Flights to Kenya from the UK
Kenya is served by nonstop flights from London Heathrow with British Airways and Kenya Airways, and from July 2026 Kenya Airways also operates nonstop from London Gatwick. Regional UK travellers connect via Doha, Dubai, Addis Ababa and other hubs. Tell us your departure airport and travel dates and a specialist will call you back with the right options.
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Around 8h 35m to 9h 15m (Heathrow to Nairobi)
Nonstop flight time
London Heathrow (British Airways, Kenya Airways) and London Gatwick (Kenya Airways from July 2026)
Nonstop from
Nairobi (NBO), Mombasa (MBA) via connection
Main gateways
July to August (UK summer, peak safari season) and December to January
Busiest periods
Your route to Kenya, handled by a specialist
The London to Nairobi corridor is well served by two carriers on nonstop routes. British Airways flies daily from Heathrow and Kenya Airways operates from both Heathrow and, from July 2026, London Gatwick on a 5x weekly schedule. Nonstop flight times typically fall between 8 hours 35 minutes and 9 hours 15 minutes depending on winds and routing. For travellers outside London, one-stop connections via Doha with Qatar Airways, Dubai with Emirates, Addis Ababa with Ethiopian Airlines and Amsterdam with KLM cover a wide range of UK regional airports including Manchester and Birmingham.
Kenya attracts a broad mix of UK travellers. The Kenyan diaspora community in Britain drives a strong year-round VFR (visiting friends and relatives) market, particularly from London and the East Midlands. Alongside that, Kenya is one of Africa's leading safari destinations, with the Maasai Mara, Amboseli and Tsavo drawing tens of thousands of UK holiday travellers each year. The Indian Ocean coast around Mombasa and Diani Beach adds a beach-holiday dimension that makes Kenya one of the few destinations where you can combine a world-class safari with a week on a white-sand beach without changing country. Business travel to Nairobi is also steady: the city is East Africa's largest commercial hub.
Mombasa (Moi International, MBA) has no nonstop service from the UK and is typically reached by connecting through Nairobi. Travellers combining a Nairobi arrival with a coastal stay often fly into Nairobi, do their safari leg, and then take a short domestic flight or transfer to the coast. Our specialists are familiar with these combined itineraries and can help you structure the routing and the connecting legs as part of a single booking.
Flying to Kenya from the UK
British Airways and Kenya Airways both fly nonstop from London Heathrow; from July 2026 Kenya Airways adds a nonstop from London Gatwick. Travellers from Manchester, Birmingham and other regional cities connect via Doha, Dubai, Addis Ababa or Amsterdam.
| Carrier | Routing | Flight time | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| British AirwaysDaily nonstop from Heathrow to Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta (NBO). Business class available. | Nonstop | 8h 35m to 9h 15m | LHR |
| Kenya AirwaysNonstop from Heathrow year-round. Gatwick service (5x weekly) launches July 2026. | Nonstop | 8h 35m to 9h 15m | LHRLGW |
| Qatar AirwaysGulf routing adds 2 to 4 hours depending on layover. Codeshare partner of Kenya Airways on the Nairobi route. | 1 stopvia Doha | Around 10 to 13h | LHRMANBHX |
| EmiratesGulf routing, typically competitive on fare with generous baggage allowances. | 1 stopvia Dubai | Around 10 to 13h | LHRMANBHX |
| Ethiopian AirlinesOften the most competitively priced carrier on this corridor. Longer total journey time. | 1 stopvia Addis Ababa | 12 to 14h | LHR |
| KLMEuropean hub routing. Accessible with a UK domestic connection from regional airports. | 1 stopvia Amsterdam | 10 to 12h | LHR |
Daily nonstop from Heathrow to Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta (NBO). Business class available.
- Flight time
- 8h 35m to 9h 15m
- From
- LHR
Nonstop from Heathrow year-round. Gatwick service (5x weekly) launches July 2026.
- Flight time
- 8h 35m to 9h 15m
- From
- LHRLGW
Gulf routing adds 2 to 4 hours depending on layover. Codeshare partner of Kenya Airways on the Nairobi route.
- Via
- Doha
- Flight time
- Around 10 to 13h
- From
- LHRMANBHX
Gulf routing, typically competitive on fare with generous baggage allowances.
- Via
- Dubai
- Flight time
- Around 10 to 13h
- From
- LHRMANBHX
Often the most competitively priced carrier on this corridor. Longer total journey time.
- Via
- Addis Ababa
- Flight time
- 12 to 14h
- From
- LHR
European hub routing. Accessible with a UK domestic connection from regional airports.
- Via
- Amsterdam
- Flight time
- 10 to 12h
- From
- LHR
Airlines that fly the UK to Kenya
What our customers say
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After my flight was unexpectedly cancelled by the airline, I was understandably very stressed. Dominic took ownership of my case and handled everything from start to finish with outstanding professionalism. His service was truly 5-star: efficient, responsive and incredibly supportive throughout. Despite how busy things must be with the number of airline cancellations at the moment, Dominic made sure my issue was resolved smoothly and with a positive outcome. A big thank you for such exceptional service. I am a very happy customer.
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Why people fly to Kenya
Safari: Maasai Mara and beyond
The Maasai Mara is Kenya's most visited game reserve and one of the world's great wildlife destinations. The annual wildebeest migration, usually at its peak from late July through October, draws significant numbers of UK visitors specifically for that window. Other key safari areas include Amboseli, famous for large elephant herds and views across to Kilimanjaro, and Tsavo, which covers a huge area of Kenya's south. All are accessible via Nairobi. Safari and flight combinations are a common enquiry for our team.
Mombasa and the Indian Ocean coast
Kenya's Indian Ocean coastline, particularly Diani Beach south of Mombasa and Watamu further north, attracts UK beach holiday travellers who want something more distinctive than a standard package resort. The coast has a strong Swahili culture, warm water year-round, and good diving. Combining a week on safari with a week on the coast is a well-established itinerary among UK Kenya travellers. We can help you build the routing across both legs.
Visiting friends and relatives (VFR)
The Kenyan diaspora community in the UK generates a steady year-round flow of VFR bookings. Family visits, christenings and community events drive demand that does not follow the typical leisure travel calendar, though there are spikes around Christmas and the UK summer school holidays when diaspora families take children to visit relatives in Nairobi, Kisumu, Eldoret and other cities. Group and multi-passenger bookings are common on this corridor.
Business travel to Nairobi
Nairobi is the largest commercial centre in East Africa, home to regional headquarters for a wide range of international businesses and the base for a number of UN and NGO operations. UK to Nairobi business travel is consistent throughout the year, focused on sectors including financial services, technology, development finance and trade. Business class options are available nonstop with British Airways and Kenya Airways from Heathrow, and via Qatar Airways through Doha.
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Route flexibility
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Changes & refunds
Plans change. We'll explain what's possible before you book, in plain English.
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Tips that get you a better fare
Book peak safari season early
July through October is peak safari season in Kenya, and it coincides with the UK summer school holidays and the wildebeest migration. Demand on the London to Nairobi route during this period is high from both leisure and VFR travellers. If your trip targets the Maasai Mara migration window (roughly late July to October), enquire as early as possible. Waiting until a few weeks before departure for a summer departure is a significant risk on both availability and fare.
Baggage allowances vary by carrier and fare class
British Airways, Kenya Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Ethiopian Airlines each have different checked baggage policies, and the allowance often differs between fare classes within the same airline. VFR travellers and families travelling with safari or beach gear typically carry more than a standard business or leisure traveller. When we source your quote we confirm the baggage included, so you know before you book rather than at check-in.
Flexible dates open up availability and price
Travelling a few days either side of a school holiday boundary can make a real difference on a high-demand route like London to Nairobi. Similarly, if your safari or beach dates are not fixed by a lodge reservation, a specialist can check across a window of departure dates and show you where availability opens up. Tell us your approximate travel window and any flexibility you have and we will work from there.
Combined itineraries: safari plus coast
A common UK Kenya trip involves flying into Nairobi, travelling to the Maasai Mara or Amboseli, then moving on to the Mombasa coast before flying home. This kind of open-jaw or multi-leg itinerary is something a specialist structures more efficiently than multiple separate bookings. We can quote the full routing as a single ticket or advise on the most practical way to combine the legs based on your overall dates.
Spread the cost
Pay later on your Kenya flights
Spread the cost of your trip with Klarna or Clearpay where eligible, or secure your fare with a deposit and pay the balance before you fly. Your specialist explains what applies to your booking.
Flights to Kenya: your questions
Still unsure? Give us a call.
Are there nonstop flights from the UK to Kenya?
Yes. British Airways operates daily nonstop flights from London Heathrow to Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO). Kenya Airways also flies nonstop from Heathrow, and from July 2026 operates a 5x weekly nonstop service from London Gatwick as well. All other carriers connect via a hub airport.
How long is the flight from London to Nairobi?
Nonstop flights from London Heathrow to Nairobi take between around 8 hours 35 minutes and 9 hours 15 minutes, depending on the flight and routing. One-stop connections via Doha or Dubai typically add 2 to 4 hours. Routes via Addis Ababa can run to 12 to 14 hours in total depending on the layover.
Which airlines fly nonstop from the UK to Nairobi?
British Airways and Kenya Airways both operate nonstop services. British Airways flies daily from London Heathrow. Kenya Airways operates from Heathrow and, from July 2026, also from London Gatwick on a 5x weekly schedule.
Which UK airports have flights to Kenya?
Nonstop flights depart from London Heathrow and (from July 2026) London Gatwick. Travellers from Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and other regional airports connect via a hub such as Doha, Dubai or Addis Ababa. We can find same-day connections and help avoid long overnight layovers wherever possible.
Can I fly directly to Mombasa from the UK?
Not currently. There are no nonstop flights from the UK to Mombasa (MBA). The most practical routing is to fly into Nairobi and connect via a Kenya Airways domestic flight or arrange a transfer to the coast. We can help you plan the full journey, including any connecting legs.
Which one-stop airlines fly from the UK to Nairobi?
Qatar Airways connects via Doha, Emirates via Dubai, Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa, and KLM via Amsterdam. Qatar and Emirates are accessible from Manchester and Birmingham as well as London. Ethiopian Airlines is often competitively priced on this corridor, though total journey times are longer.
When is the best time to fly from the UK to Kenya for a safari?
The peak safari window is July through October, which coincides with the wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara. This overlaps with the UK summer school holidays, so demand and fares on the London to Nairobi route are at their highest during this period. If you can travel outside those dates, January through March is typically quieter and can offer better availability.
Do I need a visa to travel from the UK to Kenya?
Kenya replaced its visa system with an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) in January 2024. UK citizens need to apply online before travel. Entry requirements can change, so we strongly advise checking current requirements at the official Kenyan immigration portal (etakenya.go.ke) and the UK government's foreign travel advice for Kenya before booking. We do not provide visa or immigration advice.
How much baggage can I take on flights to Kenya?
Allowances depend on the airline and fare class. British Airways, Kenya Airways, Qatar Airways and Ethiopian Airlines each have different checked baggage policies, and these can vary between cabin classes too. When we source your quote we confirm the allowance included, which is particularly important for families and safari travellers carrying camera and outdoor equipment.
Can you help with a combined safari and beach itinerary?
Yes. A popular UK Kenya trip involves flying into Nairobi, doing a safari leg in the Maasai Mara or Amboseli, then moving to the coast at Diani Beach or Watamu before flying home. We can structure this as an open-jaw booking or advise on the most practical routing based on your dates, lodge reservations and overall itinerary.
Can you arrange group or family bookings to Kenya?
Yes. Family and group bookings benefit from coordinated seat allocation, consistent routing for all passengers, confirmed baggage totals and any infant bassinet requests sorted before ticketing. Whether you are travelling as a family of four or coordinating a larger group for a diaspora family event, a specialist handles this more efficiently than multiple separate self-bookings.
How do I get a quote for flights to Kenya?
Fill in the quote form with your departure airport, approximate travel dates and the number of passengers. A specialist will call or message you back, typically the same day, with specific options tailored to your party. If your travel is urgent, call us directly on +44 161 669 6266.
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