I don't like to disagree with a fellow Londoner
but...
There are scheduled flights
next week London to Sydney return for less than $1600. (Thai GBP760). Book with a few weeks notice and the price drops dramatically
I've recently purchased 4 return flights Heathrow-Rome on British Airways for just under GBP480 (AUD990) for travel in the middle of July (school holidays) with only 4 weeks notice. Short notice, school holidays, peak season, BA. I expected double that price.
I fly London to Scandinavia monthly and where flights used to be GBP300-400 they are now as low as GBP63. I've not paid more than GBP100 return the last 3 trips.
There are plenty of cheap London based fares around. I've never seen it cheaper
http://www.skyscanner.net/flights-fr...don.html?rtn=1