Travelling from London to Istanbul: what you need to know
You can choose from multiple airports when planning your flight from London to Istanbul. Explore your options for flying out of London from London Heathrow Airport (LHR), London Gatwick Airport (LGW) or Stansted Airport (STN). London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY) also service London.
When it comes to landing in Istanbul, Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) are the primary gateways.
Around 3 hours 50 minutes is how long you'll be in transit on a direct London to Istanbul flight.
Istanbul is three hours ahead of London and is in the UTC+3 timezone.
With 62 flights a week between the two airports, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) is the most popular route. Hop on the earliest flight from London to Istanbul with British Airways at 06:10. If you'd like to get more out of your day before leaving, the last departure from LHR to IST is with Turkish Airlines at 22:35.
For a stress-free journey, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. That way, you won't have to rush to catch your London to Istanbul flight.
During popular months like July, it's best to get to the airport earlier than normal. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead for an international flight whenever you're travelling during peak periods in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Istanbul
Rs9,022 is currently the lowest price for a one-way ticket from London to Istanbul. Return flights start from Rs18,505. These fares can change depending on demand.
To secure cheap London to Istanbul flights, book your journey ten months ahead of your departure date.
The best month for finding cheap plane tickets from London to Istanbul is January. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare prices, then select the dates that offer the lowest fares.
Snapping up a cheap flight from London to Istanbul is a breeze with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know as soon as the price has dropped.
Tailor your travel plans using filters. Select your arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort your results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' London to Istanbul flights.
Flying from London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Jet off from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and fly right through to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW). If you're looking for a direct flight from London to Istanbul out of LHR, those are your landing options.
Turkish Airlines is a popular carrier that offers direct London to Istanbul plane tickets from LHR.
We make it a cinch to find a London to Istanbul flight with a stopover. To see your options departing from London Heathrow Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, choose a flight offering a stop long enough to explore the city of your choice. Top stopovers include:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Franz Josef Strauss Airport (MUC)
Located around 26 kilometres from the centre of London, LHR can be reached in about 55 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey on public transport is roughly 1 hour.
After a leisurely start to your travels? Stay near London Heathrow Airport. Whether you're catching an early flight from London to Istanbul or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels are ideal:
When it comes to London Heathrow Airport's on-time performance, 68.18% of flights arrive within the scheduled time frame.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
You can book a direct flight from London to Istanbul out of London Gatwick Airport (LGW). Nonstop connections from LGW will take you to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST).
Book your direct London to Istanbul plane ticket with Turkish Airlines. This is one of the main airlines operating this route out of LGW.
Visit friends or family or just take some time to unwind with a stopover. If you'd like to break up your London to Istanbul flight, here's where you can stop when setting off from London Gatwick Airport:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
You can reach LGW from the centre of London in about 1 hour 20 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey on public transport will take roughly 30 minutes to cover the 40 kilometres or so.
Start your holiday sooner with an additional night away from home. Before catching your flight from London to Istanbul, unwind in one of these hotels near London Gatwick Airport:
When it comes to flights staying on schedule, London Gatwick Airport has an on-time arrival performance of 69%.
Stansted Airport (STN)
Stansted Airport (STN) offers convenient direct flights from London to Istanbul. Your journey from STN will take you straight to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW).
Pegasus is one popular carrier that offers direct London to Istanbul plane tickets from STN.
Reserve a ticket from London to Istanbul departing from Stansted Airport (STN) with one or more stops. Some popular stopovers between STN and Istanbul include:
Vienna International Airport (VIE)
Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP)
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD)
STN is roughly 48 kilometres from central London. Driving from the city centre to the terminal takes about 1 hour. If you're planning to use public transport, you can expect a journey of around 1 hour 25 minutes.
Sleep a little longer and still make your London to Istanbul flight with time to spare. These hotels near Stansted Airport make departure day effortless if you're flying out early:
Airports have an on-time performance rating that tracks how often flights touch down as expected. At STN, that figure is 64.73%.
Arriving in Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) is approximately 32 kilometres from central Istanbul. If you're catching a cab or a ride-share, the drive will take around 50 minutes.
It typically takes 1 hour 45 minutes to get there on public transport.
Consider staying in a hotel near IST if you have a late flight from London to Istanbul. Choose one of these options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Travel at your own speed with an Istanbul Ataturk Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Hit, Avec car rentals or Eren Rent a Car and experience more of Istanbul and beyond.
Booking your ride from Istanbul Ataturk Airport about two weeks in advance can help you get the best possible rate.
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Central Istanbul is about 31 kilometres from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW). As soon as your flight from London to Istanbul has hit the runway and you've made your way out of the airport, the drive should be around 55 minutes.
If you hop on public transport, you'll reach the centre in 1 hour 30 minutes or so.
You'll find some comfortable places ready to welcome you near SAW. Tuck yourself in after your London to Istanbul flight at any of these perfectly located options:
The quickest way to reach your destination is with a Sabiha Gokcen International Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from Essence, Eren Rent a Car or 724 Rent and hit the road in a heartbeat.
Score the best price by booking your ride from SAW four weeks ahead of time. You'll also have access to a wider selection of vehicles.
Best time to go to Istanbul
February is the quietest month for flights from London to Istanbul, while April is the busiest. Work out the ideal time to visit Istanbul based on whether you want a lively atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.
The warmest month in Istanbul is August, with temperatures ranging between 20ºC and 30ºC. Book your London to Istanbul ticket then if that's your ideal forecast.
Look for cheap flights from London to Istanbul in January if you'd rather travel when it's cooler. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 2ºC and 11ºC on average.
More about Istanbul
After booking your flight from London to Istanbul, choose a hotel that puts you where you want to be. Make one of these options your base for exploring Istanbul:
Topkapi Palace and The Basilica Cistern are just the start of the top-rated attractions to put on your Istanbul itinerary. Continue your sightseeing adventures at Galata Tower.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Ankara is just one of the many cities in Türkiye (Turkey) waiting to be discovered once you've seen the sights of Istanbul. Around 354 kilometres to the east, its top attractions include Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii) and Genclik Park.
If you want to check out another major destination in Türkiye (Turkey), head for Izmir, about 322 kilometres south-west of Istanbul. Kordonboyu, Kadifekale Castle and Konak Square are the start of reasons to visit.
