Compare Cheap Flights to London From Melbourne
Known for its royal family, red double decker buses, and history that spans several thousand years; there is no place quite like London. The British capital, London, has so much to offer visitors, and it’s impossible to run out of new things to experience in the English capital. Within central London, there are an abundance of museums and landmarks, royal residences, parks, shopping, restaurants, nightlife, live theatre, and anything else you could look for in a city. The city centre is made up of beautiful architecture, neon lights and a fast-paced lifestyle. Head just outside of the centre, and there are gorgeous parks that will have you feeling like you’re a world away from busy London. If you would like to continue your trip beyond London, the options are endless. Day trips from the city include Brighton, Oxford, Bath, and Canterbury. If you would like to head further afield, you could continue your adventures to Manchester, Edinburgh, the Scottish Highlands, or even Paris. Booking cheap flights to London from Melbourne is the perfect way to experience history, culture, and beauty on your next holiday.
Experience the history and culture of the United Kingdom on your next international holiday with Webjet’s cheap flights Melbourne to London.
The Best Time to Visit With Flights Melbourne to London
Although London has a reputation of being grey and rainy, that is not the case at all! For much of the year, London experiences good sunshine. The best weather in the city is during the summer months between June and August. During the summer, London comes to life with sunny weather, bright green parks, and daytime temperatures averaging 23°C. Summer is the high season in London, so it is when you’ll experience the highest volume of tourists in the city. People come to the city from all over the world, including those on tickets to London from Melbourne, to experience it in the summer weather, causing hotels to increase their rates during this season.
Spring and autumn are great times to find a bargain on Melbourne to London flights. Temperatures during these seasons are about 15°C during the day. While rain is more common than it is during the summer, rain in London tends to be a light shower rather than a heavy storm. During both spring and autumn, London bursts with colour due to the spring blooms and autumn foliage.
For a great deal on a hotel in London, you may consider booking cheap flights from London from Melbourne in the winter months of January and February. Following the busy Christmas season, London becomes quieter for a couple of months until the spring weather starts to draw people back. Winter gets cold in London, but it is much more bearable compared to the winter weather of some other European cities. During the day, temperatures reach about 9°C. While winter tends to be a bit more grey than the other seasons, there are plenty of sunny days as well. Light rain showers can occur a couple times a week in the winter, and it snows sometimes as well.
Departing From Melbourne
Melbourne is home to two airports. Melbourne Airport (MEL) handles the majority of departures for passengers travelling on flights Melbourne to London. MEL is located 25 kilometres (14 miles) north of Melbourne’s CBD. Avalon Airport (AVV) is a smaller airport located just outside of Geelong. Avalon Airport only offers regional flights, but some international Melbourne to London flights depart from Avalon if connecting through Sydney.
A wide variety of airlines offer cheap flights Melbourne to London, including Virgin Australia, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Emirates, and United Airlines. With about 1,000 cheap flights to London from Melbourne each week, there are plenty of opportunities to start your adventure in the United Kingdom. Travelling from Melbourne, you can reach London in about 23 hours with one stopover.
Getting to Melbourne Airport (MEL)
Melbourne Airport offers five different SkyBus routes to help you reach the airport from locations all over the city. The most popular route runs direct from Southern Cross Station. This bus operates 24 hours a day and will get you to the airport in about 30 minutes without traffic. Other SkyBus routes are available from the Southbank and Docklands, St Kilda, the Western suburbs, and the Mornington Peninsula. Tickets to ride the SkyBus vary based on departure point, starting at $18 AUD from Southern Cross Station.
If you would prefer to catch a taxi or an Uber to the airport, you’ll reach Melbourne Airport in about a half hour from the CBD and inner suburbs. Taxi fare from central Melbourne typically costs between $55 and $75 AUD.
Melbourne Airport offers several car parks if you would prefer to drive to the airport. The Long Term car park offers the most affordable rates when travelling overseas. When you pre-book a parking space, you can pay as little as $10 AUD per day. From the Long Term car park, there is a complimentary shuttle that will get you to your terminal in less than 5 minutes.
Getting to Avalon Airport (AVV)
Avalon Airport is located about 50 kilometres (31 miles) southwest of Melbourne. If you are heading to the airport from the city, you can catch the Avalon Airport SkyBus. The bus originates at Southern Cross Station and also picks up passengers from Synnot Street in Werribee. The Avalon SkyBus doesn’t follow an exact schedule, but makes several runs each day in order to meet all departing and arriving flights. The SkyBus will get you to the airport in about 50 minutes from the CBD and 30 minutes from Werribee. SkyBus tickets cost $22 AUD from Southern Cross Station and $18 AUD from Werribee.
Avalon Airport offers one large car park for passengers who choose to drive to the airport. The longer you are parked at the airport, the lower your daily rate will be. If you’ll be visiting London for a week, parking will come to $79 AUD. If you visit the UK for two weeks, parking costs $132 AUD. The airport car park is just outside the airport, so you can walk to the terminal in minutes.
Arriving in London
As one of the hubs of Europe, London has several airports to fly into. The three main airports in the city are London Heathrow Airport (LHR), London Gatwick Airport (LGW) and London Stansted Airport (STN). Heathrow is the main airport receiving long-haul international flights Melbourne to London. It is located about 25 kilometres (16 miles) west of the city centre. London Gatwick Airport (LGW) is the second busiest airport in the UK, following Heathrow. It is located about 45 kilometres (28 miles) south of central London. London Stansted Airport (STN) is another major destination for international Melbourne to London flights, particularly if you have a stopover in another European city. Stansted is located 65 kilometres (40 miles) northeast of the city centre. No matter which airport you arrive into, there are several quick and affordable options to reach central London.
How to Get from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Your London Hotel or Accommodation
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is the busiest airport in Europe. It receives the majority of international cheap flights to London from Melbourne. Heathrow is connected to London’s Underground system (“the Tube” to locals). From the airport, you can catch the Piccadilly Line that will get you into the city centre in about 45 minutes. Some of the major stops along the Piccadilly Line include Knightsbridge, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, and King’s Cross. Throughout the ride, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to change to other Tube lines to get exactly where you need to go for your hotel. Tube fare in London varies based on how far you are travelling, and you can expect to pay about £6 ($10.85 AUD) from Heathrow to the city centre.
For an even quicker journey into the centre, you can catch the Heathrow Airport Express. This train makes the journey between London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Paddington Station in central London. Tickets to ride this train cost £22 ($40 AUD), and the train will get you into the city in 15 minutes.
If you would like to experience one of London’s iconic black cabs on your ride from the airport, you can catch a taxi just outside Arrivals. A taxi will get you into central London in about 45 minutes for a fare of about £75 ($135.35 AUD).
How to Get from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to Your London Hotel or Accommodation
London Gatwick is connected to central London by the Thameslink train. Catch the Thameslink heading north, which will get you into central London in about 45 minutes. The Thameslink offers several stops in London, including London Bridge, City Thameslink, and King’s Cross. Trains to London depart from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) every 5 to 10 minutes. Tickets for the train cost £9.40 ($17 AUD), which you can purchase individually or pay with an Oyster transport card.
If you would prefer to catch a taxi from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to the city, you will arrive to the centre in about 1 hour 15 minutes. Taxi fare from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) into the city comes to about £110 ($198.50 AUD).
How to Get from London Stansted Airport (STN) to Your London Hotel or Accommodation
For the quickest journey from London Stansted Airport (STN) to central London, you can catch the Stansted Express train. This train departs from the airport every 15 minutes and makes the journey to Liverpool Street Station in about 45 minutes. Liverpool Street Station is located near the popular neighbourhood of Shoreditch and also offers several Tube lines to other destinations around London. Tickets for the Stansted Express typically cost £17 ($30.70 AUD), but if you book your ticket early, you can get a ticket for just £7 ($12.65 AUD).
A taxi from London Stansted Airport (STN) will get you to the city centre in a little more than an hour without traffic. Taxi fare from Stansted into the city centre is pricey at about £150 ($270.75 AUD).
Things to do in London
Ride the London Eye
The London Eye is one of the most iconic features of London’s skyline and it is an itinerary fixture for travellers with Melbourne to London return flights. Located on the banks of the River Thames, the London Eye is the tallest observation wheel in Europe. The ride on the London Eye takes about 30 minutes, offering up some stunning views over the city. Standard adult tickets to ride the London Eye cost £28 ($50 AUD). For an additional £10 ($18 AUD), you can purchase a Day and Night ticket that will allow you to see two different perspectives of London on the same day.
See the Sights Along the River Thames
While the London Eye is one of the main features along the River Thames, travellers in the city thanks to cheap flights to London from Melbourne could easily spend an entire day exploring all that there is to see along the river. Each bank of the river offers stunning views with pedestrian walkways where you can take in the sights. Some of the must-see attractions along the River Thames include Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, the Shard, the Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Millennium Bridge, and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. On the Southbank of the river, you’ll also walk through Borough Market, which is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat.
Buckingham Palace
Home to the Queen, Buckingham Palace is one of the most visited sights in London. If you would like to see the elaborate palace from the inside, you can book onto a tour through parts of Buckingham Palace. Some of the highlights of a tour include the Throne Room, the Grand Staircase, the Ballroom, and the Drawing Room. Tickets to tour the palace start at £25 ($45 AUD) for adults. Another major attraction at Buckingham Palace is completely free. Every other morning, the Changing of the Guard Ceremony is held outside the palace. It gets busy, especially on warm days, so get there early to secure a spot with a good view of the palace.
Visit London’s Many Museums
If you enjoy visiting museums, you will be spoilt for choice once your flights Melbourne to London arrive in the UK. The city boasts more than 170 museums covering a wide range of topics. Many of the city’s museums are free to visit, so you can see as many of them as you would like without breaking the budget. Some of the most popular museums to visit with visitors travelling on Melbourne to London flights are the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Tate Modern, the Museum of London, and the National Gallery.
Go For High Tea
An English tradition that is loved by both locals and tourists alike is a high tea. Throughout the city, you can find hotels and restaurants offering tea services for a variety of budgets. At a traditional high tea, you’ll get to try lots of English treats, including finger sandwiches, mini quiches, pastries, and scones with jam and clotted cream. High Tea is always served with a pot of tea of your choice, and many restaurants will also bring you a glass of champagne.
Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
Although London is a fast-paced city, there is still plenty of nature to enjoy. In fact, green space makes up 47% of Greater London. One of the most iconic parks to enjoy is Hyde Park, which is the largest of four royal parks in the city. Hyde Park is a great place to take a walk while enjoying some quiet away from the fast-paced areas of Oxford Street and Knightsbridge that border the park. Some spots for passengers with tickets to London from Melbourne to see within Hyde Park include the Serpentine River, Speaker’s Corner, and the Rose Garden. Kensington Gardens are connected to Hyde Park and offer more gorgeous sights. This is also where you will find Kensington Palace, which is home to many of the young royals. Among the residents of Kensington Palace are Prince William and Kate Middleton, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and Princess Eugenie.
