Travelling from London to Los Angeles: what you need to know
London has plenty of airports to start your trip from. Check out your departure options from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) when organising your flight from London to Los Angeles. Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY) are the other main bases in the city.
When it comes to working out where to land in Los Angeles, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Van Nuys Airport (VNY) are the primary gateways.
Around 11 hours 20 minutes is how long you can expect to be travelling on a direct London to Los Angeles flight.
Los Angeles's timezone is UTC-7, making Los Angeles seven hours behind London.
With 60 weekly flights between the two airports, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the most popular route. Hop on the earliest flight from London to Los Angeles with Virgin Atlantic at 07:45. If you prefer to make the most of your day before jetting off, the last departure from LHR to LAX is with Virgin Atlantic at 17:30.
For a stress-free journey, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This will give you enough time to board your London to Los Angeles flight.
Flying during a peak month such as July? Public holidays and other high seasons can lead to longer queues and delays at security. Be extra cautious and get there up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Los Angeles
To secure cheap London to Los Angeles flights, reserve your journey two months before your departure.
May is the best month for nabbing an incredible deal on a plane ticket from London to Los Angeles. If you need to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices for every month.
Locking in a cheap flight from London to Los Angeles is easy with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch as soon as the price has dropped.
Choose your preferred arrival and departure times, airlines and number of stops with the filters. Alternatively, sort your London to Los Angeles flight results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'
Flying from London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Set off from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on a nonstop flight from London to Los Angeles. From LHR, you can travel directly to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
You can choose from a range of carriers offering direct London to Los Angeles plane tickets with departures from LHR, including:
Think about adding a stopover to possibly find a cheaper London to Los Angeles flight. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from London Heathrow Airport. Take a break from travelling at one of these popular airports:
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Harry Reid Airport (formerly McCarran Airport) (LAS)
LHR is about 26 kilometres from central London. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take you 55 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're taking public transport, expect the journey time to be around 1 hour.
Have an early flight from London to Los Angeles? Avoid the last-minute rush to the airport (and sneak in some extra precious sleep) by choosing one of these hotels close to London Heathrow Airport:
When it comes to the on-time performance of London Heathrow Airport, 68.18% of flights complete their journey on time.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
You can book a direct flight from London to Los Angeles out of London Gatwick Airport (LGW). Nonstop services from LGW will get you to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Norse Atlantic UK offers direct London to Los Angeles plane tickets from LGW. Book your preferred aisle (or window) seat and arrive at your destination in one go.
Break up your London to Los Angeles flight with a stop so you can stretch your legs or tick another place off your list. Top stopovers between London Gatwick Airport and Los Angeles are:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Harry Reid Airport (formerly McCarran Airport) (LAS)
Dublin Airport (DUB)
You can get to LGW from central London in about 1 hour 20 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey by public transport will take roughly 30 minutes to travel the 40 kilometres or so.
Get a head start on your holiday with an additional night away from home. Before catching your flight from London to Los Angeles, unwind in one of these hotels near London Gatwick Airport:
When it comes to flight punctuality, London Gatwick Airport has an on-time arrival rate of 69%.
Stansted Airport (STN)
You can lock in a ticket from London to Los Angeles with one or more stops leaving from Stansted Airport (STN). Here are some of the most popular stopovers between STN and Los Angeles:
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Dublin Airport (DUB)
Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
STN is roughly 48 kilometres from central London. The drive from the city centre to the airport takes about 1 hour. If you're planning to take public transport, expect a journey of around 1 hour 25 minutes.
Make departure day worry-free — stay close to Stansted Airport and know you'll make it to the terminal with time to spare. Get comfy at one of these hotels the day before if you've booked an early London to Los Angeles flight:
Airports have an on-time performance rating that monitors how often flights touch down when they should. At STN, that figure is 64.73%.
Arriving in Los Angeles
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is approximately 19 kilometres from the centre of Los Angeles. If you're catching a cab or a ride-share, the drive will take around 30 minutes.
If you're taking public transport, expect a journey time of about 55 minutes.
Consider staying in a hotel close to LAX if you're coming in on a late flight from London to Los Angeles. Check in to one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
Get your adventure underway by picking up a Los Angeles International Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Dollar, Thrifty or Hertz and explore beyond Los Angeles's main sights.
Lock in the best rate by reserving your ride from Los Angeles International Airport about one week before your trip.
The address for LAX is One World Way.
Van Nuys Airport (VNY)
After your flight from London to Los Angeles has landed, you can make your way to the city centre in about 35 minutes by car. Central Los Angeles is approximately 29 kilometres from Van Nuys Airport (VNY).
If you travel by public transport, you'll reach the centre in 1 hour 40 minutes or so.
There are some great places to call home for the night near VNY. Settle in and get cosy after your London to Los Angeles flight at any of these perfectly located options:
No need to worry about public transport schedules or cab lines. Grab a Van Nuys Airport rental car and go in any direction that inspires you. Compare offers from Budget, Dollar and Hertz.
Generally speaking, the sooner you book, the better the deals and choice of vehicles. Lock in your ride from VNY the moment you know your dates.
Best time to go to Los Angeles
July is the most popular month for flights from London to Los Angeles. To avoid the crowds, visit Los Angeles in May.
The warmest month in Los Angeles is August, with temperatures ranging between 16ºC and 32ºC. Book your London to Los Angeles ticket then if this is the type of weather you enjoy.
February has average temperatures of between 6ºC and 26ºC. Search for cheap flights from London to Los Angeles around that time if you like cooler conditions.
More about Los Angeles
After booking your flight from London to Los Angeles, take your pick from prime hotels that put you close to the action. Make one of these options your base for exploring Los Angeles:
Every great adventure has to include some sightseeing. Griffith Observatory, The Broad and La Brea Tar Pits & Museum are attractions you won't want to skip in Los Angeles.
Explore more of United States
Los Angeles has its own special appeal, but there are so many other parts of United States waiting to be explored. Around 177 kilometres south-east of Los Angeles, a trip to San Diego will keep your itinerary packed. Start with leading attractions like San Diego Zoo, USS Midway Museum and SeaWorld San Diego.
Around 499 kilometres north-west of Los Angeles, San Jose is another favourite stop in United States. Start your sightseeing at Winchester Mystery House, Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and San Jose Museum of Art.
