Travelling from London to Shanghai: what you need to know
Take your pick of a number of airports when organizing your flight from London to Shanghai. Explore your options for departing London from London Heathrow Airport (LHR), London Gatwick Airport (LGW) or Stansted Airport (STN). London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY) also service London.
When working out where to land in Shanghai, Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) are the primary gateways.
The average duration of a direct flight from London to Shanghai is 11 hours 41 minutes. Shanghai's timezone is UTC+8, making Shanghai 8 hours ahead of London.
The busiest route for flights from London to Shanghai is from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG). You can select from 29 weekly services between these two airports. If you'd like to get going as soon as possible, the earliest flight from LHR to PVG is the 12:00 Virgin Atlantic service. If you prefer travelling later, the last departure is at 21:20 with China Eastern Airlines.
Leave plenty of time to make your flight from London to Shanghai. A good rule of thumb is to arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
You'll likely experience longer queues during popular months such as July and other peak seasons. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for domestic departures is a wise move.
You will need a visa for China if you have a passport from United Kingdom and are visiting for tourism purposes. Visa and travel documentation requirements can change. So before booking your cheap flights from London to Shanghai, check with your airline and your destination country's local consulate or embassy for the most up-to-date information.
Flying from London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
You can reserve a direct flight from London to Shanghai leaving from London Heathrow Airport (LHR). Begin your trip at LHR and land at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG).
At LHR, you can choose from various airlines that operate direct flights from London to Shanghai, such as:
Consider adding a stopover to potentially find a cheaper flight from London to Shanghai. Simply deselect 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from London Heathrow Airport. Break up your trip (and maybe save some cash) by stopping at one of these airports:
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Brussels Airport (BRU)
LHR is around 31 kilometres from central London. If you're driving, catching a cab or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take 57 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're using public transport, expect the journey time to be approximately 1 hour and 1 minute.
Booked an early flight from London to Shanghai? Avoid rushing to the airport (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these hotels close to London Heathrow Airport:
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Prefer to fly from London Gatwick Airport (LGW)? This popular hub also offers nonstop flights from London to Shanghai — you can seamlessly connect to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG).
China Eastern Airlines offers direct flights from London to Shanghai out of LGW. Book your preferred aisle seat and reach your destination in a single hop.
Visit family or friends or just take a moment to recharge with a stopover. If you'd like to split up your flight from London to Shanghai, browse these options when heading out from London Heathrow Airport:
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Brussels Airport (BRU)
LGW is about 80 kilometres from central London. It'll take 1 hour and 19 minutes or so to get to the airport if you're driving from the city centre. Public transport takes approximately 1 hour and 26 minutes.
Start your vacation sooner with an extra night away from home. Before your flight from London to Shanghai, unwind in one of these hotels near London Gatwick Airport:
Arriving in Shanghai
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to the centre of Shanghai takes about 49 minutes by car. It's approximately 56 kilometres away.
The last thing you want is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from London to Shanghai. Stay at one of these accommodation options near PVG instead:
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
The centre of Shanghai is about 14 kilometres from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA). After your flight from London to Shanghai has landed and you've made your way through the terminal, the drive should take about 21 minutes.
After your flight from London to Shanghai, kick back at a hotel close to SHA. These are some comfortable accommodation options that'll help you get into relaxation mode:
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Shanghai
The cheapest price we've seen for a one-way ticket from London to Shanghai is C$566. For a return flight on this route, the best price is C$862. Depending on when you want to go and the availability, these fares can change.
Book 8 months before your departure date. After crunching the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you should book ahead to find cheap flights from London to Shanghai.
The cheapest month for tickets from London to Shanghai is April. Compare prices using the 'Whole month' tool and choose the date that offers the lowest fare.
Sign into your online account or use the app to set up a Price Alert. You'll be notified straight away if there's a cheaper deal on this route. It doesn't take long, and it'll save you time looking for cheap flights from London to Shanghai every day.
Use filters to find your ideal journey. To see the 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest' flights from London to Shanghai, use the 'Sort by' function. You can also filter by arrival and departure times, airline, and number of stops.
Best time to go to Shanghai
July is the most popular month for flights from London to Shanghai. To avoid the crowds, head to Shanghai in April.
The warmest month in Shanghai is August, with the temperature ranging between 23ºC and 34ºC. Lock in your flights from London to Shanghai in this month if this is the type of weather you enjoy.
Search for cheap flights from London to Shanghai in January if you like travelling in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -1ºC and 10ºC on average.
More about Shanghai
When it comes to looking for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the top stays in Shanghai right here. Browse these hotels once you've locked in your flight from London to Shanghai:
The Bund Sightseeing Avenue and Yu Garden are just a couple of the big attractions to put on your Shanghai must-do list. Continue your sightseeing adventures at Shanghai Tower.
Complete your Shanghai trip with a car rental
Explore our range of car rentals once you've locked in your hotel and cheap flight from London to Shanghai. Whether you're searching for a compact ride, spacious sedan or something that makes a statement, you can easily compare companies in one go to find the best deal.