London to Fort-de-France (LGW–FDF) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

Martinique is an overseas department of France, so Schengen Area rules apply. British passport holders enter 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. The 90-day Schengen clock is shared with mainland France and all other Schengen territories.

Bring proof of accommodation, return ticket, and evidence of sufficient funds (about EUR 65 per day). ETIAS pre-travel authorization (EUR 7, valid 3 years) is expected to become mandatory for travel to French overseas departments in late 2026, though the rollout timeline for overseas territories may differ from mainland.

No direct flights from the UK to Fort-de-France Aime Cesaire Airport (FDF). The standard routing is London to Paris (CDG or ORY), then Paris to FDF, with a total travel time of about 12 to 14 hours including the layover. Air France and Corsair operate the Paris to FDF leg (about 8 hours 30 minutes). Martinique uses the euro. French is the official language; English is limited outside resort areas. No vaccination requirements for UK arrivals. Yellow fever vaccination is required if arriving from an endemic country.

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.