Cheap flights from London to Guangzhou

November is the month to aim for: it carries the lowest fares on this route, between the autumn rush and the Christmas peak. Fares are published for every month from September through August, so you can compare a full year before you commit. Weekday departures tend to cost less than Friday and Sunday flights. Steer clear of the weeks around Chinese New Year and the long national holidays in China, when seats into Guangzhou fill fast, and of the late-December getaway from London. Booking well ahead helps more than usual here, because a connecting trip means two legs and two sets of seats to match.

The airlines selling this route all connect rather than fly non-stop. AirAsia X and Indigo are the low-cost picks, so expect to pay separately for checked bags, seat choice and meals. Hainan Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Air China, Shanghai Airlines and China Southern Airlines are full-service, with a baggage allowance usually built in, and Gulf Air, Finnair and Turkish Airlines route you through their own hubs, which can mean a longer but cheaper layover. Full-service fares are easier to change; low-cost ones are not. If both legs sit on one ticket, the airline rebooks you when the first flight slips — on separate tickets it won't.

Guangzhou Baiyun is the only airport serving the city, so every ticket ends there, whichever carrier you pick. It sits well north of the centre, and the drive in gets slow in the morning and evening rush. The metro runs from the terminal into town, airport buses cover the main hotel and railway station areas, and taxis are metered — take one from the official rank rather than someone offering a ride in the arrivals hall. On a late connection, check the last metro and bus times before you land, and have a little local currency ready for the ride.

Currency

CNY (¥)

Power sockets

Type A, C, I · 220 V

Language

Putonghua

Emergency number

110, 119, 120

Driving side

right

Calling code

+86

Internet domain

.cn, .中国

Population of Guangzhou

18.7 M (2020)

Time zone

UTC+08 (Asia/Shanghai)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check which London airport your ticket leaves from — Heathrow, Gatwick, London City, Luton and Stansted are not interchangeable.
• Compare the baggage allowance on AirAsia X and Indigo, where a low fare rarely includes a checked bag.
• On two separate tickets, leave a long buffer: a missed connection is yours to fix.
• Confirm your visa and transit rules for China, and for the country where you change planes.
• Ask how long the layover is — an overnight stop turns a cheap fare into a different trip.
• Book early if you want November, the lowest-fare month, or if your dates touch Chinese New Year.