Cheap flights to East London

• British Airways
• Lufthansa
• Etihad Airways
• South African Airways
• Air France

• The flight from London Heathrow Airport stops over twice before arriving at East London in 14 to 18 hours. These flights have their first stopover either in Abu Dhabi, Paris or Frankfurt before having the second one in Johannesburg.
• The Manchester to East London flight lasts for 18 to 21 hours. These flights also come with two stopovers, the first of which is in Abu Dhabi, London or Amsterdam and the second is at Johannesburg.
• The aeroplane taking off from Birmingham to East London completes its journey in 20 to 22 hours. The two stopovers in this flight are either at Dubai or Istanbul and Johannesburg.
• The trip from London Gatwick Airport to East London takes 20 to 24 hours with extended stays at Istanbul and Johannesburg.

The flight usually has two stopovers one in the Middle East or Central Europe and the other at Johannesburg. The flights with Middle Eastern layovers land at Abu Dhabi or Dubai, and those with European stopovers are at Paris, Amsterdam, or Frankfurt.

An estimated Flight time from UK to East London is 14 hours 50 minutes. Other alternatives may allow you to add up to two stopovers which will eventually cause increased flight duration.

Most cheap flights to this city on the eastern cape of South Africa are operated by South African Airlines or Emirates or a combination of the two. These flights are not only cheap but also come with brief stopovers making the journey less hectic for passengers. From London Heathrow Airport there are fifty flights every week operated by Emirates that are destined for East London. Similarly, South African Airlines operates fifty flights each week, bringing passengers from London to East London. Most flights stopover at Johannesburg and then the last stretch of the trip to East London is almost always with South African Airlines. The Emirates also operates a dozen flights every week from Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh as well. South African Airlines also offer multiple trips per week from different airports in the United Kingdom to EL.

The major international airport that serves East London shares the city’s name that is, the East London International Airport (ELS). The airport is a modest but bustling hub for travellers coming to the Eastern Cape. The airport serves 700,000 passengers yearly. East London Airport is only nine kilometres from the city centre, and you can reach the airport in fourteen minutes from Downtown East London.

East London offers balmy weather around the year. However, the sunny summer season (December to February) is best for beach holidays. March to September also offers moderate temperature and precipitation is also at its minimum. The temperature of the city remains in the early twenties, and there is little chance that rain ruins your day. Fares are usually at its peak during the high season, so we advise you to book hotel rooms in advance so you can enjoy holidays without any budget constraints.

Taxis are the most readily available and cost-effective mode of getting around East London. You can book them beforehand. Renting a car is yet another option, always recommended second only to taxis when you are in the city. There are three rent-a-car outlets at the airport so you can get a vehicle to roam the town the moment you land in East London. The EL Bus Shuttle is a safe and reliable transport you can get from the airport to reach any address. You can pre-book it to facilitate you in your travels without any hassle at the time of your arrival.

East London is the only river port in the country and is the doorway to the Sunshine Coast of South Africa. Its flamboyant shores keep warming the waters of Indian Ocean and appeal the tourists with intriguing charm and a subtropical climate. While pulling the string of your explorative zeal, discover the attractions of this city.

• East London Museum: Your visit to the East London Museum will be an unusual experience as the museum itself is—with its unique display. There are life-size model animals both extinct and abundant in nature. Along with that, there are exhibits of the tools, pots and utensils used by the ancient people of the region thousands of years ago.
• East London Beaches: Between Buffalo River and the Nahoon River there is a trail of three lovely sandy beaches that await you to roll and stroll in the warm sand with your near and dear ones. Orient Beach, Eastern Beach, and the Nahoon Beach nonetheless serve as heaven amid this busy city. From pooling to paddling, camping to surfing, you can amuse yourself in multiple ways at the offshore reef close to the coast.
• East London Golf Club: Will you miss the great game ever played in the Top-rated East London Golf Course? Certainly not! There are eighteen holes in the ground that need to be putt. It is time to get that nine-iron out and dominate the course. The park is maintained perfectly, green to the very edge. There is a bar to wine and dine if the golf does not intoxicate you first.
• The East London Aquarium—home of marine creatures is a treat to see, indeed. The facility may be the only aquarium which allows you to catch the spectacular view of whales basking at the bay.

Enjoy mild to wild experience in this relaxed city!

East London is a small town at the mouth of the Buffalo River. History traced back to the footprints of 20,000 years old human Nahoon, makes this cape city somewhat more charismatic for South African and the international tourists alike. In the early ninth century, East London was an important port, shipping ferries with goods inland. There were many landmarks built during that period.

• Fort Glamorgan was a fort built to protect the city in 1848. The site is well maintained and still contains a functioning hospital and a cookhouse. The Fort’s penitentiary is still part of the South African prison system, and special permission is required to visit that half of the fort.
• The Old East London wool exchange is a relic of the past. The building was used to auction off the produce of the thriving wool industry that developed in and around East London at the beginning of the twentieth century. The exchange is now part of the Rhodes University and is open for tours.
• The Equestrian Statue that is standing at the intersection of St Georges and Oxford Street. This statue is a tribute to the fallen soldiers in the Anglo-Boer war in 1908. Tourists usually pay their respects at the memorial.

East Londoners are known for their love for music, beer and the sea. While East London does celebrate Easter, Christmas and the New Year in a true South African fashion, the real colours of East London come out at the Port Festival at the end of June. Join the South Africans drinking the nectars of their ‘beer garden’ at this festival. The festival invites the South African Navy to show its might, and the locals attempt to rival it by making their versions of ‘build a boat’. The dance parties start quickly at the festival.

If you are looking for a nice place within your budget, ‘The Thatch’ is a fine yet an inexpensive guesthouse to stay. Overlooking the Indian Ocean this place is a good accommodation in the backdrop of scenic beauty. Also, you can check the Hemingways Casino Hotel for comfy and luxury lodging. There are only a few five-star hotels in East London that offers exceptional value for your money.

• Inkwenkwezi Private Game Reserve Safari Lodge
• Selborne Bed and Breakfast
• Premier Hotel Regent
• Areena Riverside Resort
Handy Tips You Should Know Before Your Departure!
• Articles that must be included in your packing are; walking shoes, Beach gear, and of course binoculars for whale watching.
• Don’t forget to have a township visit; you’ll surely enjoy the traditional food amid cultural ambience.
• At local restaurants order fresh fish to have a real seafood taste.
• Give your taste buds a new sensation of best curries in town at ‘Irana Indian Restaurant.’
• Top-notch Hemingways Mall Featured with Amphitheatre (showcasing ostentatious fashion shows) and with some 200 shopping stores invites you deliberately. It will certainly be an injustice if you miss this endless amusement in the heart of East London.
• Ecstasy of dare-devils, Nirvana of photographers, and a heaven of surfers ‘Eastern Beach ‘ with all its lures is soliciting to add its visit in your tour plan.