HambaNow · South African destination guides
Flights to London from South Africa
Visa required. Standard Visitor visa. Usually up to 6 months
Plan London from any South African departure airport: nonstop services from Johannesburg and Cape Town, connecting routes from Durban and regional airports, UK visitor visa steps and the best seasons for your trip.
Published by HambaNow, a division of Paradise Road Travel. Editorial update: .
Visa requirements for South Africans
Visa required: Standard Visitor visa. Usually up to 6 months
Ordinary South African passport holders need a Standard Visitor visa, not an ETA. Apply online no earlier than 3 months before travel, prepare evidence of your visit and finances, then attend a visa application-centre appointment for biometrics. Decisions usually take 3 weeks after biometrics and supporting documents, but can take longer. Each traveller, including each child, needs their own application and fee.
Fee: £135 for a Standard Visitor visa for a stay of up to 6 months, checked 12 October 2026. Verify the fee on GOV.UK before paying; optional services cost extra.
Passport / identification: Your passport must be valid for the whole of your stay in the UK.
A visa does not guarantee entry; border officials may ask about your visit and supporting documents.
Official application / requirements · GOV.UK · checked 12 October 2026
Routes from South Africa
Dated public references, not live availability. Check every leg and operating date.
Nonstop flights
| From | Airline | Route | Schedule | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg (JNB) |   British Airways · Virgin Atlantic | JNB → London Heathrow (LHR) | October 2026 reference: 21 flights/week in total across both airlines. Departure times vary by date. | Timetable reference · checked 12 October 2026 |
| Cape Town (CPT) | British Airways · Virgin Atlantic (seasonal) | CPT → London Heathrow (LHR) | October 2026 reference: 12 flights/week in total across the published route timetable. Counts change with the season. | Timetable reference · checked 12 October 2026 |
| Cape Town (CPT) |  Norse Atlantic UK | CPT → London Gatwick (LGW) | October 2026 reference: 4 flights/week. Operating days and departure times depend on your dates. | Timetable reference · checked 12 October 2026 |
Connecting flights
| From | Airline | Route | Schedule | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg, Cape Town & Durban (JNB,CPT,DUR) |  Qatar Airways | Via Doha (DOH) | Select dated connections to Heathrow or Gatwick. The South African leg may include another stop. | Timetable reference · checked 12 October 2026 |
| Johannesburg, Cape Town & Durban (JNB,CPT,DUR) |  Emirates | Via Dubai (DXB) | Multiple London onward services; compare the full itinerary and the Dubai layover. | Timetable reference · checked 12 October 2026 |
| Johannesburg & Cape Town (JNB,CPT) |  KLM | Via Amsterdam (AMS) | Date-specific South African departures connect with London services through Amsterdam. | Timetable reference · checked 12 October 2026 |
| Johannesburg & Cape Town (JNB,CPT) |  Air France | Via Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) | Cape Town services can be seasonal. Heathrow and London City options depend on the itinerary. | Timetable reference · checked 12 October 2026 |
| Johannesburg & Cape Town (JNB,CPT) |  SWISS | Via Zurich (ZRH) | Cape Town schedules are seasonal/date-dependent; some tickets use partner-operated legs. | Timetable reference · checked 12 October 2026 |
| Johannesburg & Cape Town (JNB,CPT) |  Lufthansa / partner airlines | Via Frankfurt (FRA) or Munich (MUC) | Hub and operating days vary by origin and season. Regional departures may first connect domestically. | Timetable reference · checked 12 October 2026 |
| Johannesburg, Cape Town & Durban (JNB,CPT,DUR) |  Turkish Airlines | Via Istanbul (IST) | Check the dated itinerary; some South African departures include an intermediate stop. | Timetable reference · checked 12 October 2026 |
| Johannesburg, Cape Town & Durban (JNB,CPT,DUR) |  Ethiopian Airlines | Via Addis Ababa (ADD) | Operating days vary. Some departures have an additional stop before the Addis Ababa connection. | Timetable reference · checked 12 October 2026 |
| Johannesburg & Cape Town (JNB,CPT) |  Kenya Airways | Via Nairobi (NBO) | Compare the full dated itinerary. Cape Town services may also stop in another African city. | Timetable reference · checked 12 October 2026 |
| Johannesburg (JNB) |  Etihad Airways | Via Abu Dhabi (AUH) | Airline reference: morning departure, around 09:50 local. Confirm the time and layover for your travel date. | Timetable reference · checked 12 October 2026 |
| Johannesburg (JNB) |  RwandAir | Via Kigali (KGL) | Dated Kigali connections to Heathrow; onward availability and layovers vary. | Timetable reference · checked 12 October 2026 |
| Johannesburg (JNB) |  Air Mauritius | Via Mauritius (MRU) to Gatwick (LGW) | Compare both connecting legs in the dated timetable; this is not a nonstop South Africa–London service. | Timetable reference · checked 12 October 2026 |
| Durban & regional South African airports (DUR,REGIONAL) | Domestic feeder + international airline | Durban (DUR), Gqeberha (PLZ), East London (ELS), George (GRJ), Bloemfontein (BFN), Mbombela (MQP), Hoedspruit (HDS) and other airports → JNB/CPT → London or an international hub | No London nonstop. Ask for a through-ticket where available; separate tickets need enough connection time and may require baggage re-check. | Timetable reference · checked 12 October 2026 |
When to go and when to book
London is a year-round city. Spring and early autumn balance milder weather with fewer summer crowds; summer has long daylight and outdoor events but is busier. Winter is colder, with seasonal lights, theatre and indoor museums.
Shoulder season: March to May and September to October. Busy periods: June to August.
- For a cheaper travel period, start by comparing February and November. These are aggregate route trends, not a promise for every South African airport or travel date.
- Start comparing several months ahead, especially for June–August or December travel. There is no guaranteed cheapest booking day or fixed number of weeks that always works.
- Compare nearby departure and return dates, both Heathrow and Gatwick, and nonstop versus connecting fares. Include baggage, stopover length and airport-transfer costs.
- For comfortable sightseeing, consider spring or early autumn. Balance the fare against daylight, temperatures and the experiences you want.
- You can apply for the UK visa up to 3 months before travel. Allow time for an appointment and the usual 3-week decision period after biometrics; avoid non-refundable commitments before your visa is granted.
Monthly weather and holiday planning, not measured fares:
- Jan: Cold weather; holiday dates can change the price picture.
- Feb: Cheapest month in Momondo’s South Africa–London aggregate analysis; pack for winter.
- Mar: Early spring. Compare nearby dates, especially around Easter.
- Apr: Spring sightseeing; Easter and school-holiday dates vary.
- May: Milder days and parks in bloom; compare fares around bank holidays.
- Jun: Start of the summer visitor peak; long daylight for sightseeing.
- Jul: Peak summer tourism and school holidays; warmer, busier days.
- Aug: Peak summer tourism; compare fares outside school-holiday dates.
- Sep: Early-autumn weather can suit sightseeing with fewer summer crowds.
- Oct: Shorter days; watch UK half-term and South African school holidays.
- Nov: Another lower-fare month in Momondo’s route analysis; colder days and earlier sunsets.
- Dec: Festive travel and South African summer holidays can increase demand.
Visit London · checked 12 October 2026
Frequently asked questions
Do South Africans need a visa for London?
Visa required. Standard Visitor visa. Usually up to 6 months
Are there nonstop flights to London from South Africa?
Yes, some nonstop options appear in our dated sources. Check the nonstop table for airports, airlines and schedules, then confirm in live results.
When is the best time to visit London?
London is a year-round city. Spring and early autumn balance milder weather with fewer summer crowds; summer has long daylight and outdoor events but is busier. Winter is colder, with seasonal lights, theatre and indoor museums.
When should I book flights to London?
Start comparing several months ahead, especially for June–August or December travel. There is no guaranteed cheapest booking day or fixed number of weeks that always works.
What should I know before I travel to London?
A visa does not guarantee entry; border officials may ask about your visit and supporting documents.
Why visit London
Walk into London’s skyline
Cross Tower Bridge, watch boats drift along the Thames and follow the riverside towards the flavours of Borough Market.
A city that comes alive
See Big Ben above Westminster, then make an evening of West End theatre and food from every corner of the world.
Royal moments, green escapes
Stand outside Buckingham Palace, then wander through St James’s Park with a picnic and discover London at your own pace.