Cheap Flights From Istanbul To London

Five London airports — the choice costs you money

London is served by five airports, and the cheapest fare is often not the cheapest journey once you add the transfer.

Heathrow (LHR) is the main hub, 24km west of central London. The Piccadilly Line runs directly into the city for a few pounds, or the Elizabeth Line gets you there faster. Turkish Airlines and British Airways both fly here from Istanbul.

Gatwick (LGW) sits 45km south. The Gatwick Express reaches Victoria in about 30 minutes, though it costs considerably more than the Underground from Heathrow.

Stansted (STN) is 64km northeast and the base for most budget carriers. The Stansted Express takes roughly 50 minutes to Liverpool Street. Pegasus flies here from Sabiha Gökçen.

Luton (LTN) is 56km north, with a shuttle to the rail station and then a train to St Pancras — around 50 minutes in total.

London City (LCY) is closest to the centre and the most convenient, but it handles mainly short-haul European business routes and rarely appears on Istanbul searches.

Before booking, add the transfer cost and time to the fare. A cheap Stansted arrival landing late at night can mean an expensive taxi once the trains have stopped.

When to book and when to fly

Book six to eight weeks ahead for the best fares. This route carries heavy business demand alongside leisure traffic, so prices firm up earlier than on purely holiday routes.

January and February are the cheapest months, with November close behind. July and August are the most expensive, combining school holidays with peak tourist season across Europe.

May, September and October offer the best balance — mild weather in London, lower fares, and shorter queues at the major attractions.

Mid-week departures are consistently cheaper than Friday or Sunday. Business traffic peaks on Monday mornings and Thursday evenings, so avoiding those windows helps on this route specifically.

Airlines on this route

This route is well served, which keeps fares competitive year-round. Turkish Airlines flies from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Heathrow with full service included, and British Airways operates the same pairing from the London side. Pegasus flies from Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) to Stansted at lower base fares, with baggage and seat selection charged separately.

Check both airport codes before you book. IST and SAW sit on opposite sides of Istanbul, and Heathrow and Stansted are 80km apart at the London end. A fare that looks $40 cheaper can cost more once you’ve crossed a city twice.

Comparing all carriers in one search typically saves $30 to $90 versus booking direct with a single airline.

Getting into the city

Don’t buy a travelcard unless you’re staying a week or more. Contactless bank cards and phones work directly on the Underground, buses and trains, and daily capping means you never pay more than the equivalent day pass.

From Heathrow, the Piccadilly Line is the cheapest route in — around an hour to central London. The Elizabeth Line costs more but takes roughly half the time and runs to Paddington and Liverpool Street.

If you land at Stansted or Luton after midnight, check the last train before booking. Night coaches run, but they’re slow, and a taxi from either airport into central London is expensive.