Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic will start daily direct flights from London Heathrow to Seoul from 29 March, with the South Korean city named favourite destination by millennials and Gen Z for the fourth year running

Virgin Atlantic is set to launch a new direct route from London Heathrow to Seoul, a city that’s become a must-visit for many millennials. The airline has confirmed that daily flights to the South Korean capital will commence from 29 March.

This exciting news follows Seoul being crowned the Favourite Worldwide City at the 2025 Trazees Awards, an accolade it has now won four years running. The awards celebrate destinations and brands that resonate with millennials and Gen Z travellers, highlighting Seoul’s appeal to the under 40s.

A key factor in attracting younger tourists to Seoul could be the global rise of K-Pop. With Korean bands like BTS dominating music charts and K-Pop Demon Hunters becoming Netflix’s most-watched film ever, 2025 was a landmark year for the genre.

K-Pop enthusiasts visiting Seoul can explore K-Star Road in Gangnam, the district immortalised by PSY’s 2012 smash hit Gangnam Style. This vibrant shopping street features giant bear statues, each one symbolising a different K-Pop band who’ve hit the big time, reports the Express.

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Another must-see is the Starfield COEX Mall, home to shops like the expansive KTown4U, brimming with K-Pop merchandise. It even boasts a massive Gangnam Style statue depicting the dance’s iconic crossed hands pose, providing the perfect backdrop for a memorable photo.

Seoul, a city of the future, is renowned for its colossal shopping centres like Times Square, home to the mammoth Shinsegae Department Store and multiple floors filled with shops, eateries, cafes, and even a hotel. Don’t forget to head to the rooftop for breathtaking views of the city.

For an unparalleled view, make your way to the Lotte World Tower. Standing at 123-storeys and 555 metres, it’s not only South Korea’s tallest building but also the sixth tallest globally.

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Daredevils can visit the Seoul Sky observatory for panoramic vistas and walk on the glass floor where just a couple of panes separate you from a dizzying drop below.

Despite its futuristic reputation, Seoul also boasts numerous well-preserved historical sites. Gyeongbokgung, a former Royal palace dating back to 1395, features a vibrant interior adorned with traditional artwork.

You’ll see locals donning national costumes, and if timed right, you can witness the twice-daily changing of the guard ceremony. Gyeongbokgung also houses the National Folk Museum of Korea and the National Palace Museum of Korea, both excellent spots to delve into the country’s history and view ancient artefacts.

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At Bukchon Hanok Village, you can gain insights into the lives of ordinary Koreans throughout history. Meander down winding streets lined with over 900 traditional homes, some centuries old, alongside artisan shops offering souvenirs crafted using time-honoured techniques passed down through generations.

No trip to Seoul would be complete without a visit to one of its bustling markets. The Myeongdong Night Market, open until 1am, is the perfect spot to taste local delicacies and snag vibrant keepsakes.

Be sure to try tteok-bokki, a rice cake smothered in a sweet and spicy fish sauce, Korean hot dogs encrusted with cheese and panko breadcrumbs, and flame-grilled skewered meats.

Each of Seoul’s districts boasts its own distinctive charm, making it easy to find an area that aligns with your travel preferences. Luxury seekers might gravitate towards the high-end district of Gangnam, while shopaholics will love the central location of Myeongdong, surrounded by numerous shopping centres.

Itaewon offers a lively atmosphere with an international flair, renowned for its vibrant nightlife, whereas Insa-dong provides a more traditional experience with weekend markets and street performances.

Virgin Atlantic’s new flight path to South Korea will utilise the airline’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, offering economy, premium economy, and upper class seating options. This latest addition to their routes marks Virgin Atlantic’s ongoing efforts to diversify its destinations beyond its typical transatlantic flights, with new paths to Ghana and the Caribbean also recently announced.

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BRITS could soon be heading to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam with Virgin Trains – and now, there is a first glimpse at the trains that will be used.

Virgin Trains has revealed more details about services it hopes to run to Europe from 2030, with cheaper tickets and potential Manchester and Birmingham routes.

Back in October, Virgin Trains revealed that it had been granted permission by the Office of Rail and Road to access Temple Mills depot in East London.

The approval essentially means that the operator is a step closer to launching cross-channel services that will eventually rival Eurostar.

Though precise details of schedules and ticket prices have yet to be revealed, Virgin Trains has said it plans to initially use 12 trains for the European service, each of which will have seven carriages.

The operator has made an agreement with Alstom for these trains, which will be Avelia Stream trains – energy-efficient and modern, according to Virgin.

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And they will feature Virgin’s famous red and white colours.

Current planned routes include London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord, Brussels Midi and Amsterdam Centraal.

And Virgin is planning for 20 services a day, with 13 to Paris, four to Brussels and three to Amsterdam.

Unlike Eurostar, Virgin is also looking at stopping at Ebbsfleet or Ashford in Kent, which are currently not used for international services.

And in the future, there could be services from Manchester or Birmingham and services to Switzerland and/or Germany.

What exactly Virgin Trains will look like at London St Pancras is yet to be revealed, but Virgin has said that it will “improve the experience” for passengers.

Richard Branson has previously said he wants a direct service from London to Charles de Gaulle Airport.

He also mentioned hopes to launch a route to Disneyland Paris, which Eurostar used to have a route to but axed it in 2023.

The main benefit for passengers, though, could be the potentially cheaper tickets as Virgin has expressed on a number of occasions how fares are likely to be competitive, or even cheaper, than current Eurostar tickets.

According to Eurostar, its lowest fare between London and Paris is £39.

However, looking at current prices, the cheapest fare in the next six weeks is £51.

Whilst the prices for Virgin Trains tickets are not clear yet, Branson said last month: “If you have competition, then fares will inevitably come down.

“If we’ve got seats that need selling, we will reduce the cost of them.”

Passengers on Virgin Trains may also be able to collect Virgin Red loyalty points when they book through Virgin, as they do with Virgin Atlantic flights.

Before services are able to launch, Virgin Trains needs to form a commercial agreement with Eurostar (the current operator of Temple Mills), secure finance, access to tracks and stations and gain safety approvals from the ORR and authorities in the EU.

The Channel Tunnel is currently only used by Eurostar and LeShuttle.

However, a report over the summer revealed there is capacity for more trains to access the Temple Mills depot, which is essential for cross-channel services.

At the time of the announcement in October, Martin Jones, deputy director, access and international at the Office of Rail and Road said: “With this decision we are backing customer choice and competition in international rail, unlocking up to £700million in private sector investment and stimulating growth.

“While there is still some way to go before the first new services can run, we stand ready to work with Virgin Trains as their plans develop.”

In other rail news, a traditional English seaside town named one of the best in the UK is getting new direct London trains.

Plus, the low-cost train launching more routes between two popular UK cities – and tickets are £33.