Chennai to London Flights

Tips for travellers

For a short trip, Egmore, Nungambakkam and T. Nagar are central and well served by the metro, while Mylapore and Besant Nagar put you close to the older temples and the beach. Chennai Metro's Blue Line runs from the airport through the city to Chennai Central, and the Green Line links Chennai Central with St. Thomas Mount via Koyambedu. South India's first air-conditioned suburban train started on the Beach to Chengalpattu line in April 2025, and the older suburban trains and MTC buses are inexpensive but crowded at peak hours. App cabs and auto-rickshaws fill the gaps.

The weather is kindest from November to February. The north-east monsoon brings most of Chennai's rain in October and November, and cyclones in those months can disrupt flights and flood roads. The Margazhi music and dance season runs through December into January, with concerts at sabhas across Mylapore and T. Nagar, and Pongal in mid-January closes many offices for several days. At the Kapaleeshwarar Temple and other Hindu temples, remove footwear and dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered. Marina Beach is for walking rather than swimming, as the currents are strong. For Mahabalipuram, leave early to see the Shore Temple before the midday heat, and combine it with the Pancha Rathas and Arjuna's Penance nearby.

What's new in London

• May 2025: V&A East Storehouse opened in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, allowing visitors to explore museum collections in a working storage setting.
• April 2026: V&A East Museum opened nearby, adding another art and design destination to an east London visit.

Tips for travellers from India

Paddington is convenient for Heathrow Express arrivals, but the Elizabeth line can be more useful for a hotel near Tottenham Court Road or farther east. Bloomsbury suits the British Museum and central walks; South Kensington suits the museum quarter. Compare the final station rather than only the advertised airport-train duration. Heathrow’s Piccadilly line takes another route through west London and can avoid a change for some addresses.

Air India uses Terminal 2, while British Airways operates from Terminals 3 and 5. An airline name alone therefore does not always identify the correct building. Within London, use the same contactless card or Oyster card when entering and leaving a rail service. Greenwich is a separate outing along the Thames, not a quick extension of a Westminster museum day. The V&A East sites are in the Olympic Park and should not be confused with the original V&A in South Kensington. Pair the east London museums with one another instead of crossing the city between their entrances.