Travelling from Chicago to London: what you need to know
Start your travel planning by considering the departure point for your flight from Chicago to London. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) are the main airports in Chicago.
London has a range of airports you can fly into. Make your landing at London Heathrow Airport (LHR), London Gatwick Airport (LGW) or London Stansted Airport (STN). Alternatively, touch down at London Luton Airport (LTN) or London City Airport (LCY).
Around 8 hours is how long you can expect to be in the air on a direct Chicago to London flight.
London's timezone is UTC+0, which makes London six hours ahead of Chicago.
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is the most traveled route. When looking for your flight from Chicago to London, you can select from 56 services every week between ORD and LHR.
To ensure you board your Chicago to London flight, leave enough time for things like check-in and baggage drop. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.
Flying during a peak time such as July? Public holidays and other popular periods can mean longer queues and delays at security. Be extra cautious and get there up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours before domestic departures.
How to find the cheapest flights from Chicago to London
Lock in cheap Chicago to London flights by booking six months ahead. According to our research, that's the sweet spot for finding the biggest deals.
November is the best month for picking up an incredible deal on a plane ticket from Chicago to London. If you're looking to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices across every month.
Save time looking for cheap flights from Chicago to London by setting up a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or notification on the app when fares go down.
Save money on your Chicago to London flight with the help of our filters. Choose your ideal duration, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Flying from Chicago
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
If you're looking for a direct flight from Chicago to London, you can depart from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Fly from ORD to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) in one continuous trip.
Top airlines that offer direct Chicago to London plane tickets departing from ORD include:
Stopovers are the ideal opportunity to break up your journey — and possibly even explore a different city. When browsing Chicago to London flights leaving from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Popular options include:
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Travelling from central Chicago to ORD takes around 45 minutes by public transport. If you ride-share, drive or take a taxi, you'll cover the 26 kilometres in 30 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
After a stress-free start to your travels? Stay near Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Whether you have an early flight from Chicago to London or just don't like being rushed, these hotels are just the thing:
70% of flights that take off from Chicago O'Hare International Airport touch down at their destination on schedule.
You'll find ORD at 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway Airport (MDW)
Visit friends or family or just take a moment to stretch your legs with a stopover. If you'd like to split up your Chicago to London flight, check out these options when taking off from Chicago Midway Airport:
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
On public transport, you can travel from central Chicago to MDW in around 30 minutes. The airport is roughly 14 kilometres away. Driving will take you about 25 minutes.
Want to treat yourself to an extra night away before boarding your flight from Chicago to London? Check in to a hotel near Chicago Midway Airport before your holiday officially starts. Stay at one of these accommodation options:
76% of flights taking off from Chicago Midway Airport meet their expected arrival time.
The address for MDW is 5700 South Cicero.
Arriving in London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is approximately 26 kilometres from the centre of London. If you're catching a taxi or a ride-share, the drive takes around 45 minutes.
It typically takes 25 minutes to get there on public transport.
If you're arriving on a late flight from Chicago to London, few things beat the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Pick up your bags from the carousel and then be showered and sleeping not long after at one of these accommodation options near LHR:
Get your adventure underway by picking up a London Heathrow Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from Surprice, U-Save or Green Motion and explore beyond London's main sights.
Lock in the lowest price by booking your vehicle from London Heathrow Airport about one week before your departure date.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Once your flight from Chicago to London has hit the tarmac, you can get to the city centre in around 1 hour 5 minutes by car. Central London is approximately 40 kilometres from London Gatwick Airport (LGW).
If you hop on public transport, the ride to the centre takes 45 minutes or so.
After your flight from Chicago to London, settle in at a hotel close to LGW. These are some great accommodation options that'll help you get into relaxation mode:
The fastest way to get to where you're going is with a London Gatwick Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from Green Motion, U-Save or Drivalia and be off and running.
Don't pay more than you need to. Booking your ride three weeks before your arrival at LGW will help you stay within budget.
London Stansted Airport (STN)
London Stansted Airport (STN) is around 48 kilometres from central London. It takes about 1 hour 5 minutes to reach the city centre in a car once you've stepped off your flight from Chicago to London.
The journey will take about 45 minutes by public transport.
If you don't want to make the trip to the centre, find a hotel close to STN. Make yourself comfortable at one of these stays after your Chicago to London flight:
Begin your trip without worrying about how to reach your destination with a London Stansted Airport rental car. Book your ideal wheels with reliable suppliers here like Green Motion, Drivalia and Europcar.
Around four weeks ahead of your flight from Chicago to London is the ideal time to book your vehicle from STN. You're more likely to get a better rate or even pick up some early bird discounts.
Best time to go to London
July is the most popular month for flights from Chicago to London. To avoid the crowds, go to London in March.
The warmest month in London is July, with temperatures ranging between 11ºC (52ºF) and 26ºC (79ºF). Lock in your Chicago to London ticket then if that's your ideal forecast.
Look for cheap flights from Chicago to London in January if you want to travel in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 0ºC (32ºF) and 9ºC (48ºF) on average.
More about London
When it comes to searching for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the top stays in London right here. Browse these hotels as soon as you've booked your flight from Chicago to London:
The British Museum and Westminster Abbey are just a couple of the popular attractions to put on your London must-do list. Keep the sightseeing going at Big Ben.
Explore more of the United Kingdom
Manchester is just one of the many places in the United Kingdom waiting to be explored after you've seen London. Around 257 kilometres to the northwest, top sights here include Manchester United Museum & Stadium Tour, The Homes of Football and Science and Industry Museum.
Birmingham is another sought-after destination in the United Kingdom and is around 161 kilometres northwest of London. No journey is complete without experiencing Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Birmingham Hippodrome and Bournville Experience.