London to Shanghai flights

How long is the flight from London to Shanghai?

Direct flights from London to Shanghai have a flight duration of approximately 11 hours and 20 minutes. Flights with stopovers are more likely to take 14 to 15 hours.

What are the most common stopovers?

Several airlines offer direct trips from London to Shanghai, which is the quickest and easiest way to reach the city. However, there are also many flights with stopovers in cities such as Moscow, Frankfurt, Paris, or Amsterdam.

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

All British passport holders aged between 14 and 70 need a visa to travel to China, as well as a passport which is valid at least for the next six months. You will have to attend an appointment at a Chinese visa centre in London, Manchester, Belfast, or Edinburgh to receive your visa. Visas allow you to stay in China for up to six months.

Is there a time change from London to Shanghai?

Yes, Shanghai is in the China Standard Time Zone. The city is eight hours ahead of UK time.

There is a wide range of airlines with departures for Shanghai. Some of these include:

• Virgin Atlantic, British based airline operating from London Heathrow airport.
• British Airways, the UK flag-carrier airline.
• China Eastern Airlines, large Chinese airline operating domestic and international flights.
• Aeroflot, Russian airline offering flights to Shanghai with stopovers in Moscow.
• KLM, long established Dutch airline with connections through Amsterdam.

Make the most of Opodo's powerful and user-friendly search engine to find great deals on airfares to Shanghai. Enter your dates of travel, then refine the displayed results according to price, airline, or preferred stopover to find the perfect solution. Opodo is your ideal online travel agent, whether you are travelling for holidays, business, or city breaks.

• October and November are two of the best months to travel to Shanghai. It's the time of year with the most reliable weather, with temperatures around 20°C and only four rainy days per month.
• June is the cheapest time to go, as it's also the most rainy month. If you don't mind packing an umbrella, it's a good month to find good deals on flights and accommodation.
• January or early February is when China celebrates the new year with spectacular fireworks and colourful celebrations. Bring some warm clothes and join the local festivities for the start of a new lunar year.

If you are flying directly to Shanghai, your flight will leave from London Heathrow airport (LHR). Flight tickets connecting through other European cities may leave from Gatwick (LGW) instead, depending on the airline's flight path.

Useful information about London Heathrow Airport

London Heathrow Airport is Europe's busiest airport. It is located 15 miles west of Central London.

How to get to the airport:

• By train – Heathrow Express from London Paddington station. Journey time is only 15 minutes.
• By taxi – takes around 45 minutes from central London, depending on traffic.
• Underground – Piccadilly Line trains bring you to Heathrow Airport. 50 minutes from central London.

Services: Retail outlets, bars and restaurants, four separate terminals, free Wi-Fi, children's play areas, foreign exchange, free device charging facilities.

Useful information about London Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Airport is approximately 30 miles to the south of London.

How to get to the airport:

• By train – Gatwick Express train from Victoria station, journey time of about 30 minutes.
• Bus – airport shuttle buses from Victoria coach station or London Belmont, about 40 minutes journey.
• Car – Leave the M25 at J7, following signs for Gatwick. Long and short stay parking available on site.

Services: Two separate airport terminals connected by monorail, dozens of restaurants, bars and shops, free Wi-Fi, children's play area, showers, toilets, and airport lounges.

There are two airports in Shanghai. Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) is where international flights arrive. The other airport, Shanghai Hongqia, mainly serves domestic and regional connections.

Useful information about Shanghai Pudong International Airport

The airport lies to the south-east of the city, on a strip of land beside the Yellow Sea. There are two passenger terminals.

Getting to Shanghai from the airport:

• Metro – the airport is served by metro line 2. Departures for the centre of Shanghai every 10 minutes between 6am and 10pm.
• Bus – regular services from the airport into the city centre from 6am to 11pm, a 70 minutes ride.
• Train – departures from airport to Longyang Road in the city, takes 20 to 25 minutes.

• Take a cruise along the Huangpu River to experience Shanghai's famous skyline.
• Learn about Chinese history and culture at the huge Shanghai Museum.
• Relax and escape the crowds at the tranquil Yuyuan Gardens.
• Take the lift 100 floors up the World Financal Center tower for amazing views over the city.
• Go shopping along the famous Nanjing Road.
• Try delicious Shanghai street food, including steamed crab, dumplings, and braised pork ribs.