Flying from London to Beijing: what you need to know
When organising a flight from London to Beijing, you'll have your choice of airports to take off from. Check out London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) for your departure. Other possibilities include London Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY).
When working out where to land in Beijing, Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) and Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX) are the chief entry points.
Around 10 hours 5 minutes is how long you can expect to be travelling on a direct London to Beijing flight.
Beijing's timezone is UTC+8, making Beijing eight hours ahead of London.
With 14 weekly flights between the two airports, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) is the busiest route. Hop on the earliest flight from London to Beijing with Air China at 17:40. If you'd like to get more out of your day before you fly, the latest departure from LHR to PEK is with Air China at 22:40.
Give yourself plenty of time to get on your London to Beijing flight. As a general rule, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
You can expect longer lines during popular months such as July. Arriving up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours for domestic departures will help ensure a smooth travel experience.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Beijing
To secure cheap London to Beijing flights, reserve your journey 11 months before your planned departure.
April is the best month for picking up an amazing deal on a plane ticket from London to Beijing. If you want to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices across every month.
Save time searching for cheap flights from London to Beijing by creating a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or notification through the app when a new low fare is offered.
Save on your London to Beijing flight with the help of our filters. Choose your ideal duration, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Flying from London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Start your journey at London Heathrow Airport (LHR), which offers a range of direct flights from London to Beijing. From LHR, you can fly straight into Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) or Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX).
Lock in your London to Beijing plane tickets with Air China. This airline is a top choice for direct flights from LHR.
Think about adding a stopover to potentially save money on your London to Beijing flight. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from London Heathrow Airport. Take a break (and maybe save some cash) by stopping at one of these airports:
Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Travelling from central London to LHR takes around 25 minutes on public transport. If you ride-share, drive or get a taxi, you'll cover the 26 kilometres in 45 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Booked an early flight from London to Beijing? Avoid rushing to the terminal (and enjoy a little extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these hotels close to London Heathrow Airport:
When it comes to London Heathrow Airport's on-time performance, data shows 78% of flights complete their journey on time.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
You can book a direct flight from London to Beijing departing London Gatwick Airport (LGW). Nonstop connections from LGW will take you to Beijing Capital Airport (PEK).
Book a direct London to Beijing plane ticket with Air China. This is one of the leading airlines operating this route out of LGW.
Visit family or friends or just take a moment to recharge with a stopover. If you'd like to split up your London to Beijing flight, here's where you can stop when departing from London Gatwick Airport:
Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG)
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Using public transport, you can travel from central London to LGW in around 45 minutes. The airport is roughly 40 kilometres away. Driving will take you about 1 hour 5 minutes.
Want to treat yourself to an extra night away before catching your flight from London to Beijing? Kick back in a hotel near London Gatwick Airport before your break officially starts. Check out these accommodation options:
Most flights that depart London Gatwick Airport arrive at their destination as planned. It boasts an on-time performance rate of 83%.
London Stansted Airport (STN)
Searching for a ticket from London to Beijing with one or more stops can offer you more choice of departure times and access to lower fares. When leaving from London Stansted Airport (STN), here are a few places you can make a pit stop at on your way to Beijing:
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Vienna Airport (VIE)
Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN)
From the centre of London, STN is around 48 kilometres away. It'll take you roughly 1 hour 5 minutes to reach the airport by car and 45 minutes or so on public transport.
Make catching an early London to Beijing flight the easiest part of your trip. Stay at one of these accommodation options close to London Stansted Airport and get to your departure gate with time to spare:
STN has an on-time performance rating of 80%. This means the majority of its flights arrive at their destination as expected and your travel plans stay on track.
Arriving in Beijing
Beijing Capital Airport (PEK)
Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) is approximately 26 kilometres from the centre of Beijing. If you're catching a taxi or a ride-share, the drive takes around 45 minutes.
Getting there by public transport will take you roughly 50 minutes.
Consider staying in a hotel near PEK if you're coming in on a late flight from London to Beijing. Choose one of these options and skip the long transfer:
Grab a Beijing Capital Airport rental car and discover corners of Beijing that are off the usual tourist route. Check out the deals from Hertz.
Increase the odds of securing a great deal by booking as soon as possible. Reserving your vehicle from Beijing Capital Airport at least a couple of weeks ahead is a smart move.
The street address for PEK is Capital Airport Rd.
Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX)
The centre of Beijing is approximately 40 kilometres from Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX). Once your flight from London to Beijing has touched down and you've made your way to arrivals, expect a drive of around 50 minutes.
If you travel by public transport, you'll get to the city centre in 45 minutes or so.
You'll find some comfortable places to call home for the night near PKX. Unwind after your London to Beijing flight at any of these perfectly located options:
Best time to go to Beijing
It's time to plan your dates for your flight from London to Beijing. August is the busiest month to travel to Beijing. If you like a more relaxed atmosphere, go in March.
The warmest month in Beijing is June, with temperatures ranging between 18ºC and 37ºC. Book your London to Beijing ticket then if this is the type of weather you enjoy.
Search for cheap flights from London to Beijing in January if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -11ºC and 4ºC on average.
More about Beijing
Once you've booked your flight from London to Beijing, take your pick from prime hotels that put you close to the action. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Beijing:
Every great adventure has to include some sightseeing. The Palace Museum, Temple of Heaven and Tiananmen Square are essential stops on your Beijing itinerary.
Explore more of China
Beijing is always a good idea, but there are so many other parts of China just waiting to be explored. Around 113 kilometres southeast of Beijing, a trip to Tianjin will fill your itinerary to the brim. Start with attractions like Hai River, China Ancient Castle and Tianjin World Financial Centre.
Tai'an is another standout destination in China and is around 418 kilometres south of Beijing. No trip is complete without seeing Daguan Peak, Tai’an Fantawild Adventure and Taishan West Lake.