Popular in | December | High demand for flights, 4% potential price rise |
Cheapest in | October | Best time to find cheap flights, 3% potential price drop |
Average price | £463 | Average for round-trip flights in March 2021 |
Round-trip from | £336 | From London to Vancouver |
One-way from | £233 | One-way flight from London to Vancouver |
Travel to British Columbia is currently restricted due to COVID-19. The restrictions for British Columbia are based on the Canada restrictions which are: Canada has restricted the entry of all foreign nationals. Travellers who are not Canadian citizens, permanent residents or people registered under the Indian Act may only enter Canada for essential purposes. Entrance will be denied to people travelling for tourism, sightseeing, recreation, entertainment, social visits or religious functions. Canadian citizens, permanent residents, their immediate family members, diplomats, airline crews, and travellers arriving from the United States who are travelling for non-discretionary or non-optional purposes may still enter Canada. Seasonal agricultural workers, fish/seafood workers, caregivers, temporary foreign workers, international students with valid study permits or approvals for study permits valid from at least 18 March 2020, and permanent resident applicants who received approval before 18 March 2020 who had not yet travelled to Canada, may still enter the country. Other people with special dispensation to enter Canada include French citizens who reside in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, people registered under the Indian Act, visa-exempt refugees and their immediate families, and those with special authorisation from the Canadian government. Travellers who exhibit symptoms will be prohibited from boarding planes that are destined for Canada. If they exhibit symptoms on arrival they will be referred to the Canadian Public Health Agency. Travellers who have been refused boarding in the past 14 days due to medical reasons related to COVID-19 may not enter the country. Travellers must self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival at their final destination in Canada. Travellers who disembarked from a cruise ship with a known COVID-19 outbreak like the ‘Diamond Princess’ will be required to remain in quarantine for 14 days at a location determined by the Chief Public Health Officer.. If you are planning to travel to British Columbia from an unrestricted area, please consider travel safety tips during this time.
The flight from the UK to British Columbia will vary in duration depending on which airport you’re flying out of, which one you’re landing at, and the number of stopovers on your flight. On average, it takes 9h 24m for a nonstop flight from London to Vancouver. However, you can also fly out of Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and numerous other cities. In British Columbia, the most common destination city is Vancouver, but other airports and destination cities include Vancouver Coal Harbour, Egmont, Boundary Bay, and others. Adding a stopover will increase travel time by at least two hours. Iceland is one of the more common stopovers between the UK and British Columbia, but others can include other cities within Canada, such as Toronto.
You can arrange for a direct flight from London to British Columbia, from Manchester to British Columbia, from Glasgow to British Columbia, and from Edinburgh to British Columbia. However, if you are willing to add at least one stop, you have additional options. Most travelers will depart from London Heathrow Airport, simply because it is the largest international airport in the UK.
The best way to get around British Columbia on landing is to rent a car or truck. There are rental companies available at all international airports in British Columbia, and rental rates are reasonable. Taxis can also be hired at the airport and throughout cities in B.C. It is important to note that while bus service is available within some cities, such as Vancouver, it does not necessarily connect with outlying areas. Many destinations outside of urban areas will require you book your own transportation.
While British Columbia is home to a number of larger cities, the province itself is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and wilderness areas. Glacier National Park is one of the top destinations in the province, but there are numerous others. For instance, many people choose to rent a car and take the Sea-to-Sky Highway that links Vancouver to Whistler. Exploring the Olympic structures in Whistler is also popular. In Vancouver, visitors can spend time in Stanley Park, or explore Vancouver Island in the Victoria and Pacific Rim National Park. Yoho National Park, Tofino and Kelowna are also all popular destinations for travelers visiting British Columbia.
If you are a British national, you will not need a visa to enter Canada. However, you will need a passport with at least six months remaining. While a visa isn’t needed, you will need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization from the Canadian government before you are allowed into the country.