Flying from Johannesburg to London: what you need to know
Planning your getaway starts with figuring out where you'll leave from in Johannesburg. O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) is the city's main airport, so check out your options for reserving a flight from Johannesburg to London departing from here.
Touch down at London Heathrow Airport (LHR), London Gatwick Airport (LGW) or one of London's other airports. They include Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY).
The average time for a direct flight from Johannesburg to London is 11 hours 15 minutes. London's timezone is UTC+0, which makes London 2 hours behind Johannesburg.
The most popular route for flights from Johannesburg to London is from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR). There are 58 weekly services between these two airports. If you want to get going first thing, the earliest flight from JNB to LHR is the 18:55 Virgin Atlantic option. If you prefer to leave later in the day, the final departure is at 22:15 with British Airways.
Leave plenty of time to make your flight from Johannesburg to London. A good rule of thumb is to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
You can expect longer queues in popular months such as July and other peak seasons. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for domestic departures is a good idea.
To travel to United Kingdom for tourism purposes, you will need an embassy visa if you have a passport from South Africa. However, visa rules are subject to change and you may need other documents depending on the purpose and length of your stay. Always check the most recent guidelines before reserving your cheap flight from Johannesburg to London.
Flying from Johannesburg
O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
You can reserve a direct flight from Johannesburg to London jetting off from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB). Start your journey at JNB and touch down at London Heathrow Airport (LHR).
You can travel on a direct flight from Johannesburg to London with British Airways. This top airline operates services from JNB.
We make it a cinch to plan a flight from Johannesburg to London that includes a stopover. To see all your options leaving from O.R. Tambo International Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, simply choose a flight offering a stop long enough to tour the city of your choice. Major stopovers include:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Franz Josef Strauss Airport (MUC)
Located around 29 kilometres from the centre of Johannesburg, JNB can be reached in about 29 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey by public transport is roughly 1 hour and 12 minutes.
Need a convenient hotel close to O.R. Tambo International Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Johannesburg to London, these accommodation options will have you moments from check-in:
Arriving in London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to central London is roughly 31 kilometres. It takes about 57 minutes to reach the centre driving.
If you're using public transport, expect a journey of roughly 1 hour and 1 minute.
If you have a late flight from Johannesburg to London, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your suitcases from the carousel and then be showered and snoozing soon after at one of these accommodation options near LHR:
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
The centre of London is approximately 80 kilometres from London Gatwick Airport (LGW). After your flight from Johannesburg to London has touched down and you've made your way out of the airport, the drive should take about 1 hour and 19 minutes.
If you're travelling on public transport, it'll take about 1 hour and 26 minutes.
After your flight from Johannesburg to London, settle in at a hotel near LGW. These are some great accommodation options that'll help you sink into relaxation mode:
How to find the cheapest flights from Johannesburg to London
The lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Johannesburg to London is R 4,709. For a return flight on this route, the best price is R 7,097. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares can change.
Lock in cheap tickets from Johannesburg to London by booking 8 months ahead. Based on our research, that's the sweet spot for landing a bargain.
April is the cheapest month for tickets from Johannesburg to London. If you're looking to travel during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices for every month.
Set up a Price Alert for cheap tickets from Johannesburg to London. There's no need to look every day to see whether prices have dropped. We'll notify you when there's a change in price.
Use filters to tailor your flights from Johannesburg to London. Pick your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and number of stops. Or sort your results by 'Cheapest' to find the best deals.
Best time to go to London
It's time to choose your dates for your flight from Johannesburg to London. July is the busiest month to visit London. If you like a more relaxed atmosphere, go in February.
The warmest month in London is July, with the temperature ranging between 11ºC and 26ºC. Book your flights from Johannesburg to London in this month if this is the kind of weather you like.
If you'd rather travel in cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from Johannesburg to London in January when temperatures average between 0ºC and 9ºC.
More about London
When it comes to looking for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the top stays in London right here. Explore these hotels after you've booked your flight from Johannesburg to London:
There are so many things to see and do in this city it can be tricky to know where to start. Big Ben, The British Museum and Buckingham Palace are leading attractions which should be on any good London itinerary.
Complete your London trip with a car rental
Check out our range of car rentals once you've found your hotel and cheap flight from Johannesburg to London. Whether you're looking for a compact ride, spacious sedan or even something that'll turn heads, you can compare companies in one go to find the perfect deal.
