Flying from Madrid to London
The Madrid to London route is one of the busiest air corridors in Europe, connecting two of the continent's major capital cities across roughly 1,260 kilometres. Non-stop flights from Madrid Barajas (MAD) typically take between 2 hours 20 minutes and 2 hours 40 minutes depending on wind conditions and which London airport you're heading to. It's a straightforward, well-served route with multiple departures daily, which means genuine competition on price and plenty of scheduling flexibility whether you're flying for business on a Monday morning or heading over for a long weekend.
Most direct flights from Madrid land at London Heathrow (LHR) or London Gatwick (LGW), though Ryanair and some other budget carriers use London Stansted (STN) or London Luton (LTN). Which airport you land at matters quite a bit for onward travel, so factor in the transfer time and cost to central London before you book purely on ticket price. A £14 flight into Stansted can quietly become expensive once you add the £18+ train fare and an hour and a half journey into the city.
Airlines on This Route
You have a genuinely good spread of carriers on flights from Madrid to London, from full-service flag carriers to bare-bones budget options. British Airways and Iberia both operate multiple daily flights into Heathrow — BA out of Terminal 5, Iberia into Terminal 5 as well given the IAG relationship — and both offer proper cabin service with included luggage on most fares. Iberia Express, the group's low-cost arm, also flies this route and tends to sit in a mid-price bracket. Air Europa rounds out the fuller-service options with flights routed through Heathrow and Gatwick.
On the budget side, easyJet is the strongest option — frequent departures, reasonable punctuality, and Gatwick as a base that's actually manageable to get into London from. Ryanair flies into Stansted, which is fine if you're heading to east London or have a connecting commitment, but factor in that journey time. Wizz Air UK also operates on this corridor with competitive low fares, typically into Luton. For a connecting itinerary, Vueling and TAP Portugal both route through Barcelona and Lisbon respectively, though there's little reason to take a connecting flight on this particular route when direct options are this frequent and affordable.
Flight Prices: Madrid to London
This is one of those routes where cheap flights to London from Madrid are genuinely available — not just advertised. One-way fares on Ryanair, easyJet, or Wizz Air regularly come in between €15 and €30 if you book 6 to 10 weeks ahead and travel on mid-week dates. Round-trip deals on budget carriers can realistically land between €55 and €130. British Airways and Iberia one-way economy fares typically start around €80 to €120 but can spike considerably during school holidays and summer. The smartest approach on this route is to set a fare alert and book the moment you see something under €50 one-way on a budget carrier — prices on popular departure days fill fast.
Luggage fees are where budget carriers claw back margin. If you're travelling with more than a small personal bag, add €25 to €45 to your easyJet or Ryanair fare for a cabin bag or checked luggage. For anything over a long weekend trip, Iberia or BA economy can sometimes represent better total value once bags are included.
Best Time to Book Madrid to London Flights
February, March, October, and November are consistently the quietest months on this route, and that's where you'll find the best Madrid to London flight deals. September is also strong for value despite technically being post-summer — demand drops sharply after the first week. June sits in an odd middle ground: fares creep up for the early summer rush but haven't hit peak July and August prices yet, so early June departures can offer a reasonable balance of weather and cost. July and August are the most expensive months, with school holiday demand pushing prices up significantly across all carriers. The Christmas and New Year window is similarly priced — book that period at least three months out if you want anything sensible.
London Airport Guide
If you're landing at Heathrow (LHR), the Elizabeth line is now the best option into central London — fast, direct, around 35 to 40 minutes to Paddington or the City, and roughly £13 to £15. The Heathrow Express is faster at 15 minutes to Paddington but costs around £25 to £37 depending on booking time. Taxis are available but expensive — budget £55 to £80 to central London depending on traffic.
At Gatwick (LGW), the Gatwick Express runs to London Victoria in about 30 minutes and costs around £20 to £22 one-way, though a slower Thameslink service to Blackfriars or St Pancras is often cheaper if you're not in a rush. Stansted (STN) is served by the Stansted Express to Liverpool Street in about 47 minutes for roughly £21 to £28. Luton (LTN) requires a shuttle bus to Luton Airport Parkway station, then a train — allow 60 to 90 minutes and around £18 to £23 total to St Pancras.
FAQ — Madrid to London Flights
How long is the flight from Madrid to London?
Direct flights from Madrid Barajas to London take between 2 hours 20 minutes and 2 hours 40 minutes. The scheduled time varies slightly by airline and whether you're flying into Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, or Luton. Actual block time can run a few minutes longer depending on air traffic control and runway sequencing at busy London airports.
What is the cheapest time to fly from Madrid to London?
February, March, October, and November offer the most consistently low fares on this route. Mid-week departures — particularly Tuesday and Wednesday mornings — are cheaper than weekend slots year-round. Booking 6 to 8 weeks in advance on a budget carrier tends to hit the sweet spot between availability and price on Madrid to London flights.
Which airlines fly from Madrid to London?
Direct services are operated by easyJet, British Airways, Iberia, Iberia Express, Ryanair, Air Europa, and Wizz Air UK. British Airways and Iberia fly into Heathrow, easyJet primarily uses Gatwick, Ryanair flies into Stansted, and Wizz Air UK into Luton. Vueling and TAP Portugal offer connecting itineraries via Barcelona and Lisbon respectively, though a direct flight is almost always the better option on this route.
How much do Madrid to London flights cost?
One-way fares start from around €15 to €33 on budget carriers like Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air when booked in advance during off-peak periods. Round-trip tickets typically range from €55 to €135 on budget airlines. Full-service carriers like British Airways and Iberia generally start from €80 to €120 one-way in economy, with business class fares considerably higher. Always check total cost including baggage fees before assuming the cheapest headline fare is the best deal.