Flying from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Cape Town Airport (CPT): what you need to know
The average time for a direct flight from London Heathrow Airport to Cape Town Airport is 11 hours 40 minutes.
Cape Town's timezone is UTC+2, which makes Cape Town two hours ahead of London.
Every week, there are 15 London Heathrow Airport to Cape Town Airport flights. If you want to take off as early as possible, select the 17:55 Virgin Atlantic flight. If you'd rather make the most of your day before you fly, the last departure is at 22:25 with British Airways.
Arriving two hours before an international flight and one hour ahead of a domestic departure are golden rules for stress-free travel. Get to the airport on time to catch your LHR to CPT flight.
During popular months such as July, it's a good idea to get to the airport earlier than usual. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of an international flight whenever you're flying during a high season in general.
British Airways is your gateway to discovering Cape Town (and perhaps some other exciting parts of South Africa!). Browse the direct flights from London Heathrow Airport to Cape Town Airport offered by this popular carrier.
The airline that tops the list for bookings on this route is British Airways.
Virgin Atlantic ranks as the leading on-time carrier for LHR to CPT flights, with 96.61% of services landing on schedule.
We make it a breeze to book a flight with a stopover. To see your options for tickets from London Heathrow Airport to Cape Town Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, choose a flight that has a stop long enough to explore the city of your choice. Top stopovers between LHR and CPT include:
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Cape Town Airport (CPT)
Currently, $833 is the lowest price we've seen for a one-way London Heathrow Airport to Cape Town Airport flight. The best price for a return plane ticket is $1,336. Bear in mind that fares could change due to availability at the time of booking.
To secure cheap tickets from LHR to CPT, reserve your journey eight months before your departure date.
Schedule your trip for January. That's the cheapest month for flights from London Heathrow Airport to Cape Town Airport. If your travel dates are flexible, try out the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across each month.
Never miss a deal on cheap flights from LHR to CPT by creating a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or notification on the app when fares go down.
Tailor your trip with filters. Select your preferred arrival and departure times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort the results by 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best' flights from London Heathrow Airport to Cape Town Airport.
Handy information about London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
When it comes to London Heathrow Airport's on-time performance, data shows 78% of flights arrive within the expected timeframe.
Central London to London Heathrow Airport is approximately 24 kilometres. Depending on traffic, it'll take about 45 minutes to get there if you're catching a taxi, ride-sharing or driving.
You can expect a trip time of roughly 25 minutes on public transport.
Looking for a convenient hotel near LHR? If you've booked an early flight from London Heathrow Airport to Cape Town Airport, these stays will put you moments from your check-in counter:
Arriving at Cape Town Airport (CPT)
If you're getting in on a late London Heathrow Airport to Cape Town Airport flight, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your suitcases from the carousel and then be resting shortly after at one of these hotels near CPT:
Grab a Cape Town Airport rental car and discover Cape Town and beyond with your own wheels. Europcar, Carwiz and First - Car Rental are leading providers to choose from here.
Booking your vehicle from Cape Town Airport about one week ahead can help you get the best possible rate.
Getting from Cape Town Airport (CPT) to central Cape Town
Cape Town Airport is roughly 19 kilometres from central Cape Town. The drive time takes about 25 minutes.
When travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of about 35 minutes.
When to fly to Cape Town Airport (CPT)
November is the busiest month for flights from London Heathrow Airport to Cape Town Airport. To escape the crowds, head to Cape Town in March.
When reserving your flight from London Heathrow Airport to Cape Town Airport, consider the kind of weather you like. February is the warmest month in Cape Town, with the temperature ranging from 13ºC to 30ºC.
If you like cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from LHR to CPT in July. Average temperatures are between 6ºC and 18ºC then.
Explore more of South Africa
You've visited Cape Town, now it's time to discover more of South Africa. Journey about 56 kilometres north-east to Paarl to tick off its leading sights. From Zandwijk Wines to Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve and Landskroon Wines, there's plenty to keep you on the go.
If you're ready to explore another great destination in South Africa, consider Worcester, roughly 97 kilometres east of Cape Town. Karoo Desert Garden, Kleinplasie Living Open Air Museum and Beck House Museum are among the biggest draws.








