Flying from London to Cape Town International Airport (CPT): what you need to know
You can take your pick of numerous airports when organising a flight from London to Cape Town International Airport (CPT). Explore your options for flying out of London Heathrow Airport (LHR), London Gatwick Airport (LGW) or Stansted Airport (STN). London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY) also operate in London.
Approximately 11 hours 35 minutes is how long you can expect to be travelling on a direct flight from London to Cape Town International Airport.
The timezone in Cape Town is UTC+2, which is 2 hours ahead of London. Cape Town International Airport is located in Cape Town.
The busiest route is from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Cape Town International Airport (CPT), with 16 direct services every week. If you'd like to get going as soon as possible, the earliest flight from LHR to CPT is the 18:25 British Airways service. If you prefer travelling later, the final departure is at 22:25 with British Airways.
To ensure you get on your flight from London to CPT, leave plenty of time to navigate the airport and find your gate. Turning up two hours before international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
Popular months like July or other peak seasons mean longer lines and potential delays. Stay on schedule by getting to the airport even earlier. Aim for at least four hours ahead of international flights and two hours before a domestic departure.
Airports in London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Enjoy an uninterrupted journey from London Heathrow Airport (LHR). Nonstop flights from London to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) operate from here.
You can travel on a direct flight from London to Cape Town International Airport with British Airways. This popular airline offers services from LHR.
We make it a breeze to book a flight from London to CPT that includes a stopover. To see your options leaving from London Heathrow Airport (LHR), uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, simply choose a flight with a stop long enough to see the sights of your chosen city. Some popular stopovers between LHR and CPT include:
O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Airport (AMS)
The distance from central London to LHR is around 31 kilometres. Check out Google Maps for the quickest way to get there, whether you prefer to drive or use public transport.
Catching an early flight from London to Cape Town International Airport? Avoid rushing to the terminal (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these stays close to London Heathrow Airport:
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Planning to leave from London Gatwick Airport (LGW)? You can book a direct flight from London to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) out of this busy hub.
When setting off from LGW, you'll have a choice of airlines that offer direct flights from London to CPT. Book your favourite window (or aisle) seat with any of these:
Visit friends or family or just take a moment to freshen up with a stopover. If you'd like to split up your flight from London to Cape Town International Airport, here's where you can stop when heading out from London Gatwick Airport:
Franz Josef Strauss Airport (MUC)
O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
You can arrive at LGW from central London in about 1 hour and 19 minutes by car, depending on traffic conditions. The journey by public transport takes roughly 1 hour and 26 minutes to cover the 80 kilometres or so.
Get your holiday started early with an extra night away from home. Before your flight from London to CPT, stay in one of these hotels close to London Gatwick Airport:
About Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
If you have a late flight from London to Cape Town International Airport, few things top the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Grab your suitcases from the carousel and then be showered and snoozing soon after at one of these hotels near CPT:
Getting from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) to central Cape Town
Cape Town International Airport is approximately 19 kilometres from the centre of Cape Town. With your own car rental or if you're catching a cab, the drive is around 21 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
Lock in a one-way ticket from London to Cape Town International Airport from $376 or travel return from just $861. Fares listed are subject to change and may differ when you make your booking.
To snag flight tickets from London to CPT, reserve your trip 4 months before the departure date.
You'll score the best savings on your tickets from London to Cape Town International Airport if you plan your holiday for January. Go one step further and use the 'Whole month' tool to see the cheapest day to fly.
Create a Price Alert for flight tickets from London to CPT. You don't need to check every day to see if fares have dropped. We'll update you as soon as there's a change in price.
Use the filters to tailor your flights from London to Cape Town International Airport. Pick your preferred arrival and departure times, airlines and number of stops. You can also sort your results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
The best time to fly from London to Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
June is the most popular month for flights from London to Cape Town International Airport. To steer clear of the crowds, head to Cape Town in April when it's quieter.
The warmest month in Cape Town is February, with the temperature ranging between 16ºC and 27ºC. Lock in your flights from London to CPT in this month if you enjoy this type of weather.
If you'd rather travel in cooler conditions, lock in a cheap flight from London to Cape Town International Airport in July when temperatures average between 9ºC and 19ºC.
More about Cape Town
When it comes to searching for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the top stays in Cape Town right here. Explore these hotels after locking in your flight from London to Cape Town International Airport:
Table Mountain and Battery Park @ V&A Waterfront are a couple of leading attractions to add to your Cape Town travel itinerary. Keep the momentum going by heading to Robben Island.
Complete your Cape Town trip with a car rental
Hop behind the wheel of one of our car rentals in Cape Town and see the sights on your own terms. Easily compare prices from trusted providers in one place after booking your hotel and cheap flights from London to Cape Town International Airport.