Flying from London to Lisbon
London to Lisbon is one of Europe's most well-connected short-haul routes, covering roughly 1,580 kilometres and putting you on the Atlantic coast of Portugal in under three and a half hours. Direct flights typically clock in at 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 10 minutes depending on winds and routing, making it a genuinely easy weekend destination — you can leave London on a Friday evening and be sitting in Alfama with a glass of Vinho Verde before midnight. The route operates year-round with strong frequency, so you're rarely stuck with awkward departure times or forced connections.
London flights to Lisbon depart from four of the capital's airports: Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW), Stansted (STN), and Luton (LTN). Heathrow gives you the most carrier choice and the smoothest connections if you're flying in from elsewhere, but Stansted and Luton consistently offer the sharpest fares from the budget carriers. All flights land at Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS), which sits just north of the city centre — there's no second airport to worry about on the Portuguese end.
Airlines on This Route
Eight airlines currently operate direct flights from London to Lisbon, giving you a genuine range of options across budget and full-service tiers. On the budget side, Ryanair flies from Stansted multiple times daily and is usually the cheapest option on the route — expect a no-frills experience with fees for hold luggage and allocated seating. easyJet operates from both Gatwick and Luton, tends to include slightly more flexibility in its fare structure, and often matches Ryanair on price during sales. Wizz Air and Vueling round out the low-cost options, with Vueling flying out of Heathrow, which is worth noting if you prefer the west London airport.
For full-service travel, TAP Air Portugal is the flag carrier and flies from Heathrow with a proper business class cabin, included hand luggage, and meal service even in economy on longer TAP routes. British Airways operates from Heathrow (Terminal 5) and offers solid Club Europe fares if you want a proper seat and lounge access. Iberia Airlines and Azores Airlines also serve this route, the latter being a useful option if you're continuing on to the Azores or Madeira. Flight frequency across all carriers means you can typically find departures morning, midday, and evening every day of the week.
Flight Prices: London to Lisbon
Cheap flights to Lisbon from London genuinely exist — this route is competitive enough that one-way fares can drop as low as £18 to £25 on Ryanair or easyJet during off-peak periods if you catch a sale. More realistically, budget £40 to £85 one-way for a decent fare with a low-cost carrier. Round-trip fares from London to Lisbon typically run £80 to £180 for most of the year, rising to £220 and above during peak summer weeks in July and August. TAP and British Airways will run higher — expect to pay £120 to £250 return in economy if you want meals, better flexibility, and proper baggage allowance included.
The single most effective tactic for finding Lisbon flight deals from London is booking six to ten weeks in advance for shoulder season travel. Last-minute fares on this route do occasionally drop, but summer last-minute bookings tend to go the other way. Set up price alerts on Google Flights or Skyscanner for your travel window and check Tuesdays and Wednesdays — budget carriers often release discounts mid-week. Flying out on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning rather than a Friday evening can save £30 to £50 on the same airline.
Best Time to Book London to Lisbon Flights
April, May, June, and October are the sweet spot for flights from London to Lisbon. You'll find genuinely low fares, Lisbon's weather is warm and pleasant, and the city isn't overwhelmed with tourists the way it gets in peak summer. Spring in particular — mid-April through May — offers some of the best value on this route, with round trips regularly available under £100. September is strong too, though prices start climbing back up as summer demand lingers into early autumn.
July and August are peak season: Lisbon is hot, busy, and expensive, and London to Lisbon flight deals become rare. If you must travel in August, book at least three months ahead to avoid paying premium fares. January and February are the cheapest months outright, with fares occasionally falling below £70 return, but Lisbon gets more rain and some tourist spots run reduced hours. November and December outside the Christmas period are also worth considering if budget is the priority — the city is quiet, locals are around, and you'll find genuine Lisbon rather than a tourist version of it.
Lisbon Airport Guide
Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) is compact and easy to navigate — it has a single passenger terminal split into arrivals and departures, with no satellite terminals to confuse things. Once you land and clear the EU or non-EU passport control queue, baggage claim is straightforward and the airport is well signposted in English.
Getting into central Lisbon is genuinely easy. The Metro is the best option: the Vermelha (Red) Line runs directly from the airport to Alameda station, where you can change for Baixa-Chiado or Marquês de Pombal. The journey to the city centre takes around 20 to 25 minutes and costs roughly €1.85 with an Andante card. A licensed taxi will run you €15 to €22 depending on traffic and destination, and takes 15 to 30 minutes. Uber and Bolt both operate from the airport and usually undercut taxis slightly. There is no direct rail link from the airport to Rossio or Santa Apolónia stations, so for those heading south or to Porto onward, the Metro to Oriente station is the practical connection.
FAQ — London to Lisbon Flights
How long is the flight from London to Lisbon?
Direct flights from London to Lisbon take between 2 hours 45 minutes and 3 hours 10 minutes. The variance depends on which London airport you're departing from, wind conditions on the day, and whether the flight takes a more direct Atlantic routing. Flights from Heathrow tend to be scheduled slightly longer than those from Stansted, but in practice the difference is minimal. There are no meaningful stopovers on this route — every major carrier operates it as a non-stop service.
What is the cheapest time to fly from London to Lisbon?
January and February offer the lowest fares year-round, with round trips sometimes available under £70. If you want low prices with better weather, April to early June and October are the best windows — fares are significantly cheaper than summer while Lisbon is warm, dry, and far more enjoyable to explore. Avoid the last two weeks of July and all of August if price is a concern; that's when London to Lisbon flight prices peak sharply.
Which airlines fly from London to Lisbon?
Eight airlines currently operate direct flights on this route: Ryanair, easyJet, TAP Air Portugal, British Airways, Wizz Air, Vueling, Iberia Airlines, and Azores Airlines. Ryanair and easyJet fly the highest frequency and tend to offer the lowest base fares. TAP Air Portugal and British Airways are the best options if you want included baggage, meals, and a more comfortable experience, particularly in their premium economy or business cabins.
How much do London to Lisbon flights cost?
One-way fares start from around £18 to £25 during sales on Ryanair and easyJet, though £40 to £85 is a more typical one-way price for budget carriers. Return flights from London to Lisbon generally run £80 to £180 for most of the year on low-cost airlines. Full-service carriers like TAP Air Portugal and British Airways typically charge £120 to £250 return in economy. Summer peak fares can push well above £250 return across all carriers, so booking early makes a real difference on this route.