San Francisco International to London Heathrow
5354 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 11h 10m with 10 airlines operating direct service from San Francisco International (SFO) to London Heathrow (LHR). Cheapest fares are usually in Jun (around $660 return), with peak prices in Jun (around $660). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from San Francisco International
San Francisco International is United's main Pacific hub and Alaska Airlines' largest non-Seattle base. Four terminals form a single ring connected by the AirTrain shuttle, with BART running from the dedicated airport station directly to Powell Street downtown in around 30 minutes for $10. Heavy fog from May through August causes chronic morning delays — book mid-day departures during summer where possible. International long-haul to Asia and Europe is the deepest on the West Coast.
Arriving in London
London Heathrow is 24 km west of central London — the deepest transatlantic hub from anywhere on the US East Coast. The Elizabeth Line and Heathrow Express both reach Paddington (15 minutes Express, 30 minutes Elizabeth) for £25 and £13.30 respectively. US carriers (American, Delta, United, JetBlue) and BA dominate the corridor. Cheapest fares from US East Coast: late January and February; peak demand is June–August.
Who flies SFO to LHR?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| United Airlines | UA | 11h 10m | Economy |
| Singapore Airlines | SQ | 11h 10m | Economy |
| Cathay Pacific | CX | 11h 10m | Economy |
| ANA | NH | 11h 10m | Economy |
| Japan Airlines | JL | 11h 10m | Economy |
| Air France | AF | 11h 10m | Economy |
| Lufthansa | LH | 11h 10m | Economy |
| British Airways | BA | 11h 10m | Economy |
| Qantas | QF | 11h 10m | Economy |
| Emirates | EK | 11h 10m | Economy |
10 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly SFO→LHR
Synthesised from 12-month price aggregates. Cheapest months in green, peak in red.
Estimated baseline. Prices update on a 30-day cadence as Travelpayouts data refreshes. Cheapest day-of-week typically Tuesday.
San Francisco to London FAQs
Direct flights from San Francisco International (SFO) to London Heathrow (LHR) take approximately 11h 10m for the 5354-mile journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
Jun is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $660. Jun is the peak — expect prices 2–3× higher. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares; last-minute prices on this corridor rise sharply inside two weeks of departure.
10 carriers operate direct service from San Francisco International (SFO) to London Heathrow (LHR): United Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, ANA, Japan Airlines and 5 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — United Airlines typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) required for US passport holders from 2025 — apply online, £10. Always check travel.state.gov for the latest entry requirements before booking.
London Heathrow (LHR) is the primary international airport for London. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus, taxi or rideshare depending on traffic and time of day. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.