Sri Lanka fills up fast. British Airways flies non-stop from London for £591 return this November and December. Colombo is where you land, but the island starts immediately.
✈️ The deal
- From: London, UK
- To: Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Airline: British Airways
- Stops: Non-stop
- Price: £591–£599 return
- When: November, December
Example dates:
11/11/2026 – 02/12/2026
13/11/2026 – 01/12/2026
02/12/2026 – 12/12/2026
💰 How far does your money go?
A plate of rice and curry at a local canteen costs around £1.50. A beer in a neighbourhood bar is £2, roughly a third of what the same drink costs at a London pub. A decent sit-down meal with drinks comes in under £12. Budget £50–60 a day and you will eat well, move around the island comfortably, and still have money left over.
☀️ The weather
November and December are warm and mostly sunny in Colombo, with temperatures between 24°C and 30°C. November sees occasional short downpours, but rainfall drops significantly in December. Sea temperatures sit around 28°C throughout both months.
🏨 Where to stay
Colombo has solid options at every budget, with the best of the island within a few hours by road or rail.
Lavonca Boutique Hotel - 8.2/10 · From £38/night
Compact and well-run boutique close to the seafront, in a quieter stretch of the city. Clean rooms, friendly staff, and a good base for exploring Colombo on foot.
Cinnamon Grand Colombo - 8.7/10 · From £115/night
One of Colombo's most established city hotels, sitting in the centre with multiple restaurants and a large pool. Reliable, polished, and good value at this level.
Shangri-La Colombo - 9.2/10 · From £245/night
Overlooking the Indian Ocean with a rooftop pool, multiple dining options and a full spa. One of the finest hotel addresses in South Asia.
🎯 What to do
Sri Lanka moves between the spiritual and the sensory without stopping.
Gangaramaya Temple - A lakeside Buddhist temple in the heart of Colombo, filled with statues, relics and a library that spans centuries. More eclectic and atmospheric than a typical temple visit.
Pettah Market - The beating commercial heart of Colombo. Narrow streets packed with spice vendors, fabric stalls and street food. Go hungry.
Mount Lavinia Beach - Just 12 kilometres south of the city centre. Long stretch of golden sand, warm water and affordable seafood restaurants right on the shoreline.
Ceylon tea tasting - Sri Lanka produces some of the world's finest tea. Several Colombo tea houses and plantation day trips offer proper tastings with a tea master. A genuinely local experience that costs almost nothing.
🗺️ Where to go from here
Colombo is less a destination than a starting point. The island opens up quickly in every direction.
Galle - A UNESCO-listed Dutch fort city on the southwest coast, 2 hours by road. Cobblestone streets, ocean views and some of the best boutique hotels in the country.
Kandy - 3–4 hours by road or scenic train through the hills. Home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist site. Calm, elevated and very different from the coast.
Sigiriya - 3.5 hours north. An ancient rock fortress rising 200 metres from the jungle, with 5th-century frescoes and panoramic views at the top. The most iconic landmark on the island.
Bentota - 1.5 hours south. Wide beach, calm lagoon waters and water sports. An easy escape from the city with far fewer tourists than the south coast.
Ella - 5–6 hours through Sri Lanka's tea country. The Nine Arches Bridge, a train journey through mist-covered hills, and one of the most scenic rides in Asia.
Non-stop. No layovers. £591 return from London.
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