Flight time from London to Cape Town
A nonstop flight from London (LHR) to Cape Town (CPT) takes about 12 h 5 min. Flying back from Cape Town to London takes about 12 h 10 min. The two airports are 6,015 miles (9,681 km) apart.
| Route | Typical nonstop time | Leave 9:00 AM, land (local time) |
|---|---|---|
| LHR → CPT | 12h 05m | London → 11:05 PM |
| CPT → LHR | 12h 10m | Cape Town → 7:10 PM |
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
Cape Town is 1 hour ahead of London right now. See the time now in London and Cape Town, or compare them in the time zone converter.
Questions people ask
How long is the flight from London to Cape Town?
A nonstop flight from London (LHR) to Cape Town (CPT) takes about 12 h 5 min, gate to gate. The return flight takes about 12 h 10 min.
How far is Cape Town from London?
6,015 miles (9,681 km) along the great-circle route, the shortest path over the Earth between LHR and CPT airports.
What is the time difference between London and Cape Town?
Cape Town is 1 hour 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 Cape Town?
Leaving London at 9:00 AM on November 18, 2026, you would land in Cape Town at about 11:05 PM local time.
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Last updated October 21, 2026. Airport locations: OurAirports via airportsdata; time zones: IANA time zone database 2026.