What’s the Closest Country to London? 10 Incredible Trips to Take Today

One of the biggest perks of living in London is that you can be in another country in an hour. Breakfast in Paris? Totally doable. Lunch in Copenhagen? Let’s go!

map of western Europe with arrows pointing away from London to the closest countries

But the closest country to London depends on what you consider a different country from England. The nearest country to London depends on what you mean by country, and sometimes it gets confusing when you’re talking about the UK!

The United Kingdom is a sovereign state made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Each is its own country, but the UK is often referred to and considered a country in itself. So you can see where the confusion lies.

Color coded Map of the United Kingdom with each countries flags: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland

So when you’re thinking about the closest country to London, do you mean countries outside of the UK? Because that’s a very different list.

But here’s a list of all of every closest country to London, where they are, how to get there, and how much it costs to travel there.

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The Closest Country to London: Within the UK

The closest country to London within the UK is Wales, but you can also visit Scotland and Northern Ireland very easily.

Wales

The nearest country to London, England within the UK is Wales, and it’s an incredible place to see! Situated on the Western coast, Wales has lush countryside, beautiful beaches, friendly people, and some of the most scenic national parks in the UK.

Part of the United Kingdom
Currency: British Pound (Pounds Sterling)
Language: English, Welsh, other local dialects
Closest Major Tourist Destination: Cardiff
How to get there: Train from London Paddington to Cardiff Central
How long it takes to get there: 1 hour 52 minutes direct train
Cost to get there: Depending on train fares, you can get deals for as low as £29 return.
What to see: Cardiff Castle, Roath waterfront park, Llandaff Castle, Caerphilly Castle, Cardiff Bay, and so much more.

find trains to wales

Northern Ireland

The next nearest country to London after is Northern Ireland. Situated across the Irish Sea from Scotland, Northern Ireland is incredibly beautiful. Lush greenery, incredible coastlines, and Northern Irish pubs, restaurants, and culture await you! If you’ve watched the Netflix hit Derry Girls, you may already know a bit about the history and culture of Northern Ireland.

Part of the United Kingdom
Currency: British Pound (Pounds Sterling)
Language: English, Gaelic, & other local dialects
Closest Major Tourist Destination: Belfast
Distance: Belfast is 518 km (322 miles) from London
How to Get there: Fly from most London airports
How long it takes to get there: 1 Hour 20 minute flight from London
How much it costs to get there: Depending on airfare deals and dates, you can get a return ticket for as low as £50.
What to see: Titanic Belfast, Ulster Museum, Crumlin Road Gaol, St. George’s Market, Belfast Castle, and so much more.

find flights to belfast

Scotland

View of a canal in Edinburgh with beautiful stone buildings lining the banks — *via Pixabay*

The next closest country to London after Wales is Scotland. Situated in the far North, it’s like traveling to another world. Scottish heritage and culture is iconic and fascinating, and there’s so much beauty and history to take in everywhere you look.

Scotland may be one of the nearest countries to London, but the train takes quite a while. If you want to save time, it may be worth flying.

Part of the United Kingdom
Currency: British Pound (Pounds Sterling)
Language: English, Scots, Scottish Gaelic, other local dialects
Closest Major Tourist Destination: Edinburgh
Distance: Edinburgh is 534 kilometers (332 miles) from London
How to get there: Train from London King’s Cross St Pancras to Edinburgh Waverley, or direct flights from London airports.
How long it takes to get there: 4 hr 30 minutes direct train or 1 hr 21 minute flight
Cost to get there: Depending on train fares, you can get deals for as low as £21. Flights are generally affordable and start around £30 each way.
What to see: There’s so much to see in Edinburgh! From Edinburgh Castle to the National Museum of Scotland, to incredible restaurants and cultural events, Edinburgh has something for everyone.

find trains to edinburgh

find flights to edinburgh

Find More Trips to & From London With My Simple Travel Guide

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The Closest Country to London: Outside the UK

Now that we’ve gone over the closest countries to London that are inside the UK, we move to countries outside the UK. The first is France!

France

View of the Eiffel Tower under the arch of a bridge in Paris with soft morning light — *via Pixabay*

Located just across the English Channel, France is the closest country to London that’s outside the UK. Paris is just a 2-hour train ride away from London by Eurostar, and security and passport control through train stations is generally much faster than airports. Traveling by train from London to Paris is one of the quickest, easiest foreign getaways you can do!

Currency: Euro
Language: French (though most people speak English, too)
Closest Major Tourist Destination: Paris (Calais is beautiful, too)
Distance: 344 km (214 miles) from London
How to Get there: Train from London King’s Cross St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord
How long it takes to get there: 2 hours 15 minutes direct train
How much it costs to get there: Depending on train fares and dates, you can get a ticket for as low as £50.
What to see: It’s Paris! See the Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Paris Catacombs, walk along the Seine, shop on the Champs Elysees, eat delicious food and enjoy Paris nightlife.

find trains to paris

Ireland

view of a canal in Dublin in soft morning light — *via Pixabay*

Ireland and Northern Ireland are two distinct countries with separate political systems. Ireland is an independent country that does share a land border with Northern Ireland (part of the UK), but they also share a troubled political history (which is why they are not one united country).

Ireland is beautiful: green spaces, oceanfront views, incredible museums, friendly people, and quaint towns await you. No, there are no leprechauns and don’t ask to find the gold at the end of the rainbow. The Irish are lovely people stuck with some terrible cliches.

Currency: Euro
Language: English, Irish Gaelic, and other local dialects
Closest Major Tourist Destination: Dublin
Distance: Dublin is 463 km (288 miles) from London
How to Get there: Fly from most London airports
How long it takes to get there: 1 Hour 30 minute flight from London
How much it costs to get there: Depending on airfare deals and dates, you can get a return ticket for as low as £50.
What to see: Guinness Storehouse, Dublin Castle, National Gallery of Ireland, Ha’penny Bridge, National Botanic Gardens, and of course many Irish pubs and restaurants!

find flights to dublin

Belgium

Canal in Bruges with old stone buildings lining the banks and a willow tree overhanging the water — *via Pixabay*

Belgium is located just to the east of France and is another neighboring country with close links to London. Brussels is just a 2-hour train ride away from London by Eurostar.

Belgium is known for its fries and waffles, but it also has beautiful winding canals, cobbled streets, quaint towns, and friendly residents.

Currency: Euro
Language: French, German, Dutch (though most people in major tourist destinations speak English, too)
Closest Major Tourist Destination: Bruges
Distance: 144 miles (231 km) from London
How to Get there: Train or airplane
How long it takes to get there: 3 Hour 30 minute train from London (or you can fly too, depending on prices)
How much it costs to get there: Depending on train deals and dates, you can get a ticket for as low as £50. Flights tend to be about the same price but sometimes cheaper.
What to see: Bruges is a charming little city that features winding canals and picturesque bridges. See the Belfry of Bruges, the Basilica of the Holy Blood (which supposedly has the blood of Jesus on a really old cloth), walk the quaint streets, take a canal boat ride, eat delicious frites and waffles, and have a lovely weekend away in a beautiful place.

find trains to bruges

find flights to Bruges

The Netherlands

Canal in Amsterdam with boats and traditional dutch houses lining the banks — Amsterdam. Photo by London in Real Life

The Netherlands is located to the north of Belgium and is another country within easy reach of London. The Netherlands is known for exquisite cheese, windmills, bicycles, tulip fields, and extremely tall residents! Amsterdam is a simple 3-hour train ride away from London by Eurostar.

Currency: Euro
Language: Dutch, English
Closest Major Tourist Destination: Amsterdam
Distance: 222 miles (358 km) from London
How to Get there: Train or airplane
How long it takes to get there: 3 Hour 54 minute train from London (or you can fly too, depending on prices)
How much it costs to get there: Depending on train deals and dates, you can get a ticket for as low as £50. Flights tend to be about the same price but sometimes cheaper.
What to see: Amsterdam has so much to offer: Anne Frank’s house, the Van Gogh museum, beautiful parks and gardens, canals to wander, wonderful people, excellent food and endless things to do.

find trains to amsterdam

find flights to amsterdam

Germany

Canal in Dusseldorf in bright morning light and trees changing color — *via Pixabay*

Germany is located to the east of Belgium and offers a variety of cities that can be reached easily from London by plane, including Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich. Dusseldorf is one of the closest and most popular destinations from London.

Currency: Euro
Language: German, English
Closest Major Tourist Destination: Dusseldorf
Distance: Dusseldorf is 480 kilometers (298 miles) from London
How to Get there: There’s no direct train but you can transfer, or you can fly.
How long it takes to get there: 4 Hour 54 minute train from London with connections, or a flight takes 1 hour and 20 minutes
How much it costs to get there: Train tickets can vary from £150-£200, so for this destination it’s cheaper to fly. Direct flights from London start from about £40.
What to see: Dusseldorf is an art and fashion lover’s dream. There’s incredible architecture, a great fashion scene, art everywhere, and great food and people. Plus, the Rhine river runs right through, making for some great photos and scenery.

find trains to dusseldorf

find flights to dusseldorf

Denmark

View from the water in Copenhagen with colorful houses and boats — *via Pixabay*

Denmark is located to the northeast of Germany and can be reached from London by plane in just a few hours. Copenhagen is a very popular destination (and rightly so!) for those looking to explore Scandinavia.

Currency: Euro
Language: Danish, English, and local dialects.
Closest Major Tourist Destination: Copenhagen
Distance: Copenhagen is 480 kilometers (298 miles) from London
How to Get there: Fly.
How long it takes to get there: 1 hour 45 minute flight.
How much it costs to get there: Direct flights from London start from about £40.
What to see: The city’s historic center, Indre By, and 18th century Frederiksstaden, are both worth exploring thoroughly for their architecture and charming streets & shops. See lovely Amalienborg Palace, Christiansborg Palace, and Rosenborg Castle. Copenhagen has gorgeous gardens, parks, waterside views, and you can rent a bike to easily explore this extremely captivating city. Go to Tivoli Gardens for an excellent amusement park experience.

find flights to copenhagen

Norway

Colorful houses on the seafront of Bergen — via Pixabay

Norway is located to the north of Denmark and can also be reached from London by plane in just a few hours. Oslo is a popular destination for those looking to explore the fjords and natural beauty of Norway.

Currency: Euro
Language: Norwegian, English, and local dialects.
Closest Major Tourist Destination: Bergen
Distance: Bergen is 1044 kilometers (648 miles) from London
How to Get there: Fly.
How long it takes to get there: 1 hour 45 minute direct flight from London.
How much it costs to get there: Direct flights from London start from about £60.
What to see: Bryggen, The Old Wharf (once a trading empire!), colorful houses, museums, fortresses, and the beautiful mountains and fjords that surround Bergen. Don’t forget to take the funicular up the mountain for incredible views.

find flights to oslo

Closest Country to London FAQ

What countries are best to visit near London?

Any on the above list of the closest countries to London are great, but my personal favorites are France and The Netherlands. France has amazing culture and food, beautiful landscapes, and endless variety. The Netherlands is chill, laid back, gorgeous, and relaxing.

Which European city is closest to London?

Calais, France, is the closest European city to London, and you can take a direct ferry from Dover to Calais or a direct train from London.

Which country is the easiest to go to from London?

Outside of the UK, France is definitely the easiest, with the Eurostar direct train from St Pancras. Inside the UK, there are quick and affordable trains to everywhere in Wales.

Where can I fly within 3 hours of UK?

In addition to the nearest countries to London I listed above, you can also visit Spain, Italy, Greece, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Sweden, Finland, and Portugal within a 3 hour flight from the UK.

Where should I go within 2 hours of London, UK?

For culture: Paris or Dusseldorf.
For beautiful landscapes: Wales.
For a chill vibe with lots of things to do: Copenhagen or Amsterdam.
If you’re the outdoorsy type: Bergen.
For a quaint small town: Bruges.

What is the closest African country to London?

Morocco is the closest African country to London, with a flight time from London to Marrakesh of 3 hours and 47 minutes.

What is the least visited country in the UK?

Wales. And it’s completely underrated. Wales is beautiful, the people are friendly, and there are neverending landscapes to take in. Go to Wales ASAP!