Flying from London to Paris
London to Paris is one of the busiest short-haul routes in Europe, and for good reason — the two capitals sit just around 340 miles apart, making the flight a genuine sprint at roughly 1 hour 15 to 25 minutes in the air. It's the kind of route where you're barely at cruising altitude before the crew starts collecting cups. Flights depart from four London-area airports: Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW), Luton (LTN), and Southend (SEN), landing at either Charles de Gaulle (CDG) in the north of Paris or Orly (ORY) to the south. Which airport you use matters more for the journey into the city than for the flight itself.
Worth noting upfront: the Eurostar is a legitimate competitor on this route, taking around 2 hours 15 minutes from St Pancras to Gare du Nord, city centre to city centre. Once you factor in airport check-in time and transfers, the total door-to-door journey by train is often quicker than flying. That said, cheap flights from London to Paris regularly undercut rail fares, and if you're already west of the city near Heathrow or south near Gatwick, flying can still make logistical sense.
Airlines on This Route
Several airlines operate flights from London to Paris, covering everything from no-frills budget carriers to full-service transatlantic operators. Here's the current lineup:
- easyJet — The dominant budget option, flying from Gatwick (LGW) and Luton (LTN) to both CDG and Orly. High frequency with multiple daily departures. Fares are often the cheapest available, but bag fees add up fast.
- Air France — Flies from Heathrow to CDG several times daily. Operates from Terminal 4 at LHR. A full-service carrier with included cabin baggage and a more comfortable experience, though fares run higher.
- British Airways — Departs from Heathrow Terminal 5 to CDG. Club Europe (business class) is available on this route if you want a meal and lounge access on a 75-minute hop.
- Vueling — A Spanish low-cost carrier that operates this route at competitive prices, typically from Gatwick or Luton.
- Delta — Primarily serves this route as part of transatlantic connections, flying from Heathrow. Not typically the cheapest for a pure London-Paris ticket but worth checking if you have SkyMiles.
- RwandAir — Operates this route via connections from Kigali, routing through London. Not a mainstream option for most travellers but occasionally surfaces in search results.
For most people booking a straightforward London to Paris flight, easyJet and Air France are the two carriers worth comparing first. easyJet for price, Air France for convenience if you value Heathrow access and included bags.
Flight Prices: London to Paris
London to Paris flight deals can genuinely be excellent if you time it right. One-way fares on easyJet or Vueling can drop as low as £25 to £40 in quiet periods, while round-trip prices from around £101 are achievable in early spring. Realistically, for a flexible leisure booking, budget £60 to £120 return as a reasonable expectation outside of school holidays. Air France and British Airways tend to price from £130 to £250 return for economy, though sales do occur. Avoid booking in July, August, and over Christmas and Easter if price is a priority — fares can double or triple during these windows.
Tips for finding cheaper fares: set fare alerts on Google Flights or Skyscanner for your travel dates, be flexible on departure airport (Luton fares are often cheaper than Heathrow), fly mid-week rather than Friday or Sunday, and book 4 to 8 weeks out for the best balance of availability and price.
Best Time to Book London to Paris Flights
March is consistently one of the best months to find cheap flights to Paris from London — the post-January slump means lower demand, and spring hasn't fully kicked in yet. January and February are similarly quiet. April starts to creep up with spring tourism, and by June you're heading into peak season pricing. October and November are solid off-peak months again once the summer rush clears. Avoid half-term weeks (late October, February) if budget is the priority, as these see significant price spikes even outside summer. For 2026 travel, booking 6 to 10 weeks ahead hits the sweet spot for most dates.
Paris Airport Guide
Most flights from London land at Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Paris's main international hub located around 23km northeast of the city centre. CDG has three terminals — most London flights arrive at Terminal 2, though easyJet typically uses Terminal 2D. Getting into central Paris from CDG: the RER B train is the best option, running every 10 to 15 minutes and taking around 35 to 45 minutes to Gare du Nord or Châtelet-Les Halles. Cost is roughly €11 to €12 one way. Taxis are fixed-rate at €56 to the Right Bank and €65 to the Left Bank. Avoid the shuttle buses — they take too long in traffic. If your flight lands at Orly (ORY), the Orlyval shuttle connects to the RER B at Antony station, adding 20 minutes and around €5 to the RER fare. Alternatively, the Tram 7 line now connects Orly to the southern Metro network more cheaply.
FAQ — London to Paris Flights
How long is the flight from London to Paris?
Direct flights from London to Paris take between 1 hour 15 minutes and 1 hour 25 minutes depending on the departure airport and routing. Heathrow to CDG is typically at the shorter end; Luton or Gatwick to Orly can run slightly longer due to different flight paths.
What is the cheapest time to fly from London to Paris?
January, February, and March are the cheapest months overall. Within any given week, Tuesday and Wednesday departures tend to be cheaper than Friday or Sunday. Booking 4 to 8 weeks in advance typically gives you the best available fares rather than waiting for last-minute drops on this route.
Which airlines fly from London to Paris?
Air France, British Airways, easyJet, Vueling, Delta, and RwandAir all operate this route. easyJet has the highest frequency from budget airports like Gatwick and Luton. Air France and British Airways fly from Heathrow with a full-service offering.
How much do London to Paris flights cost?
One-way fares start from around £25 to £40 on budget carriers during off-peak periods. A realistic return fare for most travel dates lands between £80 and £150 on easyJet or Vueling. Air France and British Airways economy returns typically range from £130 to £250. Prices rise sharply during summer and school holidays.