London to Lyon is a quick, easy short-haul hop — under two hours non-stop — and the gateway to both the city itself and the French Alps beyond it. You have a real choice of carriers and, for most of the year, fares stay comfortably in the low double figures each way. This guide covers who flies the route, what a fair return costs in pounds, and when to book.
Route: London (LHR / LGW / LTN) → Lyon–Saint-Exupéry (LYS)
Distance: approximately 750 km (466 miles)
Non-stop flight time: about 1h 50m southbound
Direct flights: Yes — British Airways flies non-stop from Heathrow, and easyJet and Wizz Air fly non-stop from Gatwick and Luton. Because the route is so short and well served, a direct flight is almost always both the quickest and the cheapest option.
Fares from London to Lyon (GBP)
Lyon is a year-round destination, but demand — and price — leans on the ski calendar, as the airport is the main arrival point for the northern Alps. The winter half-term and Christmas weeks are the busiest and dearest, high summer is a secondary peak, and the shoulder months are noticeably cheaper. The table below shows when the route is busiest. We no longer print per-month fare estimates here, because they were never measured.
| Month | Demand |
|---|---|
| January | high (ski) |
| February | high (half-term ski) |
| March | medium-high |
| April | medium |
| May | low-medium |
| June | medium |
| July | high (summer) |
| August | high (summer) |
| September | low-medium |
| October | low |
| November | low-medium |
| December | very high (Christmas / ski) |
We do not quote a target fare for this route. Our price tracking holds no recorded observations for it, so a “typical” or “good deal” figure here would be an estimate dressed up as a measurement — so this page leaves it out rather than guess. The seasonal pattern above is the part we can stand behind; check the live fare for the number.
Airlines on this route
Every sensible option is non-stop — there is no cheaper one-stop worth considering on a route this short. The carriers are:
- British Airways — non-stop from Heathrow, roughly twice daily; full-service, with a cabin bag included on most fares.
- easyJet — non-stop from Gatwick and Luton; usually the widest choice of days and the lowest lead-in fares.
- Wizz Air — non-stop on selected days from Luton; very low base fares, but check the bag and seat add-ons.
All three fly the same short sector in under two hours, so the choice comes down to price, your London airport and whether you need a checked bag.
When to book & how to save
- Book 3–8 weeks ahead for the best short-haul fares; unlike long-haul, prices here can climb sharply in the final fortnight.
- Avoid the ski peaks — February half-term and the Christmas–New Year weeks are the most expensive, as Lyon feeds the Alpine resorts.
- Travel midweek (Tuesday to Thursday) and steer clear of Friday evening and Sunday returns, which carry a premium.
- Compare the all-in price: the lowest easyJet and Wizz Air fares are cabin-bag-only — add a hold bag and British Airways can work out similar.
- Be flexible on London airport: a Gatwick or Luton departure is often cheaper than Heathrow on this route.
Arriving in Lyon
Flights land at Lyon–Saint-Exupéry (LYS), about 25 km east of the city. The simplest way in is the Rhônexpress tram, which runs every 15 minutes to Lyon Part-Dieu station in around 30 minutes (roughly £14–£16 one way). A taxi to the centre takes about 30–40 minutes and costs around £45–£55. If you are heading to the Alps, coaches to Grenoble, Chambéry and the resorts leave directly from the airport.
Frequently asked questions
Are there direct flights from London to Lyon?
Yes. British Airways flies non-stop from London Heathrow, while easyJet and Wizz Air fly non-stop from Gatwick and Luton. On such a short route a direct flight is almost always the cheapest as well as the fastest, so there is no need to connect.
How long is the flight from London to Lyon?
The non-stop flight takes about 1 hour 50 minutes southbound, and a similar time coming back. Add the usual airport time either side and it is comfortably a same-morning journey, which is part of what makes Lyon such an easy long-weekend or ski-transfer destination.
How much does it cost to fly from London to Lyon?
A typical economy return runs about £55–£150 depending on the season. The cheapest one-way fares dip to around £42, while February half-term, the Christmas ski weeks and high summer sit toward the top of the range.
What is the cheapest month to fly from London to Lyon?
May, September and October are usually the cheapest months to fly. Avoid February half-term and late December, when Alpine ski demand pushes fares to their highest.
Which airlines fly from London to Lyon?
British Airways (from Heathrow), easyJet (Gatwick and Luton) and Wizz Air (Luton) all fly the route non-stop. British Airways is the full-service choice; easyJet and Wizz Air typically offer the lowest lead-in fares if you travel light.
Which airport do I fly into in Lyon?
You arrive at Lyon–Saint-Exupéry (LYS), the city’s main airport, about 25 km east of the centre. The Rhônexpress tram links it to Lyon Part-Dieu station in around 30 minutes, and it is also the usual gateway for coaches to the French Alps.
How far in advance should I book London to Lyon flights?
Aim to book 3 to 8 weeks ahead. Short-haul fares to Lyon tend to be lowest a month or two out and rise in the final weeks, especially around the ski season and summer holidays, so early booking usually wins.
Is it cheaper to fly on weekdays?
Usually, yes. Midweek departures (Tuesday to Thursday) are typically cheaper than Friday-to-Sunday, and avoiding a Friday-evening outbound or a Sunday-evening return save a little on a short-haul return like this one.
Route and schedule details from current airline schedules; last reviewed July 2026. Indicative economy returns — always check the live fare before booking.
