Cheap Flights to London: How to Find the Best Deals in 2026

Updated and fact-checked: September 2026 · Written by Clara Whitby, The Londonologist.

London is one of the best-connected cities on earth, which is good news for your wallet. Six airports and fierce competition between airlines mean there is almost always a deal to be found, if you know where to look. This guide explains which London airport to fly into, when to book, and the practical tricks that cut the cost of getting to London in 2026, wherever you are flying from. It also covers the often-overlooked last step: getting from the airport into the city without overpaying.

London’s Six Airports: Which to Fly Into

London is served by six airports, and the cheapest flight often depends on which one you use.

• Heathrow (LHR): the main international hub, west of the city, handling most long-haul and United States flights. Best connections, fast rail links.
• Gatwick (LGW): south of London, a major airport for long-haul, holiday and European flights, often with competitive fares.
• Stansted (STN): the main budget-airline gateway, northeast of the city, best for cheap flights from across Europe.
• Luton (LTN): another budget hub to the north, popular with low-cost European carriers.
• London City (LCY): small and central, in the Docklands, geared to business and short-haul European routes.
• Southend (SEN): the smallest, to the east, with a handful of European budget routes.

For US and other long-haul travelers, Heathrow and Gatwick are usually the choice. For a cheap hop from Europe, compare Stansted and Luton too.

Planning your trip? You can book a London airport transfer with Chauffeurz.

When to Book for the Cheapest Fares

• Long-haul (from the US, Asia, Australia): book roughly two to five months ahead for the best balance of price and choice.
• Short-haul (from Europe): deals appear both far ahead and last-minute, but a few weeks out is usually safe.
• Fly midweek. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday departures are often cheaper than weekends.
• Avoid peak dates. School holidays, and the run-up to Christmas, push prices up. Shoulder seasons are cheapest.

How to Find the Cheapest Flights

• Be flexible with dates. Shifting your trip by a day or two can save a lot; use a comparison tool’s whole-month view.
• Set fare alerts. Let a flight search tool watch your route and email you when the price drops.
• Compare all airports. Search London as a whole rather than one airport, so you catch a cheaper fare into Gatwick or Stansted.
• Consider a nearby connection. From Europe, a budget flight into Stansted or Luton can beat a direct fare into Heathrow.
• Watch the extras. Budget airlines charge for bags and seats, so add those in before you decide a fare is truly cheap.

Search cheap flights to LondonCompare London hotels for your trip

Getting From the Airport Into London

The flight is only half the journey. Each airport has a fast rail link into central London, the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express from Heathrow, the Gatwick Express from Gatwick, and dedicated trains from Stansted and Luton. These are quick and good value for solo travelers. For families, groups or arrivals with luggage after a long flight, a fixed-rate private transfer can work out better value and far less stressful than dragging bags across the network. Our sister company Chauffeurz offers fixed-price chauffeur transfers from all London airports, so you step off the plane and straight into a waiting car; see our Heathrow airport transfers guide.

Keep Exploring London

The Bottom Line

Cheap flights to London come down to flexibility. Compare all six airports, set a fare alert, fly midweek and book long-haul a few months ahead. Then plan the transfer into the city before you fly, so a bargain fare does not turn into an expensive, stressful arrival. A little planning gets you to London for less and starts the trip on the right foot.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you find cheap flights to London?

Be flexible with your dates and use a flight comparison tool’s whole-month view, set fare alerts for your route, and compare all six London airports rather than just one. Flying midweek and avoiding school holidays also cuts the price, and for long-haul, booking a few months ahead usually helps.

Which London airport is cheapest to fly into?

It depends where you are flying from. For long-haul and US flights, Heathrow and Gatwick are the main options and often competitive. For cheap flights from Europe, the budget gateways Stansted and Luton usually have the lowest fares, though check the cost of getting into the city from each.

When is the best time to book flights to London?

For long-haul flights, roughly two to five months ahead gives the best balance of price and choice. For short-haul European flights, a few weeks out is usually fine. Flying midweek and outside school holidays and the Christmas period is cheaper across the board.

What are the London airports?

London has six airports: Heathrow, the main long-haul hub to the west; Gatwick to the south; Stansted and Luton, the budget gateways to the north; London City, small and central in the Docklands; and Southend to the east. Heathrow and Gatwick handle most international and US flights.

How do you get from the airport into central London?

Each airport has a fast rail link, such as the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express from Heathrow and the Gatwick Express from Gatwick, which are quick and good value for solo travelers. For families, groups or heavy luggage, a fixed-rate private transfer or chauffeur can be better value and far less stressful.

Are budget airlines to London worth it?

They can be, especially from Europe, but check the total cost. Budget carriers charge extra for bags and seat selection and often fly into airports further from the centre, so add those costs and the transfer before deciding a fare is truly cheap.

Is it cheaper to fly into Heathrow or Gatwick?

Neither is always cheaper; it varies by route, airline and date. The best approach is to search London as a whole so the comparison tool shows fares into every airport, then weigh the fare against how much the journey into the city will cost from each one.

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