Cheap flights to London for 2021

London is a popular destination for Australians and an absolute must-visit. It has enough attractions, food, entertainment and shopping to keep any visitor occupied for weeks

One of the most appealing aspects of London is its close proximity to the rest of Europe. Hop on a train and within a couple of hours you can reach other popular parts of England and Scotland – and even Paris, Amsterdam and beyond via the Eurostar. Budget airlines also offer cheap flights to mainland Europe.

See our latest flight deals to London

KLM

Europe flights from $1,419 return

Available on flights until May 2022 to London, Dublin, Manchester, Rome and more. Sample fare is Perth-Dublin.

Last verified 18 Jun 2021

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Deal ends 2 Jul 2021

Canadian Affair

Canada flights from GBP£339 return

Plus get free date change on select flights until December 2021. Destinations include Vancouver, Montreal and more. Sample fare is London-Toronto. T&Cs apply.

Last verified 16 Jun 2021

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Deal ends 30 Jun 2021

Cheap Flights

United Kingdom flights from $1,283 return

Available on select travel dates from July - December 2021 to Manchester, Birmingham and more. Sample fare is Sydney-London.

Last verified 9 Jun 2021

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Deal ends 30 Jun 2021

Qatar Airways

Up to 12% off international flights

Available on flights until 31 January 2022 when you pay with PayPal. Destinations include Africa, London, Paris, Athens, Beirut, Doha and more. T&Cs apply.

Last verified 27 May 2021

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Coupon code ends 30 Sep 2021

Qatar Airways

Up to 45% off flights for students

Join and become a member of Student club and receive promo codes on flights. Available for students who are in university or college and aged 18-30. Destinations include London, Paris, Auckland, Canada and more. T&Cs apply.

Last verified 9 Mar 2021

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How long does it take to fly to London from Australia?

• From Brisbane: Approximately 22 hr 35 mins + with one stopover, landing at London Heathrow Airport
• From Sydney: Approximately 22 hrs 40 mins + with one stopover, landing at London Heathrow Airport
• From Melbourne: Approximately 22 hrs 40 mins + with one stopover, landing at London Heathrow Airport
• From Perth: Approximately 17 hrs 20 mins + direct, landing at London Heathrow Airport

Which airlines fly direct to London from Australia?

• Qantas

While Qantas is the only carrier to offer direct flights to London (from Perth), you can also get one-stop fares with airlines including:

• Cathay Pacific
• China Southern
• Etihad
• Qatar
• Singapore Airlines

When's the best time to book Christmas flights to London?

For the best savings, book in July. Booking three months in advance of any flight to London saves up to 4% on flights compared to the rest of the year. If you've missed this boat, booking later, around three weeks in advance can still save you a fair bit.

The first week of December has excellent departure prices with the cheapest being on the 8 of December.

Those spending Christmas in London can opt to return to Australia from the 25-27 of December for great flight deals. Prices peak after New Year's but start to fall from 15 January onward.

London insider flight tips

• Qantas operates direct flights to London Heathrow that will get you there in less than 18 hours.
• Standard flights to London operate with one stopover but you can often secure cheaper fares by changing twice or more. This can save money without adding too much to your travel time, but be sure to check that layover times are long enough to get to your connecting flight, especially if you need to change terminal or even local airport. Be aware of any differing luggage restrictions when flying with multiple airlines too.
• Given the size of Europe, it’s very common for travellers to book return flights that fly into London and take the return flight home from a different European city – most online flight booking agents have a “multi-city” option allowing this, with Paris and Amsterdam offering the most flights. Be aware that the alternative option of booking a one-way flight to one airport and a separate one-way flight from another airport to Australia is almost always a very expensive option.
• London is vast, with four international airports and various major train stations, so if you are travelling onwards be sure to use an online journey planner and work out how to get to the departure train station or airport before booking to ensure you have enough time.

How to get into London from the airport

Most flights from Australia to London will land at London Heathrow (LHR). Heathrow is around 25km from the city. A taxi ride can take up to over an hour and can cost around £50 depending on the time of day. The fastest option for reaching the city is the Heathrow Express which gets passengers to London Paddington in 15 minutes – it’s not cheap although savings can be made by booking in advance online. The Underground is more budget-friendly and has the advantage of connecting you to its huge network, including Kings Cross and Euston stations for trains to the rest of the UK. Those travelling further afield should take a look at National Express, which offers coach travel to London itself and other UK cities for bargain prices.

Some flights may get you into London Gatwick (LGW) which also has National Express coach services to London (Victoria) taking up to two hours. Alternatively, there’s a budget coach transfer company called easyBus. Gatwick is better connected by train than Heathrow with services to Victoria and other parts of London, including Luton Airport.