- Flight
- about 14 to 14.5 hours westbound
- Departs
- Hong Kong International
- Lands at
- Heathrow
- Time difference
- London is 7 to 8 hours behind
- Currency
- Pounds sterling, in cash
Hong Kong to London is about fourteen hours westbound, and London is seven or eight hours behind. If that sounds longer than you remember, it is. The route now goes around Russian airspace rather than over it, which adds an hour or so each way.
The dawn landing
The main Cathay Pacific service leaves Hong Kong late at night and reaches Heathrow at about half past five in the morning. That is early even by transatlantic standards. Nothing is open, your room will not be ready, and you will have the whole day to fill on a night of broken sleep.
Treat that first day as a write off and aim at the evening instead. By seven or eight at night London time you have been up a long while, but you are functioning, and the city is at its best.
Your evening is London’s lunchtime
Eight hours is a large gap and it works entirely in your favour before you travel. Early evening in Hong Kong is late morning in London, which is a good moment to be writing to anyone. You can settle the whole thing in the days before you fly without ever being awake at an awkward hour.
Only two airlines, both into Heathrow
Cathay Pacific and British Airways are the only nonstops, and both use Heathrow. There is no Gatwick service any more. Between them there are several departures a day, so the timing is yours to choose, but book early in the autumn and around Chinese New Year when the route fills.
What is different from home
Rates are quoted per hour and agreed in advance, in cash, in pounds. Nobody tips on top of the fee the way you might elsewhere. Longer bookings cost less per hour than short ones. The rates guide sets out the bands with measured figures, and the high class guide covers the upper end, which is where most visitors on this route are looking.
The flight home
The flight home is the quicker one. Heading east you have the jet stream behind you rather than against you, which is worth about an hour on a route this long, so London back to Hong Kong is shorter than the flight you took to get here. Pleasant, and easy to forget when you are working out how much of the day the return will eat.
Before you book
Visitors from Hong Kong who do not need a visa still need an electronic travel authorisation, or ETA, before they fly. It is a short online application, and it should be made through the official GOV.UK ETA service, not a site that charges extra to do it for you. The rules change, so check them before you book.
Worth reading first
The visitor guide covers the etiquette, which differs more than the distance suggests, and the UK law guide sets out the position in England and Wales.
When to get in touch
London runs 8 hours behind you. Messages sent between about 7pm and 7am your time land during London working hours, which is when replies actually come. For most people that is the evening and the night, so send in the evening and expect the answer to be waiting when you wake.
Areas near where you land at Heathrow
The big figure is the straight line distance from the airport in miles, and nothing about travel time, which in London is always longer. Each page has the stations, the route from Heathrow and the measured rates.
Also close to where you land, with no profiles of their own but a guide to getting there and how outcall works: Feltham, Hayes, Hounslow, Southall.
Other cities in East Asia
See every departure city
Cities with a similar flight time
Common questions
How long is the flight from Hong Kong to London?
The flight from Hong Kong International takes about 14 to 14.5 hours westbound. Add the connection time if your fare has a stop, and allow for getting to and through the airport at both ends.
What is the time difference between Hong Kong and London?
London is 7 to 8 hours behind. The United Kingdom and most other countries change their clocks on different dates, so for a few weeks each spring and autumn the gap shifts by an hour.
What time should I message from Hong Kong?
London runs 8 hours behind you. Messages sent between about 7pm and 7am your time land during London working hours, which is when replies actually come. For most people that is the evening and the night, so send in the evening and expect the answer to be waiting when you wake.
Which London airport do flights from Hong Kong land at?
Most land at Heathrow, about fifteen miles west of central London and on the Piccadilly line and the Elizabeth line. Some services use Gatwick, to the south, so check the airport on your ticket before you book a hotel.
Do I need an ETA to fly from Hong Kong to London?
Most visitors from Hong Kong who do not need a visa need an electronic travel authorisation, or ETA, before they fly. Apply through the official GOV.UK service only, and check the current rules before you book, because they change.
Do I need to arrange things before I fly?
It helps. Good diaries fill days ahead, and arranging from home means you are doing it awake and unhurried instead of jet lagged in an unfamiliar city.
Is escorting legal in the UK?
Yes, in England and Wales it is legal for two consenting adults to exchange sex or company for money. What is illegal is the activity around it, such as soliciting in the street, running a brothel or controlling someone else's work. The Crown Prosecution Service sets this out in its published guidance.
Is prostitution legal in the UK?
Selling and buying sex between consenting adults is not itself a crime in England, Wales or Scotland. Northern Ireland is the exception, where paying for sex has been an offence since 1 June 2015. Public soliciting, brothel keeping and exploiting another person's work are offences in different forms across the UK.