Istanbul spans two continents, with the Bosphorus strait separating European and Asian shores. Turkey's largest city holds 15 million people and centuries of Byzantine and Ottoman heritage. Direct flights from London take about 4 hours to Istanbul Airport (IST), which opened in 2019 as one of the world's largest aviation hubs.
The historic peninsula contains Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar within walking distance. Cross the Galata Bridge to Beyoğlu for modern Istanbul's restaurants, galleries, and nightlife. The Asian side at Kadıköy offers neighbourhood authenticity away from tourist crowds.
Turkish Airlines operates multiple daily flights with highly-rated business class service. BA flies from Heathrow with Club Europe. Pegasus offers budget options from Stansted and Gatwick. Turkish Airlines business class includes lounge access at their Istanbul hub, widely considered one of the world's best airline facilities.