Travelling from Beijing to London Heathrow Airport (LHR): What you need to know
There are two main airports you can fly out of in Beijing. Check out your options leaving from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) when planning your flight from Beijing to London Heathrow Airport (LHR).
11 hours is the average duration of a direct Beijing to London Heathrow Airport flight.
London is eight hours behind Beijing. London Heathrow Airport is located in London, which operates on the UTC+0 timezone.
The most popular route is from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR), with 14 direct weekly services. If you want to be on your way right away, the earliest flight from PEK to LHR is the 12:45pm Air China service. If a later start suits your schedule, the final departure is at 4:15pm with Air China.
Give yourself plenty of time to get on your flight from Beijing to LHR. As a general rule, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
You'll likely experience bigger queues during popular months like August and other peak seasons. Arriving up to four hours in advance for an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure is a wise move.
Airports in Beijing
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
You can take a direct flight from Beijing to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) out of Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK).
Air China is a well-known airline that operates direct flights from Beijing to London Heathrow Airport leaving from PEK.
The preferred airline for passengers flying between PEK and LHR is Air China.
The carrier with the most reliable on-time arrival rate on this route is Air China.
We make it a piece of cake to book cheap flights from Beijing to LHR with a stopover. To explore all the options leaving from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Next, choose a flight with a stop long enough to tour the city of your choice. Popular stopovers between PEK and LHR include:
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Munich Franz Joseph Strauss Airport (MUC)
Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
PEK is around 27 kilometres from central Beijing. If you're catching a taxi, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take you 45 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're using public transport, expect the trip time to be around 50 minutes.
Booked an early flight from Beijing to London Heathrow Airport? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and get some bonus sleep) by choosing one of these hotels close to Beijing Capital International Airport:
Beijing Capital International Airport has an excellent on-time performance, so you're unlikely to face delays. Departures from PEK land at their destination as scheduled 81% of the time.
You'll find PEK at Capital Airport Rd.
Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX)
Consider flying out of Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). You can book a direct Beijing to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) plane ticket with departures from this hub.
Board your direct flight from Beijing to LHR with China Southern Airlines. This is one of the leading carriers operating this route out of PKX.
China Southern is the most frequently booked airline flying from PKX to LHR.
Want a carrier that consistently lands on time? Go with China Southern. 92.5% of its flights between Beijing Daxing International Airport and London Heathrow Airport arrive as scheduled.
Make the most of your holiday with a stopover on your flight from Beijing to London Heathrow Airport. Check out these connections between Beijing Daxing International Airport and LHR:
Istanbul Airport (IST)
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Wuhan Tianhe International Airport (WUH)
You can get to PKX from the centre of Beijing in approximately 50 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The ride on public transport will take roughly 45 minutes to travel the 48 kilometres or so.
Catching the earliest flight? You might like to check in to one of these accommodation options near Beijing Daxing International Airport the day before your Beijing to LHR flight:
The majority of flights that depart Beijing Daxing International Airport get to their destination right on cue. It achieves a consistent on-time performance rate of 87%.
About London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
If you're arriving on a late flight from Beijing to London Heathrow Airport, nothing beats the convenience of staying near the terminal. Pick up your luggage at baggage claim and then be showered and relaxing not long after at one of these hotels near LHR:
Lock in the best possible rate by reserving your vehicle around one week ahead of your Beijing to London Heathrow Airport flight.
Getting from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to central London
London Heathrow Airport is around 24 kilometres from the centre of London. It takes around 45 minutes or so to get to the city by car.
When travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of about 25 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Beijing to London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
The lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Beijing to London Heathrow Airport is $456. For a return flight on this route, the best price is $1,029. Depending on when and how early you book, these fares can change.
To pick up cheap flights from Beijing to LHR, book in advance. Airlines usually offer the most competitive fares when flights first go on sale.
Cheap Beijing to London Heathrow Airport tickets are easier to find when you have flexibility in your schedule. Try using the 'Whole month' search function to compare fares across the month and then fly out on the cheapest day.
You don't need to check back in every day to find out if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll notify you when a better deal comes up on plane tickets from Beijing to LHR.
Filters make it easier to land a deal on your flight from Beijing to London Heathrow Airport. Choose the airlines, flight times and stops that check all your boxes. Then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to find the lowest price right away.
The best time to fly from Beijing to London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Think about your travel style when picking your flight dates. January is the quietest month to visit London. July is when most people book flights from Beijing to London Heathrow Airport (LHR), which may be perfect if you'd rather travel when it's busy.
The warmest month in London is July, with temperatures ranging between 11ºC and 26ºC. Lock in your Beijing to LHR plane ticket then if this is the type of weather you enjoy.
Look for cheap tickets from Beijing to London Heathrow Airport in January if you like travelling in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 0ºC and 9ºC.
More about London
After booking your flight from Beijing to London Heathrow Airport, find a hotel that offers a good mix of location and comfort. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring London:
You'll find plenty of things to do in London when you're ready to see the sights. Start exploring at The British Museum followed by Westminster Abbey and Big Ben.
Explore more of the United Kingdom
Manchester is just one of the many cities in the United Kingdom waiting to be discovered once you've seen the sights of London. Around 257 kilometres away to the northwest, its top attractions include Manchester United Museum & Stadium Tour, The Homes of Football and Museum of Science and Industry.
If you're looking to explore another corner of the United Kingdom, head for Birmingham, roughly 153 kilometres northwest of London. Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre and Bournville Experience are highlights.