Washington Dulles to London Heathrow
3667 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 7h 47m with 8 airlines operating direct service from Washington Dulles (IAD) to London Heathrow (LHR). Cheapest fares are usually in January (around $449 return), with peak prices in August (around $1347). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from Washington Dulles
Washington Dulles International is United Airlines' Mid-Atlantic hub and the larger of the two Washington-region airports. Metro's Silver Line extension opened in 2022, running from the airport's underground station directly to downtown Washington DC in around 50 minutes for $7. International long-haul through IAD is the deepest of any DC-area airport, with United, BA, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, Air France, Qatar, Emirates and Ethiopian all running daily flights to global hubs.
Arriving in London
London Heathrow is 24 km west of central London — the deepest transatlantic hub from anywhere on the US East Coast. The Elizabeth Line and Heathrow Express both reach Paddington (15 minutes Express, 30 minutes Elizabeth) for £25 and £13.30 respectively. US carriers (American, Delta, United, JetBlue) and BA dominate the corridor. Cheapest fares from US East Coast: late January and February; peak demand is June–August.
Who flies IAD to LHR?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| United Airlines | UA | 7h 47m | Economy |
| British Airways | BA | 7h 47m | Economy |
| Virgin Atlantic | VS | 7h 47m | Economy |
| Lufthansa | LH | 7h 47m | Economy |
| Air France | AF | 7h 47m | Economy |
| Qatar Airways | QR | 7h 47m | Economy |
| Emirates | EK | 7h 47m | Economy |
| Ethiopian Airlines | ET | 7h 47m | Economy |
8 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly IAD→LHR
Synthesised from 12-month price aggregates. Cheapest months in green, peak in red.
Estimated baseline. Prices update on a 30-day cadence as Travelpayouts data refreshes. Cheapest day-of-week typically Tuesday.
Washington to London FAQs
Direct flights from Washington Dulles (IAD) to London Heathrow (LHR) take approximately 7h 47m for the 3667-mile journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
January is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $449. August is the peak — expect prices 2–3× higher. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares; last-minute prices on this corridor rise sharply inside two weeks of departure.
8 carriers operate direct service from Washington Dulles (IAD) to London Heathrow (LHR): United Airlines, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, Air France and 3 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — United Airlines typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) required for US passport holders from 2025 — apply online, £10. Always check travel.state.gov for the latest entry requirements before booking.
London Heathrow (LHR) is the primary international airport for London. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus, taxi or rideshare depending on traffic and time of day. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.