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Turkish Airlines flies from London to Istanbul nearly eight times a day. All being direct, this average number of flights remains same during all seasons.
Flights operated by Turkish Airlines between London and Istanbul take four hours in average. Setting off each day from Heathrow Airport (LHR) or Gatwick Airport (LGW), Turkish Airlines flights end either in Istanbul Airport (IST) or Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW). Distance between these two cities is roughly two thousand five hundred kilometers.
Istanbul serves as a crucial hub for hundreds of flights operated by Turkish Airlines. You may set off from London, use Istanbul as a transit point and continue your journey with a different Turkish Airlines flight. Moreover, turning your layover at Istanbul into an opportunity, you may also utilize the Touristanbul service offered complimentarily by Turkish Airlines and have a chance to enjoy a sightseeing tour for the important tourist spots of the city such as Taksim Square, Galata Tower, the Golden Horn and Dolmabahçe Palace.
Offering its guests the most spectacular views when rain, sunset and historic atmosphere come together, London hosts a history of two thousand years. It is also a significant hub for business trips and art gatherings. However, it would not be fair to define London solely with these; a good deal of activities awaits you in this enchanting city.
London is a home to six airports as, Southend Airport (SEN), City London Airport (LCY), Heathrow Airport (LHR), Gatwick Airport (LGW), Stansted Airport (SEN) and Luton Airport (LTN), four of which provide service for international flights. Turkish Airline flights from London take off from Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.
Located 32 km west of central London, Heathrow Airport is the major international airport of the city, where many flights take place each day. Railway, subway, autobus and cabs are amongst the several alternatives for reaching the airport.
The fastest way to reach the airport is taking the train called “Heathrow Express”. Setting off from Paddington Train Station in the center, these express trains get to the airport within 15 minutes. If you are looking for a more budget friendly option, you may also use the subway system named as “tube”. If you wish to take the “National Express” buses for reaching the airport, it would be advisable to keep in mind that your journey may take around 40 to 80 minutes, depending on the traffic.
As the second largest airport in London, Gatwick Airport is located 45 km south of the city and provides various transportation alternatives.
The fastest route to the airport is express trains offering service in every 15 minutes. You may reach the airport within thirty minutes by taking these trains named as “Gatwick Express” at Victoria Train Station in the city center. In addition, you may easily get to the airport within an hour also with “National Express” buses. Serving twenty four hours a day, “Easybus”, on the other hand, is the cheapest way to get to the airport. Another alternative for reaching the airport is taking a cab; make sure to consider the increasing cab fare, depending directly on the length of your journey.
As an outdoor museum packed with the works of Sinan the Architect (known as Mimar Sinan in Turkish), Istanbul is flooded by hundreds of visitors each day. Istanbul is deemed beyond comparison by its districts surrounded with city walls, marvels below the surface hosting the cisterns and its scenery in which the ancient meets the contemporary. A crossroad of religions and cultures, there’s a lot to be said for this unique city. The finest spots in Istanbul are far more than the known. Fenerbahçe Cape and its monumental cypresses, the Princes’ Islands and its mimosas, parks and lime trees spreading all over the city, Bosporus and the charming moonlight are probably the most precious treasures this stunning city cherishes…
Istanbul has two international airports: Istanbul Airport (IST) and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW). Destination point for flights from London is mostly Istanbul Airport (IST), there are fewer flights departing to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW). You may therefore choose your flight amongst these two airports depending on your place of accommodation while buying your Istanbul flight ticket; so that you may manage to minimize the loss of time you may have in traffic.
Istanbul Airport is approximately 35 km from Istanbul city center and there are plenty of transport options available, such as taxi, rent-a-car and airport shuttles. For more information on public transportation to Istanbul Airport, check our transport information page.
You can rent-a-car from the rent-a-car companies at Istanbul Airport (IST), or you can rent a taxi when there’s more traffic. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the city center by taxi, and costs around 100-110 TL. You can travel comfortably on the Airport shuttles at all most any hour of the day, and these shuttles reach many places in the city.
Amongst the flights operated by Turkish Airlines in London-Istanbul route, only a few number end up at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW). Located on the Anatolian side, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport is 40 km from the city center.
You may easily reach your point of destination from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) by using the airport shuttles, offering service in both Kadıköy and Taksim routes that are regarded as the central spots on two different sides of the city. Municipal buses are also available for passengers arriving at Sabiha Gökçen Airport: You may get to Taksim with the bus numbered SG-2, to 4th Levent with the bus numbered E-3 and to Kadıköy with the bus numbered E-11 or SG-1.