London to Dublin flights

London to Dublin flights connect the two capitals non-stop in about an hour and 15 minutes.

Aer Lingus and British Airways fly from Heathrow, British Airways also from London City, and Ryanair from Stansted, Gatwick and Luton.

London to Dublin plane tickets start from 13€.

Flights from London to Dublin leave from Heathrow, London City, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton.

Heathrow Airport (LHR), about 25km west of the centre, is where British Airways and Aer Lingus fly from. The Heathrow Express is the fastest link, taking 15 minutes from Paddington, and the Piccadilly line offers a slower but direct Underground connection.

Gatwick Airport (LGW) serves the route with Ryanair. The Gatwick Express from London Victoria is the quickest transfer.

Stansted Airport (STN) and Luton Airport (LTN) are the main London bases for Ryanair. The Stansted Express and National Express coaches are the main links to Stansted, where low-cost flights often use the satellite buildings, so allow time for the shuttle train.

Flights land at Dublin Airport (DUB), about 10km north of the city centre.

Buses and coaches stop outside both terminals:

• Dublin Express: routes 782 and 784, to Dublin Connolly, Dublin Heuston and major hotels
• Aircoach: often faster than the standard bus if you are heading to O'Connell Street
• Dublin Bus: routes 16 and 41, the most cost-effective way into the city

Taxis and private hire vehicles wait at the ranks outside arrivals. The drive into central Dublin takes between 30 and 50 minutes, and traffic can be heavy around the Port Tunnel at rush hour.

A Leap Visitor Card, sold at the airport SPAR, covers bus and tram travel around Dublin.

Dublin mixes Viking history, Georgian architecture and a famous pub culture, and the compact centre is easy to explore on foot:

• Guinness Storehouse: how the city's most famous export is made, at the St James's Gate brewery
• Little Museum of Dublin: a more intimate history of the city, in a Georgian townhouse
• Trinity College: the Book of Kells and the Long Room library
• Temple Bar: the cobbled quarter of pubs and live music by the Liffey
• Ha'penny Bridge: the cast-iron footbridge for the classic photo of the Liffey
• Georgian streets: Merrion Square and St Stephen's Green, lined with brick townhouses and painted doors
• Croke Park: the home of Gaelic games, with a stadium tour and museum

St Patrick's Day in March is Dublin's biggest festival, with a parade through the city centre and music in the pubs across town.

For a break from the streets, the DART train runs along Dublin Bay to the seaside villages of Howth and Dalkey, with cliff walks and harbour fish restaurants.