ESSENTIALS

Getting there

British Airways flies direct from Heathrow to New Orleans, Louisiana and to Atlanta, Georgia. Meanwhile, American Airlines flies direct to Charlotte, North Carolina.

Average flight time: 9.5h.

One-stop journeys are available from Heathrow to Birmingham, Alabama and Jackson, Mississippi with airlines including American Airlines and Delta. ba.com aa.com delta.com

Getting around

The sights in the older, European-style cities such as Charleston and New Orleans are generally walkable. Elsewhere, with public transport often unreliable, driving is best. Uber and Lyft are good alternatives in larger metropolitan areas like Atlanta, while car rental can be affordable for greater distances, especially when booked in advance. uber.com lyft.com kayak.co.uk

When to go

Winters can be mild across the Deep South: for example, New Orleans’ temperatures during Mardi Gras in late February often exceed 20C. Still, autumn and spring are the most comfortable months to visit. Most would consider the summer too hot, with temperatures in the 30Cs and high humidity across the board.

More info

visitusa.org.uk visittheusa.co.uk

How to do it

offers a nine-day self-drive Deep South Tour, including flights to Atlanta and from New

Orleans, hire car and hotels from £2,349 per person. hayesandjarvis.co.uk

has a 14-day Southern Sights and Sounds tour, including flights to Atlanta and hotels from £2,899 per person. titantravel.co.uk

offers a 10-day Iconic Deep South tour, including flights to Nashville and from New Orleans, hotels and some meals, from £4,775 per person. abercrombiekent.co.uk