Cheap Flights to London — Compare & Book the Best Deals

London is one of the world's most connected cities and getting there doesn't have to cost a fortune. Whether you're landing at Heathrow for a global connection, touching down at Gatwick for a city break, or arriving into Manchester for the North of England, we search hundreds of airlines in real time so you always find the cheapest flights to London available.

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Why Fly to London?

London is the world's most visited city and one of the most connected in aviation served by six major airports that together handle over 170 million passengers every year. From the West End's theatres and Michelin-starred restaurants to the free world-class museums of South Kensington and the riverside panoramas of the Thames, London rewards every type of traveller. And with a vast network of airlines competing for every seat, cheap flights to London are available year-round from virtually every major departure city on earth.

London's three primary international gateways — London Heathrow (LHR), London Gatwick (LGW), and Manchester Airport (MAN) — are served by 80+ airlines between them, giving you genuine competition and plenty of options when hunting for cheap deals.

Which Airport Should You Fly Into?

London Heathrow (LHR) — The World's Gateway

Heathrow is the UK's busiest airport, welcoming a record 84.5 million passengers in 2025 and connecting London to 214 destinations across 84 countries. It's the primary hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic and the natural landing point for transatlantic travellers. Four active terminals — T2, T3, T4, and T5 — are linked by the free Heathrow Express, the Elizabeth line, and the Piccadilly line Underground. Fares into Heathrow from the US have been found from $255 round-trip.

Explore all your options in our dedicated guide to Cheap flights to Heathrow.

London Gatwick (LGW) — The Budget-Friendly Alternative

Gatwick is London's second airport and the most competitive for low-cost fares, particularly from Europe and the US East Coast. Norse Atlantic UK is the top carrier on US routes, with over 55% of US travellers to Gatwick choosing this airline, and round-trips found from $255. Located 30 miles south of central London, Gatwick's Gatwick Express train reaches London Victoria station in 30 minutes.

Discover the best fares and booking tips in our guide to Cheap flights to Gatwick.

Manchester Airport (MAN) — Gateway to the North of England

Manchester Airport is the UK's third-busiest airport and the largest outside London, serving over 32 million passengers annually and connecting the North of England directly to nearly 200 destinations worldwide. Following a 1.3 billion GBP transformation programme, the new super Terminal 2 handles around 75% of all flights, while Terminal 3 serves Ryanair operations. For travellers targeting northern England, Scotland, or Northern Ireland, Manchester frequently undercuts London fares significantly.

See full details in our guide to Cheap flights to Manchester.

Best Time to Book Cheap Flights to London

Timing your booking makes a significant difference. Here's what the data shows:

Top Airlines Flying to London

British Airways is the UK's flag carrier and the dominant operator at Heathrow, competing directly with American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Delta, and United Airlines on transatlantic routes. Norse Atlantic UK has emerged as a strong budget transatlantic option particularly for Gatwick arrivals. On European routes, easyJet and Ryanair dominate, with fares regularly under 30 GBP one-way from major European cities.

FAQs

London Gatwick (LGW) frequently offers the most competitive fares from transatlantic origins, particularly from the US East Coast, with round-trips found from $255. Norse Atlantic UK, the dominant US carrier at Gatwick, has consistently undercut full-service transatlantic fares on the New York-London route. However, Heathrow (LHR) offers the widest airline choice and most frequent departures, meaning price competition on specific dates can run either way. Always compare both airports simultaneously for your travel dates the cheapest option switches regularly depending on day and season.

Data from major fare aggregators including Skyscanner confirms that booking approximately 40 days in advance consistently delivers the lowest available fares on London routes. For peak travel periods UK summer (July-August), the Christmas-New Year window, and Easter booking 10-14 weeks ahead is strongly advisable as capacity fills quickly. For off-peak travel between November and February, solid deals regularly surface 3-4 weeks before departure, particularly on routes served by low-cost carriers where late inventory clearance pricing is common.

Norse Atlantic UK has produced some of the lowest transatlantic fares to London Gatwick in the current market, with round-trips consistently found from $255. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are the most popular full-service carriers on US-London routes and frequently offer competitive promotional fares, particularly from New York JFK, Boston, Miami, and Los Angeles to Heathrow. American Airlines, Delta, and United Airlines also operate major transatlantic services into Heathrow. Always compare total fares including baggage fees the headline fare on budget carriers can differ significantly from the all-in price.

US and Canadian citizens do not need a visa to visit the UK for stays of up to 6 months, but must have a valid passport. Australian and New Zealand citizens also receive visa-free entry for up to 6 months. EU citizens can enter the UK with a valid passport — national ID cards are no longer accepted following Brexit. From 2 April 2025, most visa-exempt visitors (excluding US, Canadian, and several other nationalities) require a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travel. Always verify current entry requirements via the UK government's official travel advisory (gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) before booking.

Each London airport has distinct transfer options. From Heathrow (LHR): the Elizabeth line reaches Paddington in 35-45 minutes for approximately 13.50 GBP; the Heathrow Express takes just 15 minutes for 25 GBP; the Piccadilly line Underground takes 45-60 minutes for around 6 GBP. From Gatwick (LGW): the Gatwick Express reaches London Victoria in 30 minutes for approximately 21.90 GBP; Southern Rail services are cheaper at around 12 GBP with a slightly longer journey time. From Manchester (MAN): direct trains from the airport station reach Manchester Piccadilly in 20 minutes for approximately 4.60 GBP, with Metrolink trams also available to the city centre.
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