Flying from Los Angeles to London: what you need to know
There are a couple of main airports you can take off from in Los Angeles. Explore your options leaving from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or Van Nuys Airport (VNY) when searching for a flight from Los Angeles to London.
Make your landing at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) or London Gatwick Airport (LGW). You can also reach London through Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY).
Around 10 hours 30 minutes is how long you'll be in transit on a direct Los Angeles to London flight.
London's timezone is UTC+0, which makes London seven hours ahead of Los Angeles.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is the most traveled route that connects these two cities. There are 60 departures a week to choose from. If you have things to do before heading off, the last flight from Los Angeles to London is with Virgin Atlantic at 23:15. Choose the first LAX to LHR departure with American Airlines at 13:20 to make the most of your arrival in London.
For a stress-free journey, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This leaves you with plenty of time to board your Los Angeles to London flight.
During popular months such as July, it's a good idea to get to the airport earlier. Plan to arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead for international flights whenever you're travelling during peak periods in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from Los Angeles to London
Lock in cheap Los Angeles to London flights by booking two months ahead. According to our research, that's the ideal time for picking up a bargain.
The best month for finding cheap plane tickets from Los Angeles to London is May. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare prices, then select the dates with the lowest fares.
Finding a cheap flight from Los Angeles to London is easy with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know when there's a better deal.
Lock in a cheap Los Angeles to London flight with the help of our filters. Choose your preferred duration, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Flying from Los Angeles
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
You can book a direct flight from Los Angeles to London leaving from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Start your trip at LAX and then hit the runway at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) or London Gatwick Airport (LGW).
You'll find a good range of airlines that offer direct Los Angeles to London plane tickets out of LAX. Let one of these carriers take you there:
We make it simple to book a Los Angeles to London flight with a stopover. To see the options leaving from Los Angeles International Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, pick a flight offering a stop long enough to see the sights of the city of your choice. Major stopovers include:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
The journey from central Los Angeles to LAX takes around 55 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or get a cab, you'll cover the 19 kilometres in 30 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Want a leisurely start to your trip? Stay near Los Angeles International Airport. Whether you're catching an early flight from Los Angeles to London or just don't like being rushed, these hotels are perfect:
81.05% of flights leaving Los Angeles International Airport reach their destination as planned. Given its impressive on-time stats, you're unlikely to experience delays when taking off from LAX.
You'll find LAX at One World Way.
Arriving in London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to central London takes about 55 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 23 kilometres away.
If you're travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 1 hour.
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from Los Angeles to London. Check in to one of these accommodation options near LHR instead:
Pick up a London Heathrow Airport rental car and discover London and beyond with your own set of wheels. Surprice, U-Save and Green Motion are well-known companies you can book with here.
Get the best deal by booking your ride from London Heathrow Airport about one week ahead of your trip.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
The centre of London is about 40 kilometres from London Gatwick Airport (LGW). After your flight from Los Angeles to London has hit the runway and you've made your way through the terminal, expect a drive of around 1 hour 20 minutes.
If you're travelling on public transport, it'll take about 30 minutes.
Hang the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and unwind at a hotel close to LGW. Here are a few options where you can tuck yourself in after your flight from Los Angeles to London:
Green Motion, U-Save and Drivalia make collecting a London Gatwick Airport rental car easy and quick. These reliable suppliers are located in or around the terminal and will have you on the road before long.
Get the pick of the lot. Reserving your ride from LGW three weeks ahead of time often means better prices and a wider selection of vehicles.
Stansted Airport (STN)
Head toward the city centre after your flight from Los Angeles to London has arrived. Central London is about 48 kilometres from Stansted Airport (STN) and takes roughly 1 hour to reach by cab or ride-share.
Public transport will get you there in roughly 1 hour 25 minutes.
If you don't want to make the journey into the centre, head for a hotel close to STN. Make yourself comfortable at one of these stays after your Los Angeles to London flight:
Start your journey without stressing over how to reach your next stop with a Stansted Airport rental car. Find your perfect set of wheels with reliable names here like Green Motion, Drivalia and Europcar.
If you're after a specific kind of vehicle, lock in your ride from STN around four weeks before your flight from Los Angeles to London. This gives you a better shot at getting your preferred car, on top of a better deal.
Best time to go to London
July is the most popular month for flights from Los Angeles to London. To skip the crowds, visit London in February.
Before locking in your Los Angeles to London tickets, consider the kind of weather forecast you're hoping for. July is the warmest month in London, with temperatures ranging from 11ºC (52ºF) to 26ºC (79ºF).
Look for cheap flights from Los Angeles to London in January if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 0ºC (32ºF) and 9ºC (48ºF) on average.
More about London
When it comes to looking for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the most popular stays in London right here. Browse these options after locking in your flight from Los Angeles to London:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be hard to figure out where to start. Big Ben, The British Museum and Buckingham Palace are popular attractions which should be on any well-planned London itinerary.
Explore more of United Kingdom
You've visited London, now it's time to discover more of United Kingdom. Travel around 161 kilometres north-west to Birmingham to check off its top attractions. From Cadbury World to The Library of Birmingham and National Sea Life Centre, there's plenty to keep you on the go.
Around 177 kilometres west of London, Bristol is another essential stop in United Kingdom. No visit is complete without checking out Clifton Suspension Bridge, Cabot Tower and Brandon Hill Nature Park.
