Flying from Beijing to London: what you need to know
There are a couple of main airports you can start your trip from in Beijing. Explore your options leaving from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or Daxing International Airport (PKX) when planning your flight from Beijing to London.
London has a number of airports you can fly into. Make your landing at London Heathrow Airport (LHR), London Gatwick Airport (LGW) or Stansted Airport (STN). Alternatively, touch down at London Luton Airport (LTN) or London City Airport (LCY).
Around 11 hours 10 minutes is how long you can expect to be in the air on a direct Beijing to London flight.
London's timezone is UTC+0, which makes London eight hours behind Beijing.
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is the most popular route that connects these two cities. There are 14 weekly flights to choose from. If you prefer a later start to the day, the last flight from Beijing to London is with Air China at 16:15. Choose the first PEK to LHR departure with Air China at 12:40 to make the most of your first day in London.
Give yourself plenty of time to get on your Beijing to London flight. Generally, it's best to arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
During popular months like April, you'll want to get to the airport earlier. Plan to arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of international flights whenever you're flying during high season in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from Beijing to London
At the moment, R 4,607 is the best price we've found for a one-way ticket from Beijing to London. The cheapest price for a return flight is R 10,411. Remember fares may change due to availability at the time of booking.
To score cheap Beijing to London flights, book your trip two months before your departure.
The best month for landing cheap plane tickets from Beijing to London is May. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare prices, then choose the dates with the lowest fares.
Never miss a deal on cheap flights from Beijing to London by creating a Price Alert. You'll get an email or notification through the app when a special offer becomes available.
Tailor your trip using filters. Choose your preferred arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest' Beijing to London flights.
Flying from Beijing
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Begin your trip at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), which offers a range of direct flights from Beijing to London. From PEK, you can fly nonstop to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) or London Gatwick Airport (LGW).
Reserve your Beijing to London plane tickets with Air China. This airline is a top pick for direct flights from PEK.
Consider adding a stopover to potentially save money on your Beijing to London flight. Simply deselect 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from Beijing Capital International Airport. Take a break (and maybe save some cash) by stopping at one of these popular airports:
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Dublin Airport (DUB)
Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
Central Beijing to PEK is around 26 kilometres. Depending on traffic conditions, it'll take about 40 minutes to get there if you're driving, catching a cab or ride-sharing.
Looking for a handy hotel close to Beijing Capital International Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Beijing to London, these stays will have you sleeping nice and close to your departure gate:
79.67% of flights that leave from Beijing Capital International Airport make it to their destination on schedule.
PEK is located at Capital Airport Rd.
Daxing International Airport (PKX)
Rather start your trip at Daxing International Airport (PKX)? This popular hub offers nonstop flights from Beijing to London, seamlessly connecting you to London Heathrow Airport (LHR).
From PKX, you can lock in a direct Beijing to London plane ticket with China Southern Airlines.
Visit friends or family or just take some time to unwind with a stopover. If you'd like to split up your Beijing to London flight, here's where you can stop when setting off from Daxing International Airport:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Wuhan Tianhe International Airport (WUH)
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Depending on traffic, you can drive to PKX from central Beijing in about 1 hour 5 minutes. The airport is roughly 40 kilometres away.
Want to enjoy an extra night away before your flight from Beijing to London? Check in to a hotel near Daxing International Airport before your adventure officially starts. These stays are calling your name:
Most flights that leave Daxing International Airport arrive at their destination as expected. It achieves a consistent on-time performance rate of 88.83%.
Arriving in London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
The distance from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to central London is roughly 26 kilometres. It'll take you around 55 minutes to get to the centre driving.
When travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 1 hour.
The last thing you want is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from Beijing to London. Book one of these accommodation options near LHR instead:
Explore without limits with a London Heathrow Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Surprice, U-Save or Green Motion and chase adventure across London and beyond.
Reserving your ride from London Heathrow Airport around one week ahead increases your chances of getting a good deal.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
The centre of London is about 40 kilometres from London Gatwick Airport (LGW). Once your flight from Beijing to London has hit the runway and you've navigated your way to arrivals, expect a drive of about 1 hour 20 minutes.
If you hop on public transport, you'll get to the city centre in 30 minutes or so.
After your flight from Beijing to London, unwind at a hotel near LGW. These are some great accommodation options that'll help you slip into relaxation mode:
Forget about public transport schedules or long cab queues. Grab a London Gatwick Airport rental car and take your journey in whatever direction you like. Compare availability and rates from Green Motion, U-Save and Drivalia.
Don't pay more than you need to. Securing your ride three weeks ahead of your arrival at LGW will help you stay within budget.
Stansted Airport (STN)
Stansted Airport (STN) is roughly 48 kilometres from the centre of London. It takes about 1 hour to reach the city centre in a car once you've hopped off your flight from Beijing to London.
If you travel by public transport, the journey takes around 1 hour 25 minutes.
If you don't want to make the journey to the centre, head for a hotel near STN. Settle in at one of these options after your Beijing to London flight:
Whether you'd like an economy for a solo escape or a spacious SUV to move the whole family, you'll find the right Stansted Airport rental car for your needs. Browse the range of wheels available from names such as Green Motion, Drivalia and Europcar.
If you're after a specific type of vehicle, lock in your ride from STN around four weeks ahead of your flight from Beijing to London. This improves your chances of getting your preferred car, along with a better price.
Best time to go to London
July is the busiest month for flights from Beijing to London. To avoid the crowds, visit London in February.
Book a Beijing to London ticket departing in July if you want to experience the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in London to range from 11ºC (52ºF) to 26ºC (79ºF).
January has average temperatures of between 0ºC (32ºF) and 9ºC (48ºF). Look for cheap flights from Beijing to London around that time if you like cooler conditions.
More about London
Start your London trip right by choosing the ideal place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from Beijing to London, explore our range of hotels including:
Big Ben and The British Museum are just the start of the leading attractions to put on your London to-do list. Continue your sightseeing adventures at Buckingham Palace.
Explore more of United Kingdom
You've visited London, now it's time to explore other corners of United Kingdom. Travel about 161 kilometres north-west to Birmingham to tick off its top sights. From Cadbury World to The Library of Birmingham and National Sea Life Centre, you'll have a full itinerary ahead.
Around 177 kilometres west of London, Bristol is another essential stop in United Kingdom. Start your sightseeing at Clifton Suspension Bridge, Cabot Tower and Brandon Hill Nature Park.