Closest Greek islands to the UK

Closest Greek islands to the UK

The closest Greek island to the UK is Othonoi, followed by Erikoussa, Mathraki and Corfu. Greece’s nearest islands to the UK are concentrated in the northwestern Ionian Sea, where the Diapontian Islands extend further west and north than the country’s better-known destinations. This ranking is based on straight-line geographical distance from the nearest point of the United Kingdom, not flight time from London. That distinction matters because Corfu is the closest major Greek holiday island with extensive UK air access, but it is not the closest Greek island geographically.

How I ranked the islands

I ranked the islands by their approximate straight-line distance from the nearest point of UK territory. I used geographical position rather than flight schedules because the literal query is about which Greek islands are closest to the UK. Direct flights, ferry connections and total journey time are considered separately, as they can produce a very different practical ranking.

The ranking covers the 125 islands included in the Greek Island Directory. It does not attempt to include every tiny offshore rock or islet in Greek territory.

Quick answer

The 10 closest Greek islands to the UK in the Greek Island Directory are:

  • Othonoi
  • Erikoussa
  • Mathraki
  • Corfu
  • Paxos
  • Antipaxos
  • Lefkada
  • Meganisi
  • Kefalonia
  • Ithaca
    Island — Explanation
    Othonoi — The closest Greek island to the UK by straight-line distance because it is the westernmost inhabited island in Greece and sits northwest of Corfu near the entrance to the Adriatic Sea.
    Erikoussa — One of the closest Greek islands to the UK by straight-line distance because it lies north of Corfu in the Diapontia Islands, placing it among Greece’s nearest islands to Western Europe.
    Mathraki — One of the closest Greek islands to the UK by straight-line distance because its position northwest of Corfu places it on Greece’s western edge and unusually close to Western Europe.
    Corfu — The closest major Greek island to the UK by straight-line distance because it sits in the far northwestern Ionian Sea, substantially closer to Britain than most major Greek destinations.
    Paxos — One of the closest Greek islands to the UK by straight-line distance because its position south of Corfu in the northern Ionian Sea places it well west of most of Greece.
    Antipaxos — One of the closest small Greek islands to the UK by straight-line distance because it lies in the northern Ionian Sea just south of Paxos and far west of the Greek mainland.
    Lefkada — One of the closest major Greek islands to the UK by straight-line distance because its western Ionian position places it significantly nearer to Britain than the Aegean and southern Greek islands.
    Meganisi — One of the closest smaller Greek islands to the UK by straight-line distance because it lies beside Lefkada in the western Ionian Sea, well west of most inhabited Greek islands.
    Kefalonia — One of the closest large Greek islands to the UK by straight-line distance because its position in the western Ionian Sea places it considerably nearer to Britain than most major Greek islands.
    Ithaca — One of the closest Greek islands to the UK by straight-line distance because its western Ionian location beside Kefalonia places it much nearer to Britain than the islands of the Aegean.

    The closest island vs the easiest island

    The closest Greek island to the UK geographically is Othonoi, but the most practical answer for many travellers is Corfu.

    A smaller island can rank higher geographically while taking much longer to reach. Othonoi, Erikoussa and Mathraki require onward transport, whereas a direct flight can take a UK traveller straight to a more distant island.

    Which island would I choose?

    I would choose Corfu.

    Othonoi wins the literal geographical ranking, but I would not add ferry transfers simply to save distance on a map. Corfu gives me the useful version of proximity: it is one of Greece’s westernmost major islands and is substantially easier to reach as a complete holiday destination.

    FAQ

    What is the closest Greek island to the UK?

    • Othonoi is the closest Greek island to the UK within the Greek Island Directory’s 125-island scope. It lies northwest of Corfu in the Diapontian Islands.

    Is Corfu the closest Greek island to the UK?

    • No. Othonoi, Erikoussa and Mathraki are geographically closer to the UK than Corfu. Corfu is, however, the closest major Greek holiday island and the most practical nearby option for many UK travellers.

    Which part of Greece is closest to the UK?

    The northwestern Ionian region is the closest part of island Greece to the UK. The Diapontian Islands and Corfu occupy the top positions in the ranking.

    Which Greek island is closest to London?

    • That is a different calculation from the main ranking because this page measures distance from the nearest point of the UK rather than from London. The answer is still likely to come from the far northwestern Ionian islands, but I would calculate London separately rather than reuse the UK-wide distances.

    Is the closest Greek island also the quickest to reach?

    • No. Small islands such as Othonoi may be geographically closer but require onward transport. A more distant island with a direct flight can have a shorter total journey time.

    Which Greek island would I choose from the UK?

    • I would choose Corfu. It does not rank first geographically, but it gives the best balance between genuine proximity and practical access.

    Sources

    Back to Proximity

    The Greek Island Directory is a project of passion where a love of Crete, Data Integrity and Directories converge to create something truly special for users: Learn More.

    Last Updated on July 16, 2026 by admin