Travelling from London to Istanbul Airport (IST): What you need to know
When searching for your flight from London to Istanbul Airport (IST), there's a good selection of airports you can take off from. London Heathrow Airport (LHR), London Gatwick Airport (LGW) and London Stansted Airport (STN) are London's main terminals.
Take off on a direct London to Istanbul Airport flight and you'll be travelling for an average of 3 hours 50 minutes.
Istanbul is three hours ahead of London. Istanbul Airport is located in Istanbul, which operates on the UTC+3 timezone.
With 62 direct weekly flights between the two airports, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Istanbul Airport (IST) is the most popular route. British Airways operates the earliest flight at 6:10am. If you prefer to make the most of your day before jetting off, the last flight from LHR to IST is with Turkish Airlines at 10:35pm.
For a smooth journey, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This ensures you have enough time to board your flight from London to IST.
Popular months like July or other peak seasons mean longer queues and potential delays. Stick to your schedule by arriving at the airport even earlier. Plan for at least four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
Airports in London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Reach your destination without the detour from London Heathrow Airport (LHR). Nonstop flights from London to Istanbul Airport (IST) operate from here.
Turkish Airlines is a popular airline that operates direct flights from London to Istanbul Airport departing from LHR.
Turkish Airlines is the airline with the highest number of bookings for flights from LHR to IST.
We make it easy to book cheap flights from London to IST that include a stopover. To explore all the options departing from London Heathrow Airport (LHR), uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Next, select a flight that has a stop long enough to tour the city of your choice. Top stopovers between LHR and IST include:
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Munich Franz Joseph Strauss Airport (MUC)
LHR is around 24 kms (15 miles) from central London. If you're driving, catching a taxi or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take 45 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the travel time to be around 25 minutes.
Want a relaxed start to your journey? Stay near London Heathrow Airport. Whether you've booked an early flight from London to Istanbul Airport or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels have you covered:
When it comes to London Heathrow Airport's on-time performance, 78% of flights complete their journey on time.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Planning to catch a flight from London Gatwick Airport (LGW)? Direct London to Istanbul Airport (IST) plane tickets can be booked from this popular hub.
From LGW, direct flights from London to IST are offered by Turkish Airlines.
Turkish Airlines is the most frequently booked airline flying from LGW to IST.
Knock a new city off your list or just take a moment to recharge with a stopover. If you'd like to break up your flight from London to Istanbul Airport, here's where you can stop when taking off from London Gatwick Airport:
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
With public transport, you can travel from central London to LGW in about 1 hour 20 minutes. The terminal is roughly 48 kms (30 miles) away, and making the trip by car will take approximately 1 hour 5 minutes.
Start your holiday early with an extra night away from home. Before catching your London to IST flight, stay in one of these hotels near London Gatwick Airport:
The majority of flights that leave London Gatwick Airport land at their destination within the expected time frame. It achieves a consistent on-time performance rate of 82%.
London Stansted Airport (STN)
One takeoff, one touchdown. You can book a direct flight from London to Istanbul Airport leaving from London Stansted Airport (STN).
Turkish Airlines is one trusted airline that offers direct London to IST plane tickets from STN.
Most passengers choose to book seats with Turkish Airlines from STN to IST.
You can lock in a plane ticket from London to Istanbul Airport (IST) with a stop or two leaving from London Stansted Airport (STN). These are some of the most popular stopovers between STN and IST:
Hamburg Airport (HAM)
Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)
Luxembourg Airport (LUX)
STN is around 56 kms (35 miles) from central London. Driving from the city centre to the terminal takes about 1 hour 5 minutes. If you're planning to use public transport, expect a journey time of around 45 minutes.
Rest a little longer, move a little slower, and still make your London to Istanbul Airport flight with time to spare. These hotels near London Stansted Airport make it a breeze to get to the terminal if you're flying out first thing:
STN has a solid on-time arrivals rating of 80%, so there's a high chance your flight will stay on course and touch down as expected.
About Istanbul Airport (IST)
The last thing you want is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from London to Istanbul Airport. Make yourself comfy at one of these accommodation options near IST instead:
Booking your ride around two weeks ahead of your London to Istanbul Airport flight can help you lock in a great deal.
Getting from Istanbul Airport (IST) to central Istanbul
Istanbul Airport is around 40 kms (25 miles) from the centre of Istanbul. It takes around 45 minutes or so to drive to the city.
It takes around 1 hour 10 minutes if you're using public transport.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Istanbul Airport (IST)
The lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from London to Istanbul Airport is £33. For a return flight on this route, the best price is £60. Depending on when and how early you book, these fares can change.
To snag cheap flights from London to IST, book your plane ticket eight months before your planned departure.
The best month for landing cheap London to Istanbul Airport tickets is January. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare flight prices, then choose the dates that offer the biggest savings.
There's no need to check every day to find out if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll let you know the moment a new deal shows up on plane tickets from London to IST.
Tailor your trip using filters. Select your preferred departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' flights from London to Istanbul Airport.
The best time to fly from London to Istanbul Airport (IST)
August is the most popular month for flights from London to Istanbul Airport (IST). Visit Istanbul in February for a more laid-back experience.
Book a London to IST plane ticket departing in July if you're eager to experience the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Istanbul to range from 21ºC to 30ºC.
January has temperatures of between 2ºC and 11ºC. Search for cheap tickets from London to Istanbul Airport around that time if you want to travel in cooler conditions.
More about Istanbul
Once you've booked your flight from London to Istanbul Airport, find a hotel that puts you in a great location. Make one of these options your base for exploring Istanbul:
Hagia Sophia Museum and Historic Areas of Istanbul are just a couple of the big attractions to put on your Istanbul must-do list. Keep the sightseeing going at Hagia Sophia History Museum.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
You've seen Istanbul, now it's time to discover more of Türkiye (Turkey). Journey about 225 kms (140 miles) southeast to Eskisehir to tick off its popular sights. From Eskişehir Odunpazarı Evleri to Archeological Museum and TÜRASAŞ Revolution Cars Museum, you've got a jam-packed schedule ahead.
Set out 153 kms (95 miles) east from Istanbul to reach Adapazarı, another favourite stop in Türkiye (Turkey). No trip is complete without seeing Ağa Cami and Earthquake & Cultural Museum.
