As a London tour guide, I most often come into contact with visitors after they've flown into the city.
But, I've noticed on our London Travel Tips Facebook Page that a lot of guests find it confusing trying to decide which London airport is best to fly into.
The answer isn't one-size-fits-all, of course.
The answer to this question depends on where your flight is coming from, but I've written this guide to help you find the best options.
There are a total of 5 airports in the London area, and the one you'll be arriving at will depend on several factors, which I will outline below.
In this post, I will provide all the information necessary to figure out which airport you should fly into and why, including tips on how to reach the city from each airport.
Before clicking on any random airport in the list below, I recommend that you read the first section in the post to discover if there are any limitations to your choices.
- Heathrow Airport
- Gatwick Airport
- London City Airport
- Luton Airport
- Stansted Airport
- Southend Airport
Which London Airports Can You Fly Into?
Your choice of airport could depend more on where you are flying from than anything else.
If you’re traveling here from North America or South America, chances are that the choice will be made for you!
I've noticed that the majority of International flights from across the Atlantic, or from Asia and Australia, come into London Heathrow.
I am originally from the US so I make that journey a lot.
And, up until about 7 years ago, all my flights departed from Heathrow.
However, in the last few years, I've noticed more transatlantic flights utilising Gatwick instead.
This means that your options from the United States or similar locales will be limited to just those two airports (for the most part).
If you’re traveling from Europe, Stansted (the one I tend to use for European trips) and Luton have easy rail access to the city.
However, if you happen to be staying in the east of town or in the Square Mile, London City may be a good bet with cheap and fast access to your hotel.
This was my go-to when I lived out near Canary Wharf and I also try to use it whenever I can as it tends to be less busy than the other airports in town.
Just follow this handy table to determine which airports you should consider:
North America/South America Flights
- Heathrow
- Gatwick
Europe/UK Flights
- Stansted
- Luton
- London City
I've used all of these airports at least once (and some dozens of times), giving me enough expertise and experience to speak with authority and trustworthiness on the matter.
If you'd like to learn more about each airport's pros and cons, then read on!
Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Heathrow Airport is London’s busiest airport, and if you are flying directly from the United States, it is most likely you will land here.
There are direct flights to Heathrow from many US cities such as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco (closest to my former home), Chicago, and Miami.
Most tourists from the Americas, Asia, and Australia will find flights to Heathrow to be their cheapest and most convenient option.
If I have a choice to make between different airports (usually Heathrow and Gatwick), I tend to let the price of the ticket sway my decision.
In my experience, most transatlantic flights are cheaper into and out of Heathrow so this is definitely the airport I use the most.
Since this is the most popular airport in London, I put together a video for visitors which you can watch below.
In this video, I go over the different ways of getting to Central London from Heathrow Airport.
There are more options than you might think and I tend to choose the same one each time!
Getting To/From Heathrow Airport
Because London Heathrow Airport is so large, it’s fairly easy to get to and from and you have a number of options to choose from.
The Piccadilly Line runs directly through the city, straight to the airport, and back.
This is the option I tend to use the most because it's cheap, and because I can easily get to it from my house (near King's Cross Station).
This also makes it a good connection for anybody coming in on the Eurostar!
St. Pancras International is connected to this station and I always see people getting on at King's Cross and going to Heathrow to make their connections.
It’s a cheap and easy option with a one-way fare costing £5.60 at any time, when using my contactless card.
This is the same fare I would pay if I used an Oyster card.
But, us Londoners don't really use those anymore. You can find out why in my blog post on that topic.
If you pay cash, it will cost you £6.70 - which is still cheaper than the other options on my list.
Another reason I like taking the Piccadilly Line is that the station is located within the airport so it’s super easy to get to and I never have to step outside into the rain.
Depending on where you’re staying in town, your journey will take around 30 - 50 minutes.
It takes me about an hour from my house, but it's an easy journey and the carriages have dedicated space for my suitcase so I just sit down, grab my book, and enjoy the ride!
Read more about taking the Piccadilly Line into London.
The newest part of the Transport for London network, I've noticed that the Elizabeth Line has become a popular choice for Londoners heading to the airport.
I think this is an especially smart choice for anybody staying in the area around Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road.
This is because, I've noticed that the Piccadilly Line can get quite crowded as it goes through the centre of town.
And, trying to get on a full train with a suitcase can be tricky at stations like Green Park.
But the Elizabeth Line trains are much bigger with more space for my case, so this is the recommendation I make for people staying in that area.
Also, I like that the Elizabeth Line also pulls directly into the airport, avoiding any need to step outside.
Depending on the starting location, the Elizabeth Line is slightly faster than the Piccadilly Line and takes about 35 minutes to an hour, depending on start point.
But, one downside that I've noticed is that the Elizabeth Line trains aren't as frequent as the Piccadilly Line so I always take that into account.
The second downside is that the Elizabeth Line costs more than the Piccadilly Line at £12.20.
But I would say the extra money is worth it if you happen to be staying near one of its' stations.
Check out the video below where Sinead, a guide with Tours by Foot London, shows you how to take the Elizabeth Line from Heathrow to London.
This is the fastest way to get into central London and usually my second choice option when I need to get to Heathrow.
I can't overstate how fast this service is: it takes just 15 minutes to get from Paddington Station to the airport!
However, the main drawback here is two fold: firstly, I have to get to Paddington Station to take it, which is not always super convenient.
Secondly, is the cost. But I have a secret tip for you.
When I first moved to London 20 years ago, I would never take the Heathrow Express, as the fare would put me off.
These days it's £25 for a single and £39 for a return!
But, if you manage to book well in advance (as I do, as I am a big planner) you can save a lot of money.
Booking 60 days out means I can snap up a ticket for £10.00!
That's cheaper than the Elizabeth Line and it takes a quarter of the time.
Get more information on taking the Heathrow Express in another blog post I wrote, or watch me explain the pros and cons of the Heathrow Express in the video below.
National Express
The National Express runs a service from central London to Heathrow Airport at a cost of £8.80 to £12.50 one way.
But, with traffic, the journey can take up to 2 hours, depending on where you are headed so this is an option I would never choose.
Also people are often surprised to find that there is a limit to how much luggage you can bring with you on a National Express service.
I am a heavy packer so that's another reason I avoid it!
Black Cabs and Ubers
I think that cabs and Ubers are a matter of pros and cons.
In my opinion, the main benefit of taking a cab is that I don't have to do any thinking!
The taxi rank is right outside of the airport so I can just stumble off my flight and drop straight into a cab - which will drop me off straight at my door on the other side!
Also there is plenty of space for my luggage.
The downsides are predictable: firstly, the traffic and secondly, the price.
A black cab from central London can cost over £100.00 depending on how heavy traffic is.
If I have an older relative coming to visit me, I might choose to use a cab for their ease and comfort but if I'm going by myself, I never would pick this method.
Check out my blog post for more information on getting to and from Heathrow Airport.
Terminals
Heathrow is huge and has 5 terminals, but only 4 of them are currently operating.
Heathrow is almost like a small city and you will find countless places to eat and drink as well as high-street shops and luxury brands available to explore.
(I particularly like the F&M store to pick up gifts to take home and Accessorize for buying last-minute sunglasses!)
There is a Piccadilly Line service that connects the different terminals, making it easy to get from one to the other if needed.
There are also shuttles, although I've never seen the benefit of using those when the tube is right there.
Gatwick Airport
Gatwick is London’s second busiest airport and its airport code is LGW.
Located directly south of the city, Gatwick Airport is a popular hub for both domestic and international flights.
As I mentioned above, this airport is definitely growing in popularity and I have had more and more guests travelling into London via Gatwick.
For those who are visiting other parts of the UK, flights to both Dublin and Edinburgh frequently depart from Gatwick.
(I prefer the train ride up to Scotland, but I've found that the price of the flight is sometimes cheaper than the rail ticket!)
If travelling to or from European airports, Gatwick may likely pop up in your research.
And if I have any guests who are staying in Victoria, or are going onward to the Victoria Coach Station, this is definitely the airport I would recommend.
How to Get To/From Gatwick Airport
There are a number of ways to travel from London Gatwick Airport to the city centre.
You can find an overview in my post here but I'll go over the main points below.
Coach Service
The National Express and EasyBus both offer airport transfers.
You can expect to pay between £10.00 - £15.00 depending on the time of travel, but depending on when you arrive and traffic conditions, your journey into town could take well over an hour.
Much like with Heathrow, I wouldn't take a coach from Gatwick unless it was absolutely necessary!
The cheaper price isn't worth it to me.
Two rail companies have stops at Gatwick Airport: Thameslink and Southern and these tend to be the options I choose most when going to/from Gatwick.
Both train lines use the same platforms at the airport so I tend to just jump onto whichever one comes in first.
Both train lines offer journeys for around £14.00 one way and call at multiple stations, not just straight to London Victoria Station.
This may be beneficial for those staying closer to the centre of the city.
For example, the Thameslink service goes up to St. Pancras near where I live, so that's always a good option for me.
I also like that I can pay with my contactless card, or ApplePay, so there's no thought involved.
I literally just tap in on the barriers and get on the train - easy!
Depending on where I'm heading to, my journey takes about 35 - 45 minutes, which is quicker than Heathrow.
The Gatwick Express is a nonstop service that runs between Gatwick Airport and Victoria Station.
This is the fastest way to travel, with a nonstop journey taking only 30 minutes.
One of the things I like about the Gatwick Express is that it tends to start/stop at Gatwick and at Victoria so no the trains have a lot of space when I board (unlike some Thameslink services, for example).
There's also designated luggage space which works well since I usually have at least two suitcases for me!
But the price is worth considering. If I book online (which I always do, as it saves me 10%), I pay £20.50 for a one-way ticket.
But always keep in mind that the Southern Trains and Thameslink that I mention above, could be as fast or faster than the Gatwick Express, depending on where you happen to be staying.
I wrote another post full of information on on the cheapest options for getting to/from Gatwick Airport.
Taxi: Of course, you can always pick up a taxi from the airport, but expect to pay between £80.00 - £120.00, depending on the time of day and traffic conditions.
London City Airport (LCY)
London City is the least busy of London’s airports so, if I have the option when flying short-haul, this is the way I tend to go!
It primarily serves business travellers as the airport operates only flights throughout the UK and Europe and is within close proximity to Canary Wharf.
I notice that the most common patrons of City Airport are travellers coming to or from Zurich and Geneva.
Note that there are occasional direct flights to JFK Airport so if you are travelling from New York, this may be an option you've not yet considered!
Getting To/From London City Airport
As London City Airport is so small and not as busy as others in London, your travel options are more limited - but I think they are still worth considering.
London Underground/DLR - The branch of the London Transport Network that serves this area of the city, known as the Docklands, is the Docklands Light Railway.
This is an above-ground system that connects the city with the docklands area.
(This is a small note but a lot of the DLR trains are driverless and sitting in the front seat is a really fun and unique way to travel! I feel like a kid again every time I do it.)
One of the things I like about London City Airport is that, just like Heathrow, it has its' own station on the London Transport network.
The DLR Station here connects directly to the London Underground at Bank Station.
Journey times are around 40 - 60 minutes depending on where you are coming from, but I think the cost is one of the biggest draws.
I pay just £3.00 during off-peak trains, or £3.70 during peak hours when using my contactless card. You can't beat that!
It's £6.70 if you pay cash but I implore you, again, don't!
The Elizabeth Line
The New Elizabeth Line also connects London City Airport to the rest of the capital.
Depending on when and where you travel, you can expect to spend between £5.00 - £12.00 for your journey.
The main draw here is that the trains are relatively frequent and large with space for luggage.
And, as you know by now, this is something that I usually consider when deciding which way I want to travel.
Luggage space on the DLR is lacking so I always have to keep that in mind.
If I am going to use either the DLR or the Elizabeth Line, I think carefully about my journey times!
For example, during the evening rush hour, a lot of people are travelling from the Docklands into the centre of London.
So, the DLR can get cramped, and I may pick the Elizabeth Line instead.
In the morning, everybody is travelling TO the Docklands, so coming into town won't be too busy and I don't have to factor it in.
Taxi/Uber
Owing to the high number of business travellers, I think this is the most common way most people get to/from London City Airport.
However, if your business isn’t paying for your travel, be aware that a journey to the airport can cost you around £100.00 depending on where you are coming from.
Again, this isn't a choice that I would personally make.
Luton Airport (LTN)
London Luton Airport lies around 30 miles to the north of London serving mostly European travellers.
Most of the visitors on my tours who have flown in through Luton have travelled on low-cost airlines like EasyJet, Ryan Air, TUI, and Whizz Air.
So, if I'm looking for the cheapest flight possible to or from mainland Europe, Luton tends to pop up in my searches.
Getting To/From Luton Airport
Thameslink trains offer a service from central London to Luton Airport.
Depending on travel times, I can expect to pay around £18.40 and my journey takes about 40 minutes, which isn't too bad compared to other journeys on my list.
There is a shuttle bus that runs from Luton Airport Parkway Station directly to the airport itself.
I honestly find i a bit of a hassle but if the price for my plane ticket is super cheap, I just accept that this is going to be part of my journey!
National Express runs a service from central London to Luton Airport for as cheap as around £10.00 - £14.00 one way off-peak.
However, traffic is always a consideration, so a standard journey takes 1 hour and 40 minutes.
And, I am here to tell you that I have been stuck in traffic that DOUBLED this time estimate!
I'm sure it won't surprise you when I say that this isn't an option I consider anymore.
Taxi/Uber - It’s a long way to Luton airport from central London so this is another slow option, as well as a pricey one with a one-way journey costing over £80.00.
So, again, if I have a friend or family member visit who has mobility issues, then I would consider splashing put but otherwise I just don't think it's worth it given the time and cost.
Terminals
Although small, Luton has a lot of shopping and also multiple bars and restaurants- you'll find me most often having pizza at Nolito or a glass of fix at Big Smoke!
In my opinion, one of the upsides of Luton Airport has one terminal, serving short-haul flights only.
This means there's no figuring out how to get to your specific terminal like you'll find at Heathrow or Gatwick.
The airlines that use Luton are:
- Aer Arann
- EasyJet
- Flybe
- Pegasus
- Ryanair
- Silvert
- Wizz Air
Get more information on airlines that serve Luton.
Stansted Airport (STN)
London Stansted is the fourth busiest airport in the country and if you are flying in from Europe, odds are this is where you will be coming to/from, particularly if you are flying a low-cost airline.
Any time I am going to Spain, this tends to be the airport I use and you may find that, too!
I think, among my friend group, most of us probably take our European trips into and out of Stansted Airport.
I've also started seeing more and more comments about people utilising Stansted in our Facebook Travel Tips Group.
In addition to mainland Europe, Stansted operates multiple flights to various parts of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland with options from a number of low-cost carriers.
Located in Essex, Stansted’s airport code is STN.
Because of the rising popularity that I've seen, I've written a whole post about getting to and from Stansted airport, which you might find helpful.
Getting To/From Stansted
Since London Stansted Airport is a relatively popular airport, there are many options to get to/from.
Stansted Express - The fastest way to get to Stansted is the Stansted Express.
These trains go nonstop between the airport and Liverpool Street Station. Because I live near King's Cross, this is a very easy transfer for me to make and this is the way I usually go to Stansted.
One way tickets on the Stansted Express usually cost between £15.00 - £23.00.
But, if you book in advance (which I always do and STRONGLY recommend), I can actually find tickets for £9.50!
The only hold up here is that I can't use my contactless card (or ApplePay) for the Stansted Express.
Because I am an early planner, that doesn't bother me so much but it is an extra step that I don't have to take if I'm choosing another airport.
National Express runs a service from central London to Stansted.
Tickets can be as low as £11.00 depending on travel time, but you can expect to spend a minimum of 75 minutes on the bus, if there is no traffic...but over 2.5 hours if there is!
I'm sure I don't have to explain why I wouldn't choose this option. I have in the past and heavily regretted it.
Taxi/Uber - Stansted is another airport that’s quite far from the city centre so cab prices will be well over £100.00 from the city centre.
Again, worth it if I am travelling with somebody who has limited mobility but otherwise, I don't even consider it.
Terminals
Stansted is small but does have a few places to grab food and also a few shops to browse. (Including an Accessorize for when I inevitably forget to bring my sunglasses and Bottega for some pre-flight Prosecco!)
Stansted has only one passenger terminal and primarily manages flights to/from Europe. Airlines you’ll find here are:
- British Airways
- Air Corsica
- EasyJet
- Emirates
- Eurowings
- Flybe
- Jet2
- Ryanair
- Tui
For more information on airlines serving Stansted, check out their website.
Southend Airport (SEN)
You may not have heard of this one - and plenty of Londoners haven't, either!
I confess, I have only ever used Southend Airport once, because I was travelling with somebody who lives in nearby Essex.
Otherwise I wouldn't have bothered to make the journey!
Southend Airport sits in Southend-on-Sea in Essex, around 30 miles from London.
I sometimes visit on day trips as they have a pleasure pier with some surprisingly good rides and also excellent fish and chips.
Historically speaking, in the 60's and 70's, Southend was a fairly busy airport hub for the city but after Stanstead opened, its usage decreased dramatically.
It was used quite a bit during the 2012 Olympic Games but has since declined in popularity.
Aside from the friend I mentioned above, I know literally nobody who has ever used this airport.
The airport is small, with just one terminal and one runway and is mostly served by EasyJet and BHAir.
But, if you manage to catch a cheap flight to this airport, it's an easy train ride directly from the airport to the city centre.
The trains go into Liverpool Street which is great if you are staying there, and also good for people like me who don't live too far from there.
However, if you are staying across town in somewhere like Earl's Court, I wouldn't put this airport on your list.
