Flying from London to Istanbul: what you need to know
London has plenty of airports to head out from. Check out your departure options from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) when organising your flight from London to Istanbul. London Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY) are the other main bases in the city.
Istanbul Airport (IST) and Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW) are Istanbul's primary gateways.
Book a direct London to Istanbul flight and you'll be in transit for an average of 3 hours 50 minutes.
The timezone in Istanbul is UTC+3, which is three hours ahead of London.
With 60 flights a week between the two airports, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Istanbul Airport (IST) is the busiest route. Hop on the earliest flight from London to Istanbul with British Airways at 06:10. If you'd like to make the most of your day before taking off, the last departure from LHR to IST is with Turkish Airlines at 22:35.
Give yourself enough time to make your London to Istanbul flight. As a general rule, arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
During popular months like July, it's best to get to the airport even earlier. Plan to arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of international flights whenever you're travelling during a peak period in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Istanbul
The cheapest price we've found for a one-way ticket from London to Istanbul is Rs13,120. For a return flight on this route, the best price is Rs25,990. Depending on when and how early you book, these fares may change.
To score cheap London to Istanbul flights, reserve your journey eight months ahead of your departure.
Schedule your trip for January. That's the best month for landing an awesome deal on plane tickets from London to Istanbul. If your travel dates are not set in stone, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across every month.
Save time searching for cheap flights from London to Istanbul by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or push notification on the app when fares go down.
Select your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and number of stops with the filters. Or sort your London to Istanbul flight results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'
Flying from London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
You can find a direct flight from London to Istanbul jetting out of London Heathrow Airport (LHR). Begin your trip at LHR and then fly into Istanbul Airport (IST) or Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW).
Turkish Airlines is a popular airline that offers direct London to Istanbul plane tickets leaving from LHR.
We make it easy to find a London to Istanbul flight with a stopover. To see all the options departing from London Heathrow Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Next, select a flight with a stop long enough to see the sights of your chosen city. Top stopovers include:
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Frankfurt am Main Airport (FRA)
Munich Airport (MUC)
Located around 26 kilometres from the centre of London, LHR can be reached in about 45 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey by public transport is roughly 25 minutes.
Looking for a handy hotel close to London Heathrow Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from London to Istanbul, these accommodation options will have you moments from your departure gate:
78% of flights departing from London Heathrow Airport make it to their destination on time.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
You can catch a direct flight from London to Istanbul out of London Gatwick Airport (LGW). Start your journey at LGW and step off the plane at Istanbul Airport (IST).
Book a direct London to Istanbul plane ticket with Turkish Airlines. This is one of the leading airlines that operates this route out of LGW.
Get the most out of your holiday with a stopover on your London to Istanbul flight. Visit friends or family or tick another city off your list. Whatever you choose to do, check out these stops between London Gatwick Airport and Istanbul:
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Frankfurt am Main Airport (FRA)
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
You can reach LGW from the centre of London in about 1 hour 5 minutes by car, depending on traffic conditions. The ride by public transport takes roughly 45 minutes to cover the 40 kilometres or so.
Want to treat yourself to an extra night away before catching your flight from London to Istanbul? Kick back in a hotel near London Gatwick Airport before your holiday officially starts. These stays are calling your name:
London Gatwick Airport has a track record for punctuality. 83% of flights out of here meet their scheduled arrival times without fail.
London Stansted Airport (STN)
London Stansted Airport (STN) has direct flights from London to Istanbul. Make your way straight to Istanbul Airport (IST) or Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW) without the worry of missed connections.
Cruise through the skies with any of these carriers that offer direct London to Istanbul plane tickets from STN:
You can book a ticket from London to Istanbul with one or more stops out of London Stansted Airport (STN). Here are some of the most common stopovers between STN and Istanbul:
Vienna Airport (VIE)
Bucharest Otopeni Airport (OTP)
Budapest Airport (BUD)
From central London, STN is around 48 kilometres away. It takes roughly 1 hour 5 minutes to reach the airport by car and 45 minutes or so if you take public transport.
Make catching an early London to Istanbul flight the easiest part of your journey. Stay at one of these accommodation options near London Stansted Airport and get to the check-in counter without rushing:
STN has a stellar on-time arrivals performance of 80%, so you can rely on your flight to stay on schedule and touch down when it should.
Arriving in Istanbul
Istanbul Airport (IST)
The distance from Istanbul Airport (IST) to central Istanbul is roughly 32 kilometres. It'll take you about 45 minutes to get to the centre driving.
When travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of about 1 hour 10 minutes.
Book a hotel near IST if you're coming in on a late flight from London to Istanbul. Select one of these options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Pick up a Istanbul Airport rental car and explore Istanbul and beyond with your own wheels. Hit, Avec car rentals and Eren Rent a Car are top outlets to choose from here.
Booking your vehicle from Istanbul Airport around two weeks ahead increases your chances of getting a good deal.
Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW)
Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW) is about 31 kilometres from the centre of Istanbul. Once you've disembarked your flight from London to Istanbul, it'll take you approximately 1 hour 5 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a ride-share or taxi.
You can expect the trip to take approximately 1 hour 40 minutes on public transport.
After your flight from London to Istanbul, kick back at a hotel near SAW. These are some great options that'll help you get into relaxation mode:
Forget about inconvenient public transport timetables or waiting forever for a taxi. Pick up a Istanbul Sabiha Airport rental car and blaze your own trail. Check out the rates and availability from Essence, Eren Rent a Car and 724 Rent.
Get the pick of the lot. Securing your ride from SAW four weeks ahead of time often means lower prices and a wider range of vehicles.
Best time to go to Istanbul
March is the quietest month for flights from London to Istanbul, while August is the busiest. Figure out the ideal time to visit Istanbul based on whether you like a bustling atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.
Book a London to Istanbul ticket departing in July if you're eager to explore the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Istanbul to range from 21ºC to 30ºC.
If you want cooler conditions, look for a cheap flight from London to Istanbul in January when temperatures average between 2ºC and 11ºC.
More about Istanbul
Start your Istanbul trip off on the right foot by choosing the ideal place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from London to Istanbul, browse our range of accommodation options including:
Hagia Sophia and Historic Areas of Istanbul are just a couple of the top attractions to put on your Istanbul itinerary. Keep the adventure rolling by checking out Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Istanbul has its own special appeal, but there are so many other parts of Türkiye (Turkey) just waiting to be discovered. Around 354 kilometres east of Istanbul, a visit to Ankara will keep your itinerary packed. Don't miss top attractions like The Roman Theatre, Kocatepe Mosque and Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.
Around 322 kilometres southwest of Istanbul, Izmir is another essential stop in Türkiye (Turkey). Experience this destination's highlights firsthand at Aegean Coast, Smyrna Basilika and Ataturk Konak Square.
