Flying from London to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU): What you need to know
Planning your getaway begins with figuring out where you'll fly out of in London. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is the city's main base, so check out your options for reserving a flight from London to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) out of here.
8 hours 50 minutes is the average travel time for a direct London to Raleigh-Durham International Airport flight.
The timezone in Durham is UTC-5, which is five hours behind London. Raleigh-Durham International Airport is located in Durham.
You can pick from 7 direct services a week between London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). This is the busiest route, with American Airlines offering a 10:05am departure from LHR to RDU.
Arriving two hours before an international flight and one hour ahead of a domestic departure are golden rules for hassle-free flying. Get to the airport on time to board your flight from London to RDU.
Popular months like July or other peak seasons mean bigger queues and potential delays. Get a head start by getting to the airport even earlier. Aim for at least four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
Airports in London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) makes it easy to travel directly to your destination. Nonstop flights from London to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) take off from this terminal.
When leaving from LHR, you can catch a direct flight from London to Raleigh-Durham International Airport with American Airlines.
American Airlines ranks first in bookings for flights from LHR to RDU.
American Airlines leads the way as the most punctual carrier on this route, with 86.21% of its services arriving as scheduled.
A stopover is the ideal opportunity to take a break from travelling and maybe even explore a different city. When browsing cheap flights from London to RDU departing from London Heathrow Airport (LHR), deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to get ideas for where to visit along the way. Some popular options include:
New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Located around 24 kilometres from the centre of London, LHR can be reached in about 45 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey on public transport will take roughly 25 minutes.
Planning to catch an early flight from London to Raleigh-Durham International Airport? Avoid the mad dash to the terminal (and get some bonus sleep) by picking one of these stays near London Heathrow Airport:
Of all flights leaving London Heathrow Airport, 78% land on time at their destination.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Break up your flight from London to Raleigh-Durham International Airport with a stop so you can stretch your legs or perhaps go somewhere you've never been before. Some popular stopovers between London Gatwick Airport and RDU are:
New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Keflavik Airport (KEF)
Using public transport, you can travel from central London to LGW in about 1 hour 20 minutes. The airport is roughly 48 kilometres away, and making the journey by car will take approximately 1 hour 5 minutes.
Want to treat yourself to an extra night away before your London to RDU flight? Relax in a hotel near London Gatwick Airport before your trip officially starts. Here's where you can stay:
The majority of flights that leave London Gatwick Airport touch down at their destination as planned. It maintains a high on-time performance rate of 82%.
London Stansted Airport (STN)
Whether just for a couple of hours or several days, a stopover can make your journey feel a little more stress-free. When jetting out of London Stansted Airport (STN), you can book a plane ticket from London to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) with a stop at Keflavik Airport (KEF).
STN is roughly 56 kilometres from central London. The drive 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 catching an early London to Raleigh-Durham International Airport flight one of the easiest parts of your trip. Book a room at one of these hotels close to London Stansted Airport and get to your gate with time to spare:
With 80% of its departing flights arriving as scheduled, STN is a dependable starting point for your journey.
About Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Have a late flight from London to Raleigh-Durham International Airport? Don't let it rob you of real rest. Check in to one of these hotels near RDU and turn in quicker:
Lock in the best possible rate by booking your ride around one week before your London to Raleigh-Durham International Airport flight.
Getting from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to central Durham
From Raleigh-Durham International Airport, central Durham is around 18 kilometres away. It takes about 20 minutes to get to the city centre by car.
It'll take around 45 minutes when travelling by public transport.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
The cheapest price we've found for a one-way ticket from London to Raleigh-Durham International Airport is R 5,217. For a return flight on this route, the best price is R 8,954. Depending on how early you book and the availability, these fares could change.
Score cheap flights from London to RDU by booking one month ahead. Based on our research, that's the ideal time frame for landing a bargain.
Schedule your trip for June. That's the best month for landing an incredible deal on London to Raleigh-Durham International Airport tickets. If you're open to different travel dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across each month.
Stay on top of deals for plane tickets from London to RDU by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or push notification on the app when a lower fare pops up.
Find a cheap flight from London to Raleigh-Durham International Airport by using filters. Choose your ideal duration, departure time and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
The best time to fly from London to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
December is the quietest month for flights from London to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), while June is the most popular. Figure out the ideal time to visit Durham based on whether you prefer a laid-back vibe or a more bustling atmosphere.
When booking your London to RDU plane ticket, consider the weather you're most comfortable in. July is the warmest month in Durham, with temperatures ranging from 19ºC (66ºF) to 33ºC (91ºF).
For cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from London to Raleigh-Durham International Airport in January when temperatures are between -3ºC (27ºF) and 13ºC (55ºF).
More about Durham
Start your Durham trip off on the right foot by choosing the perfect place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from London to Raleigh-Durham International Airport, browse our selection of hotels including:
You'll find plenty of awesome things to do in Durham when you're ready to sightsee. Kick off your exploring at DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Centre followed by Sarah P. Duke Gardens and Museum of Life and Science.
Explore more of the United States
Durham has loads to offer, but there are so many other corners of the United States waiting to be explored. Around 193 kilometres west of Durham, a visit to Charlotte will keep you on the move. Start with popular sights like Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Discovery Place and NASCAR Hall of Fame.
If you're eager to discover another corner of the United States, head for Virginia Beach, roughly 274 kilometres northeast of Durham. Virginia Beach Boardwalk, Resort Beach and Neptune's Park are among the biggest draws.
