Travelling from London to Johannesburg: what you need to know
London has plenty of airports where you can start your journey. Explore your departure options from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) when planning your flight from London to Johannesburg. London Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY) are the other main bases in the city.
Disembark at Johannesburg's primary gateway, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB).
The average duration of a direct London to Johannesburg flight is 11 hours 5 minutes.
The timezone in Johannesburg is UTC+2, which is two hours ahead of London.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB) is the most traveled route between these two cities. There are 21 weekly departures to pick from. If you have things to finalize before heading off, the last flight from London to Johannesburg is with Virgin Atlantic at 22:30. Go for the first LHR to JNB departure with British Airways at 18:25 to fit in more activities on your first day in Johannesburg.
To ensure you make it on your London to Johannesburg flight, leave enough time for things like baggage drop and finding your gate. Arriving two hours before international departures and an hour before domestic flights is a good rule of thumb.
You'll likely experience longer queues in popular months like July. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure is a good idea.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Johannesburg
Booking early is often the key to scoring a cheap London to Johannesburg flight. Flight prices rise as demand increases, so the closer you get to departure, the more you'll likely pay.
If you're flexible with your travel plans, use the 'Whole month' tool. It'll show you the cheapest price in each month when looking for your plane ticket from London to Johannesburg.
Spend less time searching for cheap flights from London to Johannesburg by creating a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or notification through the app when a special offer becomes available.
Save money on your London to Johannesburg flight with the help of our filters. Choose your preferred duration, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
Flying from London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Take off from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on a nonstop flight from London to Johannesburg. From LHR, you can fly directly into Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB).
Secure your London to Johannesburg plane tickets with British Airways. This carrier is a top pick for direct flights from LHR.
A stopover is the perfect opportunity to break up your journey — and maybe even explore a different city. When searching for London to Johannesburg flights departing from London Heathrow Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Top options include:
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Frankfurt am Main Airport (FRA)
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
LHR is around 26 kilometres from central London. If you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a taxi from the centre, it'll take 45 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the travel time to be around 25 minutes.
Want a convenient hotel close to London Heathrow Airport? If you've booked an early flight from London to Johannesburg, these accommodation options will put you moments from your departure gate:
Of the flights that depart from London Heathrow Airport, 78% land on schedule at their destination.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Make the most of your holiday with a stopover on your London to Johannesburg flight. Visit family or friends or tick a new city off your list. Whatever you'd like to do, check out these stops between London Gatwick Airport and Johannesburg:
Frankfurt am Main Airport (FRA)
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Zurich Airport (ZRH)
With public transport, you can travel from central London to LGW in around 45 minutes. The airport is roughly 40 kilometres away. Driving will take you about 1 hour 5 minutes.
Want to treat yourself to an extra night away before boarding your flight from London to Johannesburg? Unwind in a hotel near London Gatwick Airport before your break officially starts. These stays are calling your name:
London Gatwick Airport has a strong track record for reliability and timeliness. 83% of flights out of here meet their scheduled arrival times without fail.
London Stansted Airport (STN)
When reserving your ticket from London to Johannesburg out of London Stansted Airport (STN), you can choose from a few stopover options. Make a pit stop at Dubai Airport (DXB), one of the busiest transit hubs on this route.
STN is around 48 kilometres from central London. Driving from the city centre to the terminal takes about 1 hour 5 minutes. If you're thinking about using public transport, expect a journey of around 45 minutes.
Make departure day worry-free — stay close to London Stansted Airport and know you'll be at the terminal with time to spare. Settle in at one of these hotels the day before if you're catching an early London to Johannesburg flight:
STN has an on-time performance rate of 80%. This means the majority of its flights reach their destination as expected and your trip is smooth and easy.
Arriving in Johannesburg
Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB)
Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB) to central Johannesburg takes around 30 minutes by car. The centre is roughly 23 kilometres away.
When travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 35 minutes.
Consider staying in a hotel near JNB if you have a late flight from London to Johannesburg. Pick one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
Travel at your own pace with a Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from Carwiz, Alamo or Green Motion and see more of Johannesburg and beyond.
To get the best deal, reserve your ride from Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport around three weeks ahead of your London to Johannesburg flight.
Lanseria Airport (HLA)
Central Johannesburg is around 32 kilometres from Lanseria Airport (HLA). As soon as your flight from London to Johannesburg has touched down and you've made your way to arrivals, the drive should take about 45 minutes.
You can expect the trip to take roughly 1 hour 15 minutes on public transport.
After your flight from London to Johannesburg, settle in at a hotel close to HLA. These are some great options that'll help you switch to relaxation mode:
Forget about public transport timetables or slow-moving taxi lines. Pick up a Lanseria Airport rental car and blaze your own trail. Check out the availability and rates from First - Car Rental, Tempest - Car Rental and Firefly powered by Hertz.
Avoid potential price surges. Booking your ride four weeks before your arrival at HLA can land you a better rate.
Johannesburg Randgermiston Airport (QRA)
Central Johannesburg is about 11 kilometres from Johannesburg Randgermiston Airport (QRA). Set out for your hotel (or jump right into exploring the city's top sights) after your flight from London to Johannesburg.
Make your way from the arrivals hall to your hotel with no interruptions by grabbing a Johannesburg Randgermiston Airport rental car. You can book a set of wheels from reliable names here like Avis and Budget.
Rental agencies sometimes offer discounts for early bookings, so reserve your ride from QRA in advance of your flight from London to Johannesburg. A bit of planning goes a long way for your wallet.
Best time to go to Johannesburg
March is the quietest month for flights from London to Johannesburg, while April is the busiest. Figure out the best time to go to Johannesburg based on whether you like a lively atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.
The warmest month in Johannesburg is January, with temperatures ranging between 15ºC (59ºF) and 30ºC (86ºF). Book your London to Johannesburg ticket then if that's your definition of good weather.
July sees average temperatures of between 3ºC (37ºF) and 20ºC (68ºF). Look for cheap flights from London to Johannesburg around that time if you like travelling in cooler conditions.
More about Johannesburg
When it comes to looking for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the best stays in Johannesburg right here. Explore these options after you've booked your flight from London to Johannesburg:
There are so many things to discover in this city it can be tricky to know where to begin. Apartheid Museum, Nelson Mandela Statue and Top of Africa are leading attractions which should feature on any well-planned Johannesburg itinerary.
Explore more of South Africa
You've done Johannesburg, now it's time to discover other parts of South Africa. Journey around 21 kilometres west to Soweto to tick off its leading sights. From Soweto to Hector Pieterson Memorial and Mandela's House, there's plenty to keep you on the go.
If you want to check out another great destination in South Africa, consider Pretoria, about 56 kilometres north of Johannesburg. Nelson Mandela Statue, Ditsong National Museum of Natural History and Idube Game Reserve are among the biggest draws.
