Travelling from London to Washington DC: what you need to know
You can take your pick of a range of airports when organising your flight from London to Washington DC. Explore your options for flying out of 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.
Washington DC has a good selection of airports you can fly into. Hop off the plane at Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) or Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).
The average duration of a direct London to Washington DC flight is 8 hours 15 minutes.
Washington DC is four hours behind London and is in the UTC-4 timezone.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is the most popular route between these two cities. There are 39 weekly departures to choose from. If you have things to do before leaving, the last flight from London to Washington DC is with British Airways at 17:05. Go for the first LHR to IAD departure with United Airlines at 10:25 to maximise your time in Washington DC.
To ensure you don't miss your London to Washington DC flight, leave plenty of time to check in and find your gate. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.
During popular months such as July, it's best to get to the airport earlier. Plan to arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of an international flight whenever you're flying during high season in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Washington DC
Book two months before you want to fly. Research into pricing trends suggests this is the ideal window for finding cheap London to Washington DC flights.
Organise your trip for May. That's the best month for scoring a great bargain on plane tickets from London to Washington DC. If your travel dates are flexible, use the 'Whole month' tool to see the cheapest price across each month.
There's no need to check back in every day to find out if prices have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll let you know when a better deal comes up on cheap flights from London to Washington DC.
Save on your London to Washington DC flight with the help of our filters. Choose your ideal departure time, duration and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Flying from London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Begin your journey at London Heathrow Airport (LHR), which has a range of direct flights from London to Washington DC. From LHR, you can fly nonstop to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) or Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).
You'll have your pick of airlines that offer direct London to Washington DC plane tickets out of LHR. Book your journey with one of these:
Consider adding a stopover to potentially save money on your London to Washington DC flight. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from London Heathrow Airport. Break up your trip (and maybe save some cash) by stopping at one of these popular options:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
LHR is around 26 kilometres from central London. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take you 55 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're using public transport, expect the travel time to be around 1 hour.
Planning to catch an early flight from London to Washington DC? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these hotels close to London Heathrow Airport:
When it comes to London Heathrow Airport's on-time performance, data shows 68.18% of flights complete their journey on time.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Get more out of your holiday with a stopover on your London to Washington DC flight. Visit family or friends or tick another city off your list. Whatever you decide to do, check out these options between London Gatwick Airport and Washington DC:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
LGW is around 40 kilometres from central London. It'll take 1 hour 20 minutes or so to get to the airport by car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 30 minutes.
Want to treat yourself to an extra night away before catching your flight from London to Washington DC? Relax in a hotel near London Gatwick Airport before your break officially starts. Stay at one of these accommodation options:
69% of flights out of London Gatwick Airport make it to their destination as expected.
Stansted Airport (STN)
Lock in a ticket from London to Washington DC out of Stansted Airport (STN) with one or more stops. Some popular stopovers between STN and Washington DC are:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Dublin Airport (DUB)
Keflavik International Airport (KEF)
STN is roughly 48 kilometres from central London. The drive from the city centre to the terminal takes about 1 hour. If you're planning to take public transport, you can expect a journey of around 1 hour 25 minutes.
Stay in bed a little longer and still make your London to Washington DC flight without having to rush. These hotels near Stansted Airport make it a breeze to get to the terminal if you're setting off early:
The on-time performance record of STN is 64.73%. In simpler terms, that's how often flights from this airport arrive at their destination as planned.
Arriving in Washington DC
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
The distance from Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) to central Washington DC is roughly 5 kilometers. It'll take you around 15 minutes to get to the centre driving.
Getting there on public transport will take you around 45 minutes.
Consider booking a hotel close to DCA if you have a late flight from London to Washington DC. Choose one of these options and skip the long transfer:
Hit the road running by picking up a Ronald Reagan National Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from Thrifty, Sixt or Dollar and experience the lesser-explored corners of Washington DC and beyond.
Lock in the best rate by booking your ride from Ronald Reagan National Airport around four weeks before your departure date.
DCA is situated at 1 Aviation Circle.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
The centre of Washington DC is located around 40 kilometres from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). Once your flight from London to Washington DC has touched down and you've made your way out of the airport, expect a drive of about 50 minutes.
Travelling by public transport will take about 1 hour 10 minutes.
After your flight from London to Washington DC, settle in at a hotel near IAD. These are some comfortable accommodation options that'll help you get into relaxation mode:
The quickest way to get to where you're going is with a Washington Dulles International Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from Dollar, Thrifty or Sixt and get going in the blink of an eye.
Avoid potential price surges. Reserving your ride one week ahead of your arrival at IAD can land you a better rate.
Washington Dulles International Airport can be found at 1 Saarinen Circle.
Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Hop off your flight from London to Washington DC and go straight to your hotel or start exploring right away. Central Washington DC is around 40 kilometres from Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and typically takes 50 minutes to reach by car.
The journey will take around 1 hour 30 minutes if you use public transport.
Book a hotel close to BWI and get from baggage claim to your bed in a snap. Whether you're coming in on a late London to Washington DC flight or just want a hassle-free arrival, these accommodation options bring comfort closer to you:
Whether you're searching for a zippy mini for a solo getaway or a roomy SUV to fit everyone and their gear, you'll find the right Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport rental car for you. Browse wheels available from providers such as Dollar, Thrifty and Budget.
If you're looking for a specific model or make, book your ride from BWI about two weeks ahead of your flight from London to Washington DC. This improves your chances of getting the car you prefer, along with a better price.
Best time to go to Washington DC
It's time to figure out your trip dates for your flight from London to Washington DC. February is the most popular month for a trip to Washington DC. If you prefer a more relaxed vibe, go in May.
The warmest month in Washington DC is July, with temperatures ranging between 19ºC (66ºF) and 33ºC (91ºF). Lock in your London to Washington DC ticket then if that's your definition of good weather.
Search for cheap flights from London to Washington DC in January if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -6ºC (21ºF) and 10ºC (50ºF) on average.
More about Washington DC
When it comes to looking for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the most popular stays in Washington DC right here. Explore these hotels as soon as you've locked in your flight from London to Washington DC:
White House Historical Association and The White House are just two of the major attractions to add to your Washington DC must-do list. Keep the sightseeing going at National Mall.
Explore more of United States
New York is just one of the many cities in United States waiting to be discovered once you've taken in the sights of Washington DC. Around 322 kilometres to the north-east, popular attractions include Statue of Liberty, Central Park and Empire State Building.
Around 193 kilometres north-east of Washington DC, Philadelphia is another essential stop in United States. Experience major highlights starting with Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and Philadelphia Museum of Art.