Compare Florida flights

Florida is a favourite with UK families, but this state isn't all about Orlando theme parks. It is also home to stylish Miami, the laid-back Keys and the wild Everglades. There are direct flights to Florida all year round, travelling to a number of destinations up and down the state – though some, including Orlando, are very seasonal and see both choice and prices fluctuate significantly.

Most of Florida is a huge peninsula extending south from the US, with the Atlantic to the east, the Caribbean to the south and the Gulf of Mexico to the west; little wonder, then, that it's a favourite for beach holidays.

There's no getting around it: it can be tricky to find cheap flights to Florida from the UK. It helps to avoid UK school holiday dates, but bear in mind that winter sun and domestic travel also make much of Florida popular at Christmas and New Year too.

If you do have to travel in July or August, book as early as you can and look out for cheaper indirect flights, which can offer big savings on direct ones. You can often pick up cheap deals on flights between September and November – but while the weather is still warm, bear in mind that this is hurricane season.

The average flight time from the UK to Florida is 9 hours. Norwegian Airlines flies non-stop from London Gatwick to Orlando in 9 hours and 15 minutes.

You can also fly from Gatwick to Tampa with Finnair in just under 10 hours, and Virgin Atlantic flights between London Heathrow and Miami take 9 hours and 50 minutes. However, the fastest journey to Florida is from Manchester to Orlando in exactly 9 hours. That’s also with Virgin Atlantic.

For many UK holidaymakers Florida begins and ends with Orlando: the city of theme parks, rollercoasters and sprawling malls. But the Sunshine State is an incredible natural playground too, with a coastline of almost 2,000km (1,350 miles) trimmed by thousands of barrier islands. It’s home to the vast Everglades wetlands and to Biscayne National Park, a popular spot for scuba diving.

Whatever you do – even if it's just Orlando – you'll find it easier if you hire a car from the airport. With your own vehicle you can pair theme parks with beaches, or explore the Gulf Coast between Tampa and Fort Myers.

Over on the east coast, glamorous Miami is the place to seen; down south, Key West is a must-do for its hints of the Caribbean, its Hemingway connections and the glorious sunsets on Mallory Square. Take a look at our Florida holidays page for more ideas and to search for package deals.