Travelling from London to East London Airport (ELS): What you need to know
London has numerous airports where you can begin your next adventure. Check out your departure options from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) when planning your flight from London to East London Airport (ELS). Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY) are the city's other major bases.
East London Airport is located in East London. The city follows the UTC+2 timezone and is two hours ahead of London.
Your flight from London to ELS won't wait if you're running late, so get to the airport on time. Arrive up to one hour in advance for domestic flights and two hours ahead when you're flying internationally.
Peak travel periods mean busier airports, so plan to arrive even earlier. Give yourself at least two hours before a domestic flight and four hours for international journeys to stay on schedule.
Airports in London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Stopovers offer the perfect opportunity to discover a new city or just have a break during your journey. When looking for a cheap flight from London to ELS, deselect 'Direct flights only' to compare all potential stops. O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) is one option when you're setting off from London Heathrow Airport (LHR).
LHR is about 31 kilometres from central London. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take 55 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the journey time to be around 1 hour.
Want a hassle-free start to your break? Stay near London Heathrow Airport. Whether you have an early flight from London to East London Airport or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels have you covered:
Of the flights that depart from London Heathrow Airport, 68.18% touch down on time at their destination.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Think about building a stopover into your journey at Cape Town International Airport (CPT). It's a popular transfer point for flights from London to East London Airport (ELS) out of London Gatwick Airport.
LGW is about 80 kilometres from central London. It'll take 1 hour 20 minutes or so to get to the airport if you're driving from the city centre. Public transport takes approximately 30 minutes.
Want to treat yourself to an extra night away before boarding your London to ELS flight? Relax in a hotel near London Gatwick Airport before your break officially begins. These stays have your key waiting:
London Gatwick Airport has an on-time performance rate of 69.26%. This figure shows how often flights that take off from this airport make it to their destination on schedule.
Stansted Airport (STN)
From the centre of London, STN is around 64 kilometres away. It'll take you roughly 1 hour to get to the airport by car and 1 hour 25 minutes or so if you're on public transport.
Make catching an early London to East London Airport flight the easiest part of your trip. Book a room at one of these accommodation options near Stansted Airport and get to your departure gate without rushing:
Flights that take off from STN reach their destination as scheduled 64.73% of the time.
About East London Airport (ELS)
Have a late flight from London to East London Airport? Don't let it leave you bleary-eyed. Stay at one of these hotels near ELS and hit the pillow fast:
Explore without limits with an East London Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from U-Save, Green Motion or First - Car Hire and find adventure across East London and beyond.
To lock in the lowest price, reserve your ride around three weeks in advance of your London to East London Airport flight.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to East London Airport (ELS)
The cheapest price we've found for a one-way ticket from London to East London Airport is R 8,358. For a return flight on this route, the best price is R 11,998. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares can change.
Booking ahead of time is often the key to scoring a cheap flight from London to ELS. Flight prices rise as demand increases, so the closer you get to departure, the more expensive your ticket may be.
The 'Whole month' tool shows you the cheapest London to East London Airport tickets across every month. It's a great way to find a bargain if your dates aren't set in stone.
You don't need to search every day to find out if prices have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll notify you the moment a lower fare pops up on plane tickets from London to ELS.
Nail down a great price on a flight from London to East London Airport with the help of the filters. Pick your preferred arrival and departure times, airlines and number of stops. You can also sort your results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest.'
The best time to fly from London to East London Airport (ELS)
Picture the kind of break you want when deciding when to fly. February is the quietest month to go to East London. July is when most people book flights from London to East London Airport (ELS), which may be perfect if you're chasing more action.
The warmest month in East London is February, with temperatures ranging between 18ºC (64ºF) and 27ºC (81ºF). Book your London to ELS plane ticket then if you enjoy this type of weather.
Look for cheap tickets from London to East London Airport in July if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 11ºC (52ºF) and 22ºC (72ºF).
More about East London
Start your East London trip off on the right foot by choosing the ideal place to stay. After booking your flight from London to East London Airport, check out our range of hotels including:
Every great journey has to include a little sightseeing. Orient Beach, Nahoon Reef and Eastern Beach are must-do's during your East London adventure.
Explore more of South Africa
You've done East London, now it's time to discover more of South Africa. Journey about 225 kilometres south-west to Port Elizabeth to check off its top sights. From Mount Kilimanjaro to Kariega Game Reserve - Head Office and King's Beach, your itinerary will be busy.
If you're interested in discovering another corner of South Africa, consider Uitenhage, roughly 241 kilometres west of East London. Volkswagen Factory and Museum, Volkswagen AutoPavillion, South Africa and Drostdy museum are among its highlights.