Flights from London to Zurich

Flights from London to Zurich

You can catch flights from London to Zurich every day from Heathrow, Gatwick or London City Airport. Many of them are direct flights, which are relatively short, at just under 2h, with some of them shaving off about 30min from the travel time. There are also several flights that make a single stopover in-between, and these take varying times – from roughly 3-9h, with some taking as long as 25h 30min, due to almost a day-long stop in Paris. On the upside, this is an ideal opportunity to do some sightseeing.

London to Zurich flight time: Daily Departures

The direct flights from London to Zurich will only take about 1h 40min, with the shortest taking roughly 1h 30min. There are over a dozen total flights each day, of which the vast majority are non-stop flights. This gives a wide array of choice, with around 100 flights a week, on average. The first departs at around 6:00 a.m. and the last at about 6:40 p.m., and both the earliest and latest flights are direct.

How long is the journey by flight from London to Zurich?

The quickest flights to Zurich from London will only take about 1h 30min, with others taking slightly longer to make journey, in roughly 1h 40min. As these are all direct flights, you won’t be required to make any changes en route. Some of the one-stop flights offer a total travel time of about 3h, so these are worth booking too – check the live flight schedules on Omio for these, as they are sometimes a little cheaper.

Zurich Airport Terminal. Source: Shutterstock

What are the departure and arrival airports for flights from London to Zurich?

Departure airport: You can fly to Zurich out of three London airports, with most flights departing from London Heathrow Airport (LHR). A good number also leave from London City Airport (LCY), with a few departing out of London Gatwick Airport (LGW). Getting to them from central London will take about 15min on the Heathrow Express, about 30min on a Southern Service bus, and about 20min on a DLR train, respectively. All of these are busy international air hubs, with modern accessibility and limited mobility features, and family facilities like play areas and baby change rooms. There are plenty of shops, both in the main concourse and the duty-free areas, and you can eat and drink at numerous cafes, restaurants, bars and coffee shops.

Arrival airport: All flights to Zurich from London land at Zurich Airport (ZRH). This is about a 12min-trip on the Swiss Railways S and I lines. Alternatively you can catch the No. 768 FlixBus which will take about 15min. Zurich Airport is also a very sophisticated modern airport, with many car hire kiosks, banks and cash machine and even on-site dental treatment facilities and an eye clinic. Shopping is plentiful, as are fast-food outlets, coffee shops and restaurants. Family services include kids’ corners to keep them entertained, while very comprehensive limited mobility assistance can be arranged 48h before you leave.

Which airlines travel from London to Zurich?

The bulk of the Zurich flights are operated by Swiss, Lufthansa and British Airways. Of these, Swiss and BA operate direct flights, which are the fastest, taking around 1h 40min on average. Lufthansa flights make a single stopover in-between, at Frankfurt am Main Airport (FRA), for a change of airplane. Other flights are offered by KLM and Air France, but these make long stopovers at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) and Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), which can add up to 23h to the basic trip. We wouldn’t recommend these, as they don’t offer cheaper fares, although they will allow you to explore the stopover cities while you’re waiting for your connecting flight.

Swiss flights from London to Zurich

All flights to Zurich from London on Swiss are direct, and are the shortest ones you’ll find, taking around 1h 30min. There are several flights a day, concentrated around the morning and evening commuter hours, with some offered around midday. Some of these are operated directly by Swiss, while others are operated by third-party airline providers like tab. You can book both one-way or return flights on Swiss, to suit your holiday or business itinerary.

British Airways flights from London to Zurich

British Airways flights take between about 1h 35min and 1h 55min, flying directly between London and Zurich. Return and one-way tickets are available through Omio. These flights are on offer about three times a day, with one in the mid-morning and the others in the late afternoon. Some of them are operated on behalf of BA by BA Cityflyer.

Lufthansa flights from London to Zurich

Lufthansa only offers one-stop flights from London to Zurich. These take varying amounts of time to make the trip. The shortest of them reach Zurich in about 3h, with most of the others taking from 3h 20min to just under 5h. They all make their intervening stops in Frankfurt, with the difference in flight times down to the length of these stopovers. Swiss operates some of them on behalf of Lufthansa, although this makes no difference to the quality or duration of these flights.

easyJet flights from London to Zurich

easyJet usually offers one flight per day on the London-Zurich route. This is a budget trip that also flies directly from London to Zurich, which is a stroke of luck, as budget airlines often fly some pretty convoluted routes to optimise costs. It will also save you on the price of the ticket, and with a total flight time of 1h 45min, this makes easyJet a very good choice of airline.

Flight London to Zurich: Services on Board

The various airlines all have their own special services that distinguish them from the others. All of them except easyJet offer the standard three classes: Economy, Business and First class. We’ll focus on what’s offered in Economy class on the first three airlines, as this is the choice of most travellers, and deal with easyJet separately. Swiss, BA and Lufthansa all have similar luggage allowances, usually one item of hold luggage with a weight limit of around 50 lbs (23 kg), plus a carry-on item of about 18 lbs (8 kg). Lufthansa also offers an Economy Flex programme, which gives you seat choice and priority boarding. All these airlines provide on-board Wi-Fi and power charging sockets in the seats. You’ll have a choice of menu if you’re in the air during mealtimes, and can get plenty of drinks and snacks.

Lufthansa serves country-specific food, tailored to where you’re flying to and from, as well as lots of on-board entertainment and shopping services. The other airlines also provide a wide variety of digital entertainment. easyJet dispenses with many of the bells and whistles to offer straightforward and efficient flights at lower costs. It does still offer some perks though. You can buy hot and cold snacks, sandwiches and sweets, and small gifts. There is no in-flight entertainment, unfortunately, but this is a quick route so your smartphone can easily keep you entertained for the duration.

How to find cheap flight tickets from London to Zurich?

The most obvious way to find cheaper tickets from London to Zurich is to book with easyJet, rather than the other airlines. You won’t save a huge amount on a flight this short, but every pound adds up towards leaving you with more spending money once you arrive.

You can also look for flights long in advance, as the opening prices will typically be lower to attract confirmed bookings as soon as possible for operational economy. For the same reason you can often find cheaper flight tickets by being flexible with your departure days and times, as airlines will make last-minute seats available due to cancellations, and are under pressure to fill them, leading to discount prices. Keep your eye on Omio for these. You can also save costs by choosing longer flights with more stopovers, although in this case the direct flights are often cheaper than the single-stop ones.

Zurich Cityscape View Tourist. Source: Shutterstock

To Zurich by plane—travel tips

Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland, and also its financial and commercial centre. It’s a very modern place that simultaneously has plenty to see in terms of historical attractions. In the midst of its hustle and bustle you’ll find the city’s hidden gem, Niederdorf and the Old Town. Here you can still see 14-century houses, along with souvenir shops and boutiques of local produce.

To get a grand sweeping view of the city, take the train ride up the Uetliberg, where you can dine in a hilltop restaurant overlooking all of Zurich. Lake Zurich is the centre of summer leisure and watersports activities, alongside which you’ll find a Chinese Garden and the beautiful Zürichhorn Park, created in 1939.

Zurich is also well-known for its museums, with Kunsthaus Zürich its most famous fine arts museum. For social life, restaurants, bars and nightlife, head to Bahnhofstrasse, a pedestrianised street lined with venues.

Taking a flight from London

Depending upon which flight is chosen, travellers on flights from London to Zurich must transfer from Central London to their chosen airport using one of the many public transport options available. All of London’s major airports are well connected by public transport, including rail, bus and the London Underground. Travellers can reach London Heathrow by taking the London Underground Piccadilly Line to the airport. London City Airport is connected to the city by the Docklands Light Railway Service. Gatwick can be easily reached by taking the Gatwick Express from London Victoria. Luton Airport is well connected by frequent bus services, such as the Terravision Shuttle Bus from Victoria Station.

Flying into Zurich

Framed by snow-capped mountains, Zurich is an ancient city nestled on the shores of Lake Zurich. As well as offering an incredible shopping experience along its exclusive Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich is home to impressive museums and art galleries, such as Kunsthaus Zürich. Visitors arriving at Zurich Airport can reach the city centre by taking a direct train into Zurich from Level 2 of the airport. The 10-minute​ train journey connects the airport with Zurich’s main train station, which is within walking distance of the main city sights, shops and hotels.