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Flying from London to Cape Town International Airport (CPT): What you need to know
Get your vacation planning underway by working out where you'll board your flight from London to Cape Town International Airport (CPT). London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) are the main airports in London.
Around 11 hours 40 minutes is how long you'll be in the air on a direct London to Cape Town International Airport flight.
Cape Town is two hours ahead of London. Cape Town International Airport is located in Cape Town, which runs on the UTC+2 timezone.
The most popular route is from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Cape Town International Airport (CPT), with 15 direct services every week. If you're not one for hanging around, the earliest flight from LHR to CPT is the 5:55pm Virgin Atlantic option. If you need some extra time before takeoff, the final departure is at 10:25pm with British Airways.
Leave enough time to catch your flight from London to CPT. It's generally best to arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
You'll likely experience longer lines during popular months such as July and other peak periods. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure is a smart move.
Airports in London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is a convenient option for traveling directly to your destination. Nonstop flights from London to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) depart from this terminal.
You can travel on a direct flight from London to Cape Town International Airport with British Airways. This popular airline operates services from LHR.
Most passengers choose to fly with British Airways between LHR and CPT.
Virgin Atlantic stands out as the most punctual carrier on this route, with 96.61% of services arriving as scheduled.
Think about adding a stopover to find cheap flights from London to CPT. Just deselect 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from London Heathrow Airport (LHR). Slip in a stop (and skip the high fares) by flying through one of these popular airports:
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
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.
Searching for a convenient hotel close to London Heathrow Airport? If you're catching an early flight from London to Cape Town International Airport, these accommodation options will have you sleeping a quick hop from check-in:
Of the departures from London Heathrow Airport, 78% land on schedule at their destination.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
You can book a direct London to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) plane ticket with departures from London Gatwick Airport (LGW). Figure out if flying from LGW works better for your plans.
From LGW, direct flights from London to CPT can be booked with Norse Atlantic UK.
Norse Atlantic Airways (UK) is the top choice for travelers flying from LGW to CPT.
Turn your flight into part of the adventure with a stopover on your flight from London to Cape Town International Airport. Here's where you can connect between London Gatwick Airport and CPT:
Istanbul Airport (IST)
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
You can arrive at LGW from the center of London in approximately 1 hour 5 minutes by car, depending on traffic conditions. The journey by public transport takes roughly 1 hour 20 minutes to cover the 48 kilometers or so.
Flying out early in the morning? You might like to check in to one of these hotels near London Gatwick Airport the day before your London to CPT flight:
The majority of flights that leave London Gatwick Airport reach their destination as planned. It achieves a consistent on-time performance rate of 82%.
London Stansted Airport (STN)
Whether just for a couple of hours or a handful of days, a stopover can make your journey feel a little easier. When flying out of London Stansted Airport (STN), you can book a plane ticket from London to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) stopping at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS).
From the center of 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.
Take the 'what ifs' out of departure day — stay close to London Stansted Airport and know you'll get to your boarding gate with time to spare. Get comfy at one of these hotels the day before if you have an early London to Cape Town International Airport flight:
STN has an on-time performance rating of 80%. This means the majority of its flights reach their destination as expected and your trip runs like clockwork.
About Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
If you're coming in on a late flight from London to Cape Town International Airport, nothing beats the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Pick up your luggage at baggage claim and then be showered and sleeping soon after at one of these hotels near CPT:
To lock in the lowest price, reserve your ride around one week ahead of your London to Cape Town International Airport flight.
Getting from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) to central Cape Town
Central Cape Town is around 19 kilometers from Cape Town International Airport and takes about 25 minutes to reach by car. See what your options are for making the trip into the city, whether that's with a car rental, cab or ride-share.
When traveling by public transport, expect a journey time of around 35 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
At the moment, AED 1,207 is the best price we've found for a one-way ticket from London to Cape Town International Airport. The cheapest price for a return flight is AED 2,205. Remember fares can change due to availability at the time of booking.
Book eight months before you travel. Pricing trends suggest that this is the ideal window for finding cheap flights from London to CPT.
The best month for picking up cheap London to Cape Town International Airport tickets is January. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare flight prices, then choose the dates that offer the lowest fares.
There's no need to search every day to find out if fares have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll let you know when a new deal shows up on plane tickets from London to CPT.
Tailor your trip using filters. Choose your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort your results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' flights from London to Cape Town International Airport.
The best time to fly from London to Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
Think about the pace you're looking for when deciding your trip dates. December is the quietest month to visit Cape Town. January is when most people book flights from London to Cape Town International Airport (CPT), which may be perfect if you're chasing more excitement.
Book a London to CPT plane ticket departing in February if you're eager to experience the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Cape Town to range from 13ºC (55ºF) to 30ºC (86ºF).
July has temperatures of between 6ºC (43ºF) and 18ºC (64ºF). Look for cheap tickets from London to Cape Town International Airport around that time if you want to travel when it's cooler.
More about Cape Town
Start your Cape Town trip off on the right foot by choosing the ideal place to stay. After booking your flight from London to Cape Town International Airport, check out our selection of accommodation options including:
There are so many things to explore in this city, it can be hard to know where to start. Table Mountain, The Rock and Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden are highlights which should feature on every Cape Town itinerary.
Explore more of South Africa
Saldanha is just one of the many cities in South Africa waiting to be discovered once you've seen Cape Town. Around 121 kilometers away to the northwest, well-known attractions include North Head Lighthouse, Hoedjieskop Museum and Pietskiet Museum.
Your trip through South Africa should include a visit to Ceres. Ceres Mountain Fynbos Nature Reserve and Togryers Museum are just two of the highlights in this well-known destination, which is around 97 kilometers northeast of Cape Town.
