries, four completely different atmospheres, and short regional flights connecting them throughout.

Suggested timing:

• London → Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi): Day 1 (11h direct from Heathrow via Thai Airways or BA)
• Bangkok: Days 1–5
• Bangkok → Hanoi: Day 6 (2h flight)
• Hanoi: Days 6–9
• Hanoi → Ho Chi Minh City: Day 10 (2h flight)
• Ho Chi Minh City: Days 10–13
• Ho Chi Minh City → Bali (Denpasar): Day 14 (3h flight)
• Bali: Days 14–21
• Bali → London: Day 21 (via Singapore or Kuala Lumpur hub, 14–16h total)

Why it works: The route moves in a logical geographic arc from west to east across the region. Each destination is distinct — Bangkok for street food and temples, Hanoi for history and Old Quarter charm, Ho Chi Minh City for energy and war history, Bali for beaches and culture.

Best London airport: Heathrow for Bangkok; Bali’s return connections tend to go via Singapore (SIN) or Kuala Lumpur (KUL) back to Heathrow or Gatwick.

Tips:

• Visa requirements vary. UK passport holders can enter Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia visa-free for standard tourist stays, but check current regulations before you travel as these change.
• The shoulder seasons (March–May and September–November) offer the best balance of weather and crowds across the region.
• Budget airlines (AirAsia, VietJet, Citilink) are excellent for intra-regional hops at very low fares — often under £30 per leg.
• Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) has good connections back to Europe via Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

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5. The Middle East and East Africa Arc (2 weeks)

London → Dubai → Nairobi → Zanzibar → London

An unusual but outstanding combination that pairs the ultramodern with the raw and wild. Dubai makes for a logical stopover hub between London and East Africa, and Zanzibar provides a perfect end-of-trip island wind-down.

Suggested timing:

• London → Dubai: Day 1 (7h direct from Heathrow via Emirates or flydubai)
• Dubai: Days 1–3
• Dubai → Nairobi: Day 4 (5h flight)
• Nairobi: Days 4–7 (including a Maasai Mara safari if budget allows)
• Nairobi → Zanzibar: Day 8 (2h flight via Dar es Salaam or direct on smaller carriers)
• Zanzibar: Days 8–14
• Zanzibar → London: Day 14 (via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam, connecting to a long-haul home)

Why it works: Dubai is one of the world’s great transit hubs — Emirates flies there from Heathrow multiple times daily, and connections onward to East Africa are frequent. The combination of city (Dubai), safari (Kenya), and beach (Zanzibar) creates a genuinely diverse trip.

Tips:

• A Maasai Mara safari from Nairobi requires a domestic flight or 6h road transfer — factor this into your planning.
• Zanzibar’s Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most atmospheric places in Africa.
• Emirates’ generous baggage allowance makes it a good choice for a trip that involves safari gear.
• UK passport holders need a visa for Kenya (available on arrival or e-visa online) and Tanzania (e-visa online). Apply before you travel.

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6. The South America Circuit (3 weeks)

London → Bogotá → Lima → Buenos Aires → London

Photo by Florian Wehde on Unsplash

South America rewards the multi-city traveller enormously. Three countries, three completely different cultures, and a continent that most visitors only scratch the surface of.

Suggested timing:

• London → Bogotá: Day 1 (11h direct from Heathrow via Avianca or BA)
• Bogotá: Days 1–4 (consider a side trip to Cartagena by domestic flight)
• Bogotá → Lima: Day 5 (3h flight)
• Lima: Days 5–9 (consider Machu Picchu via Cusco)
• Lima → Buenos Aires: Day 10 (4h flight)
• Buenos Aires: Days 10–21
• Buenos Aires → London: Day 21 (13–14h via São Paulo or direct via BA)

Why it works: The route moves geographically from north to south down the Pacific side of the continent, ending in Buenos Aires — South America’s most European-feeling city and a natural departure point for the return home.

Tips:

• The Machu Picchu extension from Lima (via Cusco) adds 2–3 days but is one of the world’s great travel experiences. Book the Inca Trail or Hiram Bingham train well in advance.
• UK passport holders can enter Colombia, Peru, and Argentina without a visa for tourist stays.
• Buenos Aires is in a significant different time zone to London (GMT-3 in summer). Factor in adjustment time on arrival.
• LATAM Airlines operates much of the intra-South America network and offers good multi-city fares across the continent.

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Tips for Booking Multi-City Flights from London

Use all five London airports. Mixing departure and return airports across your trip can unlock better fares. For example, departing from Heathrow and returning to Gatwick or Stansted is common and straightforward.

Check connection times carefully. Large hub airports like Heathrow Terminal 5 and Dubai International require more transfer time than they might appear to need. Use VoyageFlights to verify that your layovers are realistic before confirming any booking.

Book long-haul legs first. Intercontinental flights have fewer options and fill up faster. Lock in your main legs 3–4 months ahead, then find regional connections.

Consider one-way fares on budget carriers for regional legs. Within Europe, Southeast Asia, and South America, budget airlines often offer one-way fares that are cheaper than the regional portions of a combined multi-city ticket.

Factor in airport transfer times. London’s airports are spread across the city. Heathrow is 45–60 minutes from central London by tube; Stansted is 55 minutes by train; Gatwick is 30 minutes by Gatwick Express. If you have an early morning flight, account for this when planning the evening before.

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Final Thoughts

London’s position as a global aviation hub makes it one of the best places in the world to start a multi-city trip. Whether you’re planning a long weekend in two European capitals or a three-week loop through Southeast Asia, the connections exist — and the fares are competitive.

The key is planning the route so that it flows geographically, giving yourself enough time in each destination to actually experience it, and making sure your connections are realistic before you book.

Start planning your London multi-city route with VoyageFlights — search every leg, check your layover times, and build an itinerary that actually works.