London to Nice is a quick, well-served short-haul hop — just over two hours non-stop to the gateway of the French Riviera. Several airlines fly it from five different London airports, so fares stay competitive and low-cost seats are easy to find outside the summer peak. This guide covers who flies it, what a fair return looks like in pounds, and when to book for the best price.
Route: London (LHR / LGW / LTN / STN / LCY) → Nice Côte d’Azur (NCE)
Distance: approximately 1,030 km (640 miles)
Non-stop flight time: about 2h 00m – 2h 10m
Direct flights: Yes — British Airways flies non-stop from Heathrow, Gatwick and London City, easyJet from Gatwick and Luton, and Ryanair from Stansted. This is a busy, frequent short-haul route, and in our fare check Ryanair out of Stansted held four fifths of the cheap seats at £49–£51, with easyJet from Gatwick at £99–£108.
Fares from London to Nice (GBP)
Nice is a summer-peak destination: fares climb steeply from June to August and around the Monaco Grand Prix and Cannes Film Festival in May, then fall away in autumn and winter. The figures below are typical economy return fares in pounds — the lowest are easyJet and Ryanair seats booked well ahead, while British Airways sits a little higher but flies from more airports.
| Month | Demand | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | low |
| February | — | low-medium |
| March | — | medium |
| April | — | medium |
| May | — | high (Grand Prix, Cannes) |
| June | — | high |
| July | — | very high |
| August | — | very high |
| September | — | medium |
| October | — | low-medium |
| November | — | low |
| December | — | medium (holidays) |
Checked against every return fare on sale as we write, the market is in two blocks with an empty middle: Ryanair from Stansted at £49–£51 for four fifths of the cheap seats, then nothing until easyJet from Gatwick at £99–£108. So a fare around £51 is the going rate rather than a find, and a mid-range “typical” figure describes a ticket that is not on sale. The cheapest seats are Ryanair from Stansted; add bags before comparing with easyJet or British Airways, which includes hand luggage as standard.
Airlines on this route
Every flight is non-stop — there is no reason to connect on a two-hour hop. The choice is really about which London airport suits you:
- Ryanair — non-stop from Stansted, and the cheapest by a distance in our fare check: £49–£51 return on four fifths of the low fares. Bags and seat selection cost extra.
- easyJet — non-stop from Gatwick and Luton; frequent, with flexible fare options, but £99–£108 when we checked, roughly double Ryanair.
- British Airways — non-stop from Heathrow, Gatwick and London City; the widest schedule and includes a cabin bag. It did not appear among the cheapest fares we found.
Booking early and travelling light is the surest way to the lowest price — but note that the low-cost carriers were not competing closely when we checked: Ryanair from Stansted was about half easyJet’s fare. If you want a checked bag and an easy airport, British Airways is the smoother option, though the premium over a £51 Ryanair ticket is not small.
When to book & how to save
- Book 4–10 weeks ahead for the best short-haul fares; low-cost seats are cheapest when there’s still plenty of availability.
- Avoid the summer and events peaks: July–August, plus the May Grand Prix and Cannes weeks, are the busiest and most expensive.
- Travel in the shoulder season (late September to November, or early spring) for warm-enough weather and the lowest fares.
- Pack light: on Ryanair and easyJet a cabin bag only keeps the fare down — add a checked bag and the price can double.
- Be flexible on London airport: Stansted and Luton often price below Heathrow, and midweek departures are usually cheaper than weekends.
Arriving in Nice
You land at Nice Côte d’Azur (NCE), right on the coast about 7 km west of the city centre. The easiest way in is the tram line 2, which runs from both terminals to the port and city centre in around 25 minutes for a couple of pounds. Buses also serve Cannes, Monaco and Antibes directly from the airport, while a taxi to central Nice costs roughly £25–£35 (fares to Monaco or Cannes are higher). France uses the euro, so carry some for the tram and buses.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from London to Nice?
Non-stop flights take about 2 hours to 2 hours 10 minutes. There’s no need to connect — every service between London and Nice is a direct flight, so the door-to-door time is short for a Mediterranean destination.
Are there direct flights from London to Nice?
Yes. Ryanair flies non-stop from Stansted, easyJet from Gatwick and Luton, and British Airways from Heathrow, Gatwick and London City. It’s a frequent, competitive short-haul route with several flights a day in the summer season — ninety of the hundred cheapest fares we found are direct, from £49 return on Ryanair.
How much does it cost to fly from London to Nice?
A typical hand-luggage economy return was £49–£51 on Ryanair from Stansted, median £51, for four fifths of the fares we could price. The next tier is easyJet from Gatwick at £99–£108, with connections at £155–£178. July, August and the May event weeks push everything up.
What is the cheapest month to fly from London to Nice?
January, November and late September are usually the cheapest. In the dates we could price, returns started at £49. Avoid July and August and the May Grand Prix and Cannes weeks, which are the busiest and most expensive.
Which airlines fly from London to Nice?
Ryanair (Stansted), easyJet (Gatwick, Luton) and British Airways (Heathrow, Gatwick, London City) all fly non-stop. In our fare check Ryanair had the lowest fares by a wide margin — £49–£51 against £99–£108 on easyJet — and British Airways did not appear among the cheapest, though it offers the widest choice of London airports and includes a cabin bag. The cheapest connection we found was £155 via Madrid, so there is no point connecting.
Which airport do I fly into in Nice?
All flights arrive at Nice Côte d’Azur (NCE), the region’s main airport, about 7 km from the city centre on the seafront. It’s the gateway for the whole French Riviera, with direct buses on to Monaco, Cannes and Antibes.
How far in advance should I book London to Nice flights?
Aim to book 4 to 10 weeks ahead. Short-haul low-cost fares are cheapest while seats are still plentiful and rise as departure approaches, especially for summer weekends and the May events, so early booking pays off.
Is it cheaper to fly on weekdays?
Usually, yes — midweek departures (Tuesday to Thursday) tend to be cheaper than Friday to Sunday, when weekend Riviera trips push demand up. Flying out and back midweek can save £20–£60 on a return.
Fare guidance based on aifly.one deal tracking and current airline schedules; last reviewed July 2026. Indicative economy returns — always check the live fare before booking.
