Cheap Flights to Beijing

Popular in	August	High demand for flights, 11% potential price rise
Cheapest in	November	Best time to find cheap flights, 3% potential price drop
Average price	£611	Average for round-trip flights in July 2020
Round-trip from	£519	From London to Beijing
One-way from	£307	One-way flight from London to Beijing

Flight route prices based on searches on Cheapflights within the last 3 days, monthly prices based on aggregated historical data.

Are there currently restrictions on travel to Beijing related to COVID-19?

Yes, there are currently restrictions on flights to Beijing along with the rest of China. Before you book or search for flights, consider the following restrictions: China has restricted entry and transit to all travelers except Chinese nationals, Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan passport holders, and travelers with diplomatic, service, courtesy or C visas, or visas issued after March 28, 2020. Travelers arriving at PEK will be given a PCR test and quarantined for 14 days at a designated location in Beijing. Travelers arriving at Shanghai Pudong (PVG) or Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) must undergo Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) and a 14-day quarantine in designated places for medical observation. Airline crew with a layover at the above airports must undergo NAT inside the passenger terminal, then self-isolate at their hotel temporarily before acquiring the NAT results. Airline crew arriving at the above airports will be quarantined after their last shift, and must self-isolate in crew hotels during shift breaks. Travelers arriving at Guangzhou (CAN) or Shenzhen (SZX) who live in or have been in France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, or the United States in the past 14 days must undergo 14-day quarantine at home or in designated places for medical observation. All passengers arriving at SZX will have a PCR test. Travelers arriving at XMN will be quarantined for medical observation at designated hotels for 14 days at their own expense. This does not apply to travelers under 18 years old or above 70 years old, pregnant women, and travelers suffering from illness, who must apply for permission to undergo a 14-day quarantine at home.. If you are looking to book a trip to Beijing and are outside of the restricted areas, please take the proper precautions and stay informed about travelling during COVID-19.

Cheapest prices for Beijing flights by month

January

£500

February

£423

March

£437

April

£437

May

£437

June

£454

July

£520

August

£588

September

£483

October

£401

November

£405

December

£413

Currently, the cheapest month for flights to Beijing is October. The most expensive month for flights is August. The cheapest prices are shown above but prices will vary according to departure times, airlines, class and how early you book.

When is the best time to fly to Beijing?

Choose a month below to see average flight price and weather conditions.

LON - BJS Price	£401 - £677
BJS Temperature	2 - 32 °C
BJS Rainfall	3 - 186 mm

October is typically the best time to fly to Beijing, but there are other times where great deals are available. July tends to be the warmest period in Beijing so if you are looking for sun or warmer climates then look to fly around this time. July is the wettest if you need to factor this in to your plans.

When is the best time to book a flight to Beijing?

Booking 60 days in advance of your planned departure date is, on average, the best time to get cheap flights to Beijing. The general trend is that the closer you book to the departure date, the more expensive your flight will be.

Which day is cheapest to fly to Beijing?

The cheapest flights to Beijing are usually found when departing on a Tuesday. The departure day with the highest cost at present is Sunday.

What time of day is cheapest to fly to Beijing?

To get the best value, try booking a flight in the morning when visiting Beijing. Generally the prices will increase for flights in the afternoon as these tend to have higher demand.

When to fly

Autumn (September to October) is the most popular time to book a flight to Beijing, as the skies are blue, temperatures are mild and rain is limited. September and October are known as the “Golden Autumn” months due to the beautiful crisp yellow leaves of the maidenhair trees. Another attraction during this time is National Day. This celebration marks the establishment of the Central People’s Government in 1949. On this public holiday, a number of government events take place, as well as concerts and fireworks. If you’re in the area, head over to Tiananmen Square which is decorated for the festivities.

Generally speaking, Beijing is dry and windy (and sometimes a little dusty) during spring (April to May), which makes it another great time to book flights to Beijing. In contrast, summer (June to August) and winter (November to March) see weather extremes which put off some tourists. Summer is the rainy season, is extremely hot and can be very busy due to a large number of domestic tourists. Winter, on the other hand, can be incredibly cold with strong winds. If you can cope with these conditions then this is the best time to find a cheap flight to Beijing and discounted accommodation rates. The winter season also hosts the Chinese New Year celebrations, which is widely celebrated and the most important on the lunar calendar. Expect public transport to verge on the chaotic side, due to the majority of people travelling home to celebrate with friends and family. If looking for cheap flights to Beijing, other busy times to avoid include school holidays and public holidays, when Beijing is very crowded.

Why visit

China’s capital and second-largest city (after Shanghai) is more than 3,000 years old but it moves at a dizzying pace. Thousands of tourists take a flight to Beijing every year to visit its many well-known attractions such as Tiananmen Square – the largest open-urban square in the world, the Forbidden City and its Palace Museum, Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven, and the Badaling section of the Great Wall. Chairman Mao is also here – embalmed in his mausoleum. For a visit through old Beijing, a hutong (narrow alleyways) tour in a rickshaw under swaying, red lanterns is a great way to soak up the atmosphere of this amazing city.

For the Olympic Games in 2008, Beijing started an ambitious building programme and its architectural legacy includes the National Stadium (“Bird’s Nest”) and the National Swimming Centre (“Water Cube”). For art and culture, visit the Dashanzi Art District. For shopping, head to Oriental Plaza shopping mall, Wangfujing Street and Panjiayuan Market where you can pick up almost-perfect counterfeit fashion.

The Forbidden City is the largest palace complex in the world and one of the must see when taking a flight to Beijing. It was closed off to the public for 500 years. Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and their families, servants and court members lived luxuriously behind these walls in the centre of Beijing. Now open to the public, the Forbidden City and its central palace represent the largest and best preserved ancient Chinese buildings. A permanent restoration squad works year-round to maintain the 800 buildings, first constructed in 1407.

Arguably the most iconic spot in all of Beijing, Tiananmen Square annually attracts thousands of tourists eager to see the historical landmark. The largest urban square in the world, it was conceived and constructed as a gathering place for residents of the capital city, including government officials. Visitors today remember it primarily as the site of the 1989 massacre, where hundreds of pro-democracy demonstrators rallied. Stroll the massive public space and admire nearby monuments – like Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, Monument to the People’s Heroes, the Great Hall of the People and the Chinese National museum – before visiting the Forbidden City, located directly across the street.

A wonderful relief from the bustle of Beijing’s city centre, the Summer Palace is situated 6 miles northwest of the city. Take a bus to the masterfully designed landscape, once a summer getaway for Chinese emperors. Built in 1750, the 290-acre park welcomes tourists year-round to admire ancient temples, bridges and pavilions nestled beside a serene lake. Have your camera handy – an afternoon is easily devoured simply by wandering in and out of picturesque tea houses, shops and ruins in this breathtaking walled-off palace.

Beijing climate

Beijing has four distinct seasons, a short windy spring, long hot summer, cool pleasant autumn and long cold winter. The ideal conditions during autumn and spring make these popular times to visit, which in turn results in increased prices for flights to Beijing and accommodation at these times.

Getting around Beijing

There are plenty of ways to get around this enormous city. Beijing has an extensive bus and subway network to get you where you need to go. The subway is fastest and easiest, but will be very crowded during rush hour. Buses are always crowded. The taxis run off of meters, and are very easy to find, but many drivers don’t speak English, so it helps to have your destination written in Chinese. Cycle rickshaws are another option, but you will have to bargain your rate, and some drivers demand more when you arrive at your destination. You can also rent a car and driver for the day, or rent your own car. Be aware that you won’t be able to leave the city limits if you’re driving.

The city is too large to walk, but you can certainly take public transport or a taxi to a particular area and then explore on foot. If you are brave enough, rent a bicycle and ride alongside the busy traffic.

Biking is very popular in Beijing and bike lanes are clearly marked. If you get overwhelmed, go with the flow of cycling traffic, especially when crossing streets.

Getting downtown from the airport

The closest airport to Beijing is Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and is situated 17 miles north of Beijing. Shuttle buses run regularly to the city centre and major hotels. Metered taxis are also available, but it is recommended that passengers have their destination written in Chinese to avoid confusion. Travelling time to the city is about an hour.