Flying from Rome to London
The Rome to London route is one of the busiest short-haul corridors in Europe, connecting two of the continent's most visited cities across roughly 897 miles. Most flights depart from Rome Fiumicino (FCO), which handles the overwhelming majority of scheduled services. A handful of charter and low-cost options also use Rome Ciampino (CIA), so always double-check which airport you're flying into before booking. On the London side, flights arrive at Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW), Stansted (STN), and occasionally Luton (LTN) — each sitting at a very different distance from central London, which matters more than most people realise when they're comparing headline fares.
Nonstop flights from Rome to London take between 2 hours 30 minutes and 2 hours 45 minutes westbound, slightly less heading east due to tailwinds. There are no layover requirements on this route — direct services run multiple times daily, every day of the year. Whether you're chasing a long weekend in Shoreditch or relocating for work, flights from Rome to London are frequent enough that rigid schedule planning isn't usually necessary. The sheer volume of competition on this corridor also keeps prices honest, which is genuinely good news for the traveller.
Airlines on This Route
You have real choice here. On the full-service side, British Airways operates multiple daily flights from FCO to Heathrow out of Terminal 5, making it the most convenient option if you're connecting onward from LHR. ITA Airways, the successor to Alitalia, also flies the FCO–LHR route with a decent on-board product. For connecting itineraries, carriers like Lufthansa (via Munich), KLM (via Amsterdam), Air France (via Paris CDG), and Swiss (via Zurich) all sell through-tickets on this route, though you'll add 2–4 hours to your journey.
For cheap flights to London from Rome, the low-cost carriers dominate. Ryanair flies FCO and CIA into Stansted with high frequency — sometimes five or six flights a day in peak season. easyJet serves both Gatwick and Bristol from Fiumicino. Wizz Air operates from FCO to Luton and occasionally Gatwick. Vueling runs a connecting service via Barcelona if you find a good price. Budget airlines strip everything back to the seat, so factor in hold baggage fees and airport transfer costs before assuming the cheapest headline fare is the cheapest door-to-door trip.
Flight Prices: Rome to London
Rome to London flight deals are genuinely available if you know when to look. One-way fares on Ryanair or Wizz Air can drop as low as €25–€40 during sales or well outside peak season. More realistically, budget around €60–€90 one-way on a low-cost carrier booked 4–6 weeks ahead. Round-trip fares on British Airways or ITA Airways start around €150–€200 in economy for off-peak travel. During summer (June–August) and over Christmas, expect to pay 40–70% more across the board. The sweet spot for value is usually spring and autumn, where you can find solid round-trip fares in the €120–€180 range without sacrificing too much on comfort or timing.
Booking 6–10 weeks in advance tends to yield the best prices on this route. Last-minute fares occasionally appear on Ryanair for under €50, but relying on that is a gamble. For British Airways and ITA, Tuesday and Wednesday departures are typically cheaper than Friday or Sunday. Always search both FCO and CIA as your origin, and compare all four London airports — the difference between a €55 Stansted flight and a €95 Heathrow flight can easily be absorbed by the £6 Tube ride versus the £28 Stansted Express.
Best Time to Book Rome to London Flights
January and February are the cheapest months to fly this route — demand is low, the weather in both cities is grey, and airlines discount aggressively to fill seats. March picks up slightly with spring break travel, but fares remain reasonable through early April. May is a genuine sweet spot: weather improves in both cities, crowds haven't peaked, and London to Rome flight deals are still findable under €150 round-trip. June through August is peak season — school holidays and tourist demand push prices up significantly, particularly on the Heathrow routes. September is underrated; the summer crowds thin out after the first two weeks, but prices drop faster than the weather does. October and November offer some of the best value on the calendar, especially mid-week departures. December splits: early December is quiet and cheap, then Christmas week spikes hard, and New Year's Eve is brutal on price.
London Airport Guide
Which London airport you land at changes your experience considerably. Heathrow (LHR) is the most central option for most of London — the Elizabeth line gets you to Paddington in 15 minutes for £13.50, or Tottenham Court Road in around 30 minutes. A taxi runs £45–£70 depending on traffic. Gatwick (LGW) is about 30 miles south; the Gatwick Express train runs to Victoria Station in 30 minutes for around £22. Stansted (STN) is the furthest from the centre — 40 miles northeast — and the Stansted Express to Liverpool Street takes 47 minutes costing £23–£28. Budget that extra transfer cost into your fare comparison. Luton (LTN) requires a shuttle bus to the train station before the 30-minute rail journey to St Pancras, adding complexity. If central London is your destination and this is your first visit, paying slightly more for a Heathrow arrival is often worth it.
FAQ — Rome to London Flights
How long is the flight from Rome to London?
Direct flights from Rome Fiumicino to London take approximately 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes. Winds can shave 10–15 minutes off the eastbound return leg. Connecting flights via hubs like Amsterdam, Paris, or Munich add 2–4 hours to your total journey time.
What is the cheapest time to fly from Rome to London?
January, February, and November consistently offer the lowest fares on the Rome to London route. Mid-week departures — particularly Tuesday and Wednesday mornings — are cheaper than weekend flights. Avoiding school holidays (Easter, summer, and Christmas) makes a significant difference to the price you'll pay.
Which airlines fly from Rome to London?
British Airways, ITA Airways, Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air all operate direct flights from Rome to London. Connecting services are offered by Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Vueling, and others routing through their respective European hubs.
How much do Rome to London flights cost?
One-way fares start from around €25–€40 on Ryanair or Wizz Air during sales, with typical budget fares running €60–€100 one-way. Full-service carriers like British Airways offer round-trips from around €150–€200 in off-peak periods. Summer and holiday periods can push round-trip prices above €300–€400 on popular routes like FCO to LHR.