Cheap flights from London to Cancun

November is the cheapest month on this route, and it is the one to aim for if your dates are flexible. Fares are listed for every month of the year, so you can see how the Mexican Caribbean high season pushes prices up from December through Easter, while late spring and early autumn sit somewhere in between. Midweek departures from London usually cost less than weekend ones, and a Tuesday or Wednesday flight often means a shorter connection. Book a few months ahead for winter and spring travel, and keep the hurricane season in mind if you fly in late summer or autumn.

No airline flies London to Cancun non-stop, so every option is a connecting itinerary, usually a long leg on a full-service carrier plus a short hop on a regional partner. The names that appear most are Aer Lingus, Air Europa, Austrian, Swiss, American Airlines, AeroMéxico and WestJet, with Republic Airways and Helvetic Airways often operating one part of the trip. What is included depends on the fare, not the airline: some tickets carry hold baggage and meals, others charge extra for a checked bag or a seat. Compare the total for your dates, and check whether both legs sit on one ticket, because separate tickets leave you carrying the risk of a missed connection.

Cancun has a single airport, and it sits just outside the city, a short transfer from both downtown and the hotel zone. Taxis and pre-booked shared shuttles are the usual ways in, and many travellers arrange a private transfer before they fly because the queues at the official taxi desk can be long after a long-haul arrival. Rental cars are available at the terminal if you plan to explore beyond the resort strip. Watch out for unofficial drivers offering rides inside the arrivals hall, keep your transfer confirmation to hand, and have your onward address ready for the immigration form.

Currency

MXN ($)

Power sockets

Type A, B · 127 V

Language

Yucatec Maya, Nahuatl, Spanish

Emergency number

911

Driving side

right

Calling code

+52

Internet domain

.mx

Population of Cancun

889 k (2020)

Time zone

UTC-05 (America/Cancun)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Decide which London airport you leave from, since Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City all serve this route.
• Check that both legs of the connection sit on one ticket, because separate bookings leave you carrying the risk of a delay.
• Confirm what the fare includes for hold baggage, seats and meals, as connecting itineraries often mix carriers with different rules.
• Make sure your passport is valid for the whole trip and check Mexico's entry requirements before you pay.
• Look at November fares first, then compare the months either side to see what the season adds.