Direct flight about 3 h 25
Madeira from London Gatwick
Published 4 October 2026 · HolidayWow editors · Written with AI, numbers checked against our data ·
From London Gatwick, a nonstop flight gets you in Madeira in about 3 h 25. You land at Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport (FNC), 14 miles from the destination, after 1,526 miles of flight. You can also fly nonstop to PXO (about 3 h 21).
In Madeira, the best time for a trip is June to October, with daytime highs up to 23 °C and the sea up to 24 °C.
7 days in Madeira in August, Beach and hiking, from London Gatwick on your own
Plan a trip- Flight time from London Gatwick
- about 3 h 25
- Flight distance LGW to FNC
- 1,526 miles
- Nonstop from LGW to 2 airports
- Direct flight
- Best time to go
- June to October
Flight times estimated from the distance, nonstop routes according to OpenTravelData.
Choose Madeira from London Gatwick with the season in mind
Madeira has a mild island climate throughout the year, and the best choice depends on the mix of warm weather, clear walking conditions and a pace that suits your group. Add that distance to a week that combines Funchal, scenic drives and time outdoors, rather than treating the island as a short city break.
MadeiraiPhoto: Ximonic (Simo Räsänen) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
LondoniPhoto: Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsSpring brings a comfortable balance, with brighter days and increasing sunshine. Summer is warmest and suits families who want more time at the beach, while September offers the warmest sea in the climate record. Autumn and winter suit walkers, food-focused visitors and anyone who prefers a quieter rhythm, with indoor attractions and warming local food easy to add when the weather changes.
Use the climate data to match the island to your holiday style. Warm sea conditions are especially useful for swimming and coastal days, while mild daytime temperatures support sightseeing and walks. Keep flexible days in the plan so a change in conditions can move an activity towards the evening or swap the order of stops.
MadeiraiPhoto: Ximonic (Simo Räsänen) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLondoniPhoto: Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsStart in Funchal and give Madeira room to unfold
Funchal is a practical first base for a Madeira holiday from London Gatwick. Its position on the south coast makes it useful for reaching markets, viewpoints, restaurants and the start of several island experiences. Stay here for the first few nights if you want a gentle arrival, a good selection of places to eat and a straightforward base for a family or mixed pace group.
From Funchal, build days around themes instead of simply adding more places. One day can focus on the old town and gardens, another on a coastal drive, and another on a levada or mountain viewpoint. HolidayWow can place each day on a map, making the shape of the island clear before you arrive and helping you spot days that would otherwise feel tiring.
A relaxed pace is often useful on a Madeira trip because roads wind through steep terrain and the scenery changes quickly. Choose a base with the nights you need, then use day cards to organise meals, walks and transfers. The planner can reorder the day after you move a stop, so the itinerary can respond to the group as the holiday develops.
Plan a seven day Madeira route with space for the scenery
A seven day stay gives you room to explore without turning every day into a full island circuit. Spend the first day settling into Funchal, then use the following days for the north coast, a scenic inland route, a levada experience and a final beach or coastal day. Keep one day flexible for weather, rest or a spontaneous place that appeals to the group.
A northern day can focus on the changing coastlines, traditional villages and views across the Atlantic. Pair it with a shorter stop rather than chaining distant sights together. On another day, choose a mountain or levada walk according to the group’s fitness and the conditions. The map view helps you understand the return journey and the amount of ground involved.
For couples, a balanced pace leaves room for a long lunch, a viewpoint and an evening walk. Families can alternate active stops with a pool or beach afternoon, while groups can use comments and voting to agree on the next outing. Add dates in HolidayWow when ready, and each day card can bring in its weekday, live weather and live prices through partner links.
From London Gatwick to Madeira
From London Gatwick, Madeira is {{dist.home:LGW}} away as the crow flies. From London Heathrow it is {{dist.home:LHR}}. From Manchester it is {{dist.home:MAN}}. From London Gatwick, the months that pay off most are June, July, August and September.
London Stansted lies {{dist.home:STN}} away. From Edinburgh it is {{dist.home:EDI}}. Door to door, the plan lines up the ride to the airport, the flight with live fares and the transfer on arrival.
Airports at the destination
From London Gatwick you fly nonstop to 2 airports nearby. Closest to the destination is Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport, at 14 miles.
- FNCCristiano Ronaldo International Airport14 miles to the destination, about 3 h 25 from LGW, 1,526 miles of flightDirect
- PXOPorto Santo Airport44 miles to the destination, about 3 h 21 from LGW, 1,491 miles of flightDirect
Best time to travel in Madeira
In Madeira, the best time for a trip is June to October, with daytime highs up to 23 °C and the sea up to 24 °C. The sea reaches 24 °C in September.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day °C | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 19 |
| Night °C | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 18 |
| Sea °C | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 20 |
| Sun h/day | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| Rain days | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
When to go to Madeira
August is the hottest month at 23 °C, while February drops to 17 °C. Rain is rarest in July (0 days) and most frequent in December (9 days). The sunniest month is May with 10 hours a day.
The sea is warm enough for proper swimming in August, September and October, peaking at 24 °C in September. For walking and sightseeing in pleasant warmth, aim for June, July, August, September, October and November.
- January: 18 °C, sea 19 °C, 6 rain days, 5 h of sun
- February: 17 °C, sea 18 °C, 7 rain days, 6 h of sun
- March: 17 °C, sea 18 °C, 7 rain days, 8 h of sun
- April: 18 °C, sea 18 °C, 5 rain days, 9 h of sun
- May: 19 °C, sea 19 °C, 3 rain days, 10 h of sun
- June: 21 °C, sea 21 °C, 2 rain days, 10 h of sun
- July: 22 °C, sea 22 °C, 0 rain days, 10 h of sun
- August: 23 °C, sea 23 °C, 1 rain day, 10 h of sun
- September: 23 °C, sea 24 °C, 4 rain days, 9 h of sun
- October: 23 °C, sea 23 °C, 8 rain days, 7 h of sun
- November: 21 °C, sea 21 °C, 8 rain days, 6 h of sun
- December: 19 °C, sea 20 °C, 9 rain days, 5 h of sun
When people plan trips to Madeira
Search interest for Madeira peaks in January and is lowest in December, based on monthly search volumes.
How to shape a June day in Madeira
Mornings suit an unhurried walk through the old streets or along the water. The warmest hours, at 21 °C, are perfect for being outside. Evenings drop to 19 °C, so plan dinner outside and keep a layer handy.
Packing for Madeira in August
With 23 °C by day and 22 °C at night and 1 rain days in August, pack for changeable mild weather. Your plan builds this list for you and updates it when you change the dates.
- Comfortable walking shoes
- A warm layer for the evenings
- Swimwear and a beach towel
- A travel adapter for your chargers
Weather in Madeira month by month
- January18 °C
19 °C - February17 °C18 °C
- March17 °C18 °C
- April18 °C18 °C
- May19 °C19 °C
- June21 °C21 °C
- July22 °C22 °C
- August23 °C23 °C
- September23 °C24 °C
- October23 °C23 °C
- November21 °C21 °C
- December19 °C20 °C
Nonstop flights in Madeira from other airports
Besides London Gatwick, nonstop flights in Madeira leave from 6 other airports; the closest to London Gatwick is London Luton, with a flight time of about 3 h 29.
- LGWMadeira from London Gatwickabout 3 h 25 to FNC, nonstop
- LTNMadeira from London Lutonabout 3 h 29 to FNC, nonstop
- BRSMadeira from Bristolabout 3 h 19 to FNC, nonstop
- BHXMadeira from Birminghamabout 3 h 25 to PXO, nonstop
- MANMadeira from Manchesterabout 3 h 29 to PXO, nonstop
- EDIMadeira from Edinburghabout 3 h 47 to FNC, nonstop
- GLAMadeira from Glasgowabout 3 h 45 to FNC, nonstop
Flight times estimated from the distance, nonstop routes according to OpenTravelData.
Prices for Madeira
Every price for Madeira on this page comes live from a partner, in your currency. Open a card to see today's rate for your dates.
Use Madeira’s coast and mountains for a balanced holiday
Madeira works well as a destination for switching between coast and mountains. A beach morning can lead to a forest path, a scenic village or a viewpoint later in the day. The island’s compact feel makes this variety possible, yet the terrain asks for sensible pacing. Keep the most demanding walks for the clearest part of your trip and leave recovery time between active days.
The climate record shows warm daytime temperatures across much of the year, with the warmest months at the centre of summer. September has the warmest sea, which makes it a strong consideration for a swimming-focused holiday. Winter days remain mild, and the higher rainfall pattern can be useful for visitors who prefer green landscapes and a slower indoor and outdoor rhythm.
Bring a light waterproof layer, walking shoes and swimwear suited to the sea conditions. The exact packing list can be built from your month, destination and plan in HolidayWow. Pack for the activity rather than the distance: comfortable footwear matters on levadas, while a light jacket makes evening viewpoints and coastal drives more comfortable.
Organise your Gatwick flight and Madeira stay in one plan
Start by describing the holiday in one sentence or by voice. For example, you can explain that you want a week in Madeira with children, a relaxed pace and time near the coast. HolidayWow reads the place, month, group, pace and budget from your words, then turns them into a map based plan that you can edit.
The plan begins with the journey from home to the airport and can include the flight and transfer to the first stay. Flight connections, prices and availability are shown through live partner information, so the page can reflect current options without turning them into fixed estimates. Booking links appear within the plan in your language and currency, making the next step clear.
Share the route with everyone travelling. Group members can open the same link, view the days, leave comments and vote on changes. The Bank Holiday planner can also connect public holidays with leave days when you are shaping a longer break from the UK. HolidayWow is free to download and use for planning, so you can start with the route and refine it as the dates settle.
Madeira from London Gatwick: frequently asked questions
How far is Madeira from London Gatwick?
The distance helps you picture the scale of the journey and plan a holiday with enough time to explore Funchal, the coast and the island’s mountain scenery.
What is the best time to fly from London Gatwick to Madeira?
The best month depends on your holiday. Spring balances sightseeing and seasonal greenery, summer suits beach days, September has the warmest sea in the climate record, and autumn and winter suit slower walks and food-focused visits.
Can I plan a Madeira trip with children from London Gatwick?
Yes. A family itinerary can combine a Funchal base, coastal scenery, a flexible beach afternoon and a shorter walking day. HolidayWow lets you choose a relaxed, balanced or packed pace and adjust individual days as the group’s plans change.
Can HolidayWow organise flights and accommodation for Madeira?
HolidayWow shows live prices for stays, transport and other partner options inside the plan. Booking takes place through partner links in your language and currency, so you can compare current options and make the booking directly with the provider.
Is it easy to edit a Madeira itinerary after planning?
It is designed to be editable. Move a stop to another day, swap a place or make a day lighter through the plan controls. HolidayWOW then reorders the day and keeps the map connected to the revised route.
More nonstop destinations from London Gatwick
Plan your trip in Madeira from London Gatwick
Describe your trip in one sentence. When, who with and what matters to you.
