Cheap Flights to Bournemouth (SOU)

Checklist on flights to Bournemouth via Southampton or London

From renowned Victorian landmarks to the wild beauty of the Jurassic Coast, family-friendly beaches to buzzing nightlife, a trip to Bournemouth is full of delightful surprises. This elegant town is one of the South Coast’s busiest tourist resorts, as well as a major host of conferences and trade fairs in the prestigious Bournemouth International Centre. Scheduled flights to Bournemouth land at nearby Southampton Airport from all over the UK, making it easy to drop in for a weekend break or plan a longer trip to explore the beautiful Dorset coastline.

Best time of year to pick up cheap flights to the Bournemouth area

Thanks to its plethora of heritage attractions and vibrant entertainment scene, there are plenty of good reasons to visit Bournemouth at any time of year. Demand for accommodation peaks during the summer holidays, but if you book well ahead you can take advantage of early bird rates. Snap up cheap tickets to Bournemouth with last-minute flight deals to its nearest airports. Try late autumn, when the conference season draws to a close and the deserted beaches lend themselves to long bracing walks. Winters on the South Coast can be pleasantly mild, so January and February are ideal months to enjoy a cultural getaway while benefitting from low-season bargains.

What’s the best way to reach Bournemouth by air from other parts of the UK?

Although Bournemouth Airport handles a variety of scheduled and charter flights to holiday hotspots in Europe and beyond, there are no direct flights to Bournemouth from other UK airports. Your best bet is to land at neighbouring Southampton, which has direct Flybe services from such diverse compass points as Belfast and Jersey, as well as convenient links with busy UK hubs including Manchester and Glasgow. London Heathrow, less than 90 miles from Bournemouth by motorway, gives you another option – direct British Airways routes depart from Inverness, Leeds and Newcastle.

Onward travel from the airport

Southampton Airport has direct access to the national railway network at Southampton Parkway station, with a typical journey time to Bournemouth of around 40 minutes – sit back and relax with a coffee as you plan what to do when you arrive. Alternatively, pick up a hire car and start your holiday with a pleasant meander through the New Forest – car rentals can be arranged via ebookers. From Heathrow you can either catch the Heathrow Express to London Paddington then onward by train to Bournemouth via Reading, or hop on a bus from the airport to Reading station and take a train the rest of the way.

Catch the Bournemouth buzz

Two piers, three Grade I listed churches and four art galleries contribute to Bournemouth’s architectural and cultural importance. Popular events like the Bournemouth Food and Drink Festival and the Bourne Free carnival bring visitors from far and wide. The Russell-Cotes Museum houses a renowned collection of Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces, and the Art Deco Pavilion Theatre hosts prestigious West End musicals and opera performances. You’ll soon catch the Bournemouth buzz.