Amsterdam is one of the easiest and most affordable European city break destinations from the UK. Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) is served from over 20 UK airports, with flight times of just 1–1.5 hours. Here is how to find the best deals.
Best Airlines for UK to Amsterdam Flights
easyJet — The dominant low-cost carrier on UK–Amsterdam routes. Flies from London Gatwick, London Luton, London Stansted, Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh, and more. Fares from £25–£80 one-way.
British Airways — Flies from London Heathrow and London City. More expensive than budget carriers but includes more luggage and better flexibility. Fares from £60–£150 one-way.
KLM — The Dutch national carrier, flying from London Heathrow, London City, Manchester, Edinburgh, and other UK airports. Excellent service and reliability. Fares from £70–£180 one-way.
Ryanair — Flies from London Stansted and various regional UK airports. Cheapest fares but strict baggage rules. Fares from £20–£70 one-way.
Jet2 — Flies from Leeds Bradford, Manchester, Birmingham, and other regional airports. Good value with generous baggage allowance.
Cheapest Months to Fly to Amsterdam
Cheapest months: January, February, and November (outside the Amsterdam Light Festival period). Expect return fares from £60–£120.
Mid-range months: March, October, and early December. Return fares typically £80–£160.
Most expensive months: April (King's Day), July, and August. Return fares can reach £150–£300+ during peak periods.
King's Day (27 April) is the most expensive single date of the year — book 3–4 months ahead and expect to pay a significant premium.
Tip: Flying on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday is typically cheaper than Friday or Sunday. Early morning and late evening flights are usually cheaper than midday departures.
UK Airports with Direct Flights to Amsterdam
Amsterdam Schiphol has direct connections from virtually every major UK airport:
- •London Gatwick (LGW) — easyJet, British Airways. 1h 20m
- •London Heathrow (LHR) — British Airways, KLM. 1h 20m
- •London Stansted (STN) — easyJet, Ryanair. 1h 20m
- •London Luton (LTN) — easyJet. 1h 20m
- •London City (LCY) — British Airways, KLM. 1h 15m
- •Manchester (MAN) — easyJet, KLM, Jet2. 1h 25m
- •Edinburgh (EDI) — easyJet, KLM. 1h 40m
- •Birmingham (BHX) — easyJet, Jet2. 1h 25m
- •Bristol (BRS) — easyJet. 1h 25m
- •Leeds Bradford (LBA) — Jet2. 1h 30m
Getting from Schiphol to Amsterdam City Centre
By train (recommended): Amsterdam Schiphol has its own train station directly below the terminal. Trains run every 10–15 minutes to Amsterdam Centraal station. Journey time: 15–20 minutes. Cost: approximately £5–£7 one-way. Buy tickets at the yellow NS machines in the station or use the NS app.
By taxi: Approximately £35–£50 to the city centre. Takes 20–40 minutes depending on traffic. Use official taxis from the designated rank outside Arrivals.
By bus: Several bus routes connect Schiphol to Amsterdam and surrounding towns. Slower than the train but useful for specific destinations.
Tip: The train is by far the best option — fast, cheap, and runs 24 hours (with reduced frequency at night).
Flight Booking Tips for Amsterdam
Book 6–10 weeks ahead for the best balance of price and availability on most routes. For King's Day (27 April) and summer, book 3–4 months ahead.
Set price alerts on Skyscanner, Google Flights, or Kayak for your preferred dates. Prices fluctuate significantly and alerts can save you £30–£80.
Be flexible on dates — shifting your trip by 1–2 days can save £30–£60 on flights. Use the "whole month" view on Skyscanner to find the cheapest days.
Check baggage costs before booking budget carriers — easyJet and Ryanair charge for hold luggage. For a short city break, travelling with cabin baggage only saves money and time.
