Cheap flights to London
Cheap flights to London land at one of five airports, and the one you pick shapes how you reach the centre of the United Kingdom's capital. Arrivals from Chisinau, Krakow, Warsaw, Bucharest, Budapest and Milan are common, flown by Ryanair, Wizz Air, EasyJet, Vueling and Jet2. People come for the museums, markets, theatres and the river, and the busiest spells run from late spring to early autumn and again over Christmas.
Flights to London — where from
Airports — London
Flights to London arrive at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City. Heathrow and Gatwick both have direct rail services into the centre, Stansted and Luton connect by express train, and London City sits closest to the middle of town, with the Docklands Light Railway and the Elizabeth line nearby. Check which airport and terminal your ticket names before you plan the onward trip, because they sit on different sides of the city.
When to go
Late spring and early autumn are the kindest months for walking the city, with mild weather and thinner crowds. July and August are warm and busy, and winter is grey and damp but quieter, apart from the run-up to Christmas and New Year, when shoppers fill the hotels. Half-term weeks, bank holiday weekends and the school summer break are when seats go first, so book early if your dates are fixed.