India · direct from 1 UK airport

Chennai

Tamil Nadu's coastal capital and the gateway to south India's temples.

Temples
Food
Culture

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Find flights to Chennai

Pick your airport and month and we'll open live fares for the first direct flight. You can change the date on the next page.

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What Chennai is like

Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu on India's south-east coast, a gateway to the temples of south India, with a long city beach and excellent South Indian food.

Don't miss

01
Kapaleeshwarar TempleA colourful Dravidian temple in Mylapore.
02
Marina BeachA long city beach, busy in the evenings.
03
Fort St GeorgeThe first English fortress in India, begun in 1644.
04
Filter coffee and dosaClassic South Indian breakfasts.

Where to stay

Nungambakkam or T. NagarCentral, with shops and restaurants.
East Coast RoadBeach resorts south of the city.

Worth knowing

Fort St George, begun in 1644, was the first English fortress in India.

Keep going · the hidden gemMamallapuramseaside temples carved from rockScroll down for the detour

The detour

Mamallapuram: seaside temples carved from rock

The Shore Temple and giant rock carvings of a 7th-century port. A UNESCO site.

WhereAbout 26 miles from the airport (MAA)

Getting thereAbout 1 hour 15 minutes' drive south.

Tours and tickets for Mamallapuram →

Direct flights to Chennai from the UK

From	Airlines	Months with flights	Distance	Book
Heathrow	British Airways	All year	5,117 mi	Fares →

From the airlines' and Heathrow Airport's own timetables for October 2026 to September 2027. Pick an airport to see the exact days.

Weather in Chennai by month

29°Jan

31°Feb

33°Mar

34°Apr

37°May

37°Jun

35°Jul

35°Aug

34°Sep

32°Oct

30°Nov

29°Dec

Average daytime highs. The warmest months are May, June, July.

Month	Day	Night	Rainy days
January	29°	21°	–
February	31°	22°	–
March	33°	24°	–
April	34°	27°	–
May	37°	28°	–
June	37°	28°	–
July	35°	26°	–
August	35°	26°	–
September	34°	26°	–
October	32°	25°	–
November	30°	23°	–
December	29°	22°	–

Long-term averages from the national weather service's station record, as compiled on Wikipedia (Climate of Tamil Nadu). This station doesn't publish a count of rainy days with at least 1mm, so we don't show one.

Before you go

You need a visa. Most holidaymakers apply online for an e-Visa: check it covers the airport you land at, and apply in plenty of time.
Fill in the e-arrival card online in the 72 hours before you arrive.
Your passport must expire at least 6 months after you arrive and have 2 blank pages.

From the Foreign Office's India travel advice, checked on 16 October 2026. Rules change, so check it before you travel.