Travelling from London to Los Angeles: what you need to know
London has plenty of airports to start your trip from. Check out your departure options from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) when organising your flight from London to Los Angeles. London Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY) are the other main bases in the city.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport (VNY) are Los Angeles's major entry points.
The average duration of a direct London to Los Angeles flight is 11 hours 15 minutes.
Los Angeles's timezone is UTC-8, which makes Los Angeles eight hours behind London.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the most popular route that connects these two cities. There are 59 departures a week to choose from. If you prefer a later start to the day, the last flight from London to Los Angeles is with Virgin Atlantic at 17:30. Opt for the first LHR to LAX departure with Virgin Atlantic at 07:45 to fit in more activities on your first day in Los Angeles.
To ensure you make your London to Los Angeles flight, leave plenty of time to check in and find your gate. Turning up two hours before international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
You'll likely experience longer lines in popular months like July. Arriving up to four hours in advance for international flights and two hours for a domestic departure is a wise move.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Los Angeles
To pick up cheap London to Los Angeles flights, book as early as you can. Airlines generally offer lower prices when flights first go on sale.
Getting cheap plane tickets from London to Los Angeles is easier if you can be flexible with your trip dates. Try using the 'Whole month' function to see the lowest fares across the month and land an awesome deal.
Snapping up a cheap flight from London to Los Angeles is a breeze with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch when there's a better deal.
Select your preferred arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines by using the filters. Or sort your London to Los Angeles flight results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest.'
Flying from London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Set out from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on a nonstop flight from London to Los Angeles. From LHR, you can fly straight to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Top airlines that offer direct London to Los Angeles plane tickets departing from LHR include:
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to break up your trip — and possibly even visit a new city. When searching for London to Los Angeles flights departing from London Heathrow Airport, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Here are some popular options to consider:
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
The journey from central London to LHR takes about 25 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or take a taxi, you'll cover the 26 kilometres in 45 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Searching for a convenient hotel near London Heathrow Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from London to Los Angeles, these accommodation options will put you moments from check-in:
When it comes to the on-time performance of London Heathrow Airport, 78% of flights arrive within the scheduled time frame.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
You can book a direct flight from London to Los Angeles out of London Gatwick Airport (LGW). Nonstop connections from LGW will get you to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Norse Atlantic UK offers direct London to Los Angeles plane tickets from LGW. Book your favourite window seat and reach your destination in a single stretch.
Break up your London to Los Angeles flight with a stop so you can recharge or cross a new place off your list. Some great stopovers between London Gatwick Airport and Los Angeles include:
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
Dublin Airport (DUB)
LGW is about 40 kilometres from central London. It takes 1 hour 5 minutes or so to get to the airport driving from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 45 minutes.
Start your holiday sooner with an extra night away from home. Before catching your flight from London to Los Angeles, unwind in one of these hotels near London Gatwick Airport:
Flights from London Gatwick Airport have a track record for punctuality, with 83% of them arriving within the expected time frame.
London Stansted Airport (STN)
You can lock in a ticket from London to Los Angeles with one or more stops out of London Stansted Airport (STN). Here are some of the most popular stopovers between STN and Los Angeles:
Madrid Airport (MAD)
Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
Dublin Airport (DUB)
STN is around 48 kilometres from central London. The drive from the city centre to the terminal takes about 1 hour 5 minutes. If you're considering public transport, you can expect a journey of around 45 minutes.
Make catching an early London to Los Angeles flight the easiest part of your trip. Book a room at one of these accommodation options close to London Stansted Airport and get to your boarding gate with time to spare:
With 80% of its departing flights arriving as planned, STN is a reliable starting point for any trip.
Arriving in Los Angeles
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
The distance from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to central Los Angeles is roughly 19 kilometres. It takes about 35 minutes to get to the centre driving.
Travelling to the centre by public transport will take you roughly 1 hour.
If you have a late flight from London to Los Angeles, nothing beats the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be showered and resting soon after at one of these hotels near LAX:
Get your adventure underway by picking up a Los Angeles International Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from Dollar, Thrifty or Hertz to explore Los Angeles and beyond.
Lock in the best rate by reserving your ride from Los Angeles International Airport about one week before your travel date.
The street address for LAX is One World Way.
Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport (VNY)
Once your flight from London to Los Angeles has landed, you can reach the city centre in about 35 minutes by car. Central Los Angeles is roughly 27 kilometres from Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport (VNY).
If you're travelling on public transport, it'll take around 1 hour 15 minutes.
Hang the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and rest at a hotel near VNY. Here are a few options where you can put your feet up after your flight from London to Los Angeles:
Budget, Dollar and Hertz make collecting a Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport rental car easy and quick. These suppliers are located in or around the terminal and will have you behind the wheel before you know it.
Typically, the sooner you book, the better the deals and selection of vehicles. Secure your ride from VNY as soon as you know your dates.
Best time to go to Los Angeles
July is the most popular month for flights from London to Los Angeles. To skip the crowds, visit Los Angeles in March.
Lock in a London to Los Angeles ticket departing in August if you want to visit the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Los Angeles to range from 16ºC to 32ºC.
For cooler conditions, look for a cheap flight from London to Los Angeles in February when temperatures average between 6ºC and 26ºC.
More about Los Angeles
When it comes to looking for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the best places to stay in Los Angeles right here. Check out these hotels after locking in your flight from London to Los Angeles:
Every great adventure has to include a little sightseeing. Hollywood Sign, Universal Studios Hollywood and Hollywood Bowl are attractions you won't want to skip in Los Angeles.
Explore more of the United States
Los Angeles has plenty to offer, but there are so many other parts of the United States you should also see. About 177 kilometres southeast of Los Angeles, a trip to San Diego will keep you on the go. Start with leading attractions like San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park and USS Midway Museum.
San Jose is another favourite destination in the United States and is around 499 kilometres northwest of Los Angeles. No journey is complete without visiting Winchester Mystery House, The Tech Interactive and Santa Clara Valley.