Flying from London to San Francisco International Airport (SFO): What you need to know
London's main base, London Heathrow Airport (LHR), is where many unforgettable trips begin. Explore the departure options from here when planning your flight from London to San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
Around 11 hours 10 minutes is how long you'll be in the air on a direct London to San Francisco International Airport flight.
San Francisco is eight hours behind London. San Francisco International Airport is located in San Francisco, which operates on the UTC-8 timezone.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the most popular route. There are 42 direct departures a week to choose from. If you have things to do before heading off, hop on the last flight with Virgin Atlantic at 4:25pm. Choose the first LHR to SFO departure with United Airlines at 10:05am if you'd rather get going earlier.
To ensure you catch your flight from London to SFO, leave enough time for things like baggage drop and finding your gate. Arriving two hours before international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.
During popular months such as July, you'll want to get to the airport earlier than usual. Plan to arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead for international flights whenever you're flying during peak periods in general.
Airports in London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is a convenient option for travelling directly to your destination. Nonstop flights from London to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) operate out of this terminal.
You'll have your choice of carriers that operate direct flights from London to San Francisco International Airport departing from LHR. Book your journey with one of these:
The preferred choice for passengers flying between LHR and SFO is United.
Virgin Atlantic sets the standard for punctuality. A reliable 88.33% of its departures on this route reach their destination on schedule.
Think about adding a stopover to find cheap flights from London to SFO. Simply deselect 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from London Heathrow Airport (LHR). Slip in a stop (and skip the high fares) by flying through one of these popular airports:
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
Portland International Airport (PDX)
Located around 24 kilometres from the centre of London, LHR can be reached in about 45 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey by public transport is roughly 25 minutes.
In search of a convenient hotel close to London Heathrow Airport? If you've booked an early flight from London to San Francisco International Airport, these accommodation options will have you sleeping conveniently close to check-in:
When it comes to the on-time performance of London Heathrow Airport, data shows 78% of flights arrive within the scheduled time frame.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Break up your flight from London to San Francisco International Airport with a stop so you can recharge or tick a new place off your list. Top stopovers between London Gatwick Airport and SFO include:
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
Dublin Airport (DUB)
LGW is around 48 kilometres from central London. It'll take 1 hour 5 minutes or so to get to the airport if you're driving from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 1 hour 20 minutes.
Taking off bright and early? Think about staying at one of these accommodation options near London Gatwick Airport the day before your London to SFO flight:
Flights from London Gatwick Airport have a proven record for punctuality, with 82% of them landing as planned.
London Stansted Airport (STN)
Lock in a plane ticket from London to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) out of London Stansted Airport (STN) with a stop or two. Popular stopovers between STN and SFO are:
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
Dublin Airport (DUB)
The journey to STN from the centre of London is around 45 minutes by public transport. If you're going by car, it'll take you roughly 1 hour 5 minutes to cover the 56 kilometres or so.
Take the 'what ifs' out of departure day — stay near London Stansted Airport and know you'll get to the terminal with time to spare. Get settled at one of these hotels the day before if you've booked an early London to San Francisco International Airport flight:
With 80% of its departing flights arriving without delays, STN is a dependable starting point for your journey.
About San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Consider staying in a hotel close to SFO if you're catching a late flight from London to San Francisco International Airport. Pick one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
Booking your ride around one week in advance of your London to San Francisco International Airport flight can help you find the best deal.
Getting from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to central San Francisco
Central San Francisco is around 21 kilometres from San Francisco International Airport and takes about 25 minutes to reach by car. See what your options are for making the trip into the city, whether that's with a car hire, taxi or ride-share.
It'll take around 35 minutes to get there using public transport.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
₹ 35,846 is currently the best price for a one-way ticket from London to San Francisco International Airport. Return flights start at ₹ 62,860. These prices can change depending on demand.
To snap up cheap flights from London to SFO, book your plane ticket five months ahead of your planned departure.
Plan your trip for October. That's the best month for scoring a great bargain on London to San Francisco International Airport tickets. If you have flexibility with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across every month.
Locking in a cheap plane ticket from London to SFO is easy with Price Alerts. All you need to do is create one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you when prices go down.
Filters make it easier to track down a bargain for your flight from London to San Francisco International Airport. Pick the airlines, flight times and stops that make sense for you. Then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to zero in on the cheapest fare fast.
The best time to fly from London to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
It's time to work out your travel dates for your flight from London to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). July is when most people visit San Francisco. If a slower pace sounds more appealing, head there in December.
Lock in a London to SFO plane ticket departing in September if you want to visit the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in San Francisco to range from 12ºC to 24ºC.
If you'd rather travel in cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from London to San Francisco International Airport in January when temperatures are between 5ºC and 16ºC.
More about San Francisco
After booking your flight from London to San Francisco International Airport, choose a hotel that puts you where you want to be. Make one of these options your base for exploring San Francisco:
You'll find plenty of things to do in San Francisco when you're ready to get out and sightsee. Make your way to Golden Gate Bridge followed by Painted Ladies - Alamo Square and Alcatraz Island.
Explore more of the United States
Fresno is just one of the many places in the United States waiting to be explored once you've taken in the sights of San Francisco. Around 257 kilometres away to the east, its best attractions include Forestiere Underground Gardens, Shinzen Japanese Garden and Fresno Chaffee Zoo.
Around 129 kilometres northeast of San Francisco, Sacramento is another favourite stop in the United States. Experience this destination's highlights firsthand at California State Railroad Museum, Old Sacramento State Historic Park and Crocker Art Museum.
