When planning your vacation, knowing how long your transit time will be can help you make the most of your trip. You can schedule more trip planning, reading, or relaxing for the time you’ll be in the air, so you can feel like you didn’t waste a moment on your London trip.
The flight length from New York to London depends on your chosen airline and the particular flight you’ll be on. And while you’re planning a trip, be sure to check out some of the best places for vacations in Europe.
A direct flight from New York to London generally takes about eight hours, but the exact time can vary.
Flights From New York to London
The distance between London and New York is about 3,462 miles, which is short enough for a non-stop flight moving Northeast without a layover.
When you ask, “How long is the flight from New York to London?” you need to consider the time spent in the air, taxiing on the runway, and taxiing to the gate after landing.
In most cases, adding at least 30 to 40 minutes to the flight time will give you a more accurate picture of how much time you’ll be on the plane from when it starts moving to take off until you’re ready to deboard.
While the average flight is about 7 to 8 hours, your time on a moving plane can take a little less or up to 8.5 hours. The weather that day, such as the wind speed and storms, can affect the flight time and cause it to run longer.
Direct flights without stops typically cost more than trips with one or more connecting flights, but they’re the fastest and most convenient way to travel.
New York to London Flight Options
Passengers flying from New York to London have hundreds of flight choices daily, with most requiring at least one stop on the way.
Six airports serve London. Most direct flights land at London Heathrow Airport (LHR), but a couple from Newark Airport land at Gatwick Airport (LGW) instead.
Flights that require one or more stops can land at all of London’s airports. The airports and airport codes that could be your flight’s destination are Luton (LTN), Stansted (STN), and London City (LCY).
Three airports serve New York where you can depart for London:
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
John F. Kennedy International Airport
The John F. Kennedy International Airport is the biggest and busiest New York airport. You can choose from several Airlines that offer direct flights from JFK to London Heathrow Airport, formerly Heathrow International Airport.
All the non-stop flights take about 7 hours of flight time with an average total trip of 8 hours and 20 minutes.
When choosing a trip that requires a connecting flight, be sure to look at a few things before making a decision:
- The number of stops
- The layover time
- Whether it’s an overnight flight
The number of stops is important, but it can be deceptive. Some flights with two or more stops can take less time than a flight with one stop if the layover time is longer. So check the amount of time between connecting flights carefully.
Some layover times can be several hours and require you to stay overnight, adding to your trip’s traveling time and cost. A cheaper flight might not save you money if you have to pay for a hotel room, and it can make a trip uncomfortable if you plan to wait at the airport.
How long is the flight from New York to London with one stop? Many flights fall into the range of 9 to 11 hours and often cost less than a non-stop flight.
Other flights can take from 12 to over 30 hours with multiple stops and long delays between connecting flights. Also, beware of layover times that are so short that even a minor delay could cause you to miss a connecting flight and have to wait on another departure.
Newark Liberty International Airport
Though Newark Liberty International Airport is in Newark, New Jersey, it’s close enough to serve New York City. It’s the only nearby airport besides JFK that offers international non-stop flights.
Newark airport offers only a few non-stop flights, but several flights with one or more stops leave for all of London’s airports daily.
Non-stop flights traveling from New York to London almost always land at Heathrow Airport. But a couple of planes departing from Newark land at Gatwick Airport instead.
The shortest flight time for one-stop trips typically takes 10 hours to 13 hours. Many flights have long layovers and multiple stops that take 15 to 30 hours or more.
LaGuardia Airport
LaGuardia Airport is the smallest of the three New York area airports. It isn’t an international airport, so the only flights you can take from there to London will have one or more stops.
The longest non-stop flight you can take from LaGuardia is a trip just under six hours to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in California. Your return trip from London won’t be non-stop if you land at LaGuardia because they don’t accept planes from flights over 1,500 miles.
Though all flights to London from LaGuardia will have one or more stops, they’re generally more budget-friendly options than direct flights.
Many flights from LGA have long trip times and lengthy layovers, but you can find a few that don’t take much longer than non-stop trips. For instance, one JetBlue flight has a single stop and only takes about 9 hours and 20 minutes.
Final Thoughts
How long is the flight from New York to London? The answer depends on whether you wants the convenience of a non-stop flight or you prefer a short delay in exchange for a cheaper flight.
No matter which flight you choose, remember that the time difference between New York and London is 5 hours, so a 9-hour flight departing from JFK at noon will arrive at Heathrow at 2 am the next day, London time.
Factoring in that time difference can help you arrive in London at the most convenient time for you and your family.
More about our TFVG Author
A seasoned traveller, Dad, and avid sports tourist, James foundered The Family Vacation Guide to share his expert vacation experiences- especially when it comes to being a travelling family man.
Featured in Travel articles such as Travel + Leisure, TripSavvy and SFGate, you know you're reading some of the best vacation tips online.
- James Brockbankhttps://www.thefamilyvacationguide.com/author/james/
- James Brockbankhttps://www.thefamilyvacationguide.com/author/james/
- James Brockbankhttps://www.thefamilyvacationguide.com/author/james/
- James Brockbankhttps://www.thefamilyvacationguide.com/author/james/
