There are several airports in London, and planning your journey to your final destination in the city can be challenging. Our family and friends, who often travel from abroad, experience the same struggle. This inspired us to create this article – to facilitate a smoother journey for you from the various London airports 🙂
6 London airports
1. Heathrow airport (LHR)
Heathrow is the largest and busiest airport in London, located in the west of the city. It serves as a major international hub, offering flights to destinations worldwide. Heathrow has four terminals and is well-connected to central London by train, tube, and bus services.
2. Gatwick airport (LGW)
Gatwick, the second-largest airport in London, is located to the south of the city. It operates both domestic and international flights, with two terminals serving a wide range of destinations. Gatwick has excellent transportation links to central London via train, bus, and coach services.
3. Stansted airport (STN)
Stansted is located on the northeast of London and primarily serves low-cost and charter airlines, offering flights across Europe. It is the third busiest London airport and has one main terminal. Stansted is connected to central London by train, coach, and taxi services.
4. Luton airport (LTN)
Luton airport is located in the north of London and is a hub for budget airlines flying to various European destinations. It has one terminal and is well-served by transport links to central London, including train and bus services.
5. London City airport (LCY)
London City Airport, the closest airport to central London, is located in the Docklands area to the east of the city center. Primarily serves business travelers with short flights to European cities. It has one terminal and is easily accessible via Docklands Light Railway (DLR), as well as by taxi and bus services.
6. Southend airport (SEN)
Southend Airport is located to the east of London, in the county of Essex. While smaller in size compared to other London airports, Southend primarily serves domestic and European destinations, with airlines such as easyJet operating flights from this airport.
It has one terminal and offers easy access to central London via train services, making it a convenient option for travelers seeking a hassle-free journey.
London airports connections
Whether you are arriving from afar or nearby, we’ve got you covered with tips and insights to ensure a seamless transition from airport arrival to the city.
First important note
London is a cashless city. So no need to bring a lot of cash with you. Instead, you can buy an oyster card, or simply use you contactless bank card. We rely on contactless payments in our day-to-day lives. Just be mindful of any potential bank fees. Prior to your trip, you can always explore other banks that offer low or no transactions fees.
From Heathrow airport
Heathrow provides exceptional connectivity, offering excellent transport links to both London and the wider UK, with a range of travel options tailored to accommodate every need and budget.
Our personal recommendation: When we travel from Heathrow, we rather use the underground because it’s cheaper. However, we’ve provided additional options below to help you plan your journey, allowing you to select the option that best suits your convenience.
1. Heathrow express
- Travel to London Paddington in just 15 minutes
- Non-stop trains run every 15 minutes from all terminals to Paddington station
- From Paddington, you can easily transfer to the London Underground to other destinations
- Prices start from 15£ (if booked in advance)
- You can buy tickets online or at the airport
⭐Click here to book your Heathrow express⭐
2. London Underground
The London Underground (the Tube) gets you from Heathrow to central London in under an hour, with trains running every 10 minutes. Heathrow has three underground stations, at Terminal 2/3 and at Terminal 4 and 5.
- One of the cheapest travel routes to London from Heathrow
- Prices start from 5.50£
- The easiest way to pay is using an oyster or contactless bank card (as we mentioned above)
⭐Click here to plan your journey with TFL⭐
3. Coaches from Heathrow
Coaches run from Heathrow to Victoria coach station, along with many other destinations across the UK.
- You can get the coach outside Terminal 4, 5 and Heathrow’s central bus station
- Short walk from Terminals 2 and 3
- Prices start from 10£
⭐Click here to plan your journey by coach⭐
From Gatwick airport
Gatwick is served by four train operators that provide direct services to over 120 stations, including 7 key stations across London.
Our personal recommendation: When travelling from Gatwick, we opt for the train. We personally use the Trainline app or website to book our train tickets. However, if you prefer, you can purchase them at the airport or use your contactless bank card.
1. Trains from Gatwick to London
The train station is located at the South Terminal, just a five-minute walk from both departures and arrivals. If you arrive at the North Terminal, simply take the airport shuttle to the South terminal to catch your train.
- Gatwick Express – offers a non-stop service directly to London Victoria, taking just 30 minutes. You can save by booking online in advance though the Gatwick Express Website.
- Thameslink – connects London Gatwick to several central London stations: London Bridge, London Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon and St Pancras International. Depending on your destination, Thameslink is usually cheaper than Gatwick Express.
- Prices from 13£ (depending on your final destination)
⭐Click here to plan your journey from Trainline⭐
Upon arriving in London from the airport, you may need to take additional transportation, such as the tube or bus, to reach your final destination.
Picture this scenario: You arrive at London Blackfriars, and your final destination is Aldgate East. You can take the tube on the District line to reach your destination. Alternatively, if you arrive at London Bridge and wish to continue to Liverpool Street, the best approach would be by bus.
2. Coaches from Gatwick to London
Coaches run from Gatwick to Victoria Coach Station, as well as to many other destinations across the UK. Typically, this isn’t the most convenient option for us, as the journey by coach takes longer than the train. However, we’d like to highlight that there are additional travel options available from Gatwick.
- Gatwick services run day and night from several pick-up points, direct to the airport
- Prices start from 8£ (price increase as per peak hours)
- Journey takes approximately between 2-3h (depending on the traffic)
⭐Click here to plan your journey by coach⭐
From Stansted airport
Stansted is one of the London airports that we travel to the most. We normally buy coach tickets in advance, as it is cheaper and more convenient for our final destination.
1. Coaches from Stansted
National Express and other coach companies provide regular services from Stansted Airport to various locations in central London such as Victoria Coach Station, Stratford, and Liverpool Street.
- Typically takes around 1 to 1.5 hours (depending on traffic and drop-off points)
- Prices range from 15-17£
- It is cheaper if you buy the tickets in advance
- You can travel into London 3 hours before or after your booked journey time
⭐Click here to plan your journey by National Express ⭐
2. Trains from Stansted
Stansted Express is a train service that operates directly from Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street station, Tottenham Hale and Stratford.
- Operates frequently throughout the day
- Journey takes around 45-50 minutes
- Prices are around 21£
⭐Click here to plan your journey by Stansted Express ⭐
From Luton airport
From our experience, traveling from Luton Airport takes longer, and most of the time, you have to take three different modes of transport. However, we will provide you with some options to make your trip smoother.
1. The Luton DART
The Luton DART is a new and improved airport transfer service that takes you between Luton Airport Parkway and Luton Airport Terminal.
- Offers a fast connection, less than 4 minutes
- Prices around 4.90£
- No advance booking is require. You can simply use your contactless card to pay
Our personal recommendation: Travelling by DART to Luton Airport Parkway is more convenient than by bus. While the bus is cheaper, it takes much longer to arrive.
⭐Click here if you would like to find out more about DART ⭐
2. Luton Airport Express train
After reaching Luton Airport Parkway by DART, you can catch a direct train to London St Pancras International.
- It runs every 30 minutes
- Prices starting from 9£
- Advisable to purchase tickets in advance for cheaper deals
⭐Click here to plan your journey by Luton Airport Express⭐
When you reach to London St Pancras International, you might need to catch another transport (such as tube or bus) to get to your final destination.
3. Via Thameslink train service
The Thameslink train service connects Luton Airport Parkway with central London, with trains operating frequently throughout the day.
- Takes around 30-40 minutes to reach stations such as Farringdon, and Blackfriars
- From these stations, you can easily access other parts of central London via the tube, bus or other train services
- Prices start from 17£
- You can buy the ticket in advance or use your contactless card
⭐Click here to plan your journey with Thameslink ⭐
4. From Luton airport by coach
National Express and other coach companies operate regular services from Luton Airport to central London, with stops at destinations such as Victoria Coach Station, Marble Arch, and Paddington.
- The journey takes between 1 to 1.5 hours (depending on traffic conditions and destination)
- Prices starting from 5£
- You can buy the ticket in advance
⭐Click here to plan your journey by National Express⭐
Our last tips and insights for smooth travel
We thought it more appropriate to provide details for the first four airports and not delve too deeply into London City Airport (LCY) and Southend Airport (SEN). Both airports are smaller, focusing on business travel, domestic, and short flights within Europe.
Personally, we have only flown from SEN once and never from LCY. However, if you need assistance getting to the center of London from either of these two airports, feel free to email us, and we will be happy to help.
Navigating London’s array of airports can be daunting, but with careful planning and knowledge of transportation options, you can reach the city center without any hassle.
3 quick reminders
- Cashless city
- Check the links for ticket availability and whether it’s worth booking them in advance
- Before your trip, ensure you check for any transportation strikes. This way, you can plan an alternative route to your final destination
Enjoy your trip to London 🙂
Related article: Find out where to find cheap dates in London
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