Search Flights from San Francisco to London

Approximate Travel Distance
Approximate Flight Duration
Popular Airlines
Popular Airport
5363 Miles
10 hour 40 min
United Airlines
Heathrow Airport

Cheapest San Francisco London Flight Tickets

24 Nov 2024
from $12121
11 Dec 2024
from $13617
25 Nov 2024
from $18963
06 Dec 2024
from $33814

Transportation to San Francisco Airport from the City Center

Located 21 km from the city center, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is a major transit center for passengers, particularly those traveling from Asia. San Francisco International is the second busiest airport in California, following Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Every year SFO handles a significant number of both domestic and international flights. There are a variety of transportation alternatives passengers can utilize to get to and from the airport.  

San Francisco International Airport stands out for the comfortable and exceptional services it offers. The airport features services aimed at meeting your every need, from comfortable passenger lounges, to restaurants that offer a wide variety of cuisines and a vibrant array of stores where you can go shopping.

San Francisco International Airport is accessible by taxi, bus, train, rental car, and personal car as the airport contains parking lots that offer short-term and long-term parking options.

Train

There are two rail systems that you can use to get to San Francisco International Airport from the city center. The first is the rapid-rail system, the BART. The BART starts running in the early hours of the morning, providing easy and fast transportation between SFO and the northern and southern parts of the city.

The other rail system that you can use to get to SFO is the CalTrain. This train departs on the hour, every hour, every day of the week, until 10 pm. This train provides transportation between San Francisco and San Jose and SFO.

Taxi

One of the most convenient and fastest transportation alternatives to get to SFO from the city center is by taxi. Taxi fares are calculated based on the kilometers traveled. A taxi from downtown San Francisco can cost between 42 and 62 dollars and takes about 20 minutes. For more information on taxi companies and their contact information please visit San Francisco International Airport’s website.

Bus

SamTrans buses provide transportation between the San Francisco city center and the airport. These public buses are operated by San Mateo County and run between San Mateo, various parts of San Francisco and San Francisco International Airport. SamTrans lines KX, 292, 397, and 398 run directly to the airport terminals. Buses stop at the arrivals and baggage claim level of Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 and at Level 1 of the International Terminal.

Rental Car

Renting a car is another transportation alternative to get to the airport. There are many rental car companies located in the city. You can drop off your rental vehicle at the Rental Car Center before your departure. From the Rental Car Center the AirTrain Blue Line provides access to the airport terminals and it operates 24 hours a day, every day of the week. Rental car companies that you can choose from include Alamo, Dollar, Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, National, Budget, Fox and Thrifty.

Bike

San Francisco International Airport contains bike assembly stations and parking areas for those who want to access the airport by bike. The BART and SamTrans rapid rail systems provide passengers with bike/transit options and the airport features marked bicycle routes. Bike lovers can easily access the airport by bicycle.   

Airport Information

San Francisco International Airport is located 21 km from the city center. The airport covers an expansive area and operates domestic and international flights out of 4 terminals, Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and the International Terminal. The AirTrain automated system provides free transportation between each terminal, as well as the Rental Car Center and BART station. The AirTrain Red Line links all terminals, terminal garages and the BART Station. The AirTrain Blue Line links the Rental Car Center with all terminals, terminal garages, and the BART Station. SFO also contains a variety of services and amenities to meet passengers’ pre-flight and post-flight needs.

The airport features health services in the terminals, rental car offices, banks, a lost and found, wireless internet, charging stations, clothing stores where you can go shopping, restaurants and cafes, the Aviation Museum & Library, rotating exhibitions, spa services, children’s play areas, free yoga rooms, a market, and much more. 

Last Updated: 10 Jun 2019

Transportation to London City Center from Airport

London City Airport

London City Airport is located 11 km east to the city centre. Having provided services for a long time, this airport has parking lots, rent-a-car companies, restaurants and bars, VIP lounges and various shops for the use of the passengers.

Taxi

You can directly get to the city centre, which is only 11 km away to the airport, by taking a taxi located at the exit of the airport right away. Taxi fare may vary from 15 to 25 Pounds.

Train

Thanks to the trains in the train station located very close to the airport, you can arrive London city centre without any interchange. Ticket prices range from 5 to 10 Pounds. However, travel cards and Oyster cards can also be used in these trains.

Subway

Londra Underground has a very advanced transportation line that runs between 5.30 a.m. and midnight. The ticket prices range from 4.80 to 6 Pounds. This underground system can take you to London City Centre without any interchange.

Bus

There is a bus line that runs at London City Airport and goes to almost all the areas of the city. These buses run during night. Therefore, you can get to the city centre from London City Airport by paying around 5 to 8 Pounds for the ticket easily.

Renting a Car

In London City Airport, a few famous rent-a-car companies are at your service so that you could easily rent a car when you visit London. By getting the information required from these companies, you can rent your car directly and get to the city centre from the airport via a short trip. Alternatively, you can make your reservation in advance before you land at the airport or get help about renting a car from your hotel. Those who do not want to waste time with other means of transportation can easily get to the airport by renting a car.

Hotel Shuttles

When you make your hotel reservation, you can choose “hotel-airport transfer” option, so that you can easily arrive your hotel from London City Airport.

Last Updated: 11 Apr 2017

Gatwick Airport

Located 45 km south of the city center, Gatwick Airport is the second largest airport in London. There are many transportation alternatives to get to the city, including express trains, bus, taxi, and rental car.  

Express Train

The fastest way to get from Gatwick Airport to the city center is by using the Gatwick Express. These trains depart every 15 minutes and get to the Victoria train station in the city in 30 minutes. Fees start from 17 pounds. The Southern trains run the same distance in 35 minutes. These trains also depart every 15 minutes. At night the frequency of departing trains falls to one per hour. The airport train station is located in the South Terminal.

Buses

National Express buses are another option to reach the city however they take about 1 hour; in heavy traffic they can take over 1.5 hours. Almost the same can be said for Easybus buses as well. Like the trains, these buses go to the Victoria train station and operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These buses are the cheapest way to get to the city center from the airport. Fees start from 2 pounds.

Taxi

Taxis from the airport to the city center take about 1 hour. While the taxi fare varies based on the distance traveled, getting to the city costs at least 100 pounds.

Rental Cars

You can rent a car from many different car rental agencies like Avis, Budget, and Hertz. Car rental offices are located in every terminal at the airport. The car rental offices in the North Terminal are open from 6am – 10 pm. The car rental offices in the South Terminal are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Last Updated: 18 Apr 2019

Heathrow Airport

Located 32 km west of the city center, London Heathrow Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. There are a variety of transportation methods to reach the city center from the airport including the train, metro, taxi, and rental cars.

Train or Metro

The fastest way to get to the city from the airport is by using the Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect trains. The Express trains get to Paddington train station in the city center in 15 minutes. The Connect trains get to Paddington train station in the city center in 30 minutes. The metro, or tube, has an important role in urban transportation. The metro is another alternative for those who want to get to the city center for a cheaper fare. However, the metro takes longer to get to the city than the trains do. With the metro it can take at least 1 hour.

Bus

The National Express buses get to the Victoria bus stop in about 40 to 80 minutes. Prices can vary according to the duration of the journey and route taken. In addition, the Hotel Hoppa buses provide transportation directly to your hotel for 5 pounds. This service is more so for hotels around the airport.

Taxi

If you want to get to the city center by taxi there is a taxi stand at every terminal. Fares vary between 45 and 70 pounds according to the distance traveled.

Rental Cars

To rent a car visit the rental car agencies located in the terminals. There are various rental car agencies located in Heathrow Airport including Avis, Hertz, and Europcar.

Last Updated: 10 Jun 2019

Luton Airport

You can get to the city from Luton Airport, which is located 56 km northwest of the city, by bus, train, taxi, or rental car. The Thameslink trains provide transportation to the city center. The trip takes about 40 minutes. The train ride itself doesn’t take that long but to get to the airport train station you have to get on a shuttle bus.

That bus ride to the station takes 10 minutes. The train to the city itself takes 30 minutes. You can also use the East Midlands trains. The Thameslink trains cost about 25-30 pounds. The East Midlands trains cost about 15 pounds.

Bus

There are many options available if you want to get from Luton Airport to the city center by bus. The Easybus buses provide cheap transportation to the city; these buses cost 2 pounds. However, it takes at least 1.5 hours. Other options include National Express buses and Greenline 757. These are more expensive options, with fares around 15 pounds.

Taxi

If you want to take a cab from the airport to the city center it costs about 100 pounds and takes approximately 1 hour.

Rental Cars

There are various car rental agencies located at the airport, including Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar, Enterprise, and Sixt. These car rental agencies are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Last Updated: 10 Jun 2019

Stansted Airport

It is very easy to reach the central regions of the city from Stansted Airport, which is located approximately 40 miles of London city center. For travelling to London city center from the airport, you can benefit from the buses offering service for 24 hours of the day or get on a taxi that you can easily find at the airport. You can also rent a car from one of the car rental offices located at Stansted Airport. Using a train is also among the transportation options that you can choose for travelling to the city center. If your priority is a fast and comfortable travel, your choice should be getting on a taxi. However, if you are looking for a more budget-friendly alternative, train may be the ideal option that you can choose on this route.

Bus

The buses departing from the terminal of Stansted Airport located in London carry passengers to 38 different destinations in total. 15 of these destinations are located in the center of London. The ticket prices of these buses provided by National Express start from £5 and vary according to your destination. The buses that you can find at any hour of the day are among the fastest and most budget-friendly alternatives for travelling to the center.

Train

Stansted Express, which provided direct transportation to many points of London by departing from the airport terminal, is another budget-friendly option. The ticket prices of the trains start from £8 and vary depending on your destination. You can transfer to the London Underground from some of the stations of the trains providing connection to also some points like Liverpool Street and travel to many other points by metro in a direct way.

Car Rental

You can rent a car from the airport terminal in order to reach the center from Stansted Airport, which is located approximately 40 miles away from London city center. Holiday Car Rental, UK Car Rental and Airport Car Rental are among the companies offering car rental service at the airport. You can also rent your car in advance by making an online reservation before your travel and take the road to your destination after receiving your car at the airport without waiting. This is among the comfortable transportation options.

Taxi

Another transportation option offered to the passengers at the airport is taxi. It is possible to find a taxi at any hour of the day. Travelling to the city center from the airport by taxi costs higher compared to other alternatives since the distance is long. However, if you have much luggage and want a comfortable travel to your destination, you can prefer getting on a taxi. Travelling to the city center from the airport costs about £100. You can call 0800 747 737 (in the country) or +44 (0)1279 661 111 (from abroad) in order to get detailed information about travelling to the city center from Stansted Airport and make a reservation in advance for a taxi if you choose this option for your transportation.

Bicycle

Thanks to the bicycle parking areas at Stansted Airport and bicycle roads in the city, you can travel to the city center from the airport by using your bicycle. If you arrive at the airport with your bicycle, you can also reach the city center by using the trains or some buses. Travelling by bicycle is among the enjoyable alternatives.

Last Updated: 24 Apr 2017

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Wingie offer the cheapest San Francisco-London flights?

When you search for San Francisco-London flights, Wingie directly gathers and compares instant data from all airlines. You can see all San Francisco-London flights together for the date you are looking for and choose the most suitable flight.

Which airports can I use for San Francisco-London flights?

For San Francisco-London flights, you can use Embarkader Airport, San Francisco Intl. Airport as departure airport, and City Airport, Gatwick Airport, Heathrow Airport, Luton Airport, Stansted Airport, Windsor and Eton Central Railway Railway Station, Euston Railway Station, King's Cross Railway Station, Paddington Railway Station, St Pancras Railway Station, Tottenham Hale station Railway Station, Victoria station Railway Station, Waterloo International Railway Station for arrival.

How many kilometers is the flight distance from San Francisco-London and how long does the flight take?

The flight distance between San Francisco-London is 8630 kilometers in total. The flight between the two cities takes 10 hour 40 minutes.

Which day is the most convenient for San Francisco-London flights?

When the average prices are examined, the most suitable day for San Francisco-London flights is Thursday.

Which airlines offer direct flights between San Francisco-London?

United Airlines organizes direct flights between San Francisco-London.