Flights to London (LON)

Cheap flights to London

One of the world’s great cities, cosmopolitan London is home to palaces and parks, historic landmarks and parliamentary democracy – amongst many other things. With a huge array of nightlife, and one of the world’s finest gastronomic scenes, London ticks all the boxes.

When to book flights to London

The weather in the UK is hit and miss, whatever time of year. Although there are four distinct seasons, London is blessed with a maritime climate which keeps things mild. It also means that you’re as likely to get rain in the middle of summer as you are a bright sunny day in winter.

In general, the summer is the best time to visit. When the sun is shining, Londoners take the opportunity to head outside. The many parks and green spaces fill up with people having picnics and BBQs by the trees and flowers in full bloom.

It’s also a special destination at Christmas, when lights adorn the world-famous Oxford Street, and department stores go all out on window displays.

With a number of airport choices, it’s generally easy to get cheap flights to London at any time of year.

How to find the best flight deals to London

London flights are available from a huge choice of US airports. Search with Orbitz for the easiest ways to find the bargain deals.

Use the ‘Nearby Airports’ option located under your chosen departure and arrival destinations once you’ve conducted your search. This lets you explore more flight options from other air terminals. With a good choice of London airports, broadening your flight options could help you get cheaper tickets to London.

Another great way to bag bargain tickets to London is to be flexible on the dates of your flight. Click the ‘My Dates Are Flexible’ tick box when making your search to browse the cheapest flight over several days.

You can also filter and sort your results in two ways. One is on the left-hand side of the results page or you can use the ‘Show Options’ drop-down. This lets you sort your flights by price, duration, airline and airport, as well as by certain times of day.

US departures to London

There are numerous flights to London from multiple US airports.

These include:

• New York to London – 6 hours 55 minutes
• Chicago to London – 7 hours 40 minutes
• Washington DC to London – 7 hours 5 minutes
• Miami to London – 8 hours 25 minutes
• Dallas to London – 8 hours 55 minutes

Main airports in London

The two main airports serving London are Heathrow and Gatwick. Of the two, Heathrow is the larger, and one of the busiest airports in the world. It’s located just inside the M25 motorway that circles the city, about 35 minutes from the center by car. You can also catch the Piccadilly Underground line from a choice of stations in the city to terminals 2,3 and 5. Trains run on average every 10 minutes during the day.

Gatwick is located to the south of the city, just outside the M25. It’s about a 45-minute drive by car from the center, but is well connected via a large train station. The Gatwick Express service takes you into the city in around half an hour. Other slower train services are also available.

London is also served by several smaller and satellite airports including City Airport, Stansted and Luton.

Which airlines fly to London?

Direct and indirect flights to London are available from a number of different carriers.

These include:

• British Airways
• Virgin Atlantic
• United
• Norwegian Air
• American Airlines
• Delta

How to get around in London

Getting around in London is generally very easy. The world’s first underground rail service was built here and is still in operation, covering a huge part of the city. There are also extensive over ground rail services as well as national rail and light rail services. The famous red London buses cover much of the city, with regular services throughout the day, as well as special night buses.

All public transport options can be used with an Oyster Card, a pre-paid card service, or by using credit or debit cards with electronic chips.

There are also several bike share schemes operating in the city, with an extensive and growing bike path network. And, despite its size, much of central London can be easily visited on foot.

What are the must-sees in London?

Most visitors flock to the big Royal attraction such as Buckingham Palace and the Tower or London, with their iconic red coated military guardians.

London’s East End, once downtrodden and forgotten, is now a hub of creative talent and hip crowds. Hit the bars and clubs of Hackney, or take in a show in the city’s vibrant theatre district.

London is also a big sporting center, with several Premier League teams playing games each weekend during the season.

Tips for traveling in London

London is a vast and sprawling city but one of the best ways to get around is on foot. Many of the main attractions are located centrally and walking between them is a great way of seeing more. Take the back alleys and cross through green spaces and you’ll get a sense of the real London.

London has a reputation for being wet and dark, and while the reputation holds up in the fall and winter months, when a spot of sun is something to celebrate, visitors to London get good weather if they know when to go.

The best time to visit London is summer, when temperatures average in the low to mid 70s and precipitation is minimal. This, of course, is when airfare and hotels are at their peak prices. But good weather in London can be worth the extra cash.

Most travelers avoid London from October through January, when temperatures are coldest. That said, you’ll find great winter deals on airfare and hotels. If museums and other indoor spaces are on your to–do list, this season may be a great budget option for you. Hearty raincoat required.

Transport options from London to Heathrow

If your holiday begins by going from Central London to Heathrow Airport, then you’ll need to plan ahead for a relaxed journey. There are two main options when getting to London Heathrow Airport from Central London. Both of these options service all terminals.

Transport options to Gatwick airport

If you need to transfer from Heathrow to Gatwick airport and need to make it to your connecting flight in plenty of time and within budget, we’ve got you covered. There are two main options when getting to Gatwick from Heathrow Airport and both serve both the north and south terminals.

* Savings based on all holiday package bookings with Flight + Hotel on Orbitz.com from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016, as compared to the price of the same components booked separately. Savings will vary based on origin/destination, length of trip, stay dates and selected travel supplier(s). Savings not available on all packages.