London to Seoul flights

How long is the flight from London to Seoul?

The duration of direct flights to Seoul from London is 11 hours. If you choose to break your flight path with a stopover, it could be considerably longer.

What are the most common stopovers?

One way to cut the price of your ticket is with a stopover. There is a range of options for stopovers in Europe and further afield. Common stopover cities include Moscow, Istanbul, Amsterdam or Munich.

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

British passport holders don't need a visa for holidays in South Korea of up to 90 days. If your travel is for business purposes, check with the South Korean embassy first.

Is there a time change from London to Seoul?

South Korea is in the Korea Standard Time zone (KST), which is 9 hours ahead of UK time (GMT).

Seoul is one of the world's major hubs, with airfares available with several airlines. When planning trips such as city breaks, the choice includes:

• Asiana Airlines, South Korea based airline with flights from Heathrow.
• Korean Air, the largest airline in South Korea.
• British Airways, the UK's flag carrier airline.
• Aeroflot, Russian airline with flights to Seoul via Moscow.
• Finnair, Finnish airline with stopovers in Helsinki.
• Turkish Airlines, Turkey's largest airline with stopovers in Istanbul.
• Air France, French flag carrier airline.

With many airlines providing departures to Seoul, the choice can be baffling. Opodo's powerful search engine is the best way of getting to the very best deals for you. Enter your preferred dates of travel, then filter the results by price, or your favourite airline. Opodo is the UK's largest online travel agency and makes it easy to get the perfect flight.

• April is one of the most popular months to visit Seoul. The weather is mild, and the cherry blossom season is in full flow.
• January is the cheapest time to go, mainly due to the cold temperatures. However, If you're into winter sports it could be ideal, as locals flock to the ski resorts in the mountains near the city.
• September and October also see mild temperatures, and less wet days than in the height of summer. The September harvest festival, Chuseok, is a chance to experience folk games and traditional Korean culture.

Whether you fly from London Heathrow (LHR) or London Gatwick (LGW). Both are large airports offering international and domestic flights. Direct departures to Seoul leave from Heathrow, but some airlines offering stopover flights depart from Gatwick instead.

Useful information about London Heathrow Airport

London Heathrow Airport is the busiest in the UK. There are four terminals providing international and domestic flights. The airport is 15 miles west of central London.

How to get to Heathrow airport:

• By London Underground – Piccadilly Line trains run through Heathrow 24 hours a day. 50 minutes from central London.
• By train – catch the Heathrow Express from London Paddington every 15 minutes. Journey time is only 15 minutes.
• By taxi – around 45 minutes from central London, depending on M4 traffic.

Services: shops, bars and restaurants located across 4 terminals. Free Wi-Fi, showers, children's play areas, foreign currency exchange, free phone and laptop charging.

Useful information about London Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Airport is the UK's second busiest. It is south of the city, around 30 miles from the centre of town.

How to get to the airport:

• By train – the Gatwick Express train service runs from Victoria station and takes around 30 minutes.
• By bus – A3 airport shuttle buses run into Victoria coach station around the clock. Connections to Heathrow airport for transferring passengers.
• By car – Gatwick is well signposted off the M23 motorway. The airport has both short and long stay car parking on site.

Services: numerous restaurants, bars and shops in both North and South terminal. Free Wi-Fi, children's play area, showers, foreign currency exchange and airport lounges.

Seoul has two airports, Incheon International (ICN) and Gimpo International (GMP). All international flights land at Incheon International. Gimpo handles domestic and regional flights only.

Useful information about Incheon International Airport

Incheon is South Korea's busiest airport. It is on an artificial island, 30 miles west of the city centre.

How to get into Seoul from the airport:

• By train – Maglev train every 15 minutes from Terminal 1 to Yongyu station, journey time 12 minutes.
• By bus – airport bus service 6001 between 5.45am and 22.45pm, travel time 60 minutes.
• By taxi – stands outside both terminals, journey time 30 – 45 minutes.

Services: golf course, spa, ice skating rink, indoor gardens, cultural museum, internet zone, showers, transit hotels, gym, foreign currency exchange, shops, restaurants and bars.

• Explore the secret gardens at Changdeokgung Palace.
• Go up N Seoul Tower for impressive city views.
• Shop for Korean food at Gwangjang Market.
• Have a meal in a Korean barbecue restaurant.
• Cool off in the famous Cheonggyecheon stream.