What percentage of London to Shanghai flights are direct?

In the trailing 90 days, approximately 15.2% of flights from London to Shanghai were direct. For travelers opting for connecting flights, the median number of stopovers was 2. This suggests that while direct options are available, a significant portion of routes involve at least one connection to reach Shanghai from London.

What's the flight time from London to Shanghai?

The typical direct flight from London to Shanghai has a duration of 11 hours and 20 minutes, covering a distance of 9252 kilometers. For flights with one stop, the median travel time increases to 17 hours and 20 minutes. This represents a substantial difference, with connecting flights taking approximately 6 hours longer on average than direct services.

How often do London to Shanghai flight prices drop?

Historically, flight prices for the London to Shanghai route have shown frequent drops. This indicates that travelers may often find opportunities to secure more favorable fares. Price fluctuations are a common characteristic of this route, suggesting that monitoring prices can be beneficial for those planning to travel between these two cities.

Flights From London

To Shanghai

Cheap Flights from London to Shanghai

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Deals from

London

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Prices updated 2 days ago

405 airlines compared

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Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Jul 26, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from London to Shanghai

Explore current cheapest deals departing from London to Shanghai

2026-11-17 – 2026-11-24
LON - Shanghai
79% AI deal score
£442
£414
Round trip
2026-10-01 – 2026-10-07
LON - Shanghai
91% AI deal score
£579
£420
Round trip
2026-11-10 – 2026-11-16
LON - Shanghai
78% AI deal score
£438
£420
Round trip
2026-11-11 – 2026-11-17
LON - Shanghai
83% AI deal score
£495
£426
Round trip
2026-10-01 – 2026-10-15
LON - Shanghai
90% AI deal score
£558
£430
Round trip
2026-11-10 – 2026-11-22
LON - Shanghai
76% AI deal score
£429
£430
Round trip
2026-11-03 – 2026-11-10
LON - Shanghai
76% AI deal score
£433
£430
Round trip
2026-10-01 – 2026-10-17
LON - Shanghai
91% AI deal score
£596
£433
Round trip
2026-11-07 – 2026-11-13
LON - Shanghai
77% AI deal score
£439
£433
Round trip
2026-11-14 – 2026-11-21
LON - Shanghai
77% AI deal score
£446
£435
Round trip

London to Shanghai: Overview

Insights for flights from London to Shanghai

A typical journey from London to Shanghai takes about 11h 20m, including connections. Given that most itineraries for this route involve at least one stop, this median duration reflects the overall travel time you can expect. For connecting flights specifically, the median journey time is 17h 50m, while direct flights from London to Shanghai typically take 11h 20m.

When looking for cheap flights from London to Shanghai, prices typically range from $750–$1637, with a median fare of $1218. Right now, fares are below the typical level, which can present a good opportunity for travelers. Approximately 8% of recent fares on this route have been classified as a good price, indicating that competitive deals do appear.

If you are wondering when is the cheapest time to fly from London to Shanghai, the data shows that April is typically the most affordable month, with a median fare of $665. Following closely, May also offers competitive prices, with a median of $684. January is another cost-effective option, with median fares around $699.

Most itineraries for flights between London and Shanghai involve connections, with only 15.2% of recent fares being non-stop. For the majority of flights that are not direct, travelers can expect to make 2 stopovers. This indicates that while direct options exist, connecting flights are far more common on this long-haul route.

The route from London to Shanghai covers a significant distance of 9252 kilometers, classifying it as a long-haul journey. This substantial distance means that flights will naturally have a longer duration compared to shorter routes. New deals for this route appear almost daily, so setting up a price alert can help you track fare changes effectively.

How much is a round trip from London to Shanghai

Regular price: £401 - £770

Prices for flights from London to Shanghai are currently within the regular range.

The regular price range for flights from London to Shanghai is between 401 GBP and 770 GBP. The current lowest deal is 414 GBP with China Southern Airlines, for travel from Nov 17-Nov 24.

now £414

Low £401

High £770

The cheapest time to fly from London to Shanghai

The cheapest month to fly from London to Shanghai is April, with a median price of $607. The most expensive month is July, with a median price of $1667. Generally, prices are lower from January to December.

April

Cheapest

Flights from £607

July

Most Expensive

Flights from £1,667

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from London to Shanghai

Air China

Last-minute flights going from London to Shanghai

Thu, Aug 6

⌛ Last-Minute

LHR - Shanghai

London (LHR) - Shanghai (SHA)

Aer Lingus

£904

£598

One-way

Tue, Aug 18

⌛ Last-Minute

LGW - Shanghai

London (LGW) - Shanghai (SHA)

China Southern Airlines

£710

£503

One-way

Tue, Aug 18

⌛ Last-Minute

LGW - Shanghai

London (LGW) - Shanghai (SHA)

China Southern Airlines

£765

£527

One-way

Thu, Aug 20

⌛ Last-Minute

LGW - Shanghai

London (LGW) - Shanghai (SHA)

China Southern Airlines

£738

£488

One-way

Fri, Aug 21

⌛ Last-Minute

LGW - Shanghai

London (LGW) - Shanghai (SHA)

China Southern Airlines

£778

£528

One-way

Fri, Aug 21

⌛ Last-Minute

LGW - Shanghai

London (LGW) - Shanghai (SHA)

China Southern Airlines

£785

£528

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from London to Shanghai

9 nights

Dec 1 - Dec 10

£840 → £534

36%

3 nights

Aug 6 - Aug 9

£904 → £598

34%

6 nights

Dec 2 - Dec 8

£722 → £442

39%

13 nights

Dec 1 - Dec 14

£755 → £491

35%

Popular Airports to fly from London to Shanghai

London - Shanghai route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are below the typical level.

Recent fares from London to Shanghai are below the typical level for this route.

📅 Best time to fly

April is historically the cheapest month to fly.

Historically, April is the cheapest month to fly from London to Shanghai, with a median price of $607.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights take 11h 20m.

The median flight duration for direct flights from London to Shanghai is 11h 20m.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are dominant for this route.

Connecting flights are dominant for this route, with a median of 2 stopovers when connecting.

🏆 Airline highlight

Air China offers direct flights.

Air China is an airline that offers direct flights from London to Shanghai.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals are frequent for this route.

Deals for flights from London to Shanghai are frequent, appearing within a 30-day window.

London main airports to depart from

Heathrow (LHR)

Cheapest

London Heathrow offers the cheapest flights to Shanghai, making it a good value departure option.

📍 ~23 km from London city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~£432

Shanghai main airports to arrive at

Shanghai Pudong International (PVG)

Cheapest

Shanghai Pudong International Airport is a key arrival point for flights from London to Shanghai.

📍 ~33 km from Shanghai (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~£482

Airports nearby Shanghai used as alternative

Hangzhou Xiaoshan International (HGH)

Consider Hangzhou Xiaoshan International as a major international hub with excellent high-speed rail connectivity to Shanghai.

📍 ~150 km from Shanghai (reachable by high-speed rail)

💸 Flights from ~£477

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Shanghai

92% AI deal score

$2,242

$1,307

Save $935

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Shanghai

Historically, the optimal booking window for flights from London to Shanghai is typically 14-27 days before departure. During this period, the average price observed was $756. Prices tend to be higher outside this window, with flights booked 7-13 days out averaging $1101, and those booked 28-59 days in advance averaging $1475. Even last-minute bookings, within 0-6 days of travel, were found to average $916.

Across the trailing quarter, a good price for a flight from London to Shanghai was considered to be $750 or less. The median price for this route was $1218, indicating that half of all observed prices were above this amount. Prices at the 75th percentile reached $1637, suggesting that deals below $750 represent a significant saving compared to typical fares.

Historically, the cheapest months to fly from London to Shanghai include April, with a median price of $665, and May, with a median price of $684. January also offered competitive pricing, with a median of $699. These months generally present better value compared to the annual median price of $1218 for this route, based on observations over the trailing 270 days.

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London to Shanghai: Overview

Insights for flights from London to Shanghai

How much is a round trip from London to Shanghai

Regular price: £401 - £770

Prices for flights from London to Shanghai are currently within the regular range.

The regular price range for flights from London to Shanghai is between 401 GBP and 770 GBP. The current lowest deal is 414 GBP with China Southern Airlines, for travel from Nov 17-Nov 24.

now £414

Low £401

High £770

The cheapest time to fly from London to Shanghai

April

Cheapest

Flights from £607

July

Most Expensive

Flights from £1,667

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec