Travelling from London to Beijing: what you need to know
London has many airports to leave from. Check out your departure options from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) when organising your flight from London to Beijing. Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY) are the city's other main bases.
When landing in Beijing, Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Daxing International Airport (PKX) are the major entry points.
The average length of a direct flight from London to Beijing is 10 hours 5 minutes. Beijing's timezone is UTC+8, which makes Beijing 8 hours ahead of London.
With 31 weekly flights between the two airports, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Daxing International Airport (PKX) is the most popular route. Hop on the first flight from London to Beijing with Air China at 17:40. If you prefer to make the most of your day before you fly, the latest departure from LHR to PKX is with Air China at 22:40.
For a smooth journey, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This way, you can comfortably catch your flight from London to Beijing.
During popular months like July, you'll want to get to the airport even earlier. Arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead for international flights when you travel during a peak period in general.
If you hold a passport from United Kingdom, you will need a visa to visit China. This applies when booking a cheap flight from London to Beijing for tourism purposes. Requirements may be different if you're travelling for work or other reasons. Always consult official visa guidelines before you book and certainly before you fly.
Flying from London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Start your trip at London Heathrow Airport (LHR), which offers a range of direct flights from London to Beijing. From LHR, you can fly nonstop to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or Daxing International Airport (PKX).
At LHR, you'll find a good selection of carriers that operate direct flights from London to Beijing, such as:
We make it simple to find a flight from London to Beijing that includes a stopover. To see all your options leaving from London Heathrow Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Next, choose a flight offering a stop long enough to see the sights of your chosen city. Top stopovers include:
Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Vienna International Airport (VIE)
The journey from central London to LHR takes around 1 hour and 1 minute on public transport. If you ride-share, drive or grab a cab, you'll cover the 31 kilometres in 57 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
After a stress-free start to your holiday? Stay near London Heathrow Airport. Whether you're catching an early flight from London to Beijing or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels are perfect:
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Prefer to jet off from London Gatwick Airport (LGW)? This popular terminal also offers direct flights from London to Beijing — enjoy a seamless journey into Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK).
Air China offers direct flights from London to Beijing out of LGW. Book your preferred window seat and arrive at your destination in a single journey.
Split up your flight from London to Beijing with a stop so you can recharge or cross a new place off your list. Top stopovers between London Heathrow Airport and Beijing are:
Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Vienna International Airport (VIE)
LGW is about 80 kilometres from central London. It'll take you 1 hour and 19 minutes or so to get to the airport in a car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 1 hour and 26 minutes.
Start your holiday sooner with an extra night away from home. Before catching your flight from London to Beijing, take things easy in one of these hotels near London Gatwick Airport:
Arriving in Beijing
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to central Beijing is roughly 31 kilometres. It takes around 40 minutes to get to the centre driving.
Book a hotel close to PEK if you're taking a late flight from London to Beijing. Select one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
Daxing International Airport (PKX)
As soon as your flight from London to Beijing has touched down, you can make your way to the city centre in around 1 hour and 3 minutes by car. Central Beijing is approximately 56 kilometres from Daxing International Airport (PKX).
After your flight from London to Beijing, unwind at a hotel near PKX. These are some great options that'll help you sink into relaxation mode:
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Beijing
Currently, Rs75,915 is the best price we've seen for a one-way ticket from London to Beijing. The cheapest price for a return flight is Rs122,280. Remember fares may change due to availability at the time of booking.
To snag cheap tickets from London to Beijing, reserve your journey 9 months ahead of your planned departure.
May is the cheapest month for flight tickets from London to Beijing. If you need to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices across every month.
Log into your online account or use the app to create a Price Alert. We'll let you know straight away if there's a cheaper deal on this route. It's easy to do, and it'll save you from checking for cheap tickets from London to Beijing every day.
Play around with filters to find your ideal journey. To see the 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest' flights from London to Beijing, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter by airline, departure and arrival times, and number of stops.
Best time to go to Beijing
February is the quietest month for flights from London to Beijing, while July is the most popular. Figure out the ideal time to visit Beijing based on whether you like a laid-back vibe or a lively atmosphere.
Schedule your flight from London to Beijing for July if you'd like to visit the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Beijing to range from 21ºC to 35ºC.
Search for cheap tickets from London to Beijing in January if you like travelling in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest around then, ranging between -11ºC and 3ºC on average.
More about Beijing
Once you've booked your flight from London to Beijing, think about where you'd like to stay in this city. Make one of these options your base for exploring Beijing:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be hard to know where to begin. Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Tiananmen Square are major attractions which should feature on any good Beijing itinerary.
Complete your Beijing trip with a car rental
Browse our range of car rentals once you've booked your hotel and cheap flight from London to Beijing. Whether you're after a compact ride, family sedan or something in between, you can compare companies in one go to find the perfect deal.