Flight time from London to Athens
A nonstop flight from London (LHR) to Athens (ATH) takes about 3 h 40 min. Flying back from Athens to London takes about 4 h 5 min. The two airports are 1,508 miles (2,427 km) apart.
| Route | Typical nonstop time | Leave 9:00 AM, land (local time) |
|---|---|---|
| LHR → ATH | 3h 40m | London → 2:40 PM |
| ATH → LHR | 4h 05m | Athens → 11:05 AM |
Example arrival times are for a departure on November 18, 2026. Times are estimates of gate-to-gate block time, from the great-circle distance, typical jet cruising speeds, average upper-level winds and about 45 minutes for taxi, take-off, climb and landing. They are not airline schedules, and we don't track which airlines fly this route nonstop. Real flights vary by aircraft, routing, season and the day's wind; check your airline for the exact time.
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Time difference
Athens is 2 hours ahead of London right now. See the time now in London and Athens, or compare them in the time zone converter.
The London to Athens flight is usually quicker than Athens to London. High-altitude winds, led by the jet stream, mostly blow from west to east, so planes heading east ride a tailwind and planes heading west fight a headwind. On busy routes the difference shows up in airline timetables every day.
Questions people ask
How long is the flight from London to Athens?
A nonstop flight from London (LHR) to Athens (ATH) takes about 3 h 40 min, gate to gate. The return flight takes about 4 h 5 min.
How far is Athens from London?
1,508 miles (2,427 km) along the great-circle route, the shortest path over the Earth between LHR and ATH airports.
What is the time difference between London and Athens?
Athens is 2 hours ahead of London right now. The difference can change by an hour during the year when one city changes its clocks for daylight saving time and the other does not.
If I leave London at 9 a.m., when do I arrive in Athens?
Leaving London at 9:00 AM on November 18, 2026, you would land in Athens at about 2:40 PM local time.
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Last updated October 21, 2026. Airport locations: OurAirports via airportsdata; time zones: IANA time zone database 2026.