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London is by far the most popular destination in the UK and offers plenty to see and do, whatever you’re interested in.

Fondly known as the ‘Big Smoke’, London is a fascinating mix of ancient history, multicultural communities, and vibrant, cutting-edge business, making it the perfect destination for those holidaymakers looking for everything under one roof.

London has been a city since the time of the ancient Romans and has long been the seat of power for the British Monarchy, which has resulted in plenty of historical attractions for today’s visitors. You can marvel at Buckingham Palace, pay a visit to the ‘Bloody Tower’ of London, or just meander the ancient streets to see if you can discover the remnants of Shakespeare’s world.

However, London isn’t just a historical city and there are plenty of mind-boggling modern buildings to admire. Head to the Gherkin and the Shard to see some of the best examples of contemporary architecture in the UK or visit the Tate Modern to wonder at modern art from across the globe.

For those looking for a bit of scenery, London also has a huge number of green spaces, including eight Royal Parks. You can bird-watch, hike, admire the view or even try to catch a glimpse of the deer of Richmond Park.

London is also a centre for gastronomic talent, home to 70 Michelin-starred restaurants. Whether you want traditional British cuisine, modern French fine dining, or delicious food from the Far East, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Whether you’re looking for heritage, shopping, art or food, you’ll find it here in London!

Here at Globehunters, we have many cheap flights to London from, with first and business class flights available too.

5 Things You Need to Know About London

If you’ve heading to London, here are five things you might want to know before you leave:

Time Difference: UTC +0 hours
Currency: Pound Sterling (£)
Native Language: English
Weather: Average temperature of 66°F during the warmest month (July) and 41°F during the coldest (January)
Sales Tax: 20% VAT is already included in the prices and is levied on most goods and services, excluding basic food items, books, and children’s clothing.

Flying to London from Chicago

Here’s everything you’ll need to know when flying to London from Chicago, such as flight times and entry requirements:

Flight Times

Direct flights from Chicago to London take around seven to eight hours, while a connecting flight averages around 11-12 hours, with a stopover in either Dublin or Iceland.

Flights are available from Midway International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport to London Gatwick and London Heathrow.

Entry Requirements

Most US Citizens will not require a visa to visit the UK for tourism purposes for any trips under 90 days.

However, if you’re travelling to work or study, wish to stay for longer, or are a non-US citizen travelling from the US, you may need to apply for a visa.

For more information, head to the UK government’s website for detailed entry requirements.

Airlines That Fly to London

The list contains some of the airlines offering flights from Chicago to London:

- American Airlines
- British Airways
- Aer Lingus
- Icelandair
- WOW Airlines
- Finnair
- Iberia

The Airports

Gatwick Airport

This international airport is located around 30 miles south of Central London and operates through two terminals, the North Terminal and the South Terminal.

The Gatwick Express is a direct train service to Victoria Station, Central London, running every 15 minutes and lasting around 30 minutes in duration. Alternatively, Southern Trains run services four times an hour to Victoria via East Croydon and Clapham Junction, while Thameslink and Great Northern operate services to London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pancras International, running four times an hour and lasting up to 45 minutes.

National Express and easyBus run services from Gatwick to Central London, lasting between one and two hours depending on traffic, with National Express found on the lower level forecourt of both terminals, while easyBus runs from bus stops 10 and 11 of the North Terminal.

Taxis can be booked from taxi kiosks in both terminals, with journey times lasting around one hour to Central London.

Car rental is provided by eight companies and can be found in both terminals.

London Heathrow

Heathrow is the biggest international airport in London, handling a record 75.7 million passengers in 2016. Located in the borough of Hillingdon, Heathrow is 14 miles west of Central London.

The Heathrow Express is a direct service running every 15 minutes from the airport to Paddington Station, Central London, with a journey time of only 15 minutes. Alternatively, Heathrow Connect stops at local stations in West London before continuing to Paddington, lasting up to 45 minutes.

Heathrow also has three London Underground stations, one for Terminals 2 and 3 (located between the terminals), and one each for Terminals 4 and 5 (located in the basements of the terminals buildings). They are all served by the Piccadilly Line, with the journey duration lasting under an hour and services running every five to ten minutes.

Coaches and local buses run from the central bus station located between Terminals 2 and 3, as well as some services from Terminals 4 and 5, lasting up to an hour depending on your destination and traffic.

Car rentals can be found on the car hire desks located in each terminal, with eight companies offering car rental. Alternatively, catch a cab from the taxi ranks located outside of each terminal, with journey times lasting up to an hour depending on your destination and traffic.

Popular Routes

- Chicago to London Heathrow
- Chicago to London Gatwick

10 London Must-Dos

There’s so much to see in London so it’s impossible to compile a comprehensive list, but here are some of the top attractions:

- London Eye
- Big Ben
- Tower of London
- Buckingham Palace
- Tower Bridge
- British Museum
- The Globe Theatre
- Windsor Castle
- St Paul’s Cathedral
- Westminster Abbey

Book Cheap Flights to London with Globehunters

So, if you’re heading to London, be sure to check out our full range of cheap flights here at Globehunters. We also offer great deals on first and business class flights too!

Feel free to get in touch with one of our travel advisors if you have any further questions regarding your trip to London!