Flying from Istanbul Airport (IST) to London Gatwick Airport (LGW): what you need to know
Around 4 hours 10 minutes is how long you can expect to be in the air on a direct flight from Istanbul Airport to London Gatwick Airport.
London is three hours behind Istanbul and follows the UTC+0 timezone.
You can choose from 34 weekly Istanbul Airport to London Gatwick Airport flights. The 04:35 departure with Wizz Air UK is the earliest available. Wizz Air UK operates the last service of the day at 21:45.
For a stress-free journey, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This ensures you have enough time to catch your IST to LGW flight.
Be prepared for bigger queues during popular months like August. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for domestic departures is a good idea.
Travelling to London (and then discovering more of the United Kingdom!) is easy with Turkish Airlines. This popular carrier offers direct flights from Istanbul Airport to London Gatwick Airport.
Turkish Airlines tops the list for bookings on this route.
We make it easy to book a flight with a stopover. To see all your options for tickets from Istanbul Airport to London Gatwick Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, choose a flight with a stop long enough to visit the city of your choice. Some great stopovers between IST and LGW include:
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
Zurich Airport
Handy information about Istanbul Airport (IST)
Istanbul Airport is about 40 kilometres from central Istanbul. If you're ride-sharing, catching a taxi or driving from the centre, it'll take 45 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic.
The journey on public transport will take about 1 hour 10 minutes.
Looking for a convenient hotel close to IST? If you've booked an early flight from Istanbul Airport to London Gatwick Airport, these stays will have you moments from your check-in counter:
Arriving at London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Book a hotel near LGW if you're catching a late Istanbul Airport to London Gatwick Airport flight. Select one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer after landing:
Grab a London Gatwick Airport rental car and explore London and beyond with your own wheels. Green Motion, U-Save and Drivalia are top outlets to choose from here.
To get the lowest price, book your vehicle from London Gatwick Airport around three weeks in advance.
Getting from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to central London
From London Gatwick Airport, London is approximately 48 kilometres away. It takes around 1 hour 5 minutes to drive to the centre.
It takes roughly 45 minutes when travelling by public transport.
When to fly to London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
August is the most popular month for flights from Istanbul Airport to London Gatwick Airport. To skip the crowds, go to London in March.
Before locking in your flight from Istanbul Airport to London Gatwick Airport, consider the kind of weather you like. July is the warmest month in London, with the temperature ranging from 11ºC to 26ºC.
If you want to travel in cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from IST to LGW in January. Average temperatures are between 0ºC and 9ºC then.
Explore more of the United Kingdom
Manchester is just one of the many places in the United Kingdom waiting to be discovered after you've seen London. Around 257 kilometres away to the north-west, its top attractions include Manchester United Museum & Stadium Tour, The Homes of Football and Museum of Science and Industry.
If you're eager to discover another corner of the United Kingdom, consider Birmingham, about 161 kilometres north-west of London. Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre and Bournville Experience are among the biggest draws.







