United Kingdom · LHR
Flights to London
Five airports, one of the densest transatlantic markets in the world
London is usually the easiest long-haul trip an American traveller can take, and that abundance is exactly what makes it worth thinking about before you book. Five airports serve the city, and the cheapest arrival is often the one that costs you the most time and money once you are on the ground.
Because so many flights cross the Atlantic to London every day, fares move constantly and the same seat can cost noticeably different amounts depending on which airport pair you search. That is the part most people miss when comparing a single result page.
Getting to London
Airports
Heathrow (LHR) handles most long-haul arrivals and sits west of the city. Gatwick (LGW) is south, Stansted (STN) and Luton (LTN) are further out and mostly serve budget European routes, and City (LCY) is small but closest to central London.
Flight time
Roughly 7 hours non-stop from New York, around 8 from Chicago, and about 10 to 11 from Los Angeles. Westbound flights home usually run longer because of headwinds.
Into the city
From Heathrow, the Express train reaches Paddington in about 15 minutes, the Elizabeth line takes 30 to 45 minutes for much less, and the Piccadilly line is the cheapest at around an hour. Gatwick is about 30 minutes by train to Victoria; Stansted and Luton are closer to an hour.
When to go
Demand rather than price is described here on purpose. Any fare we show you comes from a live search on your own dates, so a fixed figure on this page would be out of date before you read it.
Busiest
June to August, and late December
Long daylight hours and school holidays put the most pressure on both fares and hotels. Christmas week is its own spike, and it books earlier than people expect.
Best balance
April to May, September to October
Mild weather, gardens or autumn colour, and noticeably less competition for seats than midsummer. This is the window most experienced travellers aim for.
Quietest
January to February
Cold, wet, and dark by mid-afternoon, but the cheapest time to fly and the easiest time to get theatre and restaurant tables.
Good to know
- Currency
- Pound sterling (GBP)
- Language
- English
- Time zone
- GMT, or BST from late March to late October
- Power
- Type G plug, 230V
- Entry for US passports
- An Electronic Travel Authorisation must be approved before you fly. Apply well ahead and confirm current rules with UK immigration.
Entry requirements change and we are not an immigration authority. Always confirm the current rules for your nationality with the relevant government before you book or travel.
Worth sorting before you fly
Do not buy an Oyster card
Tapping a contactless bank card or phone on buses and the Underground gets you the same capped fares. The old advice to buy a travelcard on arrival costs you money and time in a queue.
The big museums are free
The British Museum, the National Gallery, the Tates and the Natural History Museum charge nothing for general entry. Budgeting London like a city of paid attractions overstates what you need.
Stay within Zones 1 and 2 if you can
Cheaper hotels further out look like savings until you add two adults' return fares every day, plus the time. Compare the total, not the room rate.
Book theatre for midweek
The same production is materially cheaper on a Tuesday or Wednesday than on a Friday or Saturday, and matinees cheaper still.
Other destinations
FAQ
London — common questions
Airports, timing, and when it is worth talking to an agent.
Which London airport should I fly into?
For a long-haul trip from the US, Heathrow is usually the sensible default: it has the most transatlantic flights and the fastest rail links into the city. Gatwick can be cheaper and is perfectly workable. Stansted and Luton are worth it only if the fare difference is large, because the transfer eats an hour each way. If you are comparing two itineraries with different arrival airports, factor in both the transfer cost and the time of day you land.
When is the cheapest time to fly to London?
January and February are consistently the quietest and least expensive months, with early November a close second outside the Christmas run-up. We are deliberately not quoting figures here because the fare for your dates has to come from a live search, and anyone showing you a fixed price for a route this volatile is showing you a number they cannot honour.
How far ahead should I book a London trip?
For summer travel, several months of lead time is normal, and Christmas week often needs more. For the shoulder seasons you have more room. What matters more than a fixed rule is whether your dates are flexible: if they are, an agent can compare adjacent days and airport pairs quickly, which is where most of the real saving on this route tends to come from.
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