Flying from London to Chicago: what you need to know
You can select from numerous airports when organising your flight from London to Chicago. Explore your options for jetting 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.
Hop off your plane in Chicago at O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW).
Book a direct London to Chicago flight and you'll be in transit for an average of 8 hours 55 minutes.
Chicago's timezone is UTC-5, which makes Chicago five hours behind London.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is the most popular route between these two cities. There are 54 weekly flights to choose from. If you prefer a later start to the day, the last flight from London to Chicago is with British Airways at 15:45. Go for the first LHR to ORD departure operated by American Airlines at 08:10 to maximise your time in Chicago.
Give yourself enough time to get on your London to Chicago flight. As a rule of thumb, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
During popular months such as July, you'll want to get to the airport earlier. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead for international flights whenever you're travelling during high season in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Chicago
Book two months before your departure date. Pricing trends suggest that this is the ideal window for finding cheap London to Chicago flights.
May is the best month for picking up an amazing deal on a plane ticket from London to Chicago. If you need to travel during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices across every month.
There's no need to check every day to see if fares have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll update you the moment a better deal comes up on cheap flights from London to Chicago.
Find a cheap London to Chicago flight with the help of our filters. Choose your preferred times, airlines and number of stops, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Flying from London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
You can book a direct flight from London to Chicago jetting off from London Heathrow Airport (LHR). Begin your trip at LHR and land at O'Hare International Airport (ORD).
Top carriers that offer direct London to Chicago plane tickets departing from LHR include:
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to take a break from travelling — and maybe even visit a new city. When searching for London to Chicago flights departing from London Heathrow Airport, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Here are some popular options to consider:
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Logan International Airport (BOS)
The journey from central London to LHR takes around 1 hour on public transport. If you ride-share, drive or grab a cab, you'll cover the 26 kilometres in 55 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Want an easy start to your journey? Stay near London Heathrow Airport. Whether you've booked an early flight from London to Chicago or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels are perfect:
68.18% of flights that take off from London Heathrow Airport reach their destination on schedule.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Visit friends or family or just take some time to unwind with a stopover. If you'd like to split up your London to Chicago flight, browse these options when heading out from London Gatwick Airport:
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ)
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
LGW is about 40 kilometres from central London. It takes 1 hour 20 minutes or so to get to the airport in a car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 30 minutes.
It's your holiday, so why not enjoy another night away? Think about staying at one of these accommodation options near London Gatwick Airport the day before your flight from London to Chicago:
69.26% of flights taking off from London Gatwick Airport meet their expected arrival time.
Stansted Airport (STN)
Booking a ticket from London to Chicago with a stop or two can give you more departure time choices on top of cheaper fares. When departing from Stansted Airport (STN), here are a few places you can make a pit stop at on the way to Chicago:
Dublin Airport (DUB)
Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
STN is around 48 kilometres from central London. The drive from the city centre to the terminal takes about 1 hour. If you're considering public transport, you can expect a journey of around 1 hour 25 minutes.
Relax in bed for a little longer and still make your London to Chicago flight without having to rush. These hotels near Stansted Airport make departure day a breeze if you're flying out first thing:
Flights that take off from STN arrive at their destination as scheduled 64.73% of the time.
Arriving in Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to central Chicago takes about 35 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 26 kilometres away.
If you're taking public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 55 minutes.
Consider staying in a hotel near ORD if you have a late flight from London to Chicago. Select one of these accommodation options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Say yes to new adventures by picking up an O'Hare International Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Routes Car Rentals, Dollar or Budget to explore Chicago and beyond.
Reserving your ride from O'Hare International Airport around four weeks ahead boosts your odds of scoring a great price.
ORD is situated at 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is roughly 14 kilometres from central Chicago. Following your flight from London to Chicago, it'll take you approximately 20 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.
The journey will take roughly 45 minutes on public transport.
Hang the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and rest at a hotel close to MDW. Here are a few options where you can put your feet up after your flight from London to Chicago:
The quickest way to reach your destination is with a Chicago Midway International Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from Dollar, Hertz or Budget and set off in the blink of an eye.
Avoid paying more than you need to. Booking your ride four weeks ahead of your arrival at MDW will help you stay within budget.
The address for Chicago Midway International Airport is 5700 South Cicero.
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)
Head toward the city centre after your flight from London to Chicago has landed. Central Chicago is about 129 kilometres from Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) and takes roughly 1 hour 25 minutes to get to by car.
The journey will take around 4 hours 15 minutes by public transport.
Take control of the next part of your trip by picking up a Chicago Rockford International Airport rental car. Budget, Alamo and National make getting on the road effortless.
If you prefer a specific make or model, booking early gives you a better shot at getting exactly what you want. Reserve your ride from RFD at least a couple of weeks ahead of your flight from London to Chicago.
The street address for Chicago Rockford International Airport is 2 Airport Cir.
Best time to go to Chicago
January is the quietest month for flights from London to Chicago, while August is the most popular. Choose the best time to visit Chicago based on whether you want a laid-back vibe or a lively atmosphere.
The warmest month in Chicago is July, with temperatures ranging between 15ºC and 29ºC. Lock in your London to Chicago ticket then if that's your definition of good weather.
Look for cheap flights from London to Chicago in January if you'd rather travel when it's cooler. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -12ºC and 3ºC on average.
More about Chicago
Start your Chicago trip off on the right foot by choosing the perfect place to stay. After booking your flight from London to Chicago, browse our range of accommodation options including:
There are so many things to do and see in this city it can be hard to know where to start. Millennium Park, Art Institute of Chicago and LandShark Beer Garden at Navy Pier are top attractions which should feature on any well-planned Chicago itinerary.
Explore more of United States
Columbus is just one of the many cities in United States waiting to be explored once you've seen Chicago. Around 451 kilometres to the south-east, its top attractions include Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Ohio Statehouse and German Village.
Indianapolis is another standout destination in United States and is around 257 kilometres south-east of Chicago. No trip is complete without a visit to The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Museum of Art and Indianapolis Zoo.
