Travelling from London to Kigali International Airport (KGL): What you need to know
London has numerous airports where you can begin your trip. Explore your departure options from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) when organising your flight from London to Kigali International Airport (KGL). Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY) are the city's other main bases.
8 hours 40 minutes is the average travel time for a direct London to Kigali International Airport flight.
The timezone in Kigali is UTC+2, which is two hours ahead of London. Kigali International Airport is located in Kigali.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Kigali International Airport (KGL) is the most popular route, with 7 direct services every week. Travel from LHR to KGL on RwandAir's 8:20pm departure.
Give yourself enough time to catch your flight from London to KGL. A good rule of thumb is to arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Peak season means 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)
You can hop on a direct flight from London to Kigali International Airport (KGL) departing from London Heathrow Airport (LHR).
RwandAir is a well-known airline that offers direct flights from London to Kigali International Airport leaving from LHR.
RwandAir sees the most traveller bookings for flights from LHR to KGL.
A stopover is the perfect opportunity to take a travel break and possibly even tour another city. When searching for cheap flights from London to KGL leaving from London Heathrow Airport (LHR), deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to get ideas for where to visit along the way. Your journey might pause in:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Brussels Airport (BRU)
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)
Located around 31 kilometres from the centre of London, LHR can be reached in about 55 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey by public transport is roughly 1 hour.
Catching an early flight from London to Kigali International Airport? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and enjoy a little extra shut-eye) by staying at one of these hotels close to London Heathrow Airport:
When it comes to the on-time performance of London Heathrow Airport, 68.18% of flights stick to their scheduled arrival time.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Cross another spot off your travel list or just take some time to unwind with a stopover. If you'd like to break up your flight from London to Kigali International Airport, check out these options when setting off from London Gatwick Airport:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Dubai Airport (DXB)
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD)
With public transport, you can travel from central London to LGW in around 30 minutes. The airport is roughly 80 kilometres away, and making the journey by car takes approximately 1 hour 20 minutes.
Want to treat yourself to an extra night away before boarding your London to KGL flight? Relax in a hotel near London Gatwick Airport before your holiday officially starts. These stays are expecting you:
As far as flight punctuality goes, London Gatwick Airport has an on-time arrival rate of 69.26%.
Stansted Airport (STN)
STN is around 64 kilometres from central London. Driving from the city centre to the airport takes about 1 hour. If you're planning to take public transport, you can expect a journey of around 1 hour 25 minutes.
Stay in bed a little longer and still make your London to Kigali International Airport flight with plenty of time to spare. These hotels near Stansted Airport make getting to the terminal a breeze if you're flying out early:
The on-time performance rating of STN is 64.73%. To put it simply, that's how frequently flights that depart this airport arrive within the expected time frame.
About Kigali International Airport (KGL)
Reserve a hotel near KGL if you have a late flight from London to Kigali International Airport. Choose one of these options and end the night sooner:
Travel beyond Kigali and discover places that are off the radar with your own set of wheels. You can pick up a Kigali International Airport rental car from popular providers like Europcar or Green Motion.
Booking your vehicle around one week ahead of your London to Kigali International Airport flight can help you lock in a great deal.
Getting from Kigali International Airport (KGL) to central Kigali
Kigali International Airport to the centre of Kigali is about 8 kilometres. If you're getting a cab or renting a car, plan in advance to make your trip as smooth as possible. Journey times will vary based on traffic and the time of day.
Travelling by public transport takes around 1 hour 55 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Kigali International Airport (KGL)
The lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from London to Kigali International Airport is R 7,572. For a return flight on this route, the best price is R 9,782. Depending on how early you book and the availability, these fares could change.
To pick up cheap flights from London to KGL, book ahead. Airlines usually offer their most competitively priced fares when flights are first released.
If you have some flexibility with your trip dates, use the 'Whole month' tool. It'll show you the cheapest price across every month when searching for your London to Kigali International Airport ticket.
Locking in a cheap plane ticket from London to KGL is a piece of cake with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you when there's a price drop.
Uncover a great deal on a flight from London to Kigali International Airport with the help of the filters. Choose your ideal arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines. You can also sort your results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest.'
The best time to fly from London to Kigali International Airport (KGL)
Think about the kind of experience you want when planning your trip dates. April is the quietest month to visit Kigali. August is when most people book flights from London to Kigali International Airport (KGL), which may be perfect if you'd rather travel when it's busy.
Book a London to KGL plane ticket departing in August if you want to explore the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Kigali to range from 15ºC (59ºF) to 30ºC (86ºF).
Search for cheap tickets from London to Kigali International Airport in May if you'd rather travel when it's cooler. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 14ºC (57ºF) and 25ºC (77ºF).
More about Kigali
Once you've booked your flight from London to Kigali International Airport, find a hotel that keeps you close to what you want to see. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Kigali:
Silverback and Africa Tours Rwanda Safari are just two of the top-rated attractions to put on your Kigali to-do list. Keep the sightseeing going at Fine safaris Afrika.
Explore more of Rwanda
Kigali is always a good idea, but there are so many other parts of Rwanda you should also see. Around 121 kilometres west of Kigali, a trip to Nyamasheke will fill your itinerary to the brim. Start with popular sights like Nyungwe National Park, Umugano Botanical Garden and IMUHIRA ECO TOURISM RWANDA.
Another favourite stop in Rwanda, Cyamura is roughly 145 kilometres south-west of Kigali. Make time to visit highlights including Bugarama Hotsprings.