Cheap Flights from London Heathrow to Shanghai

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Compare London Heathrow to Shanghai flight deals

Find the cheapest month or even day of the year to fly to Shanghai

Book the best Shanghai fare with no extra fees

Flight deals from London Heathrow to Shanghai

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from London Heathrow to Shanghai? Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.

Find the cheapest month to fly from London Heathrow to Shanghai

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like London Heathrow to Shanghai flights are currently cheapest in April.

Direct flights from London Heathrow to Shanghai

Alternative London Heathrow to Shanghai routes

Looking for the cheapest, fastest or easiest route from London Heathrow to Shanghai? You could fly into the following airports instead.

London to Shanghai: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight foundR 6,292
Cheapest month to flyApril
Average flight time12 hrs, 3 mins
Most popular airlineChina Eastern
Average flights per week38

Finding cheap flights from London Heathrow to Shanghai: Frequently asked questions

There are 2 airports in Shanghai: Shanghai Hongqiao and Shanghai Pudong.
The best price we found for a return flight from London Heathrow to Shanghai is R 9,704. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
12 hours and 3 minutes is the average flight time from London Heathrow to Shanghai.
China Eastern, British Airways and China Southern fly direct from London Heathrow to Shanghai.
As of April 2025, there are 19 flights per week flying from London Heathrow to Shanghai.
The cheapest month to fly from London Heathrow to Shanghai is usually April 2025.
If you're flying from London Heathrow Airport, the cheapest airport near Shanghai is Shanghai Hongqiao – which is 13.8 km away from the centre of Shanghai. We've found flights into this airport from R 9,704.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from London Heathrow Airport to Shanghai on Wednesday, 4 June 2025.
Yes – the average flight time is 12 hours and 3 minutes.
We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to Shanghai but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.
We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Shanghai is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
In April, the average temperature is usually around 14°C. August is typically the warmest month in Shanghai, when it usually averages around 29°C. You can expect the least rain in December. The coldest month is January, with temperatures averaging 4°C. The rainiest month is June.
Currently, Hainan Airlines and China Eastern offer the cheapest flight tickets to Shanghai.

Flying from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Shanghai: what you need to know

  • Approximately 14 hours 5 minutes is how long you can expect to be in the air on a direct flight from London Heathrow Airport to Shanghai.

  • The timezone in Shanghai is UTC+8. The city is 8 hours ahead of London, where London Heathrow Airport is located.

  • The busiest route is from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG). You can choose from 29 services every week between these two airports. If you'd like to take off as soon as possible, the earliest flight from LHR to PVG is the 12:00 Virgin Atlantic service. If you'd rather fly out later on, the final departure is at 21:20 with China Eastern.

  • Give yourself enough time to make your flight from LHR to Shanghai. As a rule of thumb, arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.

  • Travelling during a peak month like July? School holidays and other popular seasons can lead to longer lines and delays at check-in and security. Play it safe and get there up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.

  • You can catch a direct flight from London Heathrow Airport to Shanghai. Start your journey at LHR and touch down at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG).

  • Pick from a variety of carriers that offer direct flights from London Heathrow Airport to Shanghai. Head off on your trip with any of these:

  • We make it easy to plan a flight from LHR to Shanghai that includes a stopover. To see your options, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, select a flight offering a stop long enough to see the sights of the city of your choice. Some popular stopovers include:

    • Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)

    • Frankfurt Airport (FRA)

    • Brussels Airport (BRU)

  • To travel to China for tourism purposes, you'll need a visa if you have a passport from United Kingdom. However, visa rules can change and you may need additional documents depending on the purpose and duration of your trip. Always check the most recent guidelines before you book your cheap ticket from London Heathrow Airport to Shanghai.

  • LHR is around 31 kilometres from central London. If you're driving, catching a cab or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take 57 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the trip time to be approximately 1 hour and 1 minute.

  • Want a relaxed start to your break? Stay near LHR. Whether you're taking an early flight from London Heathrow Airport to Shanghai or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels are the answer:

How to find the cheapest flights from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Shanghai

  • R 6,292 is the lowest price for a one-way ticket from London Heathrow Airport to Shanghai. A return flight starts from R 9,704. These fares can change depending on availability.

  • To secure cheap tickets from LHR to Shanghai, reserve your journey 8 months before the departure date.

  • The cheapest month for tickets from London Heathrow Airport to Shanghai is April. Compare prices using the 'Whole month' tool and choose the date that offers the best deal.

  • Set up a Price Alert for cheap tickets from LHR to Shanghai. There's no need to check every day to see if fares have dropped. We'll tell you when the price changes.

  • Tailor your flights with filters. Choose your departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort your results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' flights from London Heathrow Airport to Shanghai.

Airports in Shanghai

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)

Best time to go to Shanghai

  • July is the busiest month to board a flight from London Heathrow Airport to Shanghai while April is the quietest. To work out the ideal time to go to Shanghai, consider the pace you prefer to travel at.

  • The warmest month in Shanghai is August, with temperatures ranging between 23ºC and 34ºC. Book your flights from London Heathrow Airport to Shanghai in this month if this is the type of weather you enjoy.

  • Look for cheap flights from LHR to Shanghai in January if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -1ºC and 10ºC on average.

More about Shanghai

  • After locking in your flight from London Heathrow Airport to Shanghai, think about where you'll stay in this city. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Shanghai:

  • All great holidays should include a little sightseeing. The Bund Sightseeing Avenue, Yu Garden and Shanghai Tower are essential stops on your Shanghai itinerary.

Complete your Shanghai trip with a car rental

  • Finding you a cheap flight from London Heathrow Airport to Shanghai isn't the only trick up our sleeve. Check out our car rentals in Shanghai and explore the city on your own terms. We search for deals from trusted car rental companies and put them all in one place. Instantly compare rates and then book with no fees.

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.