Flying from London to New York: 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 planning your flight from London to New York. London Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY) are the other main bases in the city.
Get off the plane at one of New York's major gateways like New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK). You can also come in for landing at New York Newark Airport (EWR) or New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA).
The average length of a direct London to New York flight is 8 hours.
New York's timezone is UTC-5, making New York five hours behind London.
With 144 flights a week between the two airports, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) is the most popular route. Board the earliest flight from London to New York with JetBlue Airways at 07:25. If you'd like to make the most of your day before leaving, the last flight from LHR to JFK is with Virgin Atlantic at 20:10.
Give yourself enough time to get on your London to New York flight. Generally, it's best to arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Travelling over a peak time such as July? Major public holidays and other high seasons can mean longer queues and delays at check-in and security. Play it safe and get there up to four hours before international flights and two hours before a domestic departure.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to New York
To find cheap London to New York flights, book in advance. Airlines typically offer their most competitively priced fares when tickets first go on sale.
The 'Whole month' tool shows you the cheapest plane tickets from London to New York throughout the month. It's an easy way to snap up a bargain if your dates are flexible.
Spend less time searching for cheap flights from London to New York by creating a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or push notification on the app when a lower fare pops up.
Find an affordable London to New York flight with the help of our filters. Choose your ideal times, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
Flying from London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Set out from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and fly right through to New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) or New York Newark Airport (EWR). If you're looking for a direct flight from London to New York out of LHR, that's where your journey can take you.
These are some of the top airlines offering direct London to New York plane tickets from LHR:
We make it a cinch to book a London to New York flight with a stopover. To see all the options departing from London Heathrow Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, select a flight that has a stop long enough to tour the city of your choice. Popular stopovers include:
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Travelling from central London to LHR takes about 25 minutes by public transport. If you ride-share, drive or grab a taxi, you'll cover the 26 kilometres in 45 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Want a handy hotel close to London Heathrow Airport? If you're catching an early flight from London to New York, these stays will have you moments from check-in:
78% of flights that depart London Heathrow Airport arrive at their destination on time.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
You can take a direct flight from London to New York leaving from London Gatwick Airport (LGW). Start your travels at LGW and come in for landing at New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK).
From LGW, you can book a direct London to New York plane ticket with Norse Atlantic UK.
Make the most of your holiday with a stopover on your London to New York flight. Visit family or friends or cross another city off your list. Whatever your plans, check out these options between London Gatwick Airport and New York:
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
LGW is about 40 kilometres from central London. It takes 1 hour 5 minutes or so to get to the airport if you're driving from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 45 minutes.
Want to treat yourself to an extra night away before catching your flight from London to New York? Relax in a hotel near London Gatwick Airport before your adventure officially starts. Consider one of these stays:
London Gatwick Airport has a solid reputation for punctual service. 83% of flights leaving here keep to their planned arrival schedule.
London Stansted Airport (STN)
Choosing a ticket from London to New York with one or more stops can offer you more departure time choices along with better fares. When leaving from London Stansted Airport (STN), here's where you can detour to on your way to New York:
Madrid Airport (MAD)
Dublin Airport (DUB)
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP)
STN is around 48 kilometres from central London. Driving from the city centre to the airport takes about 1 hour 5 minutes. If you're planning to use public transport, you can expect a journey of around 45 minutes.
Make taking an early London to New York flight the easiest part of your journey. Book a room at one of these accommodation options close to London Stansted Airport and get to your boarding gate feeling relaxed and unhurried:
STN has an on-time performance rate of 80%. This means most of its flights arrive at their destination as expected and your travel plans stay on track.
Arriving in New York
New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK)
New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) is approximately 21 kilometres from central New York. If you're catching a taxi or a ride-share, the drive will take around 45 minutes.
It typically takes 50 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
Reserve a hotel near JFK if you have a late flight from London to New York. Pick one of these options and skip the long transfer:
Get your adventure underway by picking up a New York John F. Kennedy Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Budget, Dollar or Sixt and explore beyond New York's main sights.
To get the best deal, book your ride from New York John F. Kennedy Airport around two weeks in advance of your London to New York flight.
You'll find JFK at JFK Airport.
New York Newark Airport (EWR)
As soon as your flight from London to New York has landed, you can get to the city centre in about 35 minutes by car. Central New York is approximately 14 kilometres from New York Newark Airport (EWR).
If you hop on public transport, the journey will take you 1 hour or so.
Place the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and unwind at a hotel near EWR. Here are a few options where you can settle in after your flight from London to New York:
The quickest way to get to where you're going is with a New York Newark Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Dollar, Budget or Thrifty and make a speedy getaway.
Call dibs on the best options. Reserving your ride from EWR three weeks in advance often means better prices and a greater selection of vehicles.
You'll find New York Newark Airport at Building 1, Conrad Road.
New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is roughly 13 kilometres from central New York. It'll take you about 30 minutes to get to the city centre by taxi or ride-share once you've hopped off your flight from London to New York.
If you use public transport, the journey takes around 55 minutes.
If you don't want to travel into the centre, choose a hotel near LGA. Settle in at one of these stays after your London to New York flight:
Take control of the next leg of your trip by picking up a New York LaGuardia Airport rental car. Dollar, Ace Rent a Car and Thrifty will get you on the road.
Enjoy a payoff when you plan ahead. Book your vehicle from LGA two weeks before your flight from London to New York for the best deals.
New York LaGuardia Airport is located at Hangar 7 Centre.
Best time to go to New York
It's time to pick your travel dates for your flight from London to New York. July is the most popular month for a trip to New York. If you prefer a quieter vibe, go in March.
Lock in a London to New York ticket departing in July if you're eager to explore the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in New York to range from 18ºC to 30ºC.
Look for cheap flights from London to New York in January if you want to travel in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -6ºC and 8ºC on average.
More about New York
Start your New York trip right by choosing the perfect place to stay. After booking your flight from London to New York, check out our range of accommodation options including:
There are so many things to discover in this city it can be tricky to work out where to start. Central Park, Statue of Liberty and The Metropolitan Museum of Art are highlights which should be on any good New York itinerary.
Explore more of the United States
New York is easy to fall in love with, but there are so many other corners of the United States you'll want to see. Around 129 kilometres southwest of New York, a visit to Philadelphia will keep your itinerary packed. Start with leading sights like Independence Hall, Liberty Bell and Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Around 306 kilometres northeast of New York, Boston is another essential stop in the United States. Experience this destination's highlights firsthand at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Freedom Trail and Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum.