Traveling from London to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): What you need to know
There are a couple of main airports to jet off from in London. Explore your options leaving from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) or London Gatwick Airport (LGW) when reserving your flight from London to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Around 11 hours 20 minutes is how long you can expect to be in the air on a direct London to Los Angeles International Airport flight.
Los Angeles is eight hours behind London. Los Angeles International Airport is located in Los Angeles, which runs on the UTC-8 timezone.
The most popular route is from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), with 58 direct weekly services. If you're looking to take off without delay, the earliest flight from LHR to LAX is the 7:45am Virgin Atlantic option. If you need some extra time before takeoff, the last departure is at 5:30pm with Virgin Atlantic.
Leave plenty of time to make your flight from London to LAX. As a general rule, arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
You'll likely experience longer lines in popular months such as July and other peak seasons. Arriving up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours for a domestic departure is a smart move.
Airports in London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Take the express route from London Heathrow Airport (LHR). Direct flights from London to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) operate from here.
You'll have your pick of carriers that offer direct flights from London to Los Angeles International Airport departing from LHR. Head off on your trip with any of these:
British Airways is the airline most travelers choose for flights from LHR to LAX.
United ranks as the leading on-time carrier on this route, with 91.67% of services arriving on schedule.
Consider adding a stopover to find cheap flights from London to LAX. Simply deselect 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from London Heathrow Airport (LHR). Pause your trip (and maybe pocket some savings) with a stop at one of these airports:
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
Located around 24 kilometers from central London, LHR can be reached in about 45 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey on public transport is roughly 25 minutes.
Planning to catch an early flight from London to Los Angeles International Airport? Avoid the mad dash to the terminal (and catch some extra z's) by picking one of these stays near London Heathrow Airport:
Of all flights departing from London Heathrow Airport, 78% arrive on time at their destination.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Think about kicking off your trip from London Gatwick Airport (LGW). You can book a direct London to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) plane ticket with departures from this hub.
Take a direct flight from London to LAX with Norse Atlantic UK. This is one of the top carriers flying this route out of LGW.
On the LGW to LAX route, Norse Atlantic Airways (UK) is the preferred choice of many.
Check a new destination off your list or just take a moment to stretch your legs with a stopover. If you'd like to break up your flight from London to Los Angeles International Airport, here's where you can stop when leaving from London Gatwick Airport:
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
Dublin Airport (DUB)
LGW is around 48 kilometers from central London. It'll take 1 hour 5 minutes or so to get to the airport by car from the city center. Public transport takes approximately 1 hour 20 minutes.
Want to treat yourself to an extra night away before boarding your London to LAX flight? Kick back in a hotel near London Gatwick Airport before your adventure officially starts. These stays are expecting you:
Flights from London Gatwick Airport have a reputation for punctuality, with 82% of them landing as expected.
London Stansted Airport (STN)
Reserve a plane ticket from London to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) departing from London Stansted Airport (STN) with one or more stops. Some popular stopovers between STN and LAX include:
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
Dublin Airport (DUB)
From central London, STN is around 56 kilometers away. It takes roughly 1 hour 5 minutes to arrive by car and 45 minutes or so if you're on public transport.
Rest a little longer, move a little slower, and still make your London to Los Angeles International Airport flight without having to rush. These hotels near London Stansted Airport make departure day a breeze if you're flying out early:
With 80% of its departing flights arriving without delays, STN is a reliable starting point for your journey.
About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Have a late flight from London to Los Angeles International Airport? Don't let it end in exhaustion. Check in to one of these hotels near LAX and give yourself a well-earned lights-out:
For the lowest price, book your vehicle around one week ahead of your London to Los Angeles International Airport flight.
LAX is located at One World Way.
Getting from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to central Los Angeles
Los Angeles International Airport is around 29 kilometers from the center of Los Angeles. It takes around 35 minutes or so to get to the city by car.
When traveling by public transport, expect a journey time of about 1 hour.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
The cheapest price we've found for a one-way ticket from London to Los Angeles International Airport is AED 1,171. For a return flight on this route, the best price is AED 1,880. Depending on when you book and the availability, these fares could change.
To pick up cheap flights from London to LAX, book ahead. Airlines tend to offer lower fares when flights are first released.
If you're flexible with your travel plans, try using the 'Whole month' tool. It'll give you the lowest price in every month when searching for your London to Los Angeles International Airport ticket.
Save time looking for cheap plane tickets from London to LAX by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or notification through the app when a new discounted fare appears.
Find a cheap flight from London to Los Angeles International Airport by using filters. Select your ideal times, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
The best time to fly from London to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Think about the kind of experience you want when picking your flight dates. December is the quietest month to go to Los Angeles. July is when most people book flights from London to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which may be ideal if you're chasing more action.
Book a London to LAX plane ticket departing in August if you're eager to visit the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Los Angeles to range from 16ºC (61ºF) to 32ºC (90ºF).
February sees temperatures of between 6ºC (43ºF) and 26ºC (79ºF). Search for cheap tickets from London to Los Angeles International Airport around that time if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.
More about Los Angeles
When it comes to looking for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the top stays in Los Angeles right here. Explore these hotels once you've booked your flight from London to Los Angeles International Airport:
There are so many things to discover in this city, it can be tricky to know where to start. Hollywood Sign, Universal Studios Hollywood and Hollywood Bowl are highlights which should feature on any well-planned Los Angeles itinerary.
Explore more of the United States
San Diego is just one of the many places in the United States waiting to be discovered after you've seen Los Angeles. Around 177 kilometers away to the southeast, well-known attractions include San Diego Zoo, San Diego Balboa Park and USS Midway Museum.
Around 161 kilometers north of Los Angeles, Bakersfield is another essential stop in the United States. Experience this destination's highlights firsthand at Kern County Museum, Rabobank Arena, Theater & Convention Center and Bakersfield Museum of Art.
