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Compare live prices for Beijing
Prices change constantly, so we don't quote them here. Compare live prices on these partner sites:
Flights from the UK: compare on Skyscanner to find cheap tickets with trusted airlines. Direct flights on Chinese airlines from London can take some of the shortest routes. In China: Trip.com is our pick for trains, hotels and things to do, with an English app.
Search hotels in Beijing
Best time to visit
April–May and September–October. Summers are hot; winters are cold and dry.
Getting there from the UK
Direct flights from London Heathrow and Gatwick to Beijing Capital and Daxing on several airlines. Compare on Skyscanner.
Top tips
- Book Forbidden City tickets online in advance (passport needed). It's closed most Mondays.
- Mutianyu is a popular Great Wall section with a cable car and fewer crowds than Badaling.
- Temple of Heaven is best early, when locals do tai chi.
- Explore the hutongs around Nanluoguxiang and Shichahai by bike or on foot.
- Beijing has two airports, Capital (PEK) and Daxing (PKX). Check which one you're using.
China essentials for UK travellers
- Visa: according to GOV.UK (as checked in October 2026), holders of full 'British citizen' passports can currently enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits or transit, until 31 December 2026. Longer stays, or other purposes like work or study, need a visa. Your passport needs at least 6 months' validity and 2 blank pages. Rules change, so always check GOV.UK and the Chinese Embassy in the UK before you travel. Hong Kong and Macao have separate rules.
- Getting there from the UK: direct flights on Chinese airlines from London Heathrow and Gatwick to cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu take roughly 10–11.5 hours, some of the shortest routes between the UK and China, often with competitive fares. Compare flights on Skyscanner to find cheap tickets with trusted airlines. Book trains, hotels and activities in China on Trip.com.
- Getting around: China's high-speed rail network is fast and affordable. Book in advance (Trip.com sells China train tickets in English), and bring your passport, which is used as your ticket ID. Domestic flights cover longer hops.
- Payments: China is largely cashless. Alipay and WeChat Pay both let you link a foreign Visa or Mastercard, so set them up before you go. Carry some cash as a backup, because many smaller vendors don't accept foreign cards directly.
- Staying connected: some apps you use at home, such as Google Maps, Gmail and WhatsApp, may not work normally in mainland China. Download offline maps (Amap or Apple Maps work well) and a translation app before you go, and tell family which app you'll use to keep in touch. International roaming or a travel eSIM bought before departure is the easiest way to get online.
- Registration: hotels register foreign guests with police automatically. If you stay privately, you must register within 24 hours (GOV.UK).
- Busy periods: avoid Chinese New Year and Golden Week (1–7 October) if you can. Trains and attractions sell out and prices rise.