London to Vancouver (LHR–YVR) — 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.

Heathrow Express runs from London Paddington to T5 and T2/T3 in 15–21 minutes (£37 single, cheaper booked online or via the Heathrow app). Elizabeth line (Crossrail) is a lower-cost alternative; Paddington to T5 in 34 minutes from £13.50 with an Oyster/contactless cap of £14.90. The Elizabeth line also serves central London stations including Bond Street, Farringdon, and Liverpool Street.London Underground Piccadilly line serves all terminals (T2/T3/T4/T5) from central London in 40–60 minutes (£6 with Oyster). Taxis (black cabs) from central London cost £55–90 depending on traffic. Coach services from Victoria Coach Station (National Express) cost from £10 booked in advance.

The Canada Line runs from the airport to Waterfront/downtown in 26 minutes for CAD $4.45 on Compass card. Trains depart every 6–8 minutes from the International Terminal station (basement level). Taxis queue outside arrivals; metered fares to downtown are CAD $35–45. Uber and Lyft have a designated pick-up zone.Rental car desks are in the terminal. The VALET shuttle also connects to other transit points on Sea Island. YVR is particularly well-organised for transfers; pre-clearance facility clears U.S.-bound passengers through U.S. customs before departure.

Temperate oceanic climate. One of the mildest in Canada. Winters (November–March) are wet and overcast at 2–8°C. Snow is infrequent at sea level, but when it does fall, the city struggles and the airport can see delays. Fog in winter and early spring is a more consistent disruption risk. Summers (June–August) are warm and dry at 20–27°C with very little rain.

Wildfire smoke from BC and Alberta can reduce visibility at the airport during August and September. Pack rain gear for autumn through spring. Summers are dry and clear.