Nonstop flights from San Francisco to London take about 10h 30m, with 3 airlines flying the route.
Checking today’s fares with the airlines.
San Francisco and London, United Kingdom are about 5,354 miles apart. London is 8 hours ahead of San Francisco. The scheduled nonstop takes around 10 hours 30 minutes.
All nonstops fly to Heathrow, year-round.
| Airline | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| British Airways | SFO San Francisco International Airport | LHR Heathrow Airport |
| United Airlines | SFO San Francisco International Airport | LHR Heathrow Airport |
| Virgin Atlantic | SFO San Francisco International Airport | LHR Heathrow Airport |
Nonstop service as of October 2026. Airlines change schedules seasonally.
14 miles (23 km) from the city centre. 83.9 million passengers in 2024
| How | Route | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Train | Heathrow Express to Paddington (15 min from Terminals 2 and 3, 21 min from Terminal 5), every 15 minutes | about 15m |
| Train | Elizabeth line into central London, six trains per hour | about 35m |
| Metro | Piccadilly line Underground to central London (about 40-50 minutes) | about 40m |
30 miles (48 km) from the city centre. 43.2 million passengers in 2024
| How | Route | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Train | Gatwick Express non-stop to London Victoria, twice hourly | about 30m |
| Train | Southern and Thameslink trains to Victoria, London Bridge, Blackfriars and St Pancras (30 to 45 minutes) | about 45m |
31 miles (50 km) from the city centre. 29.7 million passengers in 2024
| How | Route | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Train | Stansted Express to Liverpool Street, every 15 minutes | about 48m |
US citizens need a passport and a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for visits of up to 6 months.
The ETA costs 20 pounds, is valid for 2 years or until the passport expires (whichever is sooner), and allows multiple visits. Apply through the UK ETA app or gov.uk/eta/apply; decisions usually arrive within a day but can take up to 3 working days. The UK is outside the Schengen Area, so EES and ETIAS do not apply.
Visit London's official tourism body describes June to September as peak season, with fewer crowds and lower prices in September to November and January to April. Rain falls year-round and October is statistically the wettest month.
Busiest: Jun-Sep. Quieter shoulder season: Jan-Apr, Sep-Nov.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F (8°C) | 37°F (3°C) |
| Feb | 48°F (9°C) | 37°F (3°C) |
| Mar | 53°F (12°C) | 39°F (4°C) |
| Apr | 59°F (15°C) | 43°F (6°C) |
| May | 65°F (18°C) | 48°F (9°C) |
| Jun | 71°F (22°C) | 54°F (12°C) |
| Jul | 75°F (24°C) | 58°F (14°C) |
| Aug | 74°F (23°C) | 57°F (14°C) |
| Sep | 68°F (20°C) | 53°F (12°C) |
| Oct | 60°F (16°C) | 48°F (9°C) |
| Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 42°F (6°C) |
| Dec | 48°F (9°C) | 38°F (3°C) |
A nonstop flight from San Francisco to London is typically scheduled for about 10 hours 30 minutes. Flights with a connection take longer, depending on the layover.
As of October 2026, British Airways, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic fly nonstop between San Francisco and London.
Nonstop flights leave from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and arrive at Heathrow Airport (LHR).
London is about 5,354 miles (8,616 km) from San Francisco, measured between the city centres.
London is 8 hours ahead of San Francisco.
US citizens need a passport and a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for visits of up to 6 months. This applies to US citizens; other nationalities should check their own requirements.
One option is heathrow Express to Paddington (15 min from Terminals 2 and 3, 21 min from Terminal 5), every 15 minutes, which takes about 15 minutes.
Information checked in October 2026. Schedules, fares and entry rules change, so confirm with the airline or the official source before you travel.