Travelling from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to London: what you need to know
Expect to be travelling for 8 hours 40 minutes. That's the average duration of a direct flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to London.
Raleigh-Durham International Airport is located in Durham. Based in the UTC+0 timezone, London is four hours ahead of Durham.
The most popular route is from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR). Take your pick of seven weekly services between these two airports. American Airlines offers a 18:05 departure between RDU and LHR.
To avoid rushing for your RDU to London flight, leave plenty of time to check in and drop off your luggage. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
Travelling during a peak time like school or public holidays? Expect longer queues at check-in and security. Play it safe and arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours ahead of domestic departures.
Direct Raleigh-Durham International Airport to London tickets are available for booking. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is where you'll disembark.
Book your ticket with American Airlines. This well-known carrier operates direct flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to London.
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to take a break from travelling and perhaps even tick a new city off your list. When searching for plane tickets from RDU to London, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Top options include:
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
RDU is around 10 miles from central Durham. If you're driving, catching a cab or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take 20 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the trip time to be around 1 hour 10 minutes.
Looking for a hotel close to RDU? If you're boarding an early flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to London, these stays will put you moments from your departure gate:
Raleigh-Durham International Airport gets high marks for on-time performance. 80.09% of flights that take off from RDU reach their destination on time.
How to find the cheapest flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to London
£122 is the cheapest price we've seen for a one-way Raleigh-Durham International Airport to London flight. A return plane ticket right now is £351. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares may change.
Book three months before you want to fly. Research on pricing trends suggests this is the ideal window for finding cheap flights from RDU to London.
Schedule your trip for July. That's the best month for scoring an epic deal on Raleigh-Durham International Airport to London tickets. If you're flexible with your travel dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across each month.
Picking up a cheap flight from RDU to London is a breeze with Price Alerts. Simply create one of these automatic notifications and we'll notify you as soon as a better deal is available.
Find a cheap flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to London with the help of our filters. Select your ideal times, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
Airports in London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to the centre of London takes about 55 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 19 miles away.
When travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of about 1 hour.
If you have a late flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to London, nothing beats the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your luggage from the carousel and then be showered and resting not long after at one of these hotels near LHR:
Go wherever you want, whenever you want with a London Heathrow Airport rental car. Book your wheels from Surprice, U-Save or Green Motion and see more of London and beyond.
Reserving your ride from London Heathrow Airport around one week before your flight from RDU to London can help you lock in the best possible rate.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
London Gatwick Airport (LGW) is around 50 miles from central London. Once you've hopped off your flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to London, it'll take you around 1 hour 20 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.
You can expect the trip to take roughly 30 minutes on public transport.
Hang the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and unwind at a hotel near LGW. Here are a few options where you can settle in after your RDU to London flight:
Forget about public transport timetables or slow-moving cab lines. Pick up a London Gatwick Airport rental car and blaze your own trail. Check out the rates and availability from Green Motion, U-Save and Drivalia.
Lock in the lowest price by securing your ride from LGW three weeks in advance. You can also expect to have a wider selection of vehicles.
Stansted Airport (STN)
Make tracks for the city centre after your flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to London has landed. Central London is about 40 miles from Stansted Airport (STN) and takes roughly 1 hour to reach by cab or ride-share.
Public transport will get you there in around 1 hour 25 minutes.
Find a hotel close to STN and go from the runway to resting in a snap. Whether you're coming in on a late RDU to London flight or just want to simplify your travel plans, these accommodation options bring comfort closer to you:
Whether you're looking for a zippy mini for a solo escape or an SUV to transport your group, you'll find the ideal Stansted Airport rental car for you. Check out the range of wheels available here from suppliers such as Green Motion, Drivalia and Europcar.
Around four weeks ahead of your flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to London is a good time to book your ride 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
Before locking in your flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to London, consider which time of year is best for you. High season in London offers a bustling atmosphere and plenty of things to do, while the low season means you'll get better deals on hotels and fewer crowds.
When booking your Raleigh-Durham International Airport to London plane ticket, think about what kind of weather you prefer. July is the warmest month in London, with temperatures ranging from 11ºC (52ºF) to 26ºC (79ºF).
January sees average temperatures of between 0ºC (32ºF) and 9ºC (48ºF). Look for a cheap ticket from RDU to London around that time if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.
More about London
When it comes to looking for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the best places to stay in London right here. Explore these options as soon as you've booked your flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to London:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be hard to know where to start. The British Museum, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace are top attractions which should be on every London itinerary.
Explore more of United Kingdom
Birmingham is just one of the many places in United Kingdom waiting to be discovered once you've seen London. Around 100 miles away to the north-west, well-known attractions include Cadbury World, The Library of Birmingham and National Sea Life Centre.
If there's time to check out another well-known destination in United Kingdom, head for Bristol, roughly 110 miles west of London. Clifton Suspension Bridge, Cabot Tower and Brandon Hill Nature Park are key reasons to visit.