Traveling from London to Chicago: what you need to know
When organizing your flight from London to Chicago, you'll have your choice of airports to leave from. Consider London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) for departure options. Other possibilities include London Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY).
When it comes to working out where to arrive in Chicago, Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) are the major entry points.
Book a direct London to Chicago flight and you'll be traveling for an average of 8 hours 55 minutes.
Chicago is six hours behind London and observes the UTC-6 timezone.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is the most popular route between these two cities. There are 56 weekly flights to pick from. If you have things to finalize before heading off, the last flight from London to Chicago is with British Airways at 15:45. Choose the first LHR to ORD departure with United Airlines at 08:30 to make the most of your arrival in Chicago.
To ensure you make it on your London to Chicago flight, allow plenty of time for things like check-in and baggage drop. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is a good rule of thumb.
During popular months like July, it's a good idea to get to the airport earlier than normal. Plan to arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of an international flight when you fly during a peak period in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Chicago
Booking early is often the key to locking in a cheap London to Chicago flight. Flight prices rise as demand increases, so the closer you get to departure, the more you'll likely spend.
Getting cheap plane tickets from London to Chicago is easy if you're flexible with your travel plans. Try using the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest fares across the month and walk away with an incredible deal.
Snapping up a cheap flight from London to Chicago is a piece of cake with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you as soon as the price has dropped.
Tailor your travel plans using filters. Select your preferred departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best' London to Chicago flights.
Flying from London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
If you're looking for a direct flight from London to Chicago, you can depart from London Heathrow Airport (LHR). Get from LHR to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) without making any stops.
You'll find a variety of airlines offering direct London to Chicago plane tickets with departures from LHR, including:
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to break up your journey — and maybe even visit a new city. When browsing London to Chicago flights departing from London Heathrow Airport, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Popular options include:
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
LHR is about 26 kilometers from central London. If you're ride-sharing, catching a cab or driving from the center, it'll take you 45 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're taking public transport, expect the journey time to be around 25 minutes.
Booked an early flight from London to Chicago? Avoid the stress of rushing to the terminal (and sneak in some extra snooze time) by choosing one of these stays close to London Heathrow Airport:
Of all flights departing from London Heathrow Airport, 78% touch down on time at their destination.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Visit friends or family or just take some time to unwind with a stopover. If you'd like to break up your London to Chicago flight, here's where you can stop when taking off from London Gatwick Airport:
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
You can get to LGW from central London in about 1 hour 5 minutes by car (depending on traffic conditions). The journey on public transport will take roughly 45 minutes to cover the 40 kilometers or so.
Get a head start on your vacation with an extra night away from home. Before catching your flight from London to Chicago, stay in one of these hotels close to London Gatwick Airport:
Flights from London Gatwick Airport have a track record for punctuality, with 83% of them touching down as expected.
London Stansted Airport (STN)
You can reserve a ticket from London to Chicago with a stop or two departing from London Stansted Airport (STN). These are some of the most popular stopovers between STN and Chicago:
Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
Dublin Airport (DUB)
Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
From the center of London, STN is around 48 kilometers away. It takes roughly 1 hour 5 minutes to reach the airport by car and 45 minutes or so if you use public transport.
Skip the morning rush on departure day — stay close to London Stansted Airport and know you'll get to the terminal with time to spare. Get comfy at one of these hotels the day before if you have an early London to Chicago flight:
STN has a very good on-time arrivals rating of 80%, so you can count on your flight to stay on schedule and touch down when it should.
Arriving in Chicago
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to central Chicago takes around 30 minutes to reach by car. The center is roughly 26 kilometers away.
It typically takes 45 minutes to get there on public transport.
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from London to Chicago. Check in to one of these accommodation options near ORD instead:
Grab a Chicago O'Hare International Airport rental car and explore Chicago and beyond with your own set of wheels. Routes Car Rentals, Dollar and Budget are well-known companies you can book with here.
Booking your ride from Chicago O'Hare International Airport around four weeks ahead gives you the best chance of locking in a great deal.
You'll find ORD at 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway Airport (MDW)
The center of Chicago is approximately 14 kilometers from Chicago Midway Airport (MDW). After your flight from London to Chicago has hit the runway and you've made your way to arrivals, the drive should be around 25 minutes.
If you hop on public transport, the ride to the center will take you 30 minutes or so.
After your flight from London to Chicago, settle in at a hotel near MDW. These are some great accommodation options that'll help you get into relaxation mode:
The fastest way to reach your destination is with a Chicago Midway Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from Dollar, Hertz or Budget and be off and running.
Avoid paying more than you need to. Booking your ride four weeks ahead of your arrival at MDW will save you money.
Chicago Midway Airport is located at 5700 South Cicero.
Chicago Rockford Airport (RFD)
Hop off your flight from London to Chicago and travel to your hotel or start sightseeing right away. The center of Chicago is around 129 kilometers from Chicago Rockford Airport (RFD) and takes roughly 1 hour 40 minutes to reach driving.
The journey will take you around 2 hours if you use public transport.
Take the guesswork out of the next leg of your journey by picking up a Chicago Rockford Airport rental car. Budget, Alamo and National will get you on the road.
Booking at least a few weeks in advance of your flight from London to Chicago is a smart move. Along with better deals, you'll have a wider selection of vehicle makes and models at RFD.
Chicago Rockford Airport's official address is 2 Airport Cir.
Best time to go to Chicago
July is the busiest month for flights from London to Chicago. To steer clear of the crowds, head to Chicago in March.
Before locking in your London to Chicago tickets, think about the type of weather you enjoy. July is the warmest month in Chicago, with temperatures ranging from 16ºC (61ºF) to 28ºC (82ºF).
Search for cheap flights from London to Chicago in January if you'd rather travel when it's cooler. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -12ºC (10ºF) and 3ºC (37ºF) on average.
More about Chicago
Once you've booked your flight from London to Chicago, decide where you'll be dropping your bags. Make one of these options your base for exploring Chicago:
All great adventures should include some sightseeing. Millennium Park, The Art Institute of Chicago and Willis Tower are must-do's during your Chicago adventure.
Explore more of the United States
You've visited Chicago, now it's time to explore more of the United States. Journey around 451 kilometers southeast to Columbus to check off its leading sights. From Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens to Columbus Park of Roses and Ohio Theatre, there's plenty to keep you on the go.
If you're ready to explore another major destination in the United States, consider Indianapolis, roughly 257 kilometers southeast of Chicago. Lucas Oil Stadium, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art and The Children's Museum of Indianapolis are key highlights.
