Cheap flights from London to Shimkent

October is the cheapest month to fly this route, and it sits inside the priced season, which runs from September through March. Late autumn and winter are when the lowest fares tend to appear; the run-up to December and the New Year is the busiest stretch, so book early if you have to travel then. Compare midweek departures with weekend ones before you commit, and check school breaks in the UK and public holidays in Kazakhstan, because those weeks fill seats and lift fares. If your dates are flexible, leave room either side of your target and watch how the price calendar moves.

No carrier flies London to Shimkent non-stop, so every option here is a connection, and the mix runs from low-cost to full-service. Pegasus, Sun Express, Jet2, Wizz Air UK and Easyjet are the low-cost names: fares look small, but a checked bag, a seat choice or a meal usually costs extra. Air Astana, LOT Polish Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa and Qatar Airways are the full-service side, with a more generous fare bundle and a smoother connection if a delay throws your plans. Each airline routes you through its own hub, so the city you change in changes with the carrier — and if you book the legs separately, a missed connection is your problem, not theirs.

Shimkent has a single airport, so there is no wrong-airport risk when you land. You will almost certainly arrive on a connecting itinerary, though, so check at the first check-in whether your bags are tagged straight through to Shimkent or only as far as the change of planes. Sort your transfer into town before you land, and have your address written down to show a driver who may not read Latin script. Keep your passport handy for the arrival formalities, and check the current entry and registration rules for Kazakhstan before you fly, because they can change.

Currency

KZT (₸)

Power sockets

Type C, F · 220 V

Language

Kazakh, Russian

Emergency number

112, 101, 102

Driving side

right

Calling code

+7

Internet domain

.kz, .қаз

Population of Shimkent

1.2 M (2023)

Time zone

UTC+05 (Asia/Almaty)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check which London airport your fare leaves from — City, Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton and Stansted are not interchangeable on the day.
• Confirm what the low-cost fare includes, because a checked bag on Pegasus, Wizz Air UK or Easyjet usually costs extra.
• See whether your connection is on one ticket; if you booked the legs separately, a delay on the first flight is yours to fix.
• Check the entry rules for Kazakhstan and how long your passport must stay valid past your return date.
• Watch the price calendar: October is the cheapest month, and fares show for travel from September through March.
• Decide how you will reach town from Shimkent airport, and have your address ready to show the driver.