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Compare live prices for Shanghai
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.
Instagrammable stays
Our pick of the most photogenic hotels in Shanghai, from comfortable to top-end. Tiers and price levels (£ to ££££) are our editorial banding; check live prices before you book.
Photo: Livelikerw, CC BY-SA 3.0
Top-end · ££££
The Peninsula Shanghai
Classic views along the Bund and across the river to Pudong's skyline.
Luxury · ££££
Fairmont Peace Hotel
A 1920s art deco landmark on the Bund, with its famous green pyramid roof.
Top-end · ££££
Park Hyatt Shanghai
On the upper floors of the Shanghai World Financial Center, high above Pudong.
Nearby tags: approx walk = straight-line distance × 1.3 at 80 m/min, from © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Hotel photos are from Wikimedia Commons where a free licence allows; otherwise see photos on the partner site. Credits.
Search hotels in Shanghai
Best time to visit
April–May and October–November. Summers are hot and humid with plum-rain season in June; winters are chilly.
Getting there from the UK
Shanghai Pudong (PVG) has direct flights from London Heathrow on several airlines — check current schedules. Shanghai is also a hub for onward domestic flights and high-speed rail.
Top tips
- Walk the Bund at night for the classic Pudong skyline view.
- Explore the former French Concession's plane-tree-lined streets and cafés.
- Yu Garden is lovely but busy — go early.
- The Maglev runs from Pudong Airport towards the city at up to around 300 km/h.
- Water towns such as Zhujiajiao, Wuzhen and Zhouzhuang make easy day trips, as do Suzhou and Hangzhou by high-speed train.
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.