Aer Lingus and British Airways routes, the Common Travel Area and what to expect at Heathrow — plus a fixed-fare transfer waiting when you land.
Aer Lingus, British Airways and other carriers fly frequently from Dublin, Cork and Shannon to London Heathrow in around 1–1.5 hours, with dozens of flights a day on the Dublin route alone. Irish citizens do not need a visa or an ETA for the UK at all, under the long-standing Common Travel Area arrangement between Ireland and the UK. Book your Heathrow transfer before you fly and a driver tracks your flight and meets you in arrivals.
This page pulls together everything you need on Ireland to Heathrow in one place — how it works, what to expect and the questions we are asked most — so you can decide and book with confidence. Prefer to talk it through? Call us any time on +44 (0) 158 282 4631 for a fixed-fare quote.
Dublin to Heathrow is one of the busiest short-haul routes in Europe, served many times a day by Aer Lingus and British Airways, with easyJet and other carriers also flying the route at times. Cork and Shannon have fewer, but still regular, direct flights. Because the flight itself is so short, many travellers spend more time at security and boarding than in the air.
Dublin to Heathrow: around 1 hour 20 minutes flight time.
Cork or Shannon to Heathrow: broadly similar, slightly longer.
Dozens of daily Dublin–Heathrow flights across the day.
Aer Lingus typically uses Terminal 2; British Airways uses Terminal 5.
No. Ireland and the UK are part of the Common Travel Area (CTA), a long-standing arrangement that predates both countries' membership of the EU and has continued since Brexit. Irish citizens do not need a visa, an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), or any other permission to enter the UK, and can live, work and study there without needing to apply for status. You will still need valid photo ID for the airline and airport security — a passport is the simplest option, though it is not a legal requirement for Irish citizens crossing within the CTA the way it is for most other nationalities.
Aer Lingus typically uses Terminal 2 and British Airways uses Terminal 5, though it is worth checking your boarding pass as terminals can change. Because of the Common Travel Area, Irish citizens are not subject to UK immigration control in the way other international arrivals are, so the process after landing is usually quicker than on longer-haul flights — collect your luggage and head straight into arrivals, where your driver will be waiting if you have booked a transfer.
The UK uses pounds sterling (GBP), not the euro, so it is worth having some sterling or a card that handles foreign transactions without a fee. Contactless card payment is widely accepted across London, including for your Airport Move transfer. There is no time difference between Ireland and the UK, both being on the same time zone year-round, so there is no jet lag to plan around on this route — the main adjustment is simply the currency and getting used to driving on the same side of the road, which will already be familiar.
A short flight from Dublin, Cork or Shannon does not mean the transfer at the other end should be an afterthought — Heathrow is a large airport and rush-hour traffic into London can add unpredictable time either way. Booking your transfer with Airport Move before you leave Ireland means the price is fixed in advance, your driver has your flight number and adjusts to your real landing time, and you are taken straight to your hotel, office or address without queuing for a taxi.
No. Under the Common Travel Area, Irish citizens do not need a visa, an ETA, or any other permission to enter, work, or study in the UK.
You will need valid photo ID to satisfy airline and airport security requirements, and a passport is the simplest option, even though it is not a strict legal requirement for Irish citizens under the Common Travel Area.
Around 1 hour and 20 minutes from Dublin, with Cork and Shannon broadly similar — one of the shortest routes on our international guides.
Aer Lingus and British Airways operate the most frequent services, particularly from Dublin, with other carriers also flying the route at times.
Aer Lingus typically uses Terminal 2 and British Airways uses Terminal 5, but always check your boarding pass, as terminals can change.
No, Ireland and the UK are on the same time zone all year round, so there is no jet lag adjustment on this route.
With Airport Move the fare is fixed and quoted before you travel based on your exact pickup and drop-off, so there is no meter and no surge pricing — get an instant quote for your address.
It is not required, but booking ahead locks in your price and means a driver already has your flight details, useful if traffic into London adds time at the other end.
No, the UK uses pounds sterling (GBP). It is worth carrying a card without foreign transaction fees or a little sterling cash for your trip.
It is appreciated but not expected — there is no set percentage, and it is entirely at your discretion.
This page is written and reviewed by the Airport Move operations team, a London-licensed private-hire operator based at 450 Bath Rd, near Heathrow. We arrange fixed-fare airport, station, cruise-port and door-to-door transfers across London and the UK every day. Need help? Call +44 (0) 158 282 4631 or email booking@airportmove.co.uk.
Last updated: 28 July 2026
