Travelling from London to Johannesburg: what you need to know
You can choose from a number of airports when organising your flight from London to Johannesburg. Check out your options for leaving 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.
Disembark at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), the primary gateway of Johannesburg.
Take a direct London to Johannesburg flight and you'll be flying for an average of 11 hours.
Johannesburg is two hours ahead of London and is in the UTC+2 timezone.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) is the most traveled route that connects these two cities. There are 21 departures a week to pick from. If you prefer starting your day later, the last flight from London to Johannesburg is with Virgin Atlantic at 22:30. Choose the first LHR to JNB departure operated by British Airways at 18:25 to make the most of your first day in Johannesburg.
For stress-free travel, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This will give you plenty of time to catch your London to Johannesburg flight.
Flying over a peak time like July? Major public holidays and other popular seasons can mean longer lines and delays at security. Play things extra safe and arrive up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Johannesburg
To secure cheap London to Johannesburg flights, reserve your journey two months before your planned departure.
Organise your trip for May. That's the best month for landing an incredible deal on plane tickets from London to Johannesburg. If you're flexible on when you fly, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across each month.
Getting a cheap flight from London to Johannesburg couldn't be easier with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know when there's a better deal.
Select your preferred arrival and departure times, airlines and number of stops by using the filters. Or sort your London to Johannesburg flight results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'
Flying from London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Take off from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on a nonstop flight from London to Johannesburg. From LHR, you can land directly at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB).
British Airways is a popular airline that offers direct London to Johannesburg plane tickets from LHR.
Think about adding a stopover to potentially save money on your London to Johannesburg flight. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from London Heathrow Airport. Take a break (and maybe save some cash) by stopping at one of these popular airports:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
LHR is around 26 kilometres from central London. If you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a cab from the centre, it'll take you 55 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're taking public transport, expect the journey time to be around 1 hour.
After a relaxed start to your journey? Stay near London Heathrow Airport. Whether you've booked an early flight from London to Johannesburg or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels are just the thing:
Of the departures from London Heathrow Airport, 68.18% arrive on time at their destination.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Visit friends or family or just take a moment to stretch your legs with a stopover. If you'd like to break up your London to Johannesburg flight, here's where you can stop when heading out from London Gatwick Airport:
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Zurich Airport (ZRH)
You can reach LGW from the centre of London in about 1 hour 20 minutes by car (depending on traffic conditions). The ride on public transport takes roughly 30 minutes to travel the 40 kilometres or so.
You're off on holiday, so why not spend another night away? Consider checking in to one of these hotels near London Gatwick Airport the day before your flight from London to Johannesburg:
When it comes to flight punctuality, London Gatwick Airport has an on-time arrival rate of 69%.
Stansted Airport (STN)
Whether just for an hour or several days, a stopover can make your journey feel more relaxed and effortless. When jetting out of Stansted Airport (STN), you can book a ticket from London to Johannesburg stopping at Dubai Airport (DXB).
STN is roughly 48 kilometres from central London. Driving from the city centre to the airport takes about 1 hour. If you're considering public transport, expect a journey of around 1 hour 25 minutes.
Make catching an early London to Johannesburg flight one of the easiest parts of your trip. Stay at one of these accommodation options near Stansted Airport and head to your check-in counter with time to spare:
Flights departing from STN reach their destination as scheduled 64.73% of the time.
Arriving in Johannesburg
O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) is approximately 21 kilometres from the centre of Johannesburg. If you're catching a cab or a ride-share, the drive takes roughly 30 minutes.
It typically takes 1 hour 10 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
The last thing you need is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from London to Johannesburg. Stay at one of these accommodation options near JNB instead:
Pick up an O.R. Tambo International Airport rental car and discover Johannesburg and beyond with your own wheels. Carwiz, Alamo and Green Motion are top outlets you can book with here.
Lock in the best possible rate by reserving your ride from O.R. Tambo International Airport about three weeks in advance of your trip.
Lanseria International Airport (HLA)
Central Johannesburg is located around 32 kilometres from Lanseria International Airport (HLA). After your flight from London to Johannesburg has landed and you've made your way to arrivals, the drive should take about 50 minutes.
The fastest way to get to where you're going is with a Lanseria International Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from First - Car Hire, Tempest - Car Hire or Firefly powered by Hertz and be on your way in a flash.
Get the pick of the lot. Securing your ride from HLA four weeks ahead of time often means more savings and a greater selection of vehicles.
Best time to go to Johannesburg
July is the busiest month for flights from London to Johannesburg. To travel when it's less crowded, go to Johannesburg in February.
Before locking in your London to Johannesburg tickets, consider what kind of weather works for you. January is the warmest month in Johannesburg, with temperatures ranging from 15ºC to 30ºC.
Look for cheap flights from London to Johannesburg in July if you like travelling in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 4ºC and 20ºC on average.
More about Johannesburg
After booking your flight from London to Johannesburg, find a hotel that keeps you close to what you want to see. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Johannesburg:
Constitution Hill and Maboneng Precinct are a couple of leading attractions to add to your Johannesburg must-do list. Keep the sightseeing going at Johannesburg Zoo.
Explore more of South Africa
Johannesburg is easy to fall in love with, but there are so many other parts of South Africa waiting to be explored. About 18 kilometres west of Johannesburg, a trip to Soweto will keep you on the go. Start with popular sights like Mjebha Park, Tutu House - Soweto tours and Go Green Go Clean.
If you're ready to explore another great destination in South Africa, head for Pretoria, about 56 kilometres north of Johannesburg. 32 Battalion Tree of Honour, Wonderpark and Viscount Memorial Wall are key reasons to visit.
