Seoul for less than a return train ticket to Edinburgh. Air China connects London to South Korea's capital from £417 return, and your money will go further there than it ever does on a Friday night in Zone 1.
✈️ The Deal
- From: London - Gatwick, UK
- To: Seoul, South Korea
- Airline: Air China
- Stops: 1 stop
- Price: £417–£499 return
- When: August, September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May, June
Example dates:
18/08/2026 – 08/09/2026
25/08/2026 – 08/09/2026
01/09/2026 – 08/09/2026
07/09/2026 – 19/09/2026
14/10/2026 – 27/10/2026
02/11/2026 – 24/11/2026
12/11/2026 – 26/11/2026
02/12/2026 – 24/12/2026
11/01/2027 – 31/01/2027
15/01/2027 – 31/01/2027
10/02/2027 – 26/02/2027
03/03/2027 – 16/03/2027
05/04/2027 – 20/04/2027
07/05/2027 – 22/05/2027
02/06/2027 – 18/06/2027
💰 How Far Does Your Money Go?
A bowl of street food at Gwangjang Market costs around £2.50, less than a coffee at your local. A full Korean BBQ dinner with sides runs about £8 a head, and a local beer at a convenience store lands under £1.20, a fraction of a Wetherspoons pint. Whatever your budget covers for one night out in London stretches into two or three days in Seoul.
☀️ The Weather
Seoul shifts a lot across these dates. Late August and September still run warm, with highs around 26–28°C and the last of the humidity. October cools into crisp autumn days near 19°C, ideal for walking the palaces. November and December turn properly cold, dropping to 4–11°C with clear, dry skies. January is the coldest month, with highs barely above freezing, before February and March start climbing back towards a mild 10–14°C. By May and June, expect a comfortable 22–26°C before the summer humidity sets in.
🏨 Where to Stay
From hostel bunks in Hongdae to sky-high luxury, Seoul has a bed for every budget.
Zzzip Guesthouse Hongdae — 8.3/10 · From £18/night A social hostel right in Hongdae's nightlife district, popular with solo travellers and easy on the wallet.
Mercure Ambassador Seoul Hongdae — 8.6/10 · From £70/night Smart 4-star rooms steps from Hongdae's bars and street art, with a gym and lounge to unwind in.
Signiel Seoul — 9.2/10 · From £320/night Perched near the top of Korea's tallest building, with sweeping views over the Han River and the whole city below.
🎯 What to Do
Seoul swings between ancient palaces and 24-hour neon, often within the same afternoon.
Gwangjang Market food crawl — Seoul's oldest market, stall after stall of bindaetteok and mayak gimbap. Bukchon Hanok Village in hanbok — Rent traditional dress and wander centuries-old wooden houses for the photos alone. Hongdae after dark — Street performers, indie bars and noraebang karaoke rooms until sunrise. N Seoul Tower cable car — A ride up Namsan for a 360° view found nowhere else in the city.
🗺️ Where to Go From Here
Seoul is the easiest base to branch out from the rest of South Korea.
Nami Island — Pine-tree-lined island made famous by K-dramas, about an hour by train and ferry. Busan — Korea's beach city with fish markets and coastal temples, 2.5 hours by KTX bullet train. Jeju Island — Volcanic landscapes, waterfalls and beaches, under an hour by domestic flight. The DMZ — A day tour to the border with North Korea, one of the strangest trips you'll ever take.
£417 for a return flight into one of Asia's most electric cities. These dates run right through to next summer, but the cheapest ones won't last.
Get every flight deal we find, on your favourite app.
Pick how you want to hear from us — or all three. Free, no spam.
