Cheap flights from London to Cebu

June is the cheapest month on this route, and fares are shown from September right through to July. Cebu's dry season runs from around December to May, which is also when Christmas, New Year and Holy Week lift demand, so book those weeks well ahead. Midweek departures and dates outside the UK school holidays usually cost less than a weekend at the start of the summer break. If you can shift your trip by a few days either side of a holiday, you will often save more than you would by switching airlines.

There is no direct flight from London to Cebu, so every itinerary is a connecting one. The carriers on this route are full-service rather than low-cost: Swiss, Edelweiss Air, Helvetic Airways, Air Dolomiti and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines from Europe, and Qatar Airways, Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Vietnam Airlines further along the way. Where you change matters more than the name on the ticket — the European carriers connect through their home hubs, the Gulf and Asian ones through theirs, and that shapes total journey time and how long you sit on the ground. Baggage is generally included, but allowances and fare families differ, so read the ticket details.

You land at Mactan International, the airport that handles Cebu's international arrivals. It sits on Mactan Island, across the strait from Cebu City, so the drive into town crosses a bridge and can slow down badly at rush hour. Taxis, ride-hailing apps and hotel transfers are the usual ways in, and a metered taxi is the simplest if you have not arranged a pickup. Allow extra time on the way back, since check-in queues for long-haul departures build up and the bridge traffic is what catches people out. If you are heading on to the islands, domestic connections leave from the same airport.

Currency

PHP (₱)

Power sockets

Type A, B, C · 220 V

Language

Taglish, Filipino, English

Emergency number

911

Driving side

right

Calling code

+63

Internet domain

.ph

Population of Cebu

468 k (2015)

Time zone

UTC+08 (Asia/Manila)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check which London airport your ticket uses, because London City, Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton and Stansted are all on offer and moving between them takes hours.
• Confirm the baggage allowance on your specific fare, since a long connecting ticket can include less than you expect.
• Make sure both legs sit on one ticket, or you carry the risk yourself if the first flight runs late.
• Look up the entry rules for the Philippines before you pay, including how much validity your passport needs.
• Compare your dates against June, the month when fares on this route tend to be lowest.
• If you are travelling over Christmas, New Year or Holy Week, book earlier than you would for a quiet month.