Cheap Flights Bilbao to London
Cheap flights from Bilbao to London start from around $45 one way. The route links the Basque Country directly with three London airports, and with both low-cost and full-service carriers competing, well-timed bookings are genuinely cheap. Search and book your flight to see live fares across all London airports.
Below: the airlines on the route, which airport to pick, when prices drop, and how to keep the final price down.
How to find cheap flights from Bilbao to London
Bilbao–London is thinner than the Madrid or Barcelona trunk routes, which means fewer flights — but also less fare volatility when you book sensibly.
- Book 4–8 weeks in advance. Frequencies are limited, so cheap fare buckets sell out faster than on busier routes.
- Avoid Friday and Sunday. Weekend city-break traffic dominates this route; midweek is noticeably cheaper.
- Compare Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. The same date can differ by $50 depending on the London airport.
A flexible-date Bilbao–London flight search shows you the cheapest days of the month instantly.
Airports: Bilbao and London
Bilbao Airport (BIO) is compact and fast — 12 minutes by A3247 bus (Bizkaibus) from the city centre, about €3 each way. Security lines are short; 90 minutes before departure is plenty. It is one of the most pleasant mid-sized airports in Spain.
London airports served from Bilbao:
- Heathrow (LHR) — the main full-service gateway, connected to central London by the Elizabeth line in ~40 minutes. Best if you value rebooking flexibility and included baggage.
- Gatwick (LGW) — 30 minutes to Victoria by Gatwick Express. Frequently the mid-price option with strong low-cost schedules.
- Stansted (STN) — 47 minutes to Liverpool Street by Stansted Express. Usually the lowest fares, but furthest northeast.
Heathrow and Gatwick both make sense for a city break; Stansted rewards travellers whose priority is the lowest possible fare.
Airlines flying Bilbao to London
| Airline | Typical route | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vueling | BIO – LGW | Direct, low-cost | Most frequent low-cost option; good weekend schedules |
| easyJet | BIO – LGW/STN | Direct, low-cost | Competitive midweek fares to Gatwick and Stansted |
| Ryanair | BIO – STN | Direct, low-cost | Lowest headline fares; hand-luggage only at base price |
| British Airways | BIO – LHR | Direct, full-service | Included checked bag and better change policies |
| Iberia | BIO – MAD – LHR | Connecting, full-service | Via Madrid; useful for Avios redemptions |
Direct flight time is roughly 1 hour 55 minutes — Bilbao is one of the closest Spanish cities to London by air, which helps keep fares and fuel surcharges low.
Best time to fly Bilbao to London
- Cheapest months: January, February, November and early March. One-way fares from $45 appear regularly.
- Most expensive: July, August, Easter, Christmas–New Year, and UK bank-holiday weekends (early and late May, late August). Fares can exceed $150.
- Best compromise: late September–October for London museums and parks without summer crowds, or May–June for the longest daylight days.
London hotel prices follow the same pattern — the cheap-flight months are also the cheap-hotel months, which doubles your savings on a city break.
Money-saving tips
- Book the outbound and return separately if mixing airlines saves money — Vueling out, easyJet back is a common winning combo.
- Stick to a cabin bag. On this route, baggage fees often exceed the base fare itself.
- Take the first departure of the day — cheaper and far less likely to be delayed.
- Use a whole-month view when searching; one day of flexibility typically saves $30–50. Try the Bilbao–London fare calendar.
- Consider flying into Stansted and out of Gatwick if you plan to stay in different parts of London.
FAQ
How long is the flight from Bilbao to London? Just under 2 hours direct — around 1 hour 55 minutes. Connections via Madrid take 4+ hours.
Which airlines fly direct from Bilbao to London? Vueling, easyJet, Ryanair and British Airways operate direct flights to Gatwick, Stansted and Heathrow.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Bilbao to London? January and February are typically cheapest, with one-way fares from around $45 booked in advance.
Which London airport is best from Bilbao? Heathrow for convenience and flexibility, Stansted for the lowest fares, Gatwick as the balanced middle option.
How do I get from Bilbao to the airport? The Bizkaibus A3247 runs from the city centre (Moyúa) to the terminal in about 15–20 minutes for around €3.
Related routes
Also from the Basque Country, see our guide to cheap flights Bilbao to Madrid for domestic connections.
Book your Bilbao–London flight
At under two hours in the air and fares from $45 one way, Bilbao–London is a straightforward, affordable city break. Search and book your flight and secure the lowest fare before the weekend travellers do.