Beijing to London
10h 34m The flight from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to London Gatwick Airport (LGW) covers 8,166 km (5,074 miles) and takes approximately 10h 34m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads north-west on an initial great-circle bearing of 324°, passing near 62.5° N, 67.3° E at its midpoint.
The route
The great-circle path — the shortest line between the two airports across the curve of the earth. On a flat map it looks bent; on a globe it is straight.
Flight time at different cruise speeds
Aircraft type, winds and routing all move the real number. This is the same distance flown at different speeds, plus the 25-minute ground and climb allowance.
| Typical of | Cruise speed | Airborne | Gate to gate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop / regional | 550 km/h | 14h 51m | 15h 16m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 10h 28m | 10h 53m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 9h 04m | 9h 30m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 9h 36m | 10h 02m |
Headwinds on an eastbound long-haul routinely add 30–60 minutes; the same route westbound can be quicker. Airlines publish schedules with padding built in.
Both airports
| PEK | LGW | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | Beijing Capital International Airport | London Gatwick Airport |
| City | Beijing | London |
| Country | China | United Kingdom |
| ICAO | ZBAA | EGKK |
| Coordinates | 40.0773, 116.5967 | 51.1487, -0.1857 |
| Elevation | 116 ft | 202 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from Beijing to London?
A non-stop flight from Beijing (PEK) to London (LGW) takes about 10h 34m. The great-circle distance is 8,166 km (5,074 miles, 4,409 nautical miles), flying north-west on an initial bearing of 324°.
How far is Beijing from London?
8,166 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 5,074 miles or 4,409 nautical miles. Actual flown distance is usually 2–5% longer because aircraft follow airways, avoid weather and route around restricted airspace.
Is there a non-stop flight between PEK and LGW?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 8,166 km the route is comfortably within range of a non-stop service if an airline chooses to fly it. Check an airline or booking site for what is actually scheduled.
What should I expect on a 10h 34m flight?
Anything past six hours is a long-haul flight: expect at least one meal service, a significant time-zone shift, and enough sitting that circulation and hydration start to matter. Cabin altitude, dry air and disrupted sleep do more damage to a training routine than the flight itself.
Airport coordinates from OurAirports (public domain). Distance is a great-circle calculation; flight time uses the model described on the method page. Flight times are great-circle estimates for planning only — always check the airline's published schedule.