Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re at Heathrow Airport, one of five major airports in London. Since there are so many airports in London, I wanted to provide the basic transport information for each of the airports so that you can find the best way to and from the airport. Whether you are looking for the cheapest way to the airport, or the fastest way, these are all the ways you can get to the airports in London.
In general, taxi cabs are the most expensive method for getting to any airport in London. The airport express trains are also expensive. The National Rail lines are a bit more affordable. The Express Bus is pretty cheap, while the Tube is the cheapest way to get to any airport in London.
Heathrow Airport (LHR)
London’s Heathrow Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, with over 80 million passengers connecting through in 2018. As the primary hub of British Airways and a main base for Virgin Atlantic, many international flights land at Heathrow. Heathrow is located 14 miles west of central London.
There are several ways to get from Heathrow Airport to London or vice versa:
- Taxi from Heathrow to London is
the most expensive option
- Cost: 70 GBP, or around $90
- Travel Time: One Hour
- Heathrow Express is the fastest
way from Heathrow Airport to London
- Location: Leaves Paddington Station every 15 minutes
- Cost: 37 GBP return, or around $50, cheaper in advance and on weekends
- Travel Time: 15 minutes to Terminals 2 and 3, 20 minutes to Terminals 4 and 5
- TfL Rail (formerly Heathrow
Connect)
- Location: Leaves Paddington Station every 30 minutes, several stops between
- Cost: 10.50 GBP at peak time, or $14
- Time: 30 minutes to Terminals 2 and 3
- London Underground (the Tube) – the cheapest way to get to Heathrow
- Location: Piccadilly Line makes several stops between Heathrow and central London
- Cost: Single fare is 6 GBP, or $8
- Travel Time: 50 – 60 minutes
- National Express Coach
- Location: Victoria Coach Station
- Cost: 10 GBP, $13
- Travel Time: 40 – 80 minutes
Read: Ten Shocks of Visiting London
Gatwick Airport (LGW)
The next largest airport in London is Gatwick Airport, with 35 million passengers per year. It’s second only to Heathrow in the UK, and the eighth busiest airport in Europe. Located 30 miles south of London, Gatwick is a major hub for British Airways, EasyJet and Norwegian. Gatwick also handles a lot of charter planes, with Thomas Cook Airlines and TUI Airways.
There are several ways to get from Gatwick Airport to London or vice versa:
- Gatwick Express
- Location: Victoria Station
- Cost: 20 GBP, $26
- Travel Time: 30 minutes
- South Train
- Location: Victoria Station with extra stops
- Cost: 17 GBP, $22 (cheaper off-peak hours)
- Travel Time: 45 minutes
- National Express Coach
- Location: Victoria Coach Station
- Cost: 10 GBP, $13
- Travel Time: 40 – 80 minutes
- Taxi
- Cost: 100 GBP or $130
- Travel Time: One Hour +
London City Airport (LCY)
This is the closest airport to central London in the Docklands, but it’s also the smallest, so it’s not used often by American travelers. Most flights are within the UK or other Europe destinations. There are a few easy ways to get to the city airport from Central London.
- Taxi
- Cost: 35 GBP or $45
- Travel Time: 30 minutes
- Docklands Light Rail
- Location: Several stations connect to London Underground (Tube)
- Cost: 2.40 GBP and up, $3 or more
- Travel Time: 15-20 minutes
- Bus – several local bus lines also go to London City Airport
London Luton Airport (LTN)
Luton is a hub for low-cost carriers in London, but it can be difficult and expensive to reach, especially on a Sunday, so carefully weigh your total costs before flying into or out of Luton Airport.
- Train
- Location: Luton Airport Parkway Station
- Cost: 2.40 GBP and up, $3 or more
- Travel Time: 30 minutes + 10-minute shuttle to airport
- Bus
- Location: Several options
- Cost: up to 12 GBP, $16
- Travel Time: 60 – 80 minutes
- Taxi
- Cost: 45 GBP and up, $60
- Travel Time: One Hour +
London Stansted Airport (STN)
Stansted is the home of RyanAir, another low-cost carrier in London. Again, saving money on your flight may end up costing more by the time you travel into London. Stansted is nearly 40 miles from Central London, making it one of the furthest airports from the city center. If you are visiting London on the weekend, or have an early morning flight, you could end up spending more than $100 for a taxi, thereby erasing any savings you have from flying into Stansted. However, if you do decide to use Stansted Airport, here are your transportation options.
- Train/Stansted Express
- Location: London Liverpool Street Station, every 15 minutes
- Cost: 17 GBP, $44
- Travel Time: 45 minutes
- Bus
- Location: Victoria Coach Station
- Cost: 12 GBP and up, $15
- Travel Time: 70 – 100 minutes
- Taxi
- Cost: 80 GBP and up, $105
- Travel Time: One Hour +
Watch: What to Know Before You Visit London
I hope this breakout helps you evaluate the best transport options for getting into London from the various airports outside London. London’s a great city, and you’ll love it once you get the travel logistics sorted out. For more travel tips and advice, check out these blog posts and videos:
