Traveling from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Cape Town International Airport (CPT): what you need to know
11 hours 35 minutes is the average duration of a direct flight from London Heathrow Airport to Cape Town International Airport. Cape Town is 2 hours ahead of London and operates on the UTC+2 timezone.
Every week, there are 16 flights from London Heathrow Airport to Cape Town International Airport. If you want to get going as early as possible, take the 10:40 Virgin Atlantic flight. If you'd rather make the most of your day before you fly, the last flight from LHR to CPT is 22:25 with British Airways.
During popular months such as July, it's best to get to the airport even earlier. Plan to arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead for an international flight when you travel during a peak period in general.
Visiting Cape Town (and exploring more of South Africa!) is straightforward with Virgin Atlantic. This popular airline runs direct flights from London Heathrow Airport to Cape Town International Airport.
If you prefer a stopover for your flight from London Heathrow Airport to Cape Town International Airport, just uncheck 'Direct flights only' and explore your options. These are the most popular stopovers between LHR and CPT:
O.R. Tambo International Airport
Charles de Gaulle Airport
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Before reserving your cheap ticket from LHR to CPT, check if you need a visa to enter South Africa. Visa and travel document requirements can differ and are updated frequently. For the latest information, get in touch with the nearest consulate or embassy of the country you're going to.
How to find the cheapest flights from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
The best price we've seen for a one-way ticket from London Heathrow Airport to Cape Town International Airport is C$624. The cheapest price for a return flight is C$1,040. Bear in mind that fares may change due to availability when booking.
Book 5 months before you want to travel. After looking at the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you'll want to book ahead to secure cheap flight tickets from LHR to CPT.
Organize your trip for January. That's the cheapest month for flight tickets from London Heathrow Airport to Cape Town International Airport. If your travel dates are flexible, try out the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest airfare across every month.
Create a Price Alert for cheap flight tickets from LHR to CPT. You don't need to check back in every day to find out if fares have fallen. We'll notify you as soon as there's a change in price.
Tailor your flights with filters. Choose your preferred departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort your results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest' flights from London Heathrow Airport to Cape Town International Airport.
Handy information about London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Located around 31 kilometres from the center of London, London Heathrow Airport can be reached in approximately 57 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey by public transport takes roughly 1 hour and 1 minute.
Want a handy hotel near LHR? If you're boarding an early flight from London Heathrow Airport to Cape Town International Airport, these accommodation options will put you moments from your departure gate:
Arriving at Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from London Heathrow Airport to Cape Town International Airport. Book one of these accommodation options near CPT instead:
Getting from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) to central Cape Town
From Cape Town International Airport, Cape Town is approximately 19 kilometres away. It takes around 21 minutes to reach the center driving.
When to fly to Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
June is the busiest month for flights from London Heathrow Airport to Cape Town International Airport. To skip the crowds, travel to Cape Town in April.
Book your flight from London Heathrow Airport to Cape Town International Airport for February if you want to visit Cape Town during its warmest month. Expect temperatures of between 16ºC and 27ºC.
Look for cheap flight tickets from LHR to CPT in July if you like traveling in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest around then, ranging between 9ºC and 19ºC on average.
More about Cape Town
If you're looking for somewhere to lay your head, you can find the best places to stay in Cape Town right here. Explore these hotels after you've booked your flight from LHR to CPT:
All great journeys should include a little sightseeing. Table Mountain, Battery Park @ V&A Waterfront and Robben Island are among the things you can't miss in Cape Town.
Complete your Cape Town trip with hotels and a car rental
Comparing flights is not our only party trick. After booking your cheap ticket to Cape Town International Airport, explore our car rental offers that'll give you the freedom and flexibility to travel around at your own pace. Next, have a look at our exclusive rates for hotels to find your ideal Cape Town stay.