Travelling from London to San Diego: what you need to know
London has plenty of airports to start your journey from. Check out your departure options from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) when organising your flight from London to San Diego. Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY) are the other main bases in the city.
Touch down at San Diego's major arrival point, San Diego International Airport (SAN).
Jump on a direct London to San Diego flight and you'll be travelling for an average of 11 hours 15 minutes.
San Diego is seven hours behind London and observes the UTC-7 timezone.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to San Diego International Airport (SAN) is the most traveled route that connects these two cities. There are ten weekly departures to pick from. If you have things to do before leaving, the last flight from London to San Diego is with British Airways at 15:30. Go for the first LHR to SAN departure with British Airways at 12:15 to fit in more activities on your first day in San Diego.
For a stress-free start to your trip, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This will give you enough time to board your London to San Diego flight.
During popular months such as July, you'll want to get to the airport earlier. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of international flights whenever you're travelling during peak periods in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to San Diego
Book two months before flying. Pricing trends suggest that this is the ideal window for finding cheap London to San Diego flights.
Schedule your trip for May. That's the best month for scoring the biggest deals on plane tickets from London to San Diego. If you're flexible with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across each month.
Never miss a deal on cheap flights from London to San Diego by setting up a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or push notification on the app when a special offer becomes available.
Choose your ideal departure and arrival times, number of stops and airlines by using the filters. Alternatively, sort your London to San Diego flight results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'
Flying from London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Take off from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on a nonstop flight from London to San Diego. From LHR, you can travel directly to San Diego International Airport (SAN).
British Airways is a well-known airline that offers direct London to San Diego plane tickets leaving from LHR.
Think about adding a stopover to possibly find a cheaper London to San Diego flight. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from London Heathrow Airport. Take a break from travelling at one of these popular airports:
Harry Reid Airport (formerly McCarran Airport) (LAS)
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport (PHX)
Located around 26 kilometres from the centre of London, LHR can be reached in about 55 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey by public transport takes roughly 1 hour.
After a relaxed start to your break? Stay near London Heathrow Airport. Whether you have an early flight from London to San Diego or just don't like being rushed, these hotels are ideal:
Of the flights that depart from London Heathrow Airport, 68.18% arrive on time at their destination.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Split up your London to San Diego flight with a stop so you can recharge or tick a new place off your list. Top stopovers between London Gatwick Airport and San Diego include:
Harry Reid Airport (formerly McCarran Airport) (LAS)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
LGW is about 40 kilometres from central London. It'll take 1 hour 20 minutes or so to get to the airport by car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 30 minutes.
It's your holiday, so why not book an extra night away? Consider checking in to one of these hotels near London Gatwick Airport the day before your flight from London to San Diego:
69.26% of flights leaving London Gatwick Airport arrive according to schedule.
Stansted Airport (STN)
The journey to STN from central London is around 1 hour 25 minutes on public transport. If you prefer to travel by car, it'll take you roughly 1 hour to cover the 48 kilometres or so.
Make catching an early London to San Diego flight the easiest part of your trip. Stay at one of these accommodation options close to Stansted Airport and get to your check-in counter without rushing:
Flights that leave from STN touch down at their destination within the expected time frame 64.73% of the time.
Arriving in San Diego
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
San Diego International Airport (SAN) is approximately 3 kilometres from the centre of San Diego. If you're catching a cab or a ride-share, the drive takes around 10 minutes.
It typically takes 20 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
If you're coming in on a late flight from London to San Diego, nothing beats the convenience of staying near the terminal. Pick up your bags from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing not long after at one of these hotels near SAN:
Grab a San Diego International Airport rental car and discover San Diego and beyond with your own set of wheels. Thrifty, Dollar and Budget are leading providers to choose from here.
To get the best deal, book your vehicle from San Diego International Airport around two weeks in advance of your London to San Diego flight.
The street address for SAN is N Harbour Dr.
McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD)
Once your flight from London to San Diego has landed, you can get to the city centre in around 40 minutes by car. Central San Diego is roughly 48 kilometres from McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD).
If you're travelling on public transport, it'll take approximately 2 hours 15 minutes.
Budget, Hertz and Avis make collecting a McClellan-Palomar Airport rental car simple. These trusted companies are located in or around the terminal and will have you on the road before long.
Avoid filling out forms at the rental desk by having everything prearranged. Reserve your ride from CLD ahead of time so you can simply grab the keys and get going.
Best time to go to San Diego
It's time to plan your travel dates for your flight from London to San Diego. July is the most popular month to travel to San Diego. If you prefer a more peaceful vibe, go in May.
When booking your London to San Diego tickets, consider the type of weather you enjoy. August is the warmest month in San Diego, with temperatures ranging from 17ºC to 28ºC.
Look for cheap flights from London to San Diego in February if you'd rather travel when it's cooler. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 7ºC and 23ºC on average.
More about San Diego
When it comes to searching for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the best places to stay in San Diego right here. Check out these options as soon as you've booked your flight from London to San Diego:
There are so many things to discover in this city it can be tricky to work out where to begin. San Diego Zoo, USS Midway Museum and SeaWorld San Diego are major attractions which should feature on every San Diego itinerary.
Explore more of United States
San Diego has loads to offer, but there are so many other corners of United States waiting to be discovered. Around 177 kilometres north-west of San Diego, a trip to Los Angeles will keep your itinerary packed. Start with leading attractions like Griffith Observatory, The Broad and La Brea Tar Pits & Museum.
If there's time to check out another major destination in United States, consider Phoenix, about 483 kilometres east of San Diego. Desert Botanical Garden, Heard Museum and Papago Park are key highlights.
