Flying from London to Chengdu: what you need to know
Take your pick of a number of airports when planning your flight from London to Chengdu. Explore your options for flying out of London from London Heathrow Airport (LHR), London Gatwick Airport (LGW) or London Stansted Airport (STN). London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY) also service London.
Arrive in Chengdu at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) or Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU).
Around 10 hours 45 minutes is how long you'll be in transit on a direct London to Chengdu flight.
Chengdu is eight hours ahead of London and follows the UTC+8 timezone.
With three flights a week between the two airports, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) is the most popular route. Hop on the earliest flight from London to Chengdu with Air China at 21:35. If you prefer to make the most of your day before flying, the latest departure from LHR to TFU is with Air China at 22:00.
Give yourself plenty of time to get on your London to Chengdu flight. As a rule of thumb, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
During popular months like July, it's a good idea to get to the airport earlier. Arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead for an international flight when you travel during high season in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Chengdu
Booking ahead of time is often the key to locking in a cheap London to Chengdu flight. Flight prices rise as demand increases, so the closer your departure date, the more you'll likely pay.
The 'Whole month' tool shows you the cheapest plane tickets from London to Chengdu across every month. It's an easy way to snap up a bargain if your travel dates are flexible.
Getting a cheap flight from London to Chengdu is a breeze with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know when a better deal is available.
Tailor your trip using filters. Pick your ideal departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort your results by 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest' London to Chengdu flights.
Flying from London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
You can get a direct flight from London to Chengdu departing from London Heathrow Airport (LHR). Start your journey at LHR and come in for landing at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU).
Secure your London to Chengdu plane tickets with Air China. This airline is a popular choice for direct flights from LHR.
Stopovers are the ideal opportunity to break up your trip — and possibly even visit a new city. When searching for London to Chengdu flights departing from London Heathrow Airport, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Some popular options include:
Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG)
Beijing Capital Airport (PEK)
Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX)
LHR is around 26 kilometres from central London. If you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a taxi from the centre, it'll take 45 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're using public transport, expect the trip time to be around 25 minutes.
Want a handy hotel near London Heathrow Airport? If you're catching an early flight from London to Chengdu, these accommodation options will have you sleeping moments from your departure gate:
78% of flights that depart London Heathrow Airport reach their destination on schedule.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Get more out of your holiday with a stopover on your London to Chengdu flight. Visit family or friends or cross another city off your list. Whatever you'd like to do, check out these options between London Gatwick Airport and Chengdu:
Guangzhou Airport (CAN)
Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG)
Beijing Capital Airport (PEK)
Using public transport, you can travel from central London to LGW in around 45 minutes. The terminal is roughly 40 kilometres away. Driving will take you about 1 hour 5 minutes.
Kick off your holiday early with an extra night away from home. Before your flight from London to Chengdu, stay in one of these hotels near London Gatwick Airport:
Most flights that leave London Gatwick Airport reach their destination on schedule. It achieves a consistent on-time performance rate of 83%.
London Stansted Airport (STN)
From the centre of London, STN is around 48 kilometres away. It'll take you roughly 1 hour 5 minutes to get to the airport by car and 45 minutes or so if you're on public transport.
Sleep a little longer, move a little slower, and still make your London to Chengdu flight with plenty of 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 reliable on-time arrivals performance of 80%, so you can count on your flight to stay on course and reach your final stop as expected.
Arriving in Chengdu
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU)
The distance from Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) to central Chengdu is roughly 48 kilometres. It takes about 50 minutes to reach the centre driving.
It usually takes 1 hour to get there on public transport.
Book a hotel close to TFU if you're coming in on a late flight from London to Chengdu. Pick one of these accommodation options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU)
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) is roughly 11 kilometres from the centre of Chengdu. After your flight from London to Chengdu, it'll take you approximately 35 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a taxi or ride-share.
You can expect the journey to take roughly 45 minutes on public transport.
Place the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and relax at a hotel close to CTU. Here are a few options where you can settle in after your flight from London to Chengdu:
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport can be found at Airport Expressway Entrance.
Best time to go to Chengdu
December is the most popular month for flights from London to Chengdu. To travel when it's less crowded, go to Chengdu in March.
Lock in a London to Chengdu ticket departing in August if you want to experience the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Chengdu to range from 21ºC to 33ºC.
Search for cheap flights from London to Chengdu in January if you want to travel in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 0ºC and 13ºC on average.
More about Chengdu
Start your Chengdu trip off on the right foot by choosing the perfect place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from London to Chengdu, check out our selection of accommodation options including:
Sichuan Tower of China and Jinli Street are just two of the top-rated attractions to add to your Chengdu must-do list. Keep the adventure rolling by checking out Sichuan Museum.
Explore more of China
Nanchong is just one of the many places in China waiting to be explored once you've seen the sights of Chengdu. Around 193 kilometres to the east, popular attractions include Lingyun Mountain Scenic Area, Nanchong Xishan Scenic Area - Wanjuanlou Scenic Area and Sichuan Nanchong Xishan Scenic Area Qileshan Scenic Area.
Tianshui is another standout destination in China and is around 467 kilometres north of Chengdu. No journey is complete without dropping by Qimulin Mountain, Yuquanguan Scenic Area and Tianshui Shenjin Mountain Provincial Forest Park.