Flying from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Washington DC: what you need to know
London Heathrow Airport is located in London. Based in the UTC-4 timezone, Washington DC is 4 hours behind London.
The busiest route is from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). Take your pick of 56 services every week between these two airports. If you want to take off as soon as possible, the earliest flight from LHR to IAD is the 07:10 United service. If you prefer travelling later, the final departure is at 17:35 with British Airways.
To ensure you get on your flight from LHR to Washington DC, leave enough time to check in and drop off your luggage. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
Flying over a peak time such as July? Public holidays and other popular periods can mean longer lines at check-in and security. Be extra cautious and get there up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
Nonstop flights from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Washington DC are available for booking. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is where you'll arrive.
You can choose from various carriers that operate direct flights from London Heathrow Airport to Washington DC, such as:
A stopover is the perfect opportunity to break up your trip — and maybe even explore a different city. When browsing flights from LHR to Washington DC, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Consider one of these popular options:
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Logan International Airport (BOS)
If you hold a passport from United Kingdom, you will need an ETA to enter United States. This applies when booking a cheap ticket from London Heathrow Airport to Washington DC for tourism purposes. Requirements may change if you're travelling for business or other reasons. Always check the visa rules before you book and certainly before you fly.
The journey from central London to LHR takes about 1 hour and 1 minute by public transport. If you ride-share, drive or take a cab, you'll cover the 31 kilometres in 57 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Planning to catch an early flight from London Heathrow Airport to Washington DC? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the airport (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these hotels near LHR:
How to find the cheapest flights from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Washington DC
R 5,534 is the lowest price we've seen for a one-way ticket from London Heathrow Airport to Washington DC. For a return flight on this route, the best price is R 9,128. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares may change.
Book 9 months before you want to fly. After crunching the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you'll want to book ahead to secure cheap tickets from LHR to Washington DC.
Schedule your trip for May. That's the cheapest month for tickets from London Heathrow Airport to Washington DC. If you're flexible with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across every month.
Finding a cheap ticket from LHR to Washington DC is a breeze with Price Alerts. All you need to do is create one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you when the price has fallen.
Play around with the filters to find your ideal trip. To see the 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best' flights from London Heathrow Airport to Washington DC, use the 'Sort by' function. You can also filter results by departure and arrival times, airline, and number of stops.
Airports in Washington DC
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) to the centre of Washington DC takes about 16 minutes by car. It's approximately 8 kilometres away.
It takes roughly 43 minutes to get there using public transport.
If you're arriving on a late flight from London Heathrow Airport to Washington DC, nothing beats the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Grab your bags from the carousel and then be showered and resting not long after at one of these hotels near DCA:
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
As soon as your flight from London Heathrow Airport to Washington DC has hit the tarmac, you can get to the city centre in about 51 minutes by car. Central Washington DC is roughly 56 kilometres from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
You can expect the trip to take roughly 3 hours and 26 minutes on public transport.
Place the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and rest at a hotel near IAD. Here are a few options where you can settle in after your flight from LHR to Washington DC:
Best time to go to Washington DC
July is the busiest month for flights from London Heathrow Airport to Washington DC. To escape the crowds, visit Washington DC in May when things are quieter.
Book your flight from London Heathrow Airport to Washington DC for July to visit the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures to range from 19ºC to 33ºC.
For cooler conditions, search for a cheap flight from LHR to Washington DC in January when temperatures average between -6ºC and 10ºC.
More about Washington DC
Start your Washington DC trip off on the right foot by choosing the ideal place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from London Heathrow Airport to Washington DC, browse our range of hotels including:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be hard to figure out where to start. White House Historical Association, The White House and National Mall are major attractions which should be on any well-planned Washington DC itinerary.
Complete your Washington DC trip with a car rental
Finding you a cheap flight from London Heathrow Airport to Washington DC isn't the only thing we're good at. Check out our car rentals in Washington DC and explore on your own terms. We find deals from trusted car rental providers and put them all in one place. Instantly compare offers and then book with no fees.
