London to Rome is one of the busiest short-haul routes in Europe, with several airlines flying non-stop from all the main London airports. You can be in the Eternal City in around two and a half hours, and heavy competition keeps fares low. This guide covers who flies it, what a fair return costs in pounds, and when to book for the best price.
Route: London (LHR / LGW / STN / LCY) → Rome (FCO Fiumicino / CIA Ciampino)
Distance: approximately 1,430 km (890 miles)
Non-stop flight time: about 2h 35m southbound
Direct flights: Yes — British Airways, easyJet and ITA Airways fly non-stop to Fiumicino, while Ryanair flies non-stop to Ciampino and Wizz Air flies Luton to Fiumicino. Two airports are worth checking before you book: about two-thirds of the cheapest fares we found land at Ciampino rather than Fiumicino, on Ryanair out of Stansted at £34–£54 return.
Fares from London to Rome (GBP)
Rome is a year-round city break, but demand peaks in spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October), the most pleasant times to visit, and stays high through the summer. The cheapest fares fall in the quiet winter weeks outside Christmas and Easter. The figures below are typical economy return fares in pounds; the lowest are usually Ryanair or easyJet lead fares booked ahead.
| Month | Demand | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | low |
| February | — | low-medium |
| March | — | medium |
| April | — | high (Easter/spring) |
| May | — | high |
| June | — | high |
| July | — | medium-high |
| August | — | medium |
| September | — | high |
| October | — | medium-high |
| November | — | low-medium |
| December | — | medium (Christmas) |
Checked against every return fare on sale as we write, this is a cheaper route than it is usually made out to be: the floor is £34 and the median £40 for a return, not a one-way. So £35–£55 is simply the going rate rather than a find, and a genuinely good fare is under about £38. The three-figure prices often quoted for this route are what a connection costs — the Heathrow one-stops run £175–£181, four times a direct.
Airlines on this route
Non-stop (about 2h 35m):
- British Airways — non-stop from Heathrow to Fiumicino; the most frequent service, full-service with a checked bag on most fares.
- ITA Airways — Italy’s flag carrier, non-stop from Heathrow and London City to Fiumicino; handy for onward connections within Italy.
- easyJet — non-stop from Gatwick to Fiumicino; low-cost, hand-baggage-only unless you add a bag.
- Ryanair — non-stop from Stansted to Ciampino; usually the lowest lead fares, cabin-bag-only unless you pay for luggage.
- Wizz Air — also serves the route with low-cost fares.
With this much competition the non-stops are always cheaper than any connection, so there’s no reason to take one. Note the two Rome airports: Fiumicino (FCO) is the larger, better-connected one; Ciampino (CIA) is smaller and further from the centre but often has the cheapest Ryanair fares — factor in the transfer when you compare.
When to book & how to save
- Book 3–8 weeks ahead for the best low-cost fares; prices climb as the spring and autumn peaks approach.
- Travel off-peak — January, February and November are the quietest and cheapest; avoid Easter, the spring bloom and September’s city-break rush for the best value.
- Check the bag rules: Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air lead fares are cabin-bag-only, so add luggage at booking and compare the all-in price against BA or ITA.
- Mind the airport: a cheap Ciampino fare can cost you the saving in transfer time and money versus Fiumicino — weigh the total.
- Midweek is cheaper — a Tuesday-to-Thursday break usually undercuts a Friday-to-Sunday one by £20–£50.
Arriving in Rome
Most flights land at Fiumicino – Leonardo da Vinci (FCO), about 32 km southwest of the centre. The fastest way in is the Leonardo Express train to Roma Termini (about 32 minutes, roughly £12), which runs every 15 minutes. Ryanair and some low-cost flights use Ciampino (CIA), about 15 km southeast; from there a shuttle bus to Termini takes around 40 minutes for roughly about £5. Italy uses the euro, so no separate currency is needed within the eurozone.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from London to Rome?
The non-stop flight takes about 2 hours 35 minutes southbound, and a similar time coming back. It’s a comfortable short-haul journey, so you can fly out in the morning and be exploring Rome by lunchtime.
Are there direct flights from London to Rome?
Yes. British Airways, easyJet and ITA Airways fly non-stop to Fiumicino, Ryanair flies Stansted to Ciampino and Wizz Air flies Luton to Fiumicino. With so many carriers, the direct flights really are always cheaper than any connection: £34–£54 non-stop against £175–£181 for every connection we found.
How much does it cost to fly from London to Rome?
A typical non-stop economy return runs about £39–£44, median £40, with the directs spanning £34–£54. Connections through Madrid, Paris or Amsterdam are a different tier at £175–£181. The spring, summer and autumn peaks sit toward the top of the direct range.
What is the cheapest month to fly from London to Rome?
January, February and November are usually the cheapest. In the dates we could price, non-stop returns started at £34. Avoid the April–June spring peak, the summer and the September city-break rush, which are the busiest and most expensive.
Which airlines fly from London to Rome?
In our fare data the cheap non-stops were Ryanair from Stansted to Ciampino (£34–£54, two-thirds of them) and Wizz Air from Luton to Fiumicino (£39–£43) — so Wizz Air is not a footnote here but the second-biggest source of cheap seats. British Airways (Heathrow), ITA Airways (Heathrow and London City) and easyJet (Gatwick) also fly non-stop to Fiumicino but did not appear among the cheapest when we checked. Connections from Heathrow — Iberia via Madrid (£175), Air France via Paris (£177) and KLM via Amsterdam (£181) — cost about four times a direct.
Which airport do I fly into in Rome?
Most flights arrive at Fiumicino (FCO), Rome’s main international airport, well connected to the centre by the Leonardo Express train. Ryanair and some low-cost services use the smaller Ciampino (CIA), further out and reached by shuttle bus — check which one your ticket uses.
How far in advance should I book London to Rome flights?
Aim to book 3 to 8 weeks ahead for the best low-cost fares. Prices rise as departure nears, especially for the spring and autumn peaks and around Easter and Christmas, so booking early usually saves money.
Is it cheaper to fly on weekdays?
Yes, generally — midweek departures (Tuesday to Thursday) are usually cheaper than Friday-to-Sunday weekend breaks. Flying out and back midweek can save £20–£50 on a return, and it’s one of the easiest ways to cut the fare on a city break.
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.
