Travelling to England from Canada: the complete guide

Canadian citizens do not need a visa for tourist stays of six months or less in England, but the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) has been mandatory since January 2025: you apply online before departure and pay 20 GBP, about $38 CAD. Direct flights take roughly 6 h 40 min from Montreal to London Heathrow with Air Canada or British Airways, and about 7 h 25 min from Toronto, where Air Canada operates three to four daily departures alongside British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. The best months to go are May, early June, September and early October, when weather, crowds and prices line up. Budget-wise, expect $860 to $1,050 CAD for a round-trip flight in the off-season and $200 to $400 CAD per night for a mid-range London hotel, with better rates outside the capital.

The essentials at a glance

Why England

For a first trip to Europe from Canada, England stacks up well on the practical side. Flights are direct and overnight: you leave Montreal or Toronto in the evening and land in London the next morning, ready to start the day. There is no heavy paperwork, just an ETA that you request online, usually approved within minutes. And once you land, a dense rail network lets you cover the country without a car: York, Bath, Birmingham and Manchester are all direct train rides from London.

The country rewards city lovers and countryside walkers alike. London's national museums are free, which takes real pressure off the activity budget. Less than two hours by train, the scenery changes completely: honey-stone villages in the Cotswolds, medieval walls in York, hiking trails in the Lake District. With only a 5-hour time difference from Eastern Canada, even a one-week trip stays comfortable.

When to go

May, early June, September and early October deliver the best balance of weather, crowds and prices, and that is the window our advisors recommend first. July and August bring the longest days, but they are peak season: round-trip flights commonly run $1,100 to $1,500 CAD. Winter is mild but grey, and many attractions outside London shorten their hours. One constant applies year-round: rain is possible in any season, so a rain jacket belongs in your luggage no matter the month.

How to get there from Canada

From Montreal, Air Canada and British Airways fly direct to London Heathrow in about 6 h 40 min, with evening departures and next-morning arrivals. Air Transat serves Gatwick direct in roughly 6 h 30 min, often at a lower fare. From Toronto, the choice widens: Air Canada operates three to four daily flights to Heathrow, joined by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, all at around 7 h 25 min, while Air Transat flies direct to Gatwick. Both Heathrow and Gatwick have direct rail links into central London, so the airport you land at matters little to your itinerary.

Off-season round trips run $860 to $1,050 CAD; in summer, plan on $1,100 to $1,500 CAD. The overnight flight actually helps with the 5-hour time difference: skip the nap on arrival day, stay up until local bedtime, and most travellers adjust within a day or two.

The must-see regions

London

The capital deserves three or four days on its own. The national museums are free, a rarity among major capitals, and the West End theatre district runs shows every night. The Tower of London is one of the paid sites genuinely worth the ticket. Getting around is simple: tap a contactless bank card in the Tube and your daily fare caps at about $17 CAD for zones 1 and 2. Our London travel packages combine the classics with free time to explore at your own pace.

Around London: Stonehenge, Oxford and Cambridge

The stone circle at Stonehenge and the university towns of Oxford and Cambridge all work as day trips from London. It is the easiest way to add variety to a stay without changing hotels.

The Cotswolds and Bath

West of London, the Cotswolds string together golden-stone villages best explored by rental car or guided day tour. Nearby Bath preserves its remarkable Roman baths and ranks among the most requested stops with our Canadian clients.

The Lake District

This national park in the northwest is England's hiking headquarters, with lakes, fells and marked trails for every level. Give it at least two days, and pack that rain jacket.

York and the north

York is a direct train ride from London and packs its highlights into a compact centre: medieval walls you can walk and the massive York Minster cathedral. It makes a natural stop between London and the north.

Cornwall

In the far southwest, Cornwall has England's most dramatic coastline. St Ives, with its harbour and galleries, is the classic base. The region suits a two- or three-day extension at the end of an itinerary, ideally by car.

The Midlands and Birmingham

Birmingham, the country's second city, surprises visitors with its canal network and the Jewellery Quarter, its historic jewellery-making district. Advance train tickets from London start at 9 GBP (about $17 CAD), making it one of the cheapest escapes from the capital. See our Birmingham travel page to build the stop into your trip.

Liverpool and Manchester

Liverpool still runs on Beatles energy, from the band's landmark sites to the converted warehouses of the Albert Dock; our Liverpool travel page covers the essentials. Neighbouring Manchester draws football fans and houses museums devoted to its industrial past; check our Manchester travel page to plan the visit. The two cities combine easily by train.

The budget, in Canadian dollars

With the pound at roughly $1.88 to $1.90 CAD in July 2026, England is not a budget destination, but a few habits cut costs: free museums in London, Advance train tickets booked early, and hotels outside the capital.

These amounts are provided as a guideline only: they vary with the season, the exchange rate and how far ahead you book.

Entry requirements and health for Canadian citizens

• No visa is required for tourist stays of 6 months or less.
• The ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) has been mandatory since January 2025: apply online through the UK ETA app or gov.uk, at a cost of 20 GBP (about $38 CAD) as of April 2026.
• The ETA is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires; decisions usually arrive within minutes, but allow at least 3 business days before departure.
• Your passport must be valid for the length of your stay; there is no 6-month validity rule.
• Safety: travel.gc.ca advises a high degree of caution due to the terrorist threat; watch for pickpockets and phone snatching in London's tourist areas.
• Health: keep routine vaccines up to date; there are no particular health risks, but medical care is charged to non-residents, so travel insurance is essential.

A few practical habits before you leave: traffic drives on the left, and your Canadian licence is accepted for up to 12 months — though you will not need a car for a trip built around London and the big cities, all well served by rail. Book Advance train tickets as soon as your dates are set, because the same routes bought last minute cost far more. Pack a type G adapter (the grid runs on 230 V) and keep a contactless card handy for the London Tube.

Is England calling? Our advisors know the direct flights from Montreal and Toronto, the itineraries that pair London with the regions, and the months when prices work in your favour. Talk to one of our 950+ advisors: 450-628-6241 | 1-866-628-6241 | info@voyagesaquaterra.com