San Francisco to London
11h 07m The flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) covers 8,616 km (5,354 miles) and takes approximately 11h 07m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads north-east on an initial great-circle bearing of 33°, passing near 63.2° N, 73.6° W 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 | 15h 40m | 16h 05m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 11h 03m | 11h 28m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 9h 34m | 10h 00m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 10h 08m | 10h 33m |
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
| SFO | LHR | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | San Francisco International Airport | London Heathrow Airport |
| City | San Francisco | London |
| Country | United States | United Kingdom |
| ICAO | KSFO | EGLL |
| Coordinates | 37.6198, -122.3748 | 51.4707, -0.4599 |
| Elevation | 13 ft | 83 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from San Francisco to London?
A non-stop flight from San Francisco (SFO) to London (LHR) takes about 11h 07m. The great-circle distance is 8,616 km (5,354 miles, 4,652 nautical miles), flying north-east on an initial bearing of 33°.
How far is San Francisco from London?
8,616 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 5,354 miles or 4,652 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 SFO and LHR?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 8,616 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 11h 07m 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.
Other routes from San Francisco
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.