Flights from Brisbane to London

London is calling. Are you going to answer it?

If you’re looking for a European getaway out of Brisbane, London is the perfect city full of history, culture, beautiful architecture, and one of the best food and drink scenes in the world. London blends the old with the new and is full of amazing things to keep you entertained.

Brisbane Airport has more than 2,000 flights to London every week, so you have lots of options to pick from. Not including layovers, flights to London from Brisbane take about 24 hours. While the flight is a long one, the many airlines that fly this route do a good job of keeping you comfortable with great food and entertainment options. You could even schedule a long layover in one of several cities, including Singapore or Dubai, to break up the journey.

Are you ready to experience what makes London and the United Kingdom so special? Follow these tips to make sure your trip from Brisbane to London goes as smoothly as possible.

Things to Do in London

As the famous saying goes, when you are tired of London, you are tired of life. London is one of the most exciting cities in the world and has something to offer everyone. Whether your visit is a few days or a few weeks, you won’t run out of new things to see and do.

London has some of the most recognised landmarks in the world, and the best way to see as many as possible is to take a walk along the River Thames. You’ll see the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, the London Eye (which you could take a ride on if you fancy it), the Shard, the Tower of London, and the Tower Bridge. The views are beautiful and the atmosphere is amazing. Be aware that Big Ben is currently covered in scaffolding as it undergoes repairs and renovations and is set to reopen in the Spring of 2021. But don’t let that discourage you! The views along the River Thames are still extremely beautiful.

Are you a fan of live theatre? Then you have come to the right city! London’s West End is one of the best places in the world to see live theatre and musicals. As well as the most popular musicals, new shows debut on the West End all the time. Visit the TKTS office in Leicester Square to purchase tickets and get some great deals on same-day tickets.

Museum lovers will be in heaven in London. The city has some amazing museums, and the best part is, most of them are free. Some of the top museums to visit are the Natural History Museum, the British Museum, the Tate Modern, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

If you’re fascinated by the Royal family, be sure to visit Buckingham Palace. The Changing of the Guards is held there every other morning at 11AM and is free to attend. And if you see the Royal Standard flag (which is maroon, navy, and yellow), it means the Queen is at home! Continue your Royal tour with a visit to the beautiful Kensington Palace in Hyde Park. The Kensington Gardens are some of the nicest in all of London and are a quiet escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

For some beautiful London architecture to photograph, head to Kensington and Chelsea or Notting Hill for some of the most beautiful and colourful houses you’ve ever seen. And on Saturdays, be sure to visit the famous Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill for an amazing selection of food, souvenirs, vintage clothing, and homeware.

Some more things that a trip to London wouldn’t be complete without? A traditional British high tea, a ride on a red double decker bus, a photo in a red phone box, and a pint in a traditional British pub.
 

What is the best time of year to visit London?

London gets a reputation as being grey and rainy, but visit during the UK Summer, and that won’t be the case! Between May and August, London is sunny and green. September and October are great months to visit as well to experience the Autumn foliage. And to experience a white Christmas with some of the best Christmas markets in the world, take a trip to London in December.
 

Departing from Brisbane

Located northeast of the city, Brisbane Airport is one of the largest Australian hubs for long-haul international flights. There are close to 300 flights to London from Brisbane every single day. Many major airlines fly from Brisbane to Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport, including Qantas, Virgin Australia, British Airways, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines.

Getting to Brisbane Airport (BNE)

Brisbane has an Airtrain that will get you from the CBD to the airport in just 20 minutes. The train runs every 15 minutes during peak time and every 30 minutes outside of peak time. It operates 5AM-10PM on weekdays and 6AM-10PM on weekends.

The Airtrain also has connections from the Gold Coast and Brisbane suburbs, so you can easily get to the airport no matter what part of the Brisbane region you are travelling from.
The Airtrain varies in price based on which station you travel from, and tickets can be purchased for a discount on the Airtrain website. Tickets from Brisbane Central station cost $18 for adults.

Brisbane Airport is also serviced by taxis and Uber. The journey from Brisbane’s CBD to the airport takes about 20 minutes, and you can expect to pay about $45-$55.

Parking at Brisbane Airport

If you prefer to drive to the airport, Brisbane Airport has several affordable parking options. For the best rates, pre-book your parking spot through the Brisbane Airport website.

AIRPARK Everyday

This parking lot is under 24/7 surveillance and is ideal for long-term parking. If your trip to London will be more than 10 days, you can use this car park for only $5 a day when you pre-book. If your trip to London will be short and sweet, the car park is still a good option at $10 a day. A complimentary bus will take you from the car park to the airport terminals.

AIRPARK Undercover

For the same cost as AIRPARK everyday, you can also book a covered spot—ideal for sheltering your car from the Brisbane sun. AIRPARK Undercover is only available to book online and also offers a complimentary shuttle bus to the airport terminals.

Arriving in London

London is serviced by six international airports: Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport, Stansted, Luton, Southend, and City. The majority of flights from Australia will fly into Heathrow Airport, but Gatwick Airport receives many overseas flights as well. Each airport offers quick and convenient transport options to get you into central London in no time.

Getting to Central London from London Heathrow Airport (LHR)

Heathrow Airport is the largest of London’s airports and receives the majority of long-haul flights. Located right on London’s Underground system (or the Tube as the locals call it), getting into the city centre is simple. The journey takes about 45 minutes to the city centre on the Piccadilly Line, and while the cost varies by Tube station in London, you can expect to pay about £6 GBP.

If you plan to take public transport regularly during your trip, you can purchase an Oyster Card for £5 which will give you discounts on Tube fares and have a daily cap of £12.50.

For a quicker journey into the city, you could also take the Heathrow Airport Express which will get you to London Paddington station in 15 minutes. Tickets are £22.

If you prefer to take one of London’s iconic black cabs, the ride will take you about an hour into central London and set you back about £65-£80 if you reserve a taxi in advance.

Getting to Central London from London Gatwick Airport (LGW)

Gatwick Airport is located south of London and, while it isn’t on a Tube line, it’s still quick and easy getting to the city centre. Once you have passed through customs and collected your luggage, follow the signs for the Thameslink train. The Thameslink departs from Gatwick Airport and makes several stops in central London, including London Bridge and St Pancras. Trains depart every 5-10 minutes and will get you to the city in about 45 minutes. The ride costs £9.40, which you can purchase a ticket for or use your Oyster Card.

Getting to Central London from London Stansted (STN)

Stansted Airport is serviced by the Stansted Express train, which departs for the city every 15 minutes. The train will get you to Liverpool Street station in 45 minutes, where you can switch to several different Tube lines that will take you all over central London. A single ride adult ticket costs £17 at the airport. However, book online in advance, and you can get your ticket for £7.

Getting to Central London from London Luton (LTN)

Luton is located north of the city and, similar to Gatwick Airport, is serviced by the Thameslink train. You can get the train to central London in about 50 minutes, and trains depart every 20 minutes. Tickets cost £12.70, which you can purchase at the airport or pay with your Oyster Card.

Getting to Central London from London Southend (SEN)

If you’re flying into London Southend Airport, you can catch the Greater Anglia train from the airport right to St Pancras station in the city centre. The journey takes about an hour and a half and tickets are £17.10. Trains depart every 20 minutes into London.

Getting to Central London from London City Airport (LCY)

London City Airport is located on London’s DLR, which is a line on the Tube system. Catch the DLR heading west to Bank station. From there, you can transfer to several other Tube lines to get you where you need to go. The journey will take you less than half an hour and will cost about £3 with an Oyster Card.