Flights to London: Routes, Airlines, and What to Know Before You Book

London is one of the most connected cities in the world. Six commercial airports, dozens of airlines, and flights arriving from virtually every continent. That volume means good options for travelers — but also a lot of noise to cut through when you’re actually trying to book.

Here’s what you need to know.

London’s six airports — and which one you actually want

Not all London airports are created equal. Choosing the wrong one can add two hours and £50+ to your journey before you even leave the airport.

Heathrow (LHR)

The main hub. 15 miles west of central London. Four terminals. This is where most long-haul international flights arrive — especially from North America, the Middle East, and Asia. British Airways, American Airlines, United, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines all operate here.

Getting to central London: Heathrow Express to Paddington (15 minutes, £25), Elizabeth Line (45 minutes, £11-13), or Piccadilly Line (55 minutes, £6).

Best for: Long-haul flights, premium cabins, connecting flights.

Gatwick (LGW)

London’s second-largest airport. 30 miles south of the city. Two terminals. A mix of full-service carriers (British Airways, Norse Atlantic) and budget airlines (easyJet, Wizz Air). Many leisure routes to Europe, the Caribbean, and some US cities.

Getting to central London: Gatwick Express to Victoria (30 minutes, £20), Southern Rail (40 minutes, £12).

Best for: Budget European flights, Caribbean routes, some transatlantic options.

Stansted (STN)

Ryanair’s London base. 40 miles northeast of the city. Almost exclusively budget carriers flying European routes. Don’t book here for a transatlantic flight — there aren’t any.

Getting to central London: Stansted Express to Liverpool Street (47 minutes, £20).

Best for: Budget European trips only.

Luton (LTN)

Similar to Stansted — budget European carriers, mainly easyJet and Wizz Air. 35 miles north of central London.

Getting to central London: Thameslink to St Pancras (35 minutes, £15-18).

Best for: Budget European flights.

City (LCY)

Small airport in east London’s Docklands. Short runways mean only smaller aircraft. British Airways operates CityFlyer services to European cities. No long-haul routes.

Getting to central London: DLR to Bank (22 minutes, £3-5).

Best for: Business travelers going to Canary Wharf or the City of London.

Southend (SEN)

The smallest and most remote of London’s airports. Limited routes. Generally not worth considering unless you live in Essex.

What routes and airlines fly to London

From North America

The London transatlantic market is one of the most competitive in the world. Here are the main routes:

Route	Airlines	Typical economy fare
JFK → LHR	British Airways, American, Virgin Atlantic, JetBlue	$350-700
EWR → LHR	United, British Airways	$350-700
LAX → LHR	British Airways, American, Virgin Atlantic, United	$450-900
ORD → LHR	British Airways, American, United	$400-800
YYZ → LHR	Air Canada, British Airways	CAD 500-1,100
BOS → LHR	British Airways, JetBlue, Virgin Atlantic	$350-700
SFO → LHR	British Airways, United, Virgin Atlantic	$450-900

JetBlue’s entry into transatlantic flying (starting 2021) pushed fares down significantly on JFK-LHR and BOS-LHR routes. Their Mint business class also undercut legacy carriers by 30-40%.

From Europe

Budget carriers dominate short-haul European routes to London. easyJet alone operates routes from 100+ European cities. Ryanair connects through Stansted. Full-service carriers like Lufthansa, Air France, and KLM fly into Heathrow.

From Asia and the Middle East

Major carriers include Emirates (DXB-LHR, 7x daily), Singapore Airlines (SIN-LHR), Cathay Pacific (HKG-LHR), Qatar Airways (DOH-LHR), and ANA/JAL from Tokyo. Gulf carriers often offer competitive fares to London via their hubs.

When flights to London are cheapest

London is a year-round destination, but fares follow predictable patterns:

Cheapest months: January-March (post-holiday), November (excluding Thanksgiving week). Expect $300-450 round trip from the US East Coast.

Most expensive: June-August (peak summer), December holidays. Fares climb to $700-1,200+ round trip.

Shoulder season sweet spots: Late April-May and September-October. Good weather in London, reasonable fares ($400-600), and fewer crowds.

Day of week: Flights departing Tuesday-Thursday are typically 10-15% cheaper than weekend departures.

Tips for booking flights to London

Book 2-3 months ahead for transatlantic. The sweet spot for the best fares is roughly 6-12 weeks before departure. Earlier than that, airlines haven’t released their lowest fare classes yet. Later than that, cheap seats are gone.

Check multiple London airports. A flight into Gatwick might be $100-200 cheaper than Heathrow for the same dates. Factor in the ground transport difference before deciding.

Consider open-jaw itineraries. Fly into London, take the Eurostar to Paris, fly home from Paris. This often costs the same as a round trip and saves you backtracking.

Don’t assume direct is always best. A connecting flight through Reykjavik (Icelandair), Dublin (Aer Lingus), or Lisbon (TAP Portugal) can save $100-300. The tradeoff is an extra 2-4 hours of travel.

Watch for fare sales. Norwegian, JetBlue, and Virgin Atlantic regularly run transatlantic sales. These are typically flash sales lasting 2-3 days with specific travel windows.

Entry requirements

UK entry requirements change periodically. As of 2026:

• US/Canadian citizens: No visa required for stays up to 6 months. Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is required — apply online before travel.
• EU citizens: No visa required. ETA may apply depending on nationality.
• Passport: Must be valid for the duration of your stay.

Always check the latest UK government requirements before booking.

Book flights to London

Sira searches published fares with no markups or hidden fees. The price you see is the price you pay. Search flights to London →