Flying from London to San Francisco International Airport (SFO): What you need to know
London has plenty of airports to leave from. Check out your departure options from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) when organising your flight from London to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY) are the other main bases in the city.
11 hours 5 minutes is the average travel time for a direct London to San Francisco International Airport flight.
San Francisco International Airport is located in San Francisco. The city runs on the UTC-7 timezone and is seven hours behind London.
The busiest route is from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), with 42 direct services every week. If you want to be on your way right away, the earliest flight from LHR to SFO is the 10:05am United Airlines service. If a later start suits your schedule, the last departure is at 4:25pm with Virgin Atlantic.
To ensure you get on your flight from London to SFO, leave enough time to navigate the airport and find your gate. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.
If you're heading away during a bank holiday or other peak period, give yourself extra time. Arrive two hours ahead of domestic flights and up to four hours before international departures. Queues at security and check-in will be longer.
Airports in London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Get to your destination in one go from London Heathrow Airport (LHR). Direct flights from London to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) are available from here.
Popular carriers that have direct flights from London to San Francisco International Airport departing LHR include:
Most passengers choose to fly with United Airlines between LHR and SFO.
The carrier with the best on-time arrival rate on this route is United Airlines.
A stopover is the perfect opportunity to take a break from travelling and perhaps even explore another city. When browsing cheap flights from London to SFO departing from London Heathrow Airport (LHR), deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to find out where you can stop along the way. Your journey might pause in:
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
Portland International Airport (PDX)
Located around 31 kilometres from the centre of London, LHR can be reached in about 55 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey on public transport takes roughly 1 hour.
Looking for a convenient hotel close to London Heathrow Airport? If you're catching an early flight from London to San Francisco International Airport, these accommodation options will put you conveniently close to check-in:
68.18% of flights departing from London Heathrow Airport make it to their destination on schedule.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Add another location to your travels or just take a moment to reset with a stopover. If you'd like to split up your flight from London to San Francisco International Airport, here's where you can stop when heading out from London Gatwick Airport:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Harry Reid Airport (formerly McCarran Airport) (LAS)
Dublin Airport (DUB)
You can get to LGW from central London in approximately 1 hour 20 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The ride on public transport will take roughly 30 minutes to cover the 80 kilometres or so.
Got a crack-of-dawn departure? Think about checking in to one of these hotels near London Gatwick Airport the day before your London to SFO flight:
69.26% of flights out of London Gatwick Airport make it to their destination as expected.
Stansted Airport (STN)
You can lock in a plane ticket from London to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) with a stop or two out of Stansted Airport (STN). These are some of the most popular stopovers between STN and SFO:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Dublin Airport (DUB)
Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
The journey to STN from central London is around 1 hour 25 minutes by public transport. If you're going by car, it'll take you about 1 hour to cover the 64 kilometres or so.
Wake up, take it easy and still make your London to San Francisco International Airport flight without having to rush. These hotels near Stansted Airport make getting to the terminal a breeze if you're flying out early:
Airports have an on-time performance rating that measures how often flights touch down within the expected time frame. At STN, that rate is 64.73%.
About San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Consider booking a hotel close to SFO if you're catching a late flight from London to San Francisco International Airport. Pick one of these accommodation options and be under the covers in no time flat:
Say yes to new adventures by picking up a San Francisco International Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Dollar, Thrifty or Hertz and explore beyond San Francisco's main sights.
Booking your vehicle around one week ahead of your London to San Francisco International Airport flight can help you get a cheaper deal.
Getting from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to central San Francisco
San Francisco International Airport to the centre of San Francisco is about 18 kilometres. If you're renting a car or getting a cab, do some research to make your trip as easy as possible. Journey times will vary based on the time of day and traffic conditions.
When travelling on public transport, expect a journey of around 45 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Currently, R 5,549 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from London to San Francisco International Airport. The cheapest price for a return flight is R 8,008. Keep in mind fares may change due to availability at the time of booking.
Get cheap flights from London to SFO by booking five months ahead. Based on our research, that's the sweet spot for landing a bargain.
October is when you're most likely to find a fantastic deal on a London to San Francisco International Airport ticket. If you need to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices for each month.
There's no need to search every day to find out if fares have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll notify you as soon as a lower fare pops up on plane tickets from London to SFO.
Tailor your travel plans using filters. Select your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' flights from London to San Francisco International Airport.
The best time to fly from London to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
February is the quietest month for flights from London to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), while August is the most popular. Work out the best time to visit San Francisco based on whether you like a laid-back vibe or a more bustling atmosphere.
The warmest month in San Francisco is September, with temperatures ranging between 12ºC (54ºF) and 22ºC (72ºF). Book your London to SFO plane ticket then if that's your ideal forecast.
Search for cheap tickets from London to San Francisco International Airport in January if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 6ºC (43ºF) and 16ºC (61ºF).
More about San Francisco
Once you've booked your flight from London to San Francisco International Airport, find a hotel that offers the right mix of comfort and location. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring San Francisco:
You'll find loads of exciting things to do in San Francisco when you're in the mood to sightsee. Kick off your exploring at Golden Gate Bridge followed by Painted Ladies - Alamo Square and Alcatraz Island.
Explore more of the United States
You've visited San Francisco, now it's time to explore other parts of the United States. Travel about 257 kilometres east to Fresno to tick off its must-visit sights. From Forestiere Underground Gardens to Shinzen Japanese Garden and Fresno Chaffee Zoo, there's plenty to keep you busy.
If you're looking to explore another side of the United States, head for Sacramento, about 129 kilometres north-east of San Francisco. Old Sacramento Waterfront, Fright Planet - America's Haunted Theme Park and California State Railroad Museum are key highlights.
