London to Toronto (LGW–YYZ) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

British passport holders need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to Canada. The eTA costs CAD 7 (about $5), is processed in minutes (most approved instantly), and is valid for 5 years or until passport expiry, whichever comes first. Apply at canada.ca/eta. Each entry allows stays of up to 6 months. If arriving by land or sea from the US, no eTA is required.

Passport must be valid for the duration of the stay. Border officers may ask for proof of onward travel, accommodation, sufficient funds, and ties to the UK. The 6-month stay limit is per entry, and there is no hard annual cap, but frequent extended stays will draw scrutiny. For longer stays, apply for a visitor record extension inside Canada (CAD 100) before the 6 months expire.

Direct flights from London Heathrow to Toronto run about 7 hours 40 minutes, to Vancouver about 9 hours 20 minutes. Air Canada, British Airways, and WestJet operate nonstop service. Canada uses the Canadian dollar (CAD), trading at roughly 1.36 CAD per $1. No vaccination requirements for UK arrivals. Canada uses the metric system but road speeds are in km/h. A UK driving license is valid for short-term visits in all provinces.

The Gatwick Express runs non-stop from London Victoria to the South Terminal in 30 minutes, with trains every 15 minutes (from £21.50 one-way; advance fares cheaper online). Thameslink trains from London Bridge, Blackfriars, City Thameslink, and Farringdon are slower (35–45 min) but significantly cheaper; often £10–13 on Oyster or contactless. Southern trains also serve the route.National coaches (National Express, Megabus) connect Gatwick to Victoria Coach Station for £6–15. Taxis from central London cost £70–100+ depending on traffic. Driving via M23 and A23 takes 35–60 minutes; multi-storey car parks are directly connected to both terminals by a 2-minute monorail shuttle.

UP Express from T1 to Union Station runs every 15 minutes (25 min, CAD $12.35). The station is inside T1; take the LINK train from T3 arrivals first (free, 3 min). Taxis to downtown use a meter; expect CAD $55–75.Ride-hail (Uber, Lyft) picks up at the designated Ground Transportation area; follow signs. TTC buses run to the Kipling and Bloor–Yonge subway stations (CAD $3.30) for a longer but cheaper option. Car rental agencies are at T1 and accessible from T3 via the LINK train.

Humid continental climate. Winters are harsh (−10 to −1°C, December–March) with significant snowfall. Pearson closes runways for plowing and de-icing regularly, causing wave delays. Ice storms (freezing rain) are more disruptive than snowfall and can halt operations for hours. Buffalo-effect lake-effect snow can bring heavy accumulations with little warning.

Summers are warm and humid (22–30°C) with afternoon thunderstorms that delay departures July–August. Spring and fall are pleasant but unpredictable. YYZ connections in winter require significant schedule buffer. It is Canada's most weather-disrupted major hub.