London to Stockholm (LGW–ARN) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

British passport holders enter Sweden (and the entire Schengen Area) visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day rolling period. No fee, no advance application. Passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned departure date with at least two blank pages. UK passports are stamped on entry and exit since Brexit.

No supporting documents are mandatory, but border officers can request proof of accommodation, return travel, and sufficient funds (Sweden suggests SEK 450 per day, about $43). The 90-day limit is shared across all 29 Schengen states. ETIAS pre-travel authorization (EUR 7, valid 3 years) is expected to become mandatory in late 2026.

Direct flights from London to Stockholm (ARN) run about 2 hours 30 minutes. SAS, British Airways, and Norwegian operate the route. Sweden uses the Swedish krona (SEK), trading at roughly 10.5 SEK per $1. Cash is almost extinct in Sweden; many shops, restaurants, and even street vendors only accept cards or Swish (the local payment app, not available to tourists). Bring a Visa or Mastercard. No vaccination requirements for UK arrivals.

The Gatwick Express runs non-stop from London Victoria to the South Terminal in 30 minutes, with trains every 15 minutes (from £21.50 one-way; advance fares cheaper online). Thameslink trains from London Bridge, Blackfriars, City Thameslink, and Farringdon are slower (35–45 min) but significantly cheaper; often £10–13 on Oyster or contactless. Southern trains also serve the route.National coaches (National Express, Megabus) connect Gatwick to Victoria Coach Station for £6–15. Taxis from central London cost £70–100+ depending on traffic. Driving via M23 and A23 takes 35–60 minutes; multi-storey car parks are directly connected to both terminals by a 2-minute monorail shuttle.

Arlanda Express (SEK 280–320) to Stockholm Central in 18 minutes. Departures every 15 minutes from platforms in the terminal. The Pendeltåg (SEK 145 including airport supplement) takes 40 minutes and departs from Arlanda Central station, a short walk or free shuttle from the terminals.Taxis to central Stockholm: SEK 600–800. Uber: SEK 400–600. Several rental car brands operate from ARN. Flygbussarna coaches serve Uppsala (1h, SEK 120) and other regional cities. The airport is 45km north of Stockholm.

Subarctic maritime climate. Winters (December–February) are cold at −7–2°C with reliable snowfall. ARN is well-equipped for winter operations with heated jet bridges and continuous de-icing capability, but major snowstorms still cause delays. Daylight is very limited. December averages fewer than 7 hours.

Summers (June–August) are mild and long at 18–24°C with up to 19 hours of daylight. Operations are very stable. Fog can form on calm, clear autumn nights (September–November). Spring snow in April is not unusual. Pack thermal layers for any winter visit.