London to Nairobi flights

How long is the flight from London to Nairobi?

The flight duration from London to Nairobi is 8 hours and 30 minutes if you fly direct. Stopovers are an option if you are looking for the best value airfares, but the longer flight path will add to the journey time.

What documentation do I need to fly to Nairobi from London?

UK passport holders need at least 6 months left on their passport to enter Kenya. You will also need a visa. Although you can get your visa on arrival, you can skip the queues by arranging it online before leaving the UK.

What are the most common stopovers?

A wide range of airlines have flights to Nairobi. If you are choosing to make a stopover, the most common connections are through Dubai, Istanbul, Amsterdam and Abu Dhabi.

Is there a time change from London to Nairobi?

Nairobi is in the East Africa Time zone (EAT) and is 3 hours ahead of the time in the UK (GMT).

You have a wide choice of airlines when planning holidays or city breaks in Nairobi, especially if you are prepared to make a stopover. Some of the airlines with departures to the city include:

• Kenya Airways, the country's national carrier with direct flights from London.
• British Airways, the UK's flag carrier airline.
• Ethiopian Airlines, offering connections in Addis Ababa.
• Emirates, large Dubai-based airline.
• KLM, famous Dutch carrier with connections in Amsterdam.
• Air France, range of flights connecting in Paris.

Opodo is the UK's largest online travel agent and your one-stop-shop for great deals on trips to Nairobi. The site's search engine is easy to use, and you can easily filter the results by price, your preferred airline or departure airport. Opodo makes travel to Nairobi very simple.

• July and August are the driest months in Nairobi, with only one wet day on average per month.
• April is the city's wettest month, making it the cheapest time to go. Pack your umbrella and enjoy cheaper flight tickets and accommodation charges.
• January and February are the peak time of year for wildlife fans when the chances of spotting animals are at their highest.

If you are on a direct flight to Nairobi from London, you will depart from London Heathrow (LHR). Connecting flights may also depart from London's other major airport, Gatwick (LGW).

Useful information about London Heathrow Airport

London Heathrow Airport is to the west of central London, close to the M4 and M25 motorways. It is Europe's busiest passenger airport.

How to get to the airport:

• By London Underground – Piccadilly Line runs to Heathrow, 24 hours a day. 50 minutes from central London.
• By train – Heathrow Express from London Paddington station between 5.10am and 11.25pm. Journey time is only 15 minutes.
• By taxi – Around 45 minutes to Heathrow from central London, depending on traffic.

Services: free Wi-Fi connection, children's play areas and baby change, bureau de change, free phone and laptop charging. Each terminal has a wide range of retail outlets, bars and restaurants.

Useful information about London Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Airport is the second busiest in the UK, with a mix of international and domestic flights. It is south of London, around 30 minutes from the city centre.

How to get to the airport:

• By train – Gatwick Express train from Victoria station from 5am to 10.30pm, journey time 30 minutes.
• By shuttle bus – A3 airport shuttle bus from Victoria coach stations, every 30 minutes, runs 24 hours a day.
• By car – Follow M25 to J7, then M23 south. Gatwick is well signposted.

Services: two terminals connected by free monorail service. Many restaurants, bars and shops in both terminals. Free Wi-Fi, children's play area, showers, toilets and airport lounges.

Nairobi's main international airport is Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO). The airport has departures to over 50 different countries across the world.

Useful information about Jomo Kenyatta Airport

Jomo Kenyatta Airport is 9 miles south-east of downtown Nairobi. Around 7 million passengers travel through the airport every year.

How to get into Nairobi from the airport:

• Bus – city bus number 34 from outside the terminal into the city centre. Departures every 20 minutes between 6am and 9pm, journey time around 45 minutes.
• Taxi – official airport taxis are plentiful, journey time into the city centre between 15 and 30 minutes.

Services: book, souvenir and handicraft shops. Duty-free. A range of restaurants and cafés selling Kenyan and international dishes. Wi-Fi, airport lounges available at additional charge.

• See the giraffe, black rhino, zebra and lions in Nairobi National Park.
• Find out about Kenyan history and culture at the National Museum.
• Sample the Kenyan specialty of barbecued meat, or "nyama choma".
• Visit the former home of writer Karen Blixen, now an elegant museum.
• Go shopping at Utamaduni, the city's largest African craft store.
• Enjoy the shade and tropical plants at Langata Botanic Gardens.