What percentage of London to Shanghai flights are direct?

Across the trailing quarter, approximately 4.9% of flights from London to Shanghai were direct. For travelers opting for connecting flights, the median number of stopovers was typically 2. This data reflects flight patterns observed over a 90-day period.

What's the flight time from London to Shanghai?

The typical direct flight from London to Shanghai has a duration of 11 hours and 25 minutes, covering a distance of 9241 kilometers. Flights with one stop generally take longer, with a median duration of 17 hours and 45 minutes. These durations are based on historical flight data for this route.

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 for price reductions. This classification is based on pricing trends observed over a 30-day period.

Flights From London

To Shanghai

Cheap Flights from London to Shanghai

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Deals from

London

RatePunk searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Shanghai

Prices updated today

485 airlines compared

80%+ AI score for best value

Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Nov 2, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from London to Shanghai

Explore current cheapest deals departing from London to Shanghai

2026-12-02 – 2026-12-06
LON - Shanghai
92% AI deal score
£727
£450
Round trip
2026-11-04 – 2026-11-29
LON - Shanghai
78% AI deal score
£469
£450
Round trip
2026-11-11 – 2026-12-01
LON - Shanghai
75% AI deal score
£447
£453
Round trip
2026-11-22 – 2026-11-30
LON - Shanghai
87% AI deal score
£540
£454
Round trip
2026-11-18 – 2026-11-29
LON - Shanghai
77% AI deal score
£460
£455
Round trip
2026-11-18 – 2026-11-24
LON - Shanghai
78% AI deal score
£476
£455
Round trip
2026-11-12 – 2026-11-29
LON - Shanghai
81% AI deal score
£518
£462
Round trip
2026-11-15 – 2026-11-30
LON - Shanghai
75% AI deal score
£404
£463
Round trip
2026-12-06 – 2026-12-21
LON - Shanghai
90% AI deal score
£670
£465
Round trip
2026-11-15 – 2026-11-26
LON - Shanghai
74% AI deal score
£460
£467
Round trip

London to Shanghai: Overview

Insights for flights from London to Shanghai

A typical journey from London to Shanghai takes about 11h 25m, including connections. Given that most itineraries for this route involve at least one stop, the median connecting flight time is significantly longer at 19h 30m. This indicates that while direct flights are possible, travelers should anticipate a longer overall travel time due to layovers.

For travelers looking for cheap flights from London to Shanghai, fares typically range from $872–$1260, with a median of $1060. Right now, current fares are above the typical level for this route. Only 8% of recent fares were classified as a good price, suggesting that finding a significantly discounted fare can be challenging. New deals appear almost daily, offering frequent opportunities to monitor prices.

When is the cheapest time to fly from London to Shanghai? The data indicates that February is typically the most affordable month, with a median fare of $709. Following February, September also offers competitive prices, with a median fare of $930. May is another relatively cheaper option, showing a median fare of $961, making these months good times to consider for your travel.

Most itineraries from London to Shanghai connect at least once, with only 4.9% of recent fares being non-stop. For the majority of flights that do include connections, the typical number of stopovers is 2. This means that travelers should generally expect to make multiple stops on their journey, which contributes to the overall travel duration.

How much is a round trip from London to Shanghai

Regular price: £418 - £517

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

The regular price range for this route is between 418 GBP and 517 GBP. The current lowest deal is 443 GBP with Hainan Airlines for travel from Nov 25-Dec 6.

now £443

Low £418

High £517

The cheapest time to fly from London to Shanghai

The cheapest month to fly from London to Shanghai is February, with a median price of $825. The most expensive month is July, with a median price of $1392. Prices are generally lower from February to November.

February

Cheapest

Flights from £825

July

Most Expensive

Flights from £1,392

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from London to Shanghai

Air China

Last-minute flights going from London to Shanghai

Sun, Nov 1

⌛ Last-Minute

LHR - Shanghai

London (LHR) - Shanghai (SHA)

Xiamen Airlines

£604

£481

One-way

Sun, Nov 1

⌛ Last-Minute

LHR - Shanghai

London (LHR) - Shanghai (SHA)

Xiamen Airlines

£560

£494

One-way

Sun, Nov 1

⌛ Last-Minute

LHR - Shanghai

London (LHR) - Shanghai (SHA)

Xiamen Airlines

£576

£494

One-way

Wed, Nov 4

⌛ Last-Minute

LHR - Shanghai

London (LHR) - Shanghai (PVG)

Hainan Airlines

£468

£450

One-way

Wed, Nov 4

⌛ Last-Minute

LHR - Shanghai

London (LHR) - Shanghai (SHA)

Xiamen Airlines

£556

£494

One-way

Wed, Nov 4

⌛ Last-Minute

LHR - Shanghai

London (LHR) - Shanghai (SHA)

Xiamen Airlines

£594

£494

One-way

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

1 night

Oct 28 - Oct 29

£855 → £611

29%

2 nights

Oct 28 - Oct 30

£762 → £684

10%

1 night

Oct 30 - Oct 31

£821 → £745

3 nights

Oct 27 - Oct 30

£845 → £802

Popular Airports to fly from London to Shanghai

London - Shanghai route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are above the typical level

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

📅 Best time to fly

February is historically cheapest at $709

Historically, February is the cheapest month to fly, with a median price of $709.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights average 11h 25m

Direct flights from London to Shanghai typically take 11 hours and 25 minutes.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are dominant

Connecting flights are dominant on this route, with a median of 2 stopovers.

🏆 Airline highlight

Hainan Airlines offers a deal for $443

Hainan Airlines has a deal for $443 from November 25 to December 6.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals appear frequently

Deals for flights on this long-haul route appear frequently, typically every 30 days.

London main airports to depart from

Gatwick (LGW)

Cheapest

London Gatwick is often the cheapest option for flights from London to Shanghai.

📍 ~40 km from London city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~£408

Heathrow (LHR)

London Heathrow is a major international hub for flights from London to Shanghai.

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

💸 Flights from ~£420

London City (LCY)

London City Airport offers a convenient, closer-to-city option for flights from London to Shanghai.

📍 ~13 km from London city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~£536

London Southend (SEN)

London Southend Airport is an alternative departure point for flights from London to Shanghai.

📍 ~57 km from London city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~£580

London Stansted (STN)

London Stansted Airport is another option for flights from London to Shanghai.

📍 ~49 km from London city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~£485

Luton (LTN)

Luton Airport provides an additional choice for flights from London to Shanghai.

📍 ~44 km from London city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~£474

Shanghai main airports to arrive at

Shanghai Hongqiao International (SHA)

Cheapest

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is a good option for flights from London to Shanghai.

📍 ~14 km from city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~£426

Airports nearby Shanghai used as alternative

Hangzhou Xiaoshan International (HGH)

Shanghai, China

91% AI deal score

$4,565

$3,151

Save $1,414

Hainan Airlines

Business Class

From LGW

Elite

Dec 04

Shanghai, China

91% AI deal score

$2,121

$1,516

Save $605

Iberia Airlines, +1

Business Class

From LHR

Elite

Nov 26

Shanghai, China

90% AI deal score

$4,436

$3,312

Save $1,124

Swiss International Air Lines

Business Class

From LHR

Elite

Nov 27

Shanghai, China

90% AI deal score

$4,451

$3,322

Save $1,129

Lufthansa

Business Class

From LHR

Elite

Nov 08

Shanghai, China

90% AI deal score

$4,417

$3,353

Save $1,064

China Southern Airlines

Business Class

From LHR

Elite

Nov 08

Shanghai, China

90% AI deal score

$4,594

$3,359

Save $1,235

China Southern Airlines

Business Class

From LHR

Elite

Nov 02

Shanghai, China

90% AI deal score

$4,523

$3,366

Save $1,157

China Southern Airlines

Business Class

From LHR

Elite

Mar 22

Shanghai, China

90% AI deal score

$12,208

$8,675

Save $3,533

Etihad Airways

Business Class

From LHR

Elite

Feb 07

Shanghai, China

90% AI deal score

$2,254

$1,522

Save $732

From LHR

Elite

Feb 07

Shanghai, China

90% AI deal score

$2,254

$1,522

Save $732

From LHR

Elite

Feb 07

Shanghai, China

90% AI deal score

$2,239

$1,522

Save $717

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Shanghai

Historically, the optimal booking window for flights from London to Shanghai has been 7-13 days before departure. During this period, the average price was approximately $594. Booking within 0-6 days of departure typically saw prices rise to an average of $1272. Similarly, booking more than 60 days out also resulted in higher average prices, around $1252. These trends are based on pricing data observed across a 90-day window.

A flight from London to Shanghai is generally considered a good deal if the price is at or below $872. This threshold represents the 25th percentile of prices observed across the trailing quarter. The median price for this route historically stood at $1060, while prices at the 75th percentile reached $1260. These figures are based on pricing data collected over a 90-day period.

Historically, the cheapest months to fly from London to Shanghai have been February, with a median price of $709, and September, with a median price of $930. May also showed a median price of $961. The annual median price for this route was $1060. These insights are derived from pricing data spanning a 270-day window.

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Flights to Shanghai from other cities

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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: £418 - £517

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

The regular price range for this route is between 418 GBP and 517 GBP. The current lowest deal is 443 GBP with Hainan Airlines for travel from Nov 25-Dec 6.

now £443

Low £418

High £517

The cheapest time to fly from London to Shanghai

February

Cheapest

Flights from £825

July

Most Expensive

Flights from £1,392

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from London to Shanghai

Air China

Last-minute flights going from London to Shanghai

Sun, Nov 1

⌛ Last-Minute

LHR - Shanghai

London (LHR) - Shanghai (SHA)

Xiamen Airlines

£604

£481

One-way

Sun, Nov 1

⌛ Last-Minute

LHR - Shanghai

London (LHR) - Shanghai (SHA)

Xiamen Airlines

£560

£494

One-way

Sun, Nov 1

⌛ Last-Minute

LHR - Shanghai

London (LHR) - Shanghai (SHA)

Xiamen Airlines

£576

£494

One-way

Wed, Nov 4

⌛ Last-Minute

LHR - Shanghai

London (LHR) - Shanghai (PVG)

Hainan Airlines

£468

£450

One-way

Wed, Nov 4

⌛ Last-Minute

LHR - Shanghai

London (LHR) - Shanghai (SHA)

Xiamen Airlines

£556

£494

One-way

Wed, Nov 4

⌛ Last-Minute

LHR - Shanghai

London (LHR) - Shanghai (SHA)

Xiamen Airlines

£594

£494

One-way

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

1 night

Oct 28 - Oct 29

£855 → £611

29%

2 nights

Oct 28 - Oct 30

£762 → £684

10%

1 night

Oct 30 - Oct 31

£821 → £745

3 nights

Oct 27 - Oct 30

£845 → £802

Popular Airports to fly from London to Shanghai

London - Shanghai route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are above the typical level

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

📅 Best time to fly

February is historically cheapest at $709

Historically, February is the cheapest month to fly, with a median price of $709.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights average 11h 25m

Direct flights from London to Shanghai typically take 11 hours and 25 minutes.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are dominant

Connecting flights are dominant on this route, with a median of 2 stopovers.

🏆 Airline highlight

Hainan Airlines offers a deal for $443

Hainan Airlines has a deal for $443 from November 25 to December 6.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals appear frequently

Deals for flights on this long-haul route appear frequently, typically every 30 days.

London main airports to depart from

Gatwick (LGW)

Cheapest

London Gatwick is often the cheapest option for flights from London to Shanghai.

📍 ~40 km from London city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~£408

Heathrow (LHR)

London Heathrow is a major international hub for flights from London to Shanghai.

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

💸 Flights from ~£420

London City (LCY)

London City Airport offers a convenient, closer-to-city option for flights from London to Shanghai.

📍 ~13 km from London city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~£536

London Southend (SEN)

London Southend Airport is an alternative departure point for flights from London to Shanghai.

📍 ~57 km from London city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~£580

London Stansted (STN)

London Stansted Airport is another option for flights from London to Shanghai.

📍 ~49 km from London city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~£485

Luton (LTN)

Luton Airport provides an additional choice for flights from London to Shanghai.

📍 ~44 km from London city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~£474

Shanghai main airports to arrive at

Shanghai Hongqiao International (SHA)

Cheapest

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is a good option for flights from London to Shanghai.

📍 ~14 km from city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~£426

Airports nearby Shanghai used as alternative

Hangzhou Xiaoshan International (HGH)

Consider this major international hub for its extensive networks and competitive pricing, with excellent high-speed rail connectivity to Shanghai.

Shanghai, China

90% AI deal score

$2,254

$1,522

Save $732

From LHR

Elite

Feb 07

Shanghai, China

90% AI deal score

$2,254

$1,522

Save $732

From LHR

Elite

Feb 07

Shanghai, China

90% AI deal score

$2,239

$1,522

Save $717

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Shanghai

Cheap Flights from London to Shanghai

Today’s best flight deals from London to Shanghai

London to Shanghai: Overview

Insights for flights from London to Shanghai

How much is a round trip from London to Shanghai

The cheapest time to fly from London to Shanghai

Direct flights from London to Shanghai

Last-minute flights going from London to Shanghai

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

Popular Airports to fly from London to Shanghai

London - Shanghai route insights

Recent fares are above the typical level

February is historically cheapest at $709

Direct flights average 11h 25m

Connecting flights are dominant

Hainan Airlines offers a deal for $443

Deals appear frequently

London main airports to depart from

Shanghai main airports to arrive at

Airports nearby Shanghai used as alternative

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Shanghai

Best Elite deals to Shanghai

Nov 25

Nov 25

Dec 04

Nov 26

Nov 27

Nov 08

Nov 08

Nov 02

Mar 22

Feb 07

Feb 07

Feb 07

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Shanghai

When should I buy London to Shanghai tickets?

How do I know if a London to Shanghai flight is a good deal?

When is the cheapest time of year to fly from London to Shanghai?

What percentage of London to Shanghai flights are direct?

What's the flight time from London to Shanghai?

How often do London to Shanghai flight prices drop?

Related routes

More routes from London

Flights to Shanghai from other cities

London to Shanghai: Overview

Insights for flights from London to Shanghai

How much is a round trip from London to Shanghai

The cheapest time to fly from London to Shanghai

Direct flights from London to Shanghai

Last-minute flights going from London to Shanghai

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

Popular Airports to fly from London to Shanghai

London - Shanghai route insights

Recent fares are above the typical level

February is historically cheapest at $709

Direct flights average 11h 25m

Connecting flights are dominant

Hainan Airlines offers a deal for $443

Deals appear frequently

London main airports to depart from

Shanghai main airports to arrive at

Airports nearby Shanghai used as alternative

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Shanghai

Best Elite deals to Shanghai

Nov 25

Nov 25

Dec 04

Nov 26

Nov 27

Nov 08

Nov 08

Nov 02

Mar 22

Feb 07

Feb 07

Feb 07

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Shanghai

When should I buy London to Shanghai tickets?

How do I know if a London to Shanghai flight is a good deal?

When is the cheapest time of year to fly from London to Shanghai?