Cheapest Flights to Dublin from the UK: 2026 Guide

Ryanair — The dominant carrier on UK-Dublin routes, operating from over 20 UK airports including London Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Liverpool, and Leeds Bradford. Ryanair offers the lowest base fares but charges for hold luggage and seat selection.\n\nAer Lingus — Ireland\'s national carrier, operating from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, and several other UK airports. Aer Lingus fares are typically slightly higher than Ryanair but include a carry-on bag and often offer better punctuality.\n\nBritish Airways — Operates London Heathrow to Dublin. Fares are higher but include a carry-on bag and checked luggage on some fares.\n\neasyJet — Operates from London Gatwick, London Luton, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Bristol to Dublin. Competitive fares with a similar model to Ryanair.

January and February are the cheapest months to fly to Dublin. Demand is low after Christmas and New Year, and airlines discount heavily. Expect fares from £20–£50 return from London, £15–£40 from regional UK airports.\n\nMarch sees prices spike around St Patrick\'s Day (17 March) — Dublin\'s biggest celebration. Avoid flying on 15–18 March unless you book 3–4 months in advance.\n\nApril and May offer good value — the weather improves, the days lengthen, and fares remain reasonable (£30–£80 return).\n\nJune–August is peak season — prices rise significantly, especially for weekend flights. Book 2–3 months in advance for the best fares.\n\nSeptember and October offer excellent value — the summer crowds thin, the weather is still reasonable, and fares drop back to shoulder-season levels (£30–£70 return).\n\nNovember and December (excluding Christmas) are cheap — fares from £20–£50 return are common.

London Stansted — Ryanair\'s main London hub. The highest frequency of flights to Dublin and consistently the cheapest fares from London. The Stansted Express train connects to London Liverpool Street in 47 minutes.\n\nLondon Luton — easyJet operates from Luton to Dublin. Fares are competitive and the airport is smaller and easier to navigate than Heathrow or Gatwick.\n\nManchester — Excellent connections to Dublin from Manchester, with Ryanair, Aer Lingus, and easyJet all operating the route. Good value fares and convenient for the north of England.\n\nRegional airports — Ryanair operates from Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Liverpool, Leeds Bradford, and several other UK airports. Fares from regional airports are often cheaper than London when you factor in the cost of getting to London.

Book early for peak dates — St Patrick\'s Day, bank holiday weekends, and summer school holidays sell out fast. Book 3–4 months in advance for these dates.\n\nBe flexible on days — Tuesday and Wednesday flights are typically cheaper than Friday and Sunday. Avoid flying on bank holiday Fridays and Sunday evenings.\n\nUse fare alerts — Set up price alerts on Google Flights, Skyscanner, or Kayak for your preferred dates. Fares fluctuate and alerts notify you when prices drop.\n\nCheck baggage fees — Ryanair and easyJet charge for hold luggage (typically £20–£35 each way). If you need a hold bag, factor this into the total cost — Aer Lingus or British Airways may be cheaper overall.\n\nConsider flying into Cork or Shannon — If you\'re planning to explore the south or west of Ireland, flying into Cork or Shannon (both served from UK airports) can save you the drive from Dublin.