Cheap flights from London to Canberra

The expensive stretch runs through Christmas and the Australian summer holidays, when long-haul cabins fill with families, so December and January dates sit near the top of the range. Work back from there and prices ease: the calendar here runs from October to July, and outside the holiday weeks fares slide toward June, the low point of the calendar. Midweek departures tend to price below Friday and Sunday flights, and June pairs its lower fares with the Australian winter, so pack for cool evenings rather than beach weather. If your dates are fixed, book as early as you can; if they can move, let June lead.

Qantas comes first on this route as the Australian carrier in the list, and the other nine — Emirates, Etihad Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Royal Brunei, Srilankan Airlines, Air India, China Eastern Airlines, American Airlines and Aer Lingus — all sell connecting itineraries too, since nothing links the two capitals nonstop. All ten are full-service operators, so a standard fare normally includes checked baggage and meals, and the differences that matter hide in the connection: where you change planes, how long the wait runs, and whether one ticket covers the entire journey. Weigh total travel time against the fare before you choose.

Arrive after dark and the final stretch wants planning: Canberra Airport, the only one serving the capital, sits a short drive from the centre, but buses run less often in the evening, so a taxi or a transfer booked before you fly is the dependable way to end the trip. The terminal is compact, and the walk from gate to kerb takes minutes — a change of pace after the long corridors of a London hub. Land in daylight instead and buses or taxis cover the short ride into town just as easily, with hire cars available at the terminal.

Currency

AUD (A$)

Power sockets

Type I · 230 V

Language

English

Emergency number

000

Calling code

+61

Internet domain

.au

Population of Canberra

381 k (2014)

Time zone

UTC+11 (Australia/Sydney)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Choose your London airport first — Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City all serve this route with different connections.
• Check that one baggage allowance covers every leg of the ticket, including the flight into Canberra.
• Look up the visa or travel authorisation Australia requires for your passport before you pay.
• If any leg sits on a separate ticket, allow generous connection time, since a delayed flight frees the next airline from rebooking you.
• Compare June against the December fares in the price calendar before fixing your travel month.
• Arrange a taxi or transfer ahead of time if you land in the evening, when buses into the centre run less often.