Travelling from Nairobi to London: what you need to know
Nairobi is home to a couple of airports where you can start your adventure. Explore your options for booking a flight from Nairobi to London leaving from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) or Wilson Airport (WIL).
London has a range of airports you can jet into. Make your landing at London Heathrow Airport (LHR), London Gatwick Airport (LGW) or Stansted Airport (STN). Alternatively, touch down at London Luton Airport (LTN) or London City Airport (LCY).
The average length of a direct Nairobi to London flight is 9 hours 10 minutes.
London's timezone is UTC+0, making London three hours behind Nairobi.
With 14 weekly flights between the two airports, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is the most popular route. Board the earliest flight from Nairobi to London with British Airways at 08:15. If you prefer to make the most of your day before leaving, the last departure from NBO to LHR is with British Airways at 23:55.
For a stress-free journey, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This leaves you with plenty of time to board your Nairobi to London flight.
Travelling over a peak time like July? Public holidays and other high seasons can mean longer lines and delays at check-in and security. Play it safe and arrive up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
How to find the cheapest flights from Nairobi to London
Book two months before your departure date. Pricing trends show that this is the ideal window for finding cheap Nairobi to London flights.
Schedule your trip for May. That's the best month for scoring the biggest deals on plane tickets from Nairobi to London. If you're flexible on when you fly, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across every month.
There's no need to check every day to see if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll let you know when a better deal is available on cheap flights from Nairobi to London.
Find a cheap Nairobi to London flight with the help of our filters. Choose your preferred duration, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Flying from Nairobi
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)
Set off from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) and fly right through to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) or London Gatwick Airport (LGW). If you're looking for a direct flight from Nairobi to London out of NBO, those are your final stops.
British Airways is a well-known airline that offers direct Nairobi to London plane tickets leaving from NBO.
We make it a cinch to find a Nairobi to London flight with a stopover. To see your options leaving from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, pick a flight that has a stop long enough to see the sights of your chosen city. Major stopovers include:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Dubai Airport (DXB)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Travelling from central Nairobi to NBO takes around 1 hour 10 minutes on public transport. If you ride-share, drive or take a cab, you'll cover the 11 kilometres in 20 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Catching an early flight from Nairobi to London? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the airport (and sneak in some extra snooze time) by choosing one of these hotels close to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport:
Of all flights leaving Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, 67.1% arrive on time at their destination.
Arriving in London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to central London takes about 55 minutes by car. The centre is roughly 23 kilometers away.
If you're taking public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 1 hour.
Book a hotel near LHR if you have a late flight from Nairobi to London. Select one of these options and skip the long transfer:
Follow your own route with a London Heathrow Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Surprice, U-Save or Green Motion and chase adventure across London and beyond.
Lock in the best deal by booking your ride from London Heathrow Airport about one week ahead of your trip.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
London Gatwick Airport (LGW) is about 40 kilometres from the centre of London. After your flight from Nairobi to London, it takes approximately 1 hour 20 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.
The trip will take approximately 30 minutes on public transport.
After your flight from Nairobi to London, settle in at a hotel close to LGW. These are some comfortable accommodation options that'll help you slip into relaxation mode:
Green Motion, U-Save and Drivalia make picking up a London Gatwick Airport rental car simple. These providers are located around or in the terminal and will have you behind the wheel before you know it.
Avoid paying extra. Reserving your ride three weeks ahead of your arrival at LGW can get you a lower rate.
Stansted Airport (STN)
Make your way to the city centre after your flight from Nairobi to London has landed. Central London is around 48 kilometres from Stansted Airport (STN) and takes roughly 1 hour to reach by cab or ride-share.
Public transport will take you there in roughly 1 hour 25 minutes.
If you don't want to make the trip into the centre, find a hotel near STN. Get comfortable at one of these stays after your Nairobi to London flight:
Whether you're after a mini for solo travel or a roomy SUV to fit the family, you'll find the right Stansted Airport rental car for you. Check out the types of wheels available here from companies such as Green Motion, Drivalia and Europcar.
About four weeks before your flight from Nairobi to London is the ideal time to secure your vehicle from STN. You're more likely to land a better deal or even snap up an early bird discount.
Best time to go to London
February is the quietest month for flights from Nairobi to London, while July is the busiest. Work out the best time to visit London based on whether you prefer a laid-back vibe or a lively atmosphere.
Lock in a Nairobi to London ticket departing in July if you're eager to explore the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in London to range from 11ºC (52ºF) to 26ºC (79ºF).
If you want cooler conditions, search for a cheap flight from Nairobi to London in January when temperatures average between 0ºC (32ºF) and 9ºC (48ºF).
More about London
After booking your flight from Nairobi to London, find a hotel that keeps you close to what you want to see. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring London:
Big Ben and The British Museum are a couple of top attractions to add to your London to-do list. Keep the sightseeing going at Buckingham Palace.
Explore more of United Kingdom
London has its own special appeal, but there are so many other corners of United Kingdom you should also see. Around 161 kilometres north-west of London, a trip to Birmingham will fill your itinerary to the brim. Check out popular attractions like Cadbury World, The Library of Birmingham and National Sea Life Centre.
Bristol is another favourite destination in United Kingdom and is around 177 kilometres west of London. No journey is complete without visiting Clifton Suspension Bridge, Cabot Tower and Brandon Hill Nature Park.