London to Marsa Alam (LGW–RMF) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

British passport holders need a visa for Egypt. The eVisa (visa2egypt.gov.eg) costs $25 for single-entry or $60 for multiple-entry, valid for 30 days per visit within a 90-day window. Processing takes 5 to 7 working days. Visa on arrival at Egyptian airports is also available for $25 (USD cash), but the eVisa skips the airport queue. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the entry date.

For the eVisa, upload a passport photo page scan and a digital passport-style photo. No hotel booking or flight confirmation is required at the application stage. At immigration, officers may ask for return tickets and hotel details. Sinai-only visitors (Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Taba) get a free 15-day entry permit stamped at the airport, no visa needed. This permit restricts travel to South Sinai only.

Direct flights from London Heathrow to Cairo run about 5 hours on EgyptAir and British Airways. Sharm el-Sheikh charters from Gatwick and Manchester take about 5 hours 30 minutes. The Egyptian pound (EGP) trades at roughly 50 EGP per $1. ATMs at airports dispense EGP. No mandatory vaccinations for UK arrivals. Tap water is not safe to drink. Carry cash for taxis and smaller vendors, as card acceptance outside hotels and tourist restaurants is inconsistent.

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.