London to Otopeni (LGW–OTP) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

British passport holders enter Romania visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. No fee, no advance application. Passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned departure date with at least one blank page.

Romania joined the Schengen Area for air and sea borders in March 2024, with land border controls removed in January 2025. Time spent in Romania now counts toward the shared Schengen 90/180-day limit alongside all other Schengen states. Border officers can ask for proof of accommodation, return travel, and sufficient funds (roughly EUR 50 per day or equivalent in RON). ETIAS (EUR 7, valid 3 years) will apply once mandatory in late 2026.

Direct flights from London to Bucharest (OTP) run about 3 hours 20 minutes. Romania uses the Romanian leu (RON), trading at roughly 4.95 RON per EUR 1. Euros are not legal tender but many hotels accept them. Card payments are widespread in cities. No vaccination requirements for UK arrivals. Wizz Air and TAROM operate the London to Bucharest route with high frequency.

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.