Flights from Orlando to London are different from most US routes, because they do not all go to the same airport. Virgin Atlantic flies from Orlando International to Heathrow, while British Airways and Norse Atlantic fly from Orlando to Gatwick. The flight takes around 8 hours 10 to 8 hours 25 minutes, and London is five hours ahead of Orlando for most of the year. Knowing which airport you land at changes almost everything about the trip into London, so that is where this guide starts.
We are Airports Taxi UK, and Gatwick and Heathrow are our home ground. We meet Orlando flights at both airports, track each one from take-off, and have a driver waiting in the arrivals hall with your name at the real landing time. The fare is fixed when you book. From Gatwick to central London a saloon currently costs £110, and from Heathrow it is £67.
Heathrow or Gatwick: Who Flies Where
| Airline | From | Lands at | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Atlantic | Orlando (MCO) | Heathrow Terminal 3 | Around five flights a week, some seasonal variation |
| British Airways | Orlando (MCO) | Gatwick | Boeing 777 |
| Norse Atlantic | Orlando (MCO) | Gatwick | Low-cost, Boeing 787 |
| British Airways | Tampa (TPA) | Gatwick | Useful for Florida’s west coast |
Schedules on Florida routes change with the seasons, with more flights over the summer and around Easter and Christmas, when British families head to the parks. Check your ticket for the airport code: LHR is Heathrow, LGW is Gatwick. Heathrow is west of London and Gatwick is south, about 45 miles apart by road. If you are booking with us, the flight number tells us which airport and terminal to send the driver to.
Picking Your Flight
For a US traveller, the choice of airport should depend on where you are staying. If your hotel is in west London, Kensington or Paddington, Heathrow is closer and the Virgin flight makes sense. If you are staying south of the river, near Victoria or London Bridge, or outside London in Surrey, Sussex or Kent, Gatwick is often the better airport. Norse fares are usually the cheapest on the route, but check what is included, as bags and seats can cost extra.
Most Orlando flights leave in the late afternoon or evening and land in England early the next morning, often between about 6.30am and 10am. That means a long first day, so plan for it.
The UK ETA
US citizens need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation before travelling. It costs £20. You apply through the UK ETA app or on GOV.UK, and most people get a decision within minutes. The Home Office recommends applying at least three working days before you fly, and airlines will not let you board without it. Once issued, it lasts two years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner. Each traveller needs their own, including children.
Arriving at Gatwick
Gatwick has two terminals, North and South, linked by a free shuttle train that takes about two minutes. Your boarding pass or the airline’s app will say which one you are arriving at. US passport holders can use the eGates at passport control, and Gatwick’s arrivals halls are straightforward: once through customs, you come out into a single hall where your driver will be waiting with a name board.
From Gatwick, the car takes the M23 and then the A23 or other roads north into London. Allow 75 minutes to an hour and 45 minutes to central London, depending on traffic. Early arrivals often meet the morning rush through south London. The fare is fixed when you book, so a slow drive does not cost more. These are our current fixed fares from Gatwick to central London:
| Vehicle | Takes up to | One-way fare |
|---|---|---|
| Saloon | 4 passengers, 2 large cases | £110 |
| Estate | 4 passengers, 4 large cases | £119 |
| Executive | 3 passengers, 2 large cases | £137 |
| People carrier (MPV) | 6 passengers, 4 large cases | £141 |
| 8 Seater | 8 passengers, 8 large cases | £141 |
| Executive Minivan | 8 passengers, 8 large cases | £178 |
The Gatwick Express runs to London Victoria in about 30 minutes, and Thameslink trains go through London Bridge, Blackfriars and St Pancras. Both are good if you are travelling light. With a family and holiday luggage, the car saves the change at Victoria and the Tube connection after it.
Arriving at Heathrow
The Virgin flight lands at Heathrow Terminal 3. After passport control and baggage reclaim, you come out into the Terminal 3 arrivals hall, where the driver will meet you. From Heathrow, central London is 45 to 75 minutes by road. Our current fixed fares from Heathrow to central London are:
| Vehicle | Takes up to | One-way fare |
|---|---|---|
| Saloon | 4 passengers, 2 large cases | £67 |
| Estate | 4 passengers, 4 large cases | £74 |
| Executive | 3 passengers, 2 large cases | £87 |
| People carrier (MPV) | 6 passengers, 4 large cases | £86 |
| 8 Seater | 8 passengers, 8 large cases | £86 |
| Executive Minivan | 8 passengers, 8 large cases | £114 |
For a hotel in Kensington, a saloon from Heathrow is about £59. Booking a return journey at the same time takes 5% off the return leg, from either airport.
Staying Outside London
Because two of the Orlando flights land at Gatwick, many travellers on this route are not going to London at all. Gatwick is on the edge of Surrey and West Sussex, and a lot of our Orlando pickups go to towns like Reigate, Crawley, Horsham, Guildford and Tunbridge Wells. Brighton is about 45 minutes to an hour by car, and a saloon is currently about £73. The south coast, the Sussex countryside and Kent are all easier to reach from Gatwick than from Heathrow.
If your flight lands at one airport and you need to be near the other, for example landing at Gatwick for a hotel near Heathrow, we can do that too. The drive between the two airports takes about an hour to 90 minutes around the M25, and a saloon is about £88. See our Gatwick to Heathrow taxi page.
Families With Children
Orlando to London is a family route. Plenty of the passengers are children, and plenty of the luggage is large. A saloon takes four passengers but only two large cases, which is not enough for most families coming back from two weeks of theme parks. An estate takes four passengers with four cases, and a people carrier takes six with four. Our 8-seater takes eight people with eight cases, which works well for two families travelling together.
Child seats are available on request. Tell us the ages of the children when you book, as we fit the right seat before the driver leaves for the airport. Strollers, car seats you have brought with you, and travel cots all go in the boot, so mention them when you book.
Groups
For school trips, dance and sports teams, church groups and extended families, we run 12-seater and 16-seater minibuses from both airports. If your group is split across the Virgin flight into Heathrow and the BA flight into Gatwick, we can arrange a pickup at each and bill them together.
If Your Flight Is Delayed
Summer thunderstorms in central Florida can hold up evening departures from Orlando, sometimes by several hours. You do not need to call us when that happens. We follow the flight, and the driver’s meeting time moves with the real landing time. If the flight is cancelled and you are rebooked for the next day, or moved from a Gatwick flight to a Heathrow one, send us the new flight number and we will change the booking, including the airport.
A Tired First Morning
A five-hour time change after a short night is manageable, but most people still feel it by the afternoon. If your room is not ready, leave your bags at the hotel, have breakfast and get outside. Try to stay up until the evening and eat at London times. On a clear day, a walk on the South Downs near Gatwick or along the river in London is a good way to reset. For more ideas, see our page on things to do in London.
- England is much cooler than Florida, even in summer. Keep a jumper in your hand luggage.
- Contactless bank cards work on trains, buses and in most shops.
- Traffic drives on the left, which is one more reason not to rent a car straight off an overnight flight.
- UK plugs are type G, so you will need an adaptor.
Flying Back to Orlando
Flights from Gatwick and Heathrow to Orlando usually leave in the late morning or early afternoon. Aim to be at the airport three hours before departure. From central London, that means leaving about four hours before the flight for Heathrow, and a little more for Gatwick. From Surrey or Sussex, Gatwick is often less than an hour away. Tell us the flight number and we will suggest a pickup time and drop you at the right terminal.
Questions About Orlando to London
How long is the flight from Orlando to London?
About 8 hours 10 minutes to Heathrow and 8 hours 25 minutes to Gatwick, and around 9 to 10 hours back.
Which London airport do Orlando flights use?
Virgin Atlantic uses Heathrow Terminal 3. British Airways and Norse Atlantic use Gatwick.
How much is a taxi from Gatwick to central London?
£110 for a saloon and £141 for a people carrier, fixed when you book.
Can you meet us at Gatwick with an 8-seater?
Yes. Choose the 8-seater in the booking form and add your flight number.