Flying from Melbourne to London: what you need to know
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) is Melbourne's main airport. Explore your options for reserving a flight from Melbourne to London departing from here.
Land at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) or London Gatwick Airport (LGW). You can also reach London through Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY).
The timezone in London is UTC+0, which is 11 hours behind Melbourne.
Leave enough time to catch your Melbourne to London flight. As a rule of thumb, arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
During popular months such as January, it's best to get to the airport even earlier. Arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead of an international flight when you travel during peak periods in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from Melbourne to London
To pick up cheap Melbourne to London flights, book in advance. Airlines typically offer lower prices when tickets are first released.
Finding cheap plane tickets from Melbourne to London is easier if you can be flexible with your trip dates. Try using the 'Whole month' search function to see the lowest fares across each month and snap up a fantastic deal.
Snapping up a cheap flight from Melbourne to London is a piece of cake with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you when a better deal is available.
Save on your Melbourne to London flight with the help of our filters. Choose your ideal duration, departure time and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
Flying from Melbourne
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL)
Think about adding a stopover to potentially save money on your Melbourne to London flight. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport. Take a pause at one of these popular options:
Dubai Airport (DXB)
Changi International Airport (SIN)
Perth Airport (PER)
MEL is about 19 kilometres from central Melbourne. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take you 30 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're using public transport, expect the trip time to be around 40 minutes.
Looking for a handy hotel close to Melbourne Tullamarine Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Melbourne to London, these stays will put you moments from check-in:
When it comes to the on-time performance of Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, 67.71% of flights arrive within the expected time frame.
Arriving in London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is approximately 26 kilometres from the centre of London. If you're catching a cab or a ride-share, the drive takes around 55 minutes.
It typically takes 1 hour to get there when travelling by public transport.
If you have a late flight from Melbourne to London, nothing beats the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Pick up your bags from the carousel and then be showered and resting soon after at one of these hotels near LHR:
Pick up a London Heathrow Airport rental car and discover London and beyond with your own wheels. Surprice, U-Save and Green Motion are top outlets to choose from here.
Get the best deal by reserving your ride from London Heathrow Airport around one week before your departure date.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Central London is approximately 40 kilometres from London Gatwick Airport (LGW). As soon as your flight from Melbourne to London has hit the runway and you've made your way out of the airport, expect a drive of about 1 hour 20 minutes.
If you're travelling on public transport, it'll take around 30 minutes.
Place the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and relax at a hotel close to LGW. Here are a few options where you can settle in after your flight from Melbourne to London:
The fastest way to reach your destination is with a London Gatwick Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from Green Motion, U-Save or Drivalia and be on your way in a flash.
Avoid paying more than you need to. Reserving your ride three weeks before your arrival at LGW can help you lock in a better rate.
Stansted Airport (STN)
Stansted Airport (STN) is roughly 48 kilometres from the centre of London. It takes about 1 hour to get to the city centre by cab or ride-share after your flight from Melbourne to London.
The journey takes about 1 hour 25 minutes if you use public transport.
Find a hotel near STN and get from baggage claim to your bed in a snap. Whether you're catching a late Melbourne to London flight or just want to keep your travel plans simple, these accommodation options bring comfort closer to you:
Be in the driver's seat of the next part of your journey with a Stansted Airport rental car. Green Motion, Drivalia and Europcar are some companies you can book with.
Around four weeks ahead of your flight from Melbourne to London is a good time to book your ride from STN. You're more likely to lock in a better rate or catch some early booking discounts.
Best time to go to London
July is the most popular month for flights from Melbourne to London. To travel when it's less crowded, visit London in February.
When booking your Melbourne to London tickets, consider the type of weather you enjoy. July is the warmest month in London, with temperatures ranging from 11ºC to 26ºC.
Look for cheap flights from Melbourne to London in January if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 0ºC and 9ºC on average.
More about London
After booking your flight from Melbourne to London, decide where you'll be dropping your bags. Make one of these options your base for exploring London:
Every great holiday has to include some sightseeing. Big Ben, The British Museum and Buckingham Palace are attractions you won't want to skip in London.
Explore more of United Kingdom
Birmingham is just one of the many places in United Kingdom waiting to be explored once you've seen London. Around 161 kilometres to the north-west, top sights here include Cadbury World, The Library of Birmingham and National Sea Life Centre.
If you're eager to discover another side of United Kingdom, head for Bristol, about 177 kilometres west of London. Clifton Suspension Bridge, Cabot Tower and Brandon Hill Nature Park are among its highlights.