Flying from Shanghai to London Gatwick Airport (LGW): What you need to know
Planning your holiday starts with figuring out where you'll fly out of in Shanghai. Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) is the city's main airport, so check out your options for reserving a flight from Shanghai to London Gatwick Airport (LGW) jetting off from here.
Book a direct Shanghai to London Gatwick Airport flight and you'll be in the air for an average of 12 hours 30 minutes.
London Gatwick Airport is located in London. The city operates on the UTC+0 timezone and is eight hours behind Shanghai.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to London Gatwick Airport (LGW) is the most popular route. There are 20 direct flights a week to pick from. If you prefer starting your day later, take the last flight with China Eastern Airlines at 10:45am. Choose the first PVG to LGW departure operated by China Eastern Airlines at 12:55am if getting there sooner works for you.
To ensure you catch your flight from Shanghai to LGW, allow plenty of time to navigate the airport and find your gate. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
Flying over a peak time such as February? Public holidays and other popular seasons can mean longer queues and delays at security. Play it safe and arrive up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
Airports in Shanghai
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Get there in one go from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG). Direct flights from Shanghai to London Gatwick Airport (LGW) operate from here.
When departing from PVG, you can catch a direct flight from Shanghai to London Gatwick Airport with China Eastern Airlines.
The airline with the highest booking numbers between PVG and LGW is China Eastern.
The carrier with the most reliable on-time arrival rate on this route is Air China.
Stopovers are the ideal opportunity to take a travel break and maybe even explore another city. When searching for cheap flights from Shanghai to LGW leaving from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to find out where you can stop along the way. Popular options include:
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Munich Franz Joseph Strauss Airport (MUC)
Travelling from central Shanghai to PVG takes about 50 minutes on public transport. If you ride-share, drive or grab a taxi, you'll cover the 48 kilometres in 1 hour 5 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Catching an early flight from Shanghai to London Gatwick Airport? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and sneak in some extra precious sleep) by choosing one of these stays near Shanghai Pudong International Airport:
78% of flights departing from Shanghai Pudong International Airport land at their destination on time.
PVG's address is No.300 Qihang Road.
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
Break up your flight from Shanghai to London Gatwick Airport with a stop so you can recharge or perhaps go somewhere you've never been before. Top stopovers between Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and LGW are:
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO)
On public transport, you can travel from central Shanghai to SHA in about 40 minutes. The airport is roughly 14 kilometres away, and making the trip by car takes approximately 30 minutes.
Got an early start? You might like to check in to one of these hotels near Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport the day before your Shanghai to LGW flight:
Flights from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport have a track record for punctuality, with 86% of them touching down as expected.
You'll find SHA at 700 Yingbin 1st Rd.
About London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Have a late flight from Shanghai to London Gatwick Airport? Don't let it stretch your travel day into tomorrow. Check in to one of these hotels near LGW and turn out the lights sooner:
Explore without limits with a London Gatwick Airport rental car. Book your wheels from Green Motion, U-Save or Drivalia and experience more of London and beyond.
To get the lowest price, reserve your vehicle around three weeks in advance of your Shanghai to London Gatwick Airport flight.
Getting from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to central London
Central London is about 40 kilometres from London Gatwick Airport. Journey times by taxi or car hire will vary depending on time of day and traffic conditions, so do some research before your trip.
Travelling on public transport takes about 1 hour 20 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Shanghai to London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
$543 is currently the lowest price for a one-way ticket from Shanghai to London Gatwick Airport. A return flight starts at $1,182. These prices may change depending on availability and demand.
Lock in cheap flights from Shanghai to LGW by booking one month ahead. According to our research, that's the sweet spot for picking up a bargain.
June is when you're most likely to find a bargain on a Shanghai to London Gatwick Airport ticket. If you're looking to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices across every month.
There's no need to search every day to find out if prices have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll notify you the moment there's a better deal on plane tickets from Shanghai to LGW.
Chase down a great fare on a flight from Shanghai to London Gatwick Airport with the help of the filters. Choose your preferred arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines. You can also sort your results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest.'
The best time to fly from Shanghai to London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
September is the quietest month for flights from Shanghai to London Gatwick Airport (LGW), while July is the busiest. Work out the best time to visit London based on whether you want a lively atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.
When booking your Shanghai to LGW plane ticket, consider the kind of weather you prefer. July is the warmest month in London, with temperatures ranging from 11ºC to 26ºC.
If you like cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from Shanghai to London Gatwick Airport in January when temperatures are between 0ºC and 9ºC.
More about London
Start your London trip right by choosing the perfect place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from Shanghai to London Gatwick Airport, explore our range of accommodation options including:
Your London trip should come with a side of sightseeing. Top attractions that should be on your list include The British Museum, Westminster Abbey and Big Ben.
Explore more of the United Kingdom
Birmingham is just one of the many cities in the United Kingdom waiting to be discovered once you've taken in the sights of London. Around 193 kilometres away to the northwest, its best attractions include Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre and Bournville Experience.
If you want to check out another major stop in the United Kingdom, consider Bristol, roughly 177 kilometres west of London. Banksey, Clifton Suspension Bridge and Bristol International Balloon Fiesta are key highlights.

