The short answer
London to Norwich takes about 45 to 55 minutes by helicopter. By road it is 120 miles and at least 2 hours 53 minutes free-flowing, so the helicopter typically saves about 2 hours 3 minutes each way. Norwich Airport is strictly prior permission, so the paperwork is the main lead time.
Quote London to Norwich We reply with options and a price for the whole aircraft.
Key facts
- Distance
- 90.3 nautical miles (104 statute miles) in a straight line
- Helicopter time
- 45 to 55 minutes
- Car time
- At least 2 hours 53 minutes free-flowing, 120 miles by road
- Typical time saved
- About 2 hours 3 minutes each way
- London end
- London Heliport, Battersea; Stansted or Southend for the east of London
- Norwich end
- Norwich Airport, 1,842 m runway, strictly prior permission, customs and handling in airport hours
- Return journey
- The same time applies in the other direction
London to Norwich on the map
The dashed line joins the main airfield or heliport at each end, with a ring at the midpoint. Real flights follow the sites at each end and the weather on the day.
The map could not load just now. London Heliport to Norwich Airport: about 90 nm in a straight line, 45 to 55 min by helicopter.
Helicopter against the car
London to Norwich: the numbers
London to Norwich by helicopter takes about 45 to 55 minutes, against at least 2 hours 53 minutes on the road.
The straight line is 90.3 nautical miles (104 statute miles). The road is 120 miles and 2 hours 53 minutes even when it flows freely, so the helicopter typically saves about 2 hours 3 minutes each way. Norwich is one of the largest UK cities without a motorway connection, so the road time is a floor that real journeys often exceed.
Likely departure and arrival sites
The sites we would normally use at each end, with the same figures worked out from the site itself.
| Site | Flying | Distance | Helicopter | By road |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City centre to city centre | London to Norwich | 90 nm | 45 to 55 min | 2 h 53 min |
| Heathrow Airport | to Norwich | 97 nm | 45 to 55 min | 2 h 44 min |
| RAF Northolt | to Norwich | 92 nm | 45 to 55 min | 2 h 45 min |
| London City Airport | to Norwich | 84 nm | 40 to 50 min | 2 h 23 min |
| London Luton Airport | to Norwich | 77 nm | 40 to 45 min | 2 h 13 min |
| London Stansted Airport | to Norwich | 61 nm | 30 to 40 min | 2 h 05 min |
| London Heliport | to Norwich | 90 nm | 45 to 55 min | 2 h 53 min |
| Norwich Airport | to London | 90 nm | 45 to 55 min | 2 h 55 min |
Norwich Airport and its hours
Norwich Airport has a 1,842 metre runway. Between May and October it is open 06:00 to 22:30 on Monday to Thursday and Saturday and 06:00 to 23:00 on Friday and Sunday; from November to April the hours are shorter, and Saturday closes at 20:00. Every movement is prior permission through airport operations, and anything outside the published hours attracts an extra charge, which matters for an evening return. We handle both. See helicopter charter Norwich.
Why Norfolk businesses fly in
Norwich is a centre for finance, insurance and the life sciences, and the county has large estates, a long coast and energy projects offshore. A day in London with a return by evening is the usual brief, and the reverse for London teams visiting Norfolk. Our business helicopter charter page covers the process. Landing at an estate or a hotel is subject to landing permission and site suitability, and we ask first.
The county is also within reach of Newmarket and Cambridge; see Newmarket and London to Cambridge. For Essex and the estuary, see Essex.
A same-day plan
- Leave London at 08:30, land at Norwich between 09:15 and 09:25.
- Meetings in the city or at an estate.
- Leave Norwich at 16:00, land at London between 16:45 and 16:55.
That is 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes in the air for the round trip. The same trip by car is at least 5 hours 46 minutes of driving, so the helicopter typically gives back about 4 hours 6 minutes across the day. Winter hours at Norwich are shorter, so check the return time first. If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing.
The winter evening problem
In winter the daylight shrinks and the airport closes earlier, so a London return after a long Norfolk lunch can run into both limits. We check sunset, the airport's winter hours and the weather on the day before and again on the morning. If conditions tighten, we use an earlier departure or hold the aircraft at Stansted. A car at either end, such as one from Executive Global Travel, completes the journey.
Where the figures come from
For London to Norwich the straight-line distance is 90.3 nautical miles. At a cruise of 135 knots that is about 40 minutes; we add 8 minutes for start-up, climb and the approach, which gives a block time of about 48 minutes, and we show it as a range, 10 per cent shorter to 12 per cent longer, rounded to the nearest five minutes. The road figure is the free-flowing time from a routing engine, so it is a floor. Real journeys on the day are usually slower. The other routes are on the UK helicopter routes page, and helicopter against car journey times explains the comparison.
Flying the other way
The figures are the same in both directions: Norwich to London is 90 nm in a straight line and 45 to 55 minutes by helicopter. The car takes at least 2 hours 53 minutes (120 miles).
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to fly from London to Norwich?
About 45 to 55 minutes by helicopter.
How long is the drive from London to Norwich?
At least 2 hours 53 minutes for 120 miles, free-flowing. Real journeys are usually slower.
Is there a motorway to Norwich?
No. Norwich has no direct motorway connection, so the road time is a floor and real journeys are often longer.
Can I fly home in the evening?
Yes within the airport's hours. Winter hours are shorter, and Saturday closes at 20:00 between November and April.
What happens if the weather stops the flight?
If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing.
