Flying from London to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA): What you need to know
Washington DC is five hours behind London. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is located in Washington DC, which follows the UTC-5 timezone.
To ensure you catch your flight from London to DCA, leave plenty of time for things like check-in and baggage drop. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
Head to the airport even earlier during popular months like July. Aim for two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of international journeys. After checking in, you can use any extra time to relax or find something to eat.
Airports in London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Think about adding a stopover to find cheap flights from London to DCA. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from London Heathrow Airport (LHR). Make a stop (and maybe make your fare cheaper) by passing through one of these popular options:
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Located around 24 kilometres from central London, LHR can be reached in about 45 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey on public transport will take roughly 25 minutes.
Searching for a comfortable hotel close to London Heathrow Airport? If you've booked an early flight from London to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, these stays will put you moments from your departure lounge:
78% of flights taking off from London Heathrow Airport land at their destination on time.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Squeeze in an extra adventure with a stopover on your flight from London to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Check out these connections between London Gatwick Airport and DCA:
New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ)
You can reach LGW from the centre of London in about 1 hour 5 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The ride on public transport takes roughly 1 hour 20 minutes to travel the 48 kilometres or so.
Flying off with the first light? Think about staying at one of these accommodation options near London Gatwick Airport the day before your London to DCA flight:
Most flights that leave London Gatwick Airport arrive at their destination right on cue. It boasts an on-time performance rate of 82%.
London Stansted Airport (STN)
STN is roughly 56 kilometres from central London. Driving from the city centre to the airport takes about 1 hour 5 minutes. If you're thinking about taking public transport, expect a journey of around 45 minutes.
Skip the rush on your departure day — stay near London Stansted Airport and know you'll reach your gate with time to spare. Get settled at one of these hotels the day before if you have an early London to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport flight:
STN has an on-time performance rate of 80%. This means the majority of its flights reach their destination on schedule and your travel plans stay on track.
About Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from London to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Stay at one of these accommodation options near DCA instead:
Lock in the lowest price by booking your vehicle around four weeks ahead of your London to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport flight.
You'll find DCA at 1 Aviation Circle.
Getting from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to central Washington DC
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is about 6 kilometres from central Washington DC. How long it takes to get to the centre by taxi or car hire depends on the time of day. Do a little research before your trip.
When travelling on public transport, expect a journey of roughly 25 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
The lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from London to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is $792. For a return flight on this route, the best price is $956. Depending on when you book and the availability, these fares could change.
To pick up cheap flights from London to DCA, book early. Airlines tend to offer their most competitively priced fares when flights are first released.
If you can be flexible with your trip dates, try using the 'Whole month' tool. It'll give you the lowest price across the month when searching for your London to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport ticket.
Be the first to know about deals for plane tickets from London to DCA by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or push notification on the app when fares go down.
Save on your flight from London to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport by using filters. Choose your ideal duration, departure time and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
The best time to fly from London to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Think about the kind of holiday you want when planning your trip dates. December is the quietest month to go to Washington DC. July is when most people book flights from London to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), which may be ideal if you're chasing more action.
When booking your London to DCA plane ticket, consider the weather you're most comfortable in. July is the warmest month in Washington DC, with temperatures ranging from 19ºC to 33ºC.
Look for cheap tickets from London to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -6ºC and 10ºC.
More about Washington DC
When it comes to looking for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the most popular stays in Washington DC right here. Check out these options once you've locked in your flight from London to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport:
There are so many things to discover in this city, it can be hard to figure out where to start. Lincoln Memorial, The White House and Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History are leading attractions which should feature on every Washington DC itinerary.
Explore more of the United States
Washington DC has loads to offer, but there are so many other parts of the United States waiting to be discovered. Around 209 kilometres northeast of Washington DC, a trip to Philadelphia will keep you on the move. Start with popular sights like Independence Hall, Liberty Bell and Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Around 241 kilometres southeast of Washington DC, Virginia Beach is another essential stop in the United States. No visit is complete without checking out Virginia Beach Boardwalk, Resort Beach and Neptune's Park.