London is served by Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Gatwick Airport (LGW) and Stansted Airport (STN) and Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY). Average flight prices are GBP 40-80 for European short-haul one-way; GBP 300-500 for long-haul return. Best time to book: 6-8 weeks ahead for European routes; 3-5 months ahead for long-haul. Tuesday-Wednesday departures are typically cheapest. January is the lowest-fare month for most destinations.. Top airlines: British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair.
Compare prices from 10+ airlines flying to London.
London is Europe's largest aviation hub, served by six airports that collectively handle over 180 million passengers per year. This massive capacity creates fierce competition, making London one of the best cities in the world for finding cheap flights — particularly to European destinations where budget carriers easyJet and Ryanair dominate.
Choosing the right airport is crucial for London visitors. Heathrow (LHR) is the main hub with the best transport links (the Elizabeth Line has transformed the commute). Gatwick (LGW) is popular with easyJet and holiday charter flights. Stansted (STN) and Luton (LTN) are budget airline bases — cheaper flights but 50+ km from central London. London City (LCY) is the most convenient, just 11 km from the City of London, but serves fewer routes and is pricier.
When searching for flights, always compare across all London airports — the price difference can easily cover the extra transfer time. A GBP 30 Ryanair flight from Stansted may cost the same as a GBP 80 BA flight from Heathrow once you factor in the GBP 20 Stansted Express fare and extra time. Use Skyscanner or Google Flights to search 'London (all airports)' for the best overview.
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Heathrow for full-service airlines and the best transport links (Elizabeth Line). London City for convenience if you're staying in east/central London. Gatwick for easyJet and holiday flights. Stansted/Luton only if the fare savings are significant.
For European short-haul, 4-8 weeks ahead is the sweet spot. Budget airline sales drop to GBP 15-30 one-way. Long-haul flights are best booked 3-5 months ahead. Last-minute can be cheap or very expensive — it's a gamble.
At GBP 25, it's fast (15 min to Paddington) but expensive. The Elizabeth Line takes 30 minutes and costs GBP 12.80 from the same terminal — most travelers prefer it. The Piccadilly Line is cheapest (GBP 5.50) but takes 50 minutes.
No direct flights exist between London airports. Transfer by road or rail: Heathrow to Gatwick takes about 1.5 hours by National Express bus (GBP 20-30). Allow 3-4 hours minimum between flights at different airports.
Stansted and Luton typically have the lowest fares, as they're the main bases for Ryanair and Wizz Air respectively. But add GBP 15-25 for the transfer to central London and factor in the extra time.
Secret fare tricks, best booking windows, and airline comparison charts — free PDF download.
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