For transfers directly between London's airports, the fastest way (short of a taxi) is the direct inter-airport bus service by National Express. Buses between Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton run at least hourly, with Heathrow-Gatwick services taking 65min (£18) and Heathrow-Stansted services 90min (£20.50) (note that services between Stansted and Luton run only every two hours). However, it's essential to allow leeway, as London's expressways, especially the orbital M25 and the M1 motorway, are often congested to the point of gridlock. Buses have toilets on board. If your final destination is outside London, it is worth considering one of the inter-airport buses as a relatively quick way of getting to the right side of the city.
London Heathrow
Heathrow (ICAO: EGLL, IATA: LHR) is London and Europe's largest airport and the world's busiest airport in terms of international passenger movement, with services from most available major airports world-wide. There are five terminals, with a fifth one opened in March 2008. Flights landing at Heathrow are often delayed by up to an hour as a simple result of air traffic congestion and waiting for parking slots. A quick summary of transport options (also see Heathrow Airport):
- Fastest: by Heathrow Express rail, 0845 600 1515. Every 15 minutes, journey time 15 minutes. To London Paddington. Travelcard not valid. One way £15.50, return trip £29.
- Second fastest: by Heathrow Connect rail, 0845 678 6975. Follows same route as Heathrow Express but stops at several intermediate stations to London Paddington so journey is 25 minutes and trains less frequent. One way £6.90, round trip £12.90.
- Cheapest: by London Underground (Piccadilly line), 0845 330 9880. Every few minutes, journey time approximately 1 hour. For the cheapest fare ask for an Oyster card (£3 refundable deposit). Zone 1-6 Travelcard valid. With Oyster one way £3.50-£4.80.
- Taxi. A taxi from Heathrow to central London will cost £45-60, you can check the price to your exact destination using a taxi fare calculator. You may wish to consider taking a taxi if you have a lot of baggage or small children. Alternatively catch public transport into the city centre and then catch a taxi. There are two types of taxis: Black cabs (usually slightly more expensive - can be hailed on a street) or licensed mini cabs (cheaper - must be booked over the phone or on the web). There are over 1000 minicab companies in London, the largest one is Addison Lee (0207 387 8888), other companies offering airport transfers can be found in the Yellow Pages.
- Door to door: National Express Dot2Dot, 0845 368 2368. Door to door airport transfer service operating between central London and Heathrow and Gatwick airports. starting at £17.50.
- Also: to South London, 0845 748 4950,. Bus 285 (or taxi) to Feltham railway station (20 minutes) then a train to London Waterloo on the South Bank or Clapham Junction in South West London. Zone 1-6 Travelcard valid. £2 single.
London Gatwick
(IATA: LGW, ICAO: EGKK) London's second airport, also serving a large spectrum of places world-wide. To get to the center of the city, the following options exist:
- By rail: Gatwick Express, 0845 850 1530. Every 15 minutes, journey time 30-35 minutes. To London Victoria. Travelcard not valid. One way £16.90, round trip £28.80, for the cheapest fare visit their website.
- By rail: Southern Railway, 0845 127 2920. Every 15 minutes, journey time 35-40 minutes. To London Victoria via Clapham Junction. Cheaper than Gatwick Express.
- By rail: First Capital Connect, 0871 200 2233. To London Bridge, Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon, St Pancras International, Luton Airport and further north. Cheaper than Gatwick Express.
- By car. 29 miles (47 km).
- By cycle. There is a long-distance cycle path into Central London, but as it involves going through the North Downs and South London and over, it will likely be quite a ride. For adventerous people.
- By Licenced Minicab: West End Car Services, +44 (0)20 7734 8970 (info@westendcarservices.com). A Licenced Cab from the airport to Central London (£60) would take about an hour(depending on traffic) WestEndCarServices.com.
London Stansted
(ICAO: EGSS, IATA: STN) Currently London's third airport, the base for a large number of budget carriers (for example EasyJet and RyanAir) and flights within Europe and a few inter-continental flights. There are several commercial wi-fi hotspots covering most of the airport, but they charge extortionate rates. A free wi-fi hotspot is located in the arrivals gate area, next to the phone booths offering fixed internet. Transport options into central London:
- By rail: Stansted Express to London Liverpool Street, 0845 600 7245. Every 15 minutes, journey time 45-60 minutes. One way £15, round trip £24. Travelcard not valid.
- By rail then London Underground: Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale then London Underground (Victoria line), 0845 600 7245. Every 15 minutes. If you are going to South London, the West End or West London then take Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale then the London Underground (Victoria line). At Tottenham Hale ask for an Oyster card
- By coach: National Express, 0870 580 8080. Every 15-30 minutes. Journey time to Stratford: 1 hour. To Victoria: 90 minutes. To Stratford (tube: Stratford) or Victoria (tube: Victoria). Folding bicycles only. To Stratford: £8 one way, £14 round trip. To Victoria: £10, £16. Travelcard not valid.
- By coach: Terravision, +44 (0)1279 68 0028. Hourly, journey time 75 minutes. To Bishopsgate (tube: Liverpool Street) or Victoria (tube: Victoria). To Bishopgate: £6.70 one way, £11.80 round trip. To Victoria: £8, £14. Travelcard not valid.
- By minibus: EasyBus. To Baker Street (tube: Baker Street). From £2 (advance web purchase) to £8 one way. Travelcard not valid..
- By taxi. Journey time 90-120 minutes. Not the most efficient option. The airport is actually quite a long way from London. It's normally a better idea to take a train to London Liverpool Street and continue by taxi from there. approximately £70.
- By Licenced Minicab: West End Car Services, +44 (0)20 7734 8970 (info@westendcarservices.com). A Licenced Cab from the airport to Central London (£65) would take about an hour(depending on traffic).
London Luton
(ICAO: EGGW, IATA: LTN) Has traditionally been a holiday charter airport, but is now also served by some budget scheduled carriers. As per Stansted, and for the same reasons, many choose to spend the night here before flying, although "First Capital Connect" trains run 24 hours. To get to central London the following options exist:
- By rail: Journey time: 30-60 minutes. The rail station is not actually in the airport, but the there is a shuttle bus from the airport to Luton Airport Parkway station which runs every few minutes and takes five minutes. It costs £1 single, or £2 return, if you are buying a rail ticket, Otherwise it costs £1.5 single or £3 return. From there, Thameslink trains run by First Capital Connect run four or more times an hour to London St Pancras International. £11 one way. Travelcard not valid..
- By coach: Green Line number 757, 0844 801 7261. Every 20 minutes, journey time 90 minutes.. To Victoria (tube: Victoria) via Brent Cross, Finchley Road tube station, Baker Street, Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner. Travelcard not valid.
- By coach: National Express, 0870 580 8080. Every 20 minutes, journey time 90 minutes.. To Victoria (tube: Victoria) via Golders Green and Marble Arch. From £1 (advance web purchase) one way. Travelcard not valid.
- By minibus: EasyBus number EB2. To Baker Street (tube: Baker Street) via Hastingwood Motorway Services and South Woodford. They now run from the city center (Victoria), but terminate in Baker St on the way back from the airport. From £1 (advance web purchase) to £8 one way.
- By car. 35 miles (60 km).
- By Licenced Minicab: West End Car Services, +44 (0)20 7734 8970 (info@westendcarservices.com). A Licenced Cab from the airport to Central London (£65) would take about an hour(depending on traffic).
London City Airport
(ICAO: EGLC, IATA: LCY) A commuter airport close to the city's financial district, and specializing in short-haul business flights to other major European cities. To get to the city center the following options exist:
- By Docklands Light Railway (DLR). See also: Get around. Travelcard valid.
- By taxi. Journey time approximately 30 minutes. £20-35.
- By car. 6 miles (10 km).
- By bus. Take the 474 bus to Canning Town station and then the 115 or N15 into central London. See also: Get around. Travelcard valid.
- By Licenced Minicab: West End Car Services, + 44 (0)20 7734 8970 (info@westendcarservices.com). A Licenced Cab from the airport to Central London (£30) would take about 30 minutes upto 45 Minutes at peak times(depending on traffic).
Other airports near London
- London Southend Airport, +44 (0) 1702 608100. (IATA: SEN, ICAO: EGMC) Currently undergoing redevelopment and is set to become London's sixth international airport once the new rail link is completed. At present it serves destinations in the British isles only.
- Southampton Airport, +44 (0)870 040 0009. 3 Trains An Hour Off Peak, journey time from 1 hour 10 mins. (IATA: SOU, ICAO: EGHI) is not officially a London airport, though accessible enough to conveniently serve the capital, especially South West London. A couple of budget carriers serving an increasing number of European destinations are based here. Direct trains connect Southampton airport to London Waterloo station. £30-35 round trip.
- Birmingham International Airport, +44 (0)8707 335511. Every 30 minutes, journey time 75 minutes. (IATA: BHX, ICAO: EGBB) is another non-London airport worth considering as a less congested and hectic alternative to Heathrow, being just over an hour away from London. As a major airport serving the UK's second largest city, there is a good choice of long distance and European destinations. Direct trains connect Birmingham International to London Euston and Watford. From £10 (advance web purchase) one way. £35-100 round trip..
By train
London has one international rail route (operated by Eurostar 08705 186 186 ) from Paris (2h15) and Brussels (1h50) diving under the sea for 22 high speed miles (35km) via the Channel Tunnel to come out in England. It terminates at St Pancras International. There are no less than 12 main line National Rail terminals (although in conversation you may hear the brand National Rail infrequently if ever it differentiates main line and London Underground services; journey planner online or phone 08457 48 49 50). With the exception of Fenchurch Street (nearest tube: Tower Hill) these are on the London Underground. Most are on the circle line. Clockwise starting at Paddington, major National Rail stations are:
- London Paddington, serves South West England and Wales including Slough, Maidenhead, Reading, Oxford, Bath, Bristol, Taunton, Exeter, Plymouth and Cardiff and Swansea. Also the downtown terminus of the Heathrow Airport Express (see above) and serves some suburban stations such as Acton Main Line and Ealing Broadway.
- London Marylebone, serves some north western suburban stations such as Amersham, Harrow on the Hill and Wembley Stadium. Also serves Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Banbury, Stratford-upon-Avon and the city of Birmingham. It is much cheaper but slightly slower to take a train from Marylebone to Birmingham instead of a train from London Euston.
- London Euston, serves the Midlands, north-west England and west Scotland: Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Chester, Oxenholme Lake District, Carlisle, Glasgow, and Holyhead for connecting ferries to/from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Sleeper trains to Scotland leave from Euston.
- St Pancras International, serves Paris, Brussels, Luton Airport and the East Midlands: Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield.
- London King's Cross, serves East Anglia, north-east England and east Scotland: Cambridge, Doncaster, Leeds, York, Kingston upon Hull, Newcastle upon Tyne, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. Platform 9 3/4 from the Harry Potter books is marked with a special sign, although platform 9 itself is actually in the fairly unpleasant metallic extension used by Cambridge trains.
- London Moorgate, serves some northern suburbs.
- London Liverpool Street, serves East Anglia: Ipswich and Norwich. Also the downtown terminus of the Stansted Airport Express.
- London Fenchurch Street, serves commuter towns north of the Thames estuary to Southend.
- London Bridge, London Cannon Street, London Waterloo East and London Charing Cross, serve south and south east London and England: Brighton, Dover, Eastbourne, Hastings and Ramsgate.
- London Blackfriars, serves Luton Airport and Brighton.
- London Waterloo, serves south west London and England: Portsmouth, Winchester, Southampton, Bournemouth, Weymouth, Salisbury and Exeter.
- London Victoria, serves south east London and England: Brighton, Dover, Eastbourne, Hastings and Ramsgate. Also the downtown terminus of the Gatwick Airport Express.
In South London many areas only have National Rail services (no London Underground services but there are buses). London Bridge, Victoria, Cannon Street and Charing Cross serve the South East. London Waterloo serves the South West. First Capital Connect (frequently referred to as Thameslink) is a cross London route between Bedford and Brighton via Luton Airport (Parkway), St Pancras International, Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars, London Bridge and Gatwick Airport.
By bus
Most international and domestic long distance bus (UK English: coach) services arrive at and depart from a complex of coach stations off Buckingham Palace Road in St James's close to London Victoria rail station. All services operated by National Express or Eurolines (see below) serve Victoria Coach Station, which actually has separate arrival and departure buildings. Services by other operators may use this station, or the Green Line Coach Station across Buckingham Palace Road. The following are amongst the main coach operators:
- National Express, 0870 580 8080. is by far the largest domestic coach operator and operates services to / from London from throughout England, Wales and Scotland. Advance ticketing is usually required and recommended practice in any case
- Eurolines, +44 08705 143219. is an associate company of National Express, and runs coach services to / from London with various cities in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and continental Europe. Advance ticketing is required.
- Megabus, 0900 160 0900. operates budget coach services from/to London (Victoria Coach Station) to/from several major regional cities, it is even possible to get to Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. Fares are demand responsive but can be very cheap (£1.50 if you book far enough in advance).
By car
There is also the option of a central London Park and Ride site located at Park Lane and Marble Arch, see National Park and Ride Directory