Travelling from Beijing to London: what you need to know
There are two main airports you can take off from in Beijing. Check out your options leaving from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or Daxing International Airport (PKX) when searching for a flight from Beijing to London.
Make your landing at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) or London Gatwick Airport (LGW). You can also touch down in London at Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LTN) and 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.
The timezone in London is UTC+0, which is eight hours behind Beijing.
With 14 weekly flights between the two airports, Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is the busiest route. Hop on the earliest flight from Beijing to London with Air China at 12:45. If you'd like to get more out of your day before leaving, the latest flight from PEK to LHR is with Air China at 16:15.
To ensure you make your Beijing to London flight, leave enough time for things like check-in and baggage drop. Turning up two hours before international departures and one hour before domestic flights is a good rule of thumb.
During popular months like July, it's a good idea to get to the airport even earlier. Arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead of international flights when you travel during peak periods in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from Beijing to London
At the moment, R 3,522 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 9,541. 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)
You can find a direct flight from Beijing to London jetting out of Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). Start your trip at PEK and then fly into London Heathrow Airport (LHR) or London Gatwick Airport (LGW).
Secure your Beijing to London plane tickets with Air China. This airline is a popular choice for direct flights from PEK.
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to break up your trip — and possibly even visit a new city. When browsing Beijing to London flights departing from Beijing Capital International Airport, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Consider one of these popular options:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Central Beijing to PEK is around 26 kilometres. Depending on traffic, it'll take you about 40 minutes to reach there if you're driving, catching a cab or ride-sharing.
After a hassle-free start to your holiday? Stay near Beijing Capital International Airport. Whether you've booked an early flight from Beijing to London or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels are ideal:
When it comes to the on-time performance of Beijing Capital International Airport, 79.67% of flights arrive within the expected time frame.
PEK is located at Capital Airport Rd.
Daxing International Airport (PKX)
Consider booking your direct flight from Beijing to London departing Daxing International Airport (PKX). Nonstop services from PKX will take you to London Heathrow Airport (LHR).
Book a direct Beijing to London plane ticket with China Southern Airlines. This is one of the main airlines operating this route out of PKX.
Visit family or friends or just take a moment to recharge with a stopover. If you'd like to break up your Beijing to London flight, here's where you can stop when heading out from Daxing International Airport:
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
You can get to PKX from the centre of Beijing in about 1 hour 5 minutes by car (depending on traffic conditions). The ride on public transport takes roughly 30 minutes to cover the 48 kilometres or so.
Start your holiday early with an additional night away from home. Before catching your flight from Beijing to London, stay in one of these hotels near Daxing International Airport:
Flights from Daxing International Airport have a proven record for punctuality, with 89% of them landing within the expected time frame.
Arriving in London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
The distance from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to central London is roughly 23 kilometres. It'll take you around 55 minutes to get to the centre driving.
Getting to the centre on public transport takes roughly 1 hour.
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're landing late on a flight from Beijing to London. Check in to one of these accommodation options near LHR instead:
Go wherever you want, whenever you want with a London Heathrow Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from Surprice, U-Save or Green Motion and venture far and wide through London and beyond.
Lock in the lowest price by reserving your vehicle from London Heathrow Airport around one week before your departure date.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Once your flight from Beijing to London has landed, you can make your way to the city centre in around 1 hour 20 minutes by car. Central London is roughly 40 kilometres from London Gatwick Airport (LGW).
If you're travelling on public transport, it'll take about 30 minutes.
After your flight from Beijing to London, settle in at a hotel close to LGW. These are some comfortable options that'll help you sink into relaxation mode:
Forget about public transport schedules or waiting in a long cab line. Grab a London Gatwick Airport rental car and let your trip unfold on your terms. Check out the rates and availability from Green Motion, U-Save and Drivalia.
Avoid paying extra. Reserving your ride three weeks ahead of your arrival at LGW can land you a better rate.
Stansted Airport (STN)
Stansted Airport (STN) is about 48 kilometres from the centre of London. It'll take you about 1 hour to reach the city centre by ride-share or cab after your flight from Beijing to London.
Public transport will get you there in around 1 hour 25 minutes.
If you don't want to make the trip into the centre, find a hotel close to STN. Settle in at one of these stays after your Beijing to London flight:
Take the guesswork out of the next chapter of your journey by picking up a Stansted Airport rental car. Green Motion, Drivalia and Europcar are reliable rental providers.
Get ahead of the game and reap the rewards. Book your vehicle from STN four weeks before your flight from Beijing to London for the best rates.
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 perfect place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from Beijing to London, browse our selection of hotels including:
Every great journey has to include some sightseeing. Big Ben, The British Museum and Buckingham Palace are attractions you won't want to skip in London.
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.