London to Tehran flights

How long is the flight from London to Tehran?

The flight duration is approximately 7 hours from London to Tehran. There are direct flights, although many flight paths involve connections.

What are the most common stopovers?

There are a number of different transfer points depending on your airline. These include airports in Turkey (such as Istanbul), Germany (Frankfurt), Austria (Vienna) and Switzerland (Zurich).

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

Visitors from the UK are required to apply for a visa through the Iranian embassy for entry to Tehran. You'll need a passport that's valid for at least 6 months from the date of your visa application.

Is there a time change from London to Tehran?

Tehran is 4 hours ahead of London.

What are the most important things to pack in my suitcase when travelling to Tehran?

It's useful to get cash changed before arriving. Keen skiers will find excellent slopes just outside the city, so you may want to bring your gear!

These are among the airlines providing the most frequent passages for city break holidays to the Iranian capital:

• Lufthansa, the German national airline.
• Turkish Airlines, another flag carrier with frequent connections between London and Tehran.
• Swiss International Air Lines, a highly respected airline with connections via Zurich.
• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, with stops via Amsterdam.

Opodo is your online travel agent, with cheap flights from London to Tehran. You can quickly find the best-priced airfares at the top of your results list, and can change dates to compare ticket prices. The powerful search engine lets you select the departures and airports that are most convenient. You can find special deals and figure out the cheapest time to go on trips to Tehran. Domestic flights are also easily available.

• March, particularly mid- to late March, is when Iranians tend to travel out of the city for Iranian New Year celebrations, so it's relatively quiet. Temperatures are a pleasant 15°C or higher during the day.
• November is similarly warm without being too hot, still around 15°C to 20°C, and offseason.
• May is good for those that enjoy sunshine, with temperatures reaching 30°C and above.

Most flights depart from Heathrow (LHR) and Gatwick (LGW).

Useful information about Heathrow Airport

This is one of the world's major air hubs, 16 miles to the west of Central London and offering many transport options:

How to get to the airport:

• By Tube – travel for around 45 minutes on the Piccadilly line westbound to the airport from Central London.
• By train – the Heathrow Express is fast and reliable, taking just 15 to 30 minutes from Paddington Station.
• By taxi – expect the journey to take 30 to 40 minutes, but potentially much longer depending on traffic.
• By coach – from Victoria Coach Station, you'll find frequent services to the airport, taking around 35 minutes. As always, leave plenty of extra time to catch your flight.

Services: Heathrow is open 24 hours a day, and has a large selection of places to eat and shop before the flight. You'll also find baby changing facilities, unlimited free Wi-Fi, and designated smoking areas outside the terminals.

Useful information about Gatwick Airport

Gatwick is also easily reached by several quick transport links from Central London:

How to get to the airport:

• By train – from London Victoria, it's just 30 minutes on the Gatwick Express.
• By taxi – it takes around an hour, but possibly more depending on traffic from Central London.
• By coach – it takes 90 minutes to 2 hours depending on the specific service, with departures from Victoria Coach Station.

Services: Gatwick also operates 24 hours a day, and has a great selection of retail and food outlets. Free Wi-Fi is available for 90 minutes, and there are baby changing facilities and kid zones.

Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) is the main air hub in Iran.

Useful Information about Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport

Here are the best ways to get to and from the airport:

How to get to the airport:

• By taxi – travel between the airport and downtown in about 45 minutes, or longer depending on traffic.
• By minibus – there are minibus services between the airport and the central Shahed Station, which take around 30 minutes.
• By metro – from downtown, take the underground from Shahed Station on Line 1 and then take the Shahre Aftab on Line 8. Allow plenty of time as services are fairly infrequent to the airport.

Services: Open 24 hours a day, with free Wi-Fi and a selection of places to eat and shop. Smoking is allowed at designated areas outside.

• Visit the sublime Golestan Palace, located in a citadel and dating from the 16th century.
• Get panoramic city views from the ultramodern Milad Tower, the tallest building in Iran.
• Visit the intriguing and beautiful Carpet Museum of Iran.
• Stroll among the gorgeous gardens of Mellat Park.