We are planning to visit York as our primary destination, departing from Los Angeles. Is there a simpler way to reach York than going by way of Heathrow?
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11179 posts
Aer Lingus via DUB is one possibility.
Other choices can be seen on skyscanner.com
Posted by
Green Bay
20090 posts
If you want a nonstop, Virgin Atlantic flies to Manchester Sun, Tue, Fri. TransPennine Express has direct trains from the airport twice per hour taking 1 3/4 hours.
I am looking at July, and prices are great.
Posted by
Missouri, USA and Essex, UK.
991 posts
You could fly into Manchester which is about 75 miles West of York. However, coming from LAX you will require a connection in the US. (somewhere in the midwest or East Coast). I flew through Manchester to Chicago last summer. I was surprised to find Manchester Airport is quite small. If you plan on driving, then Manchester Airport may be the way to go. Heathrow to York is just over a 200 mile drive. Take in the Yorkshire Dales on your way to York. Its one of my favorite areas of the UK.
Margaret
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8142 posts
You could fly into Manchester and take a train to York from the airport. Virgin Atlantic starts non-stop flights to Manchester from LAX on 5/19/2019 (seasonally.)
London is only a 2 hour train ride to York--a big railroad hub. American Airlines and United Airline fly into LHR as does British Airways. Norwegian Air Shuttle flies into London Gatwick (inexpensive.)
Those are your simplest options.
Posted by
Chicago
1325 posts
I’ll second the Manchester suggestions. It’s likely to be a much shorter line to clear immigration (I’ve done it twice) and the train station is right at the airport as well.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Fly to Manchester. There are direct trains every hour from Manchester airport to York.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you - these are very helpful suggestions!
Posted by
Yorkshire
1280 posts
While I would concur that flying into Manchester is a best solution and taking the train from there, if you were forced to route through Heathrow the actual rail journey to York via LNER from Kings Cross is a speedy train journey which will get you to York in around two and a half hours - as Sam notes above, Manchester to York takes about one and three quarter hours although it's a rather shorter distance.
Of course you would still have to battle your way through Heathrow and the Tube journey takes about an hour from the Heathrow terminals to Kings Cross, but it's by no means a non viable alternative if you can't find suitable direct flights to Manchester.
And it would be more economic if you can book 'advance' tickets on LNER (actually that goes for most 'main line' railway journeys) but that ties you into a specific train, so you'd also need to factor in a couple of hours for that too, whereas at Manchester they do allow a reasonable 'window' to allow for late arriving flights.
Hope you have a great trip!
Ian