Travelling from Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) to London: what you need to know
The average duration of a direct flight from Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport to London is 10 hours 35 minutes.
Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport is located in Colombo. Based in the UTC+0 timezone, London is five hours 30 minutes behind Colombo.
The busiest route is from Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR). You can choose from eight services every week between these two airports. SriLankan Airlines offers a 02:20 departure between CMB and LHR.
To avoid missing your CMB to London flight, allow plenty of time to check in and find your gate. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.
You can expect longer queues during popular months like February. Arriving up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours for a domestic departure is a smart move.
Direct Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport to London tickets are available for booking. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is where you'll be landing.
Check out the offers from SriLankan Airlines. This airline has direct flights from Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport to London.
Stopovers are the ideal opportunity to take a break from travelling and possibly even tick a new city off your list. When searching for plane tickets from CMB to London, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Some popular options include:
Istanbul Airport (IST)
Dubai International Airport (DXB)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
CMB is around 27 kilometres from central Colombo. If you're catching a taxi, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take 40 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're taking public transport, expect the journey time to be around 50 minutes.
Want a leisurely start to your travels? Stay near CMB. Whether you have an early flight from Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport to London or don't want departure day to feel hectic, these hotels are worth a look:
When it comes to the on-time performance of Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport, data shows 69% of flights stick to their scheduled arrival time.
How to find the cheapest flights from Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) to London
262 € is the cheapest price we've found for a one-way Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport to London flight. A round-trip plane ticket right now is 561 €. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares may change.
To secure cheap flights from CMB to London, reserve your trip five months ahead of your planned departure.
Organise your trip for October. That's the best month for landing an awesome deal on Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport to London tickets. If you're open to different travel dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across every month.
There's no need to keep looking every day to see if fares have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll let you know the moment there's an extra saving on cheap flights from CMB to London.
Tailor your trip with filters. Choose your ideal departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort your results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' flights from Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport to London.
Airports in London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
The distance from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to central London is roughly 24 kilometres. It takes around 45 minutes to reach the centre driving.
If you're travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of about 25 minutes.
If you're coming in on a late flight from Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport to London, nothing beats the convenience of staying near the terminal. Pick up your bags from the carousel and then be showered and sleeping not long after at one of these hotels near LHR:
Lock in the lowest price by reserving your ride from London Heathrow Airport around one week in advance of your flight from CMB to London.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Once your flight from Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport to London has arrived, you can reach the city centre in about 1 hour 5 minutes by car. Central London is roughly 48 kilometres from London Gatwick Airport (LGW).
If you travel by public transport, the ride to the centre will take you 1 hour 20 minutes or so.
Hang the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and relax at a hotel near LGW. Here are a few options where you can tuck yourself in after your CMB to London flight:
Avoid last-minute price surges. Securing your ride three weeks ahead of your arrival at LGW can land you a better rate.
London Stansted Airport (STN)
London Stansted Airport (STN) is about 56 kilometres from the centre of London. It takes about 1 hour 5 minutes to reach the city centre in a ride-share or taxi once you've hopped off your flight from Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport to London.
The journey takes about 45 minutes if you use public transport.
If you don't want to make the trip into the centre, find a hotel close to STN. Check in to one of these stays after your CMB to London flight:
If you're looking for a specific type of vehicle, book your ride from STN around four weeks ahead of your flight from Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport to London. This gives you a better shot at getting your preferred car, on top of a better deal.
Best time to go to London
July is the most popular month for flights from Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport to London. To escape the crowds, head to London in January.
The warmest month in London is July, with temperatures ranging between 11ºC (52ºF) and 26ºC (79ºF). Book your Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport to London plane ticket then if you enjoy this type of weather.
If you'd rather travel in cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from CMB to London in January when temperatures average between 0ºC (32ºF) and 9ºC (48ºF).
More about London
Start your London trip right by choosing the ideal place to stay. After booking your flight from Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport to London, check out our selection of accommodation options including:
Westminster Abbey and The British Museum are just the start of the top attractions to add to your London itinerary. Continue your sightseeing adventures at Big Ben.
Explore more of the United Kingdom
Manchester is just one of the many cities in the United Kingdom waiting to be discovered once you've seen London. Around 257 kilometres away to the northwest, its best attractions include Manchester United Museum & Stadium Tour, The Homes of Football and Museum of Science and Industry.
Around 161 kilometres northwest of London, Birmingham is another favourite stop in the United Kingdom. Experience major highlights starting with Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre and Bournville Experience.