Route Briefing: London to Taipei
Taipei is one of those cities that genuinely rewards the effort of a long-haul flight, and at roughly thirteen and a half hours from London with a single stop, it's far more manageable than it sounds. The layover actually works in your favour — EVA Air routes through Taipei's own Taoyuan International Airport, meaning you're essentially flying with the destination's home carrier, while China Airlines and Cathay Pacific offer smooth connections via their respective hubs. When fares dip below £500 roundtrip, this route becomes one of the best-value gateways into East Asia, and booking two to four months ahead gives you the best shot at those prices. Just steer well clear of late January and early February when Chinese New Year turns the whole region into a sold-out, premium-priced celebration.
From Taoyuan Airport, the Airport MRT whisks you into central Taipei in around 35 minutes — it's clean, affordable, and runs directly to Taipei Main Station, which is about as central as you can get. Skip the taxi queue on arrival and you'll be checking in before most passengers have even found the exit.
The city itself operates on a different frequency to most Asian capitals. It's dense but not overwhelming, chaotic but deeply organised. Taipei 101 still dominates the skyline and the views from the upper observation deck on a clear day are genuinely worth the queue. But the soul of the city lives in its night markets — Shilin, Raohe, Ningxia — where the air smells of scallion pancakes, stinky tofu, and grilled corn, and locals eat standing up at ten o'clock on a Tuesday like it's the most natural thing in the world. Bubble tea was essentially born here, and drinking it fresh from a street vendor rather than a London chain is a small but satisfying revelation.
For something quieter, the hot spring district of Beitou sits just a short MRT ride from the city centre and offers a genuinely restorative afternoon, particularly welcome after a long flight. The city also has a remarkable temple culture — Longshan Temple in the Wanhua district is one of the most atmospheric religious sites in all of Taiwan, busy with incense smoke and genuine devotion at almost any hour.
Timing-wise, spring and autumn are the sweet spots — mild temperatures, lower humidity, and none of the typhoon risk that comes with summer. July and August are peak season for a reason, but the heat and occasional storms are real considerations. If you can travel in October or November, you'll find Taipei at its most comfortable and the fares at their most forgiving.