South Africa · CPT
Flights to Cape Town from the UK
Cape Town runs direct from London through the South African summer, which is the UK winter — the reason fares climb sharply from November. Booked far enough ahead it is one of the better-value long-haul routes we sell.
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Flights from the UK to Cape Town
We quote every one of these by hand. Pick a departure airport and we will come back with the real fare on your dates.
Departure dates shown are examples and move forward automatically — we are not holding these seats. Prices, where shown, are indicative and change daily.
Airport
Cape Town International (CPT)
Flight time
about 11h 40m direct from London
Best time to go
November to March
Currency
South African Rand (ZAR)
Time zone
GMT+2
Country
South Africa
Flight times are approximate and depend on the routing. Ask us for the exact schedule on your dates.
When to go to Cape Town
Based on the climate and the school and holiday calendar, not on fares. We have no live pricing — ask us for the actual cost on your dates.
Time in Cape Town
London
—
Cape Town
—
2 hours ahead of London · GMT+2
How long it takes to Cape Town
Usually connecting through
The cheapest fare is often the longest journey. Tell us which matters more and we will price both.
Flying to Cape Town from your airport
Journey length from each UK airport — hours, not fares.
- LHRLondon Heathrow11h 42m
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic
- LGWLondon Gatwick17h–22h
via Dubai or Doha
- MANManchester17h–22h
via Dubai or Doha
- BHXBirmingham17h–22h
via Dubai or Doha
- EDIEdinburgh17h–22h
via Dubai or Doha
- GLAGlasgow17h–22h
via Dubai or Doha
Leaving from a regional airport usually means one stop — sometimes cheaper than the train to Heathrow, sometimes not. Ask us and we will price both.
Who flies to Cape Town
These are the carriers we most often quote on this route. The cheapest is rarely the same one twice, which is the reason to let us check rather than assume.
British Airways
Virgin Atlantic
Emirates
Qatar AirwaysBefore you travel to Cape Town
Entry
British passport holders normally enter visa-free for short stays. Other nationalities vary.
Health
No special certificate is normally required. Cape Town itself is not a malaria area.
How far ahead to start
Real lead times for Cape Town — the parts that cannot be rushed.
8 weeks before
Vaccinations
Some courses take time to complete, and a yellow fever certificate is only valid from 10 days after the jab.
6 weeks before
Visa
Applications for Cape Town are among the slower ones we handle. Starting early costs nothing; starting late can cost the trip.
On the day you book
Travel insurance
Cancellation cover only protects you against what happens after the policy starts, so buying it later leaves a gap.
1 week before
Confirm baggage
Extra allowance bought in advance costs far less than at the airport desk — the usual sting on this route.
24 hours before
Check in
Seats fill fast on busy routes and families get split up. Confirm the schedule at the same time.
Requirements depend on your nationality, not where you live, and they change without notice. Confirm yours at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice before booking anything non-refundable — or just ask us. Our travel guide covers passports, visas and vaccinations in full.
What does Cape Town cost right now?
Fares on this route move daily and differ by UK departure airport. Tell us your dates and we will come back with a real price — including baggage, which is where these routes usually catch people out.
Flying to Cape Town — your questions
The things people ask us most about this route. Anything else, just call 020 4618 3838.
The direct flight is about 11h 40m direct from London. With one stop it is typically 17–22 hours depending on the layover, so the cheapest ticket is often the longest day.
EmiratesQatar Airways
Turkish Airlines
Kenya Airways
Ethiopian AirlinesBritish Airways
Saudia
Etihad Airways
KLM
LufthansaVirgin AtlanticEmiratesQatar AirwaysTurkish AirlinesKenya AirwaysEthiopian AirlinesBritish AirwaysSaudiaEtihad AirwaysKLMLufthansaVirgin AtlanticTop flight destinations in Africa
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