If you’re visiting London from abroad, the chances are that you’re going to be arriving at one of London’s airports. London has six airports, and a question folks often have is how to get to central London from the airport.
Obviously the answer to this question will vary depending on which London airport you arrive at.
In this post, we’re going to share with you all the transport options that you have for getting into the centre of London from each of London’s six airports.
We’re going to try and cover options for all budgets, and give an indication of cost for each option, although do always check the referenced websites for most up to date pricing and timetable information.
I’ve also not mentioned hire cars in this post as I don’t feel London is best experienced with a car, but if you feel differently, all the airports have car rental counters if you’d prefer to drive.
One other point of clarification on terminology before we get started. In the UK we refer to “coaches” and “buses”.
A “coach” is a large, more comfortable bus used for longer distance transport, normally between cities, that normally has fewer stops. A “bus” usually refers to an inner-city service with many stops.
If you’ve not travelled in London before, you might also find the following useful as references for your visit:
- A guide to public transport in London
- Tips on how to buy and use the Oyster card in London
- Advice on the best way to pay for public transport in London
Now, all you have to do is scroll down to the airport you need information on, or click on each link to go directly to the entry for that airport. As well as tips for getting from each airport to London, we’ve also included some recommended hotel options at each airport for your convenience.
Once you’re done, head to the end of the post for some further reading to help you plan your trip to London.
Table of Contents:
List of London Airports
London has six airports, which are, in order of passenger numbers:
- Heathrow Airport
- Gatwick Airport
- Stansted Airport
- Luton Airport
- London City Airport
- Southend Airport
London Airport Distances from London
London’s airports are geographically diverse, with some located very close to the city, and others quite far out. Here’s a list of all the airports in order of distance from London:
- London City Airport – in London
- Heathrow Airport – 14 miles from London
- Luton Airport – 29 miles from London
- Gatwick Airport – 33 miles from London
- Stansted Airport – 40 miles from London
- Southend Airport – 40 miles from London
Closest Airports to London by Travel Time
Distance of course doesn’t tell the whole story. You will probably be more interested in how long it actually takes to get from each London airport to London.
For this, I will use the fastest travel time in each case. Obviously, London is quite big so travel times will vary depending on your destination. In addition, slower options will also be available which may cost less, see each airport entry for more details.
- Heathrow Airport – 15 minutes by Heathrow Express train to London Paddington
- London City Airport – ~20 minutes to most destinations in London
- Gatwick Airport – 30 minutes by Gatwick Express to London Victoria
- Luton Airport – 35 minutes by train + shuttle bus to London St. Pancras
- London Stansted – 47 minutes by Stansted Express train to London Liverpool Street
- Southend Airport – 55 minutes by train to London Liverpool Street
As you can see, journey times vary quite a lot. The closest airports to London by travel time are Heathrow Airport and London City Airport, although this will depend on where you want to be in the city.
Which Airports Can I Travel to With an Oyster Card?
If you have an Oyster card, you can use it to travel to the following airports:
- Heathrow Airport on the Tube, Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express
- Gatwick Airport on Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink train services
- London City Airport on the DLR
See more on using an Oyster card here, and the best ways to pay for travel in London here.
You can buy a regular Oyster card in person in London, or you can buy a visitor Oyster Card in advance of your visit here.
How to Get from Heathrow Airport to London
London Heathrow is London’s busiest airport, handling half of London’s passengers. It’s situated 14 miles west of the centre of London, and has a variety of options for getting into the city. These are as follows.
1. London Underground (aka Tube) from Heathrow Airport
Our favourite way of getting from Heathrow Airport to central London is to take the Tube, London’s underground train system. It’s also one of the cheapest options. The Piccadilly Line runs from three locations in Heathrow Airport, and services all the major terminals.
The Tube runs right into central London, plus you can change onto the other lines and thus reach pretty much anywhere in London. There is a 24-hour service on Fridays and Saturdays from Terminals 1,2,3 & Terminal 5. During the week, trains begin departing from around 5.10am (5.50am on Sundays) with the last service at 11.45pm (11.30pm on Sundays).
Cost: A ticket costs £5.60 to zone 1 using Oyster or Contactless.
Journey time: Approximately 50 minutes to central London
Tips: Our suggestion would be to either buy a visitor Oyster card in advance, buy an Oyster card in person at the station, or to use your contactless card. Read our advice on the best way to pay for public transport in London for more information on your options.
2. Bus from Heathrow Airport
The Heathrow Central Bus Station is found between Terminals 2 and 3. The public buses operating from here primarily service areas of outer London rather than central London.
You can of course get to central London by bus during the day, but it will require a number of changes and will take at least a couple of hours, so we would advise the tube is going to be a better option if you want to take public transport.
However, if you arrive into London Heathrow late at night on a weekday, the Tube will not be running. You are not out of luck when it comes to public transport though – there is a night bus from London Heathrow to Trafalgar Square. The N9 departs from Terminal 5 and the Heathrow Central Bus Station (Terminals 2&3).
The N9 is a direct bus service that starts at around 23.35 (11:35PM). You can see the full timetable here – select your stop and day for the correct time. It’s by far the cheapest option for getting into central London for Heathrow.
Cost: A ticket costs £1.75. Journeys cannot be paid in cash; you must have a contactless card or an Oyster card.
Journey time: Just over an hour, depending on which stop you go to.
Tips: Again, our suggestion would be to either buy a visitor Oyster card in advance, buy an Oyster card in person at the station, or to use your contactless card. Read our advice on the best way to pay for public transport in London for more information on your options.
3. Coach from Heathrow Airport
There are a number of coach transfer services (see note on the difference between coaches and buses at the beginning of the post) from London Heathrow to central London. These can be more convenient than the Tube or the bus if you have a lot of luggage that you don’t want to struggle with loading on and off public transport.
Two of the main coach operators from Heathrow are National Express and Megabus. The main route for coach operators terminates at Victoria Coach Station. Coaches start at around 4.15am and run until around 10pm, although check timetables for your dates.
Cost: Tickets start at around £6 per person.
Journey Time: Varies, typically 45 minutes to 90 minutes, depending on the route and time of day.
Tips: Coach fares vary based on demand and when you book, so you should always book in advance to guarantee a spot and the lowest price.
4. Train from Heathrow Airport
There are two main train services to central London which operate from Heathrow Airport – Heathrow Express, and the Elizabeth line (formerly TfL Rail). The central train station can be found at terminals 1, 2 and 3, with Terminals 4 & 5 also served by the both the Elizabeth Line and Heathro Express.
The fastest train option, and also the fastest way to central London from Heathrow Airport, is the Heathrow Express. This takes fifteen minutes to get to London Paddington from the airport, and leaves every fifteen minutes from around 5am (6am on Sundays) until just before midnight.
A generally cheaper (and slightly slower) option is the Transport for London (TfL) Elizabeth Line service. This takes 25 minutes to London Paddington. It also continues on to other major destinations in London including Liverpool Street train station, Stratford and Canary Wharf, making it a very convenient option for many central London stops.
Cost: Heathrow Express tickets are £25 peak if booked on the day of travel. You can also use your Oyster card or contactless card on Heathrow Express, and the prices are the same as the off-peak and peak fare. Note these fares to not count towards daily or weekly caps. If you book in advance, prices start as low as £5.50.
Elizabeth Line tickets from Heathrow Airport to Paddington are £12.80 (as of March 2024), and Oyster cards are accepted. Elizabeth line fares also count towards your Oyster card / contactless cap limit, which means further journeys can be more cost effective.
There are a number of websites for booking UK train tickets online. We recommend The Trainline for train bookings. They also let you book tickets for destinations all across Europe, and so are a handy one stop shop for all your ticket needs. You can also book tickets for the Heathrow Express on the official Visit Britain shop here.
You can see the full price table for Heathrow Express here.
Journey Time: 15 minutes for Heathrow Express (+ a few minutes from Terminals 4&5), 30 minutes with Elizabeth Line. Heathrow Express terminates at London Paddington train station, Elizabeth Line continues onto multiple stops throughout the city and beyond.
Tips: The Heathrow Express can be a fast and economical option if you book well in advance. Otherwise it’s only ten minutes slower by Elizabeth Line. You can buy your tickets in advance and then collect them at the station from ticket machines to make your life easier. Check prices and book online here.
5. Taxi from Heathrow Airport
A ride in a London black cab is a quintessential part of any trip to London, and this is certainly an easy way to get from the airport and straight to your hotel. This is a great option if you have a lot of luggage, or you are a group of more than two people as it can work our fairly cost effectively.
There are a number of black taxi ranks at Heathrow, you can see a map here.
There are also minicab services operating from London Heathrow. These can be booked on the day from the official taxi desks, or you can compare prices and book in advance here. These will be fixed price trips, which can offer peace of mind.
Uber is another option for an on-demand taxi service, and if you’ve not used them before you can save on your first ride with this link.
Cost: Black cabs are metered, so fares vary depending on factors including traffic and time of day. Expect to pay in the region of £45 – £70. Minicabs will also vary, but you can book in advance for a fixed fare, which will likely start in the region of £45. Uber is usually slightly cheaper than a standard taxi, but will vary depending on distance.
Journey time: Will vary according to traffic, time of day, and your destination in London. Likely 45 – 90 minutes, door to door.
Tips: Always use either a black cab from an official stand, or a reputable minicab booked through an online service or at an official airport desk. Do not use unauthorised drivers who solicit your attention at the airport. We recommend Minicabit for comparing prices and getting a good deal on advance bookings.
6. Airport Transfer from Heathrow Airport
If all of the above sounds like too much effort, worry not. You can book a direct airport transfer from Heathrow Airport to your central London destination.
There are a few different options depending on the size of your group and budget.
One of the lower cost options is this shared transfer option which has you sharing a shuttle service. This is lower cost, but might take a bit longer.
If you don’t want to share the ride or are in a group, this private transfer option works for individuals and groups.
Cost: Current cost of a direct airport transfer starts at around £20 per person for a share option and rises, depending on service.
Journey time: Will vary according to traffic, time of day, and your destination in London. Likely 45 – 90 minutes, door to door.
Tips: This is definitely one of the most hassle-free way of getting to central London from Heathrow Airport, and can work out fairly cost effectively depending on group size and transport option
Where to Stay Near Heathrow Airport
Here are some recommended hotels near Heathrow Airport should you wish to stay overnight. You have two main options – you can stay at the airport itself, or you can stay at one of the hotels reached by shuttle or public bus, usually within 10 minutes of the airport. The latter tend to be a little less expensive.
- Hilton Garden Inn – found on site at Terminals 2&3, this is a great option if you don’t want to worry about shuttle buses. Rooms are all en-suite and there’s an on-site restaurant.
- Aerotel T3 – found on-site at Heathrow Terminal 3, this hotel offers en-suite rooms and a restaurant
- Novotel London Heathrow – found about a 10-minute drive from Heathrow airport, this offers great value comfortable rooms. A shuttle bus is available for a fee, alternatively, you can use London Buses for free as the hotel is within the Heathrow Free Travel Zone
If you are staying at the airport, you might be planning on leaving a car there too. Check out the official Heathrow airport parking website for parking information and prices.
How to Get from Gatwick Airport to London
Gatwick is London’s second busiest airport, and can be found 33 miles south of the city centre. Unlike Heathrow, it is not connected to the Tube network; however, there are still multiple options for getting to London from Gatwick airport.
1. Coach from Gatwick Airport
There are a number of coach services that offer transfers from Gatwick airport to central London. The most popular options are the National Express service and the easyBus service, which operate from both the north and south terminals at Gatwick Airport.
Both services terminate at London Victoria and services run through the night, so you should usually be able to find a coach at any time of night.
Cost: easyBus tickets are available from £2 one-way. National Express tickets are available from £6 one way (£5 + £1 booking fee) if you book 30 days in advance. Flexible tickets that let you get the next available National Express service are £10, available here.
Journey time: It takes around 90 minutes from London Gatwick to London Victoria
Tips: Depending on the ticket you buy, you may be committed to travelling only on the bus you specify. So do leave yourself plenty of time to get through customs and immigration and to collect your luggage. Tickets are cheaper the further in advance you book.
2. Train from Gatwick Airport
Gatwick has one major train station with a number of routes running into central London. The fastest option is the Gatwick Express, which takes 30 minutes to travel non-stop to London Victoria. Trains run every day from 5am to 00.30am, with departures every fifteen minutes.
Two other train operators also run trains from Gatwick – Thameslink and Southern. These are slightly slower and cheaper, but also service different stops.
You can buy tickets at the station or online for all of these services. In addition, all these services accept Oyster cards or contactless cards for payment. For Gatwick Express it is usually cheaper to book online than to use Oyster. For Thameslink and southern services, the Oyster card will usually be the cheapest option.
We recommend The Trainline for train bookings.
Cost: Gatwick Express single tickets are £19.90 in person at the station, but can sometimes be bought online for a reduced fee. Check the Gatwick Express website for prices, as well as the this train ticketing website. Tickets for Thameslink and Southern start at around £8.10 for a single using an Oyster or contactless card. You can also compare prices and book tickets on all trains from Gatwick including Gatwick Express here.
Journey time: Varies depending on destination, but will be between 30 and 60 minutes for most trips.
Tips: Booking in advance and checking for offers will usually save you money on the Gatwick Express. On Thameslink or Southern, an Oyster card or contactless will usually offer the cheapest prices. You can either buy a visitor Oyster card in advance, buy an Oyster card in person at the station, or use your contactless card. Read our advice on the best way to pay for public transport in London for more information on your options. It’s also really important that you make sure you get on the right train, as tickets are often only valid for the operator you purchase for.
3. Taxi from Gatwick Airport
Gatwick is outside the range of London black taxis, however you can arrange a taxi in advance or at the taxi kiosks in both terminals. You can see the official page here for Gatwick taxis. Alternatively, you might find pre-booking a minicab is a cheaper option – check prices here.
Uber is another option for an on-demand taxi service, and if you’ve not used them before you can save on your first ride with this link.
Cost: A taxi through the recommended Gatwick taxi company to central London will cost from £60. Minicabit prices start from around £55.
Journey time: This will vary depending on traffic, time of day and destination, but will generally be 60 – 90 minutes.
Tips: A taxi or minicab for four or five people usually makes reasonable economic sense, plus it will take you directly to your destination.
4. Airport Transfer from Gatwick Airport
As with Heathrow, you can also book a direct airport transfer from Heathrow Airport to your central London destination.
This will be a more expensive option, but is certainly going to be hassle free. We found this option for you to consider.
Cost: Current cost of a direct airport transfer starts at around £100 for a group of three
Journey time: Will vary according to traffic, time of day, and your destination in London. Likely 45 – 90 minutes, door to door.
Tips: This is definitely one of the most hassle free way of getting to central London from Gatwick Airport but is also likely to be a more expensive option.
Where to Stay Near Gatwick Airport
Here are some recommended hotels near Gatwick Airport should you wish to stay overnight. As with Heathrow Airport, you have two options – you can stay at the airport itself, or you can stay at one of the hotels reached by shuttle or public bus, usually within 10 minutes of the airport.
Gatwick actually has quite a few hotel options on site, so we’d suggest one of these would be the easiest option. There are two terminals at Gatwick, so we’d suggest picking a hotel in the terminal you will be using.
- BLOC Hotel – found in the south terminal of London Gatwick, this hotel offers en-suite rooms with king size beds. We’ve stayed here, and whilst the rooms are small, they were very comfortable and the location is excellent.
- YOTELAIR – also in the south terminal, this hotel offers a similar setup to BLOC, with small rooms that feature everything you need. Prices are very reasonable and the location is also perfect.
- Sofitel London Gatwick – this four star hotel is found just a short walk via a covered walkway from Gatwick’s North Terminal. Room’s are all comfortably sized en-suite, with soundproofing. There are three on-site restaurants and two bars to choose from.
- Premier Inn London Gatwick – this three star hotel offers excellent value accommodation a minute’s walk from the North Terminal entrance. Rooms are en-suite and there’s an on-site restaurant.
- Hilton London Gatwick – a four star Hilton just a few minutes walk from the North Terminal. We’ve stayed here, and rooms were comfortable. The on-site restaurants were also appreciated.
How to Get from Stansted Airport to London
If you’re flying with a low-cost carrier within Europe, chances are that you will arrive at London Stansted. This is London’s third biggest airport, and is found 40 miles north of London.
1. Train from Stansted Airport
There are two main train options for journeying from Stansted airport to central London. The first is the Stansted Express, a high speed train service which takes 45 minutes to London Liverpool Street and runs approximately every fifteen minutes. Times vary depending on the day of week, but usually start from 4.10am – 4.40am, and run until 23.25 – 00.30pm.
This service is operated by Greater Anglia, and goes via Tottenham Hale, where you can change for trains to Stratford.
Note that Stansted Airport is outside of the Oyster card system, so even if you have an Oyster card you will still need to purchase a train ticket.
Journey time: 47 minutes to London Liverpool Street
Cost: A standard Stansted Express ticket costs from £19 depending on destination, however, you can save by booking in advance, with tickets available from £9.70. Group discounts are also available. See this website for tickets and fares.
2. Coach from Stansted Airport
There are three major coach operators servicing Stansted airport, with services available 24 hours a day. The operators are National Express, Terravision and easyBus. Services run to London Victoria, with stops along the way including Liverpool Street and Stratford.
Cost: easyBus has tickets starting at £2 if booked in advance. National Express has tickets at £6 (£5 +£1 booking fee). Terravision has buses for £9 to London Liverpool Street and £10 to London Victoria.
Journey time: varies depending on route, time of day and destination, but generally 50 – 90 minutes.
Tips: Definitely book in advance to get the best price.
3. Taxi from Stansted Airport
There are no taxi ranks at Stansted Airport, so the only option is to book a car, either in advance through a minicab booking service like minicabit, or on arrival at the taxi kiosk in the terminal. Rates will be set in advance.
Cost: Prices will vary depending on destination, but the cost will likely be £70 – £100 plus.
Journey time: It’s around a 1 hour drive from Stansted to central London
Tips: Skip the queues and get the best prices by booking online, we recommend minicabit.
Where to Stay Near Stansted Airport
Here are some recommended hotels near Stansted Airport should you wish to stay overnight. There are a couple of recommended options a couple of minutes walk from the hotel terminal, and a couple of options where you will need to take a shuttle.
- Radisson Blu Hotel London Stansted – two minutes walk from Stansted Airport terminal, this well-located 4* hotel offers comfortable en-suite rooms. There are also three restaurants on site.
- Hampton by Hilton – just a few minutes walk from the terminal building, this 3* hotel offers great value comfortable en-suite rooms, as well as a bar.
- Premier Inn London Stansted Airport – a 10 minute (paid) shuttle ride from Stansted Airport, this budget 3* hotel offers comfortable en-suite rooms with desks and tea/coffee facilities. There’s also an on-site restaurant.
- Holiday Inn Express London Stansted – 5 minutes (paid) shuttle ride from Stansted Airport, this is a great value 3* hotel. En-suite rooms include work desks and tea/coffee making facilities. There’s also a restaurant on site serving breakfast and dinner.
How to Get from Luton Airport to London
Another popular airport for low-cost airlines (easyJet are headquartered here), London Luton airport is 29 miles north west of London. There are a number of options for getting from Luton Airport to central London.
1. Train from Luton Airport
Two companies operate trains between London Luton and central London – Thameslink and East Midlands Trains.
The primary port of call for these trains is London St. Pancras International, which gives you access to the Tube network, as well as buses and taxis at St. Pancras. Trains run throughout the night, although there are no trains between 1am and 3am.
The train station is called Luton Airport Parkway. However, you will want to get a ticket to “Luton Airport”, as then the 10 minute shuttle from the train station to the airport is included in the fare. From Luton Airport Parkway there is a cash-only fee payable for the shuttle transfer, which is £2.10 at time of writing.
Luton Airport is outside the Oyster card zone so you must purchase a ticket prior to travel even if you have an Oyster card.
Cost: Train fares start at around £13 one way for an off-peak journey.
Journey time: 10 minute shuttle ride, then around 25 minutes to St. Pancras
Tips: As with all train journeys, the best prices usually come when booking in advance. Check prices and book online here.
2. Coach from Luton Airport
There are three coach operators with service between Luton airport and central London. They are National Express, easyBus, and Green Line.
Services operate through the night to a variety of destinations in London including to Finchley Road, Baker Street, Marble Arch, and Victoria.
Cost: easyBus has tickets starting at £2 if booked in advance. National Express has tickets at £6 (£5 +£1 booking fee). Green Line tickets start at £11.
Journey Time: Depends on time of day and destination, but typically 60 – 90 minutes. Note the Green Line is the slowest service and is not direct.
Tips: Book in advance to get the best price.
3. Taxi from Luton Airport
As Luton airport is outside the London black taxi area, only pre-booked vehicles are available. You can book a taxi either in advance before arrival with Addison Lee, or on site when you arrive at the Addison Lee desk.
You can also use minicabit to compare prices for minicabs – check prices here.
Cost: Around £100 with Addison Lee, depending on destination. Minicabit prices start around £65.
Journey time: Approximately an hour into central London by car
Tips: Pre-booking with a private mini cab firm will usually be the cheaper option.
Where to Stay Near Luton Airport
Here are some recommended hotels near Luton Airport should you wish to stay overnight. There are no hotels within the terminal buildings, however, the closest hotel is only a 10 minute walk from the terminal building, or a short shuttle ride.
Some of the hotels offer free shuttles, whilst others charge a small fee. You can see the shuttle timetables and prices here.
- Holiday Inn Express London Luton Airport – found just 10 minutes walk from Luton Airport, or a short free shuttle ride, this is the closest hotel to Luton Airport. Rooms are all en-suite with work desks and there’s an on-site restaurant and bar.
- Holiday Inn London Luton Airport – another minute or so walk past the previous hotel, this is another great value option. Rooms feature tea/coffee facilities, en-suite, and there’s an on-site restaurant and bar.
- ibis London Luton Airport – this budget oriented hotel is just a little past the previous two hotels, and also accessible via a shuttle bus for a small fee. Rooms are small but have everything you need. Breakfast is available and there is a cafe, but no full service restaurant.
How to Get from London City Airport to London
London City Airport is the closest airport to London. It is in fact inside the city, in London’s docklands. It is only capable of handling smaller aircraft due to its location, however a lot of UK and European flights do come here, and it is popular with business travellers. Being so central, it’s easy to get to the rest of London.
1. DLR from London City Airport
The DLR, or Docklands Light Railway, is an automated light metro system which serves the docklands area of London. It connects to both rail and Tube stops in London, and is the easiest way to get to London from London City Airport.
Services run from around 5.30am until midnight.
Cost: It’s currently £3.30 with an Oyster card or contactless card to travel from the London City Airport DLR station to Zone 1 in London, which is where most travellers will be heading.
Journey time: Depends on where you are going in London, most journeys will likely be between 15 minutes and an hour.
Tips: Definitely use an Oyster card or contactless payment card for this journey. You can either buy a Visitor Oyster card in advance, buy an Oyster card in person at the station, or use your contactless card. Read our advice on the best way to pay for public transport in London for more information on your options.
2. Bus from London City Airport
Two London bus routes service London City Airport – the 473 and 474. Neither of these go directly to central London, so you will have to change buses depending on your destination. The bus is definitely the cheapest option, but might not be the most convenient from London City Airport depending on your destination.
Cost: A ticket costs £1.50. Journeys cannot be paid in cash, you must have a contactless card or an Oyster card.
Journey time: will depend entirely on your destination, time of day and traffic.
Tips: Our suggestion would be to either buy a Visitor Oyster card in advance, buy an Oyster card in person at the station, or to use your contactless card. Read our advice on the best way to pay for public transport in London for more information on your options.
3. Taxi from London City Airport
There is a black cab rank outside London City Airport, where you can catch a black cab anywhere inside London which will be on a metered fare. You can also prebook a minicab with minicabit.
Cost: Prices will vary depending on destination, but expect to pay £35 – £45 to get to central London with a black cab, and roughly the same with a minicab.
Journey time: Depends on time of day and destination, but 20 – 40 minutes in most cases.
Tips: Prebooking a service will give peace of mind at busier times of day, but there are usually plenty of black cabs available in London.
Where to Stay Near London City Airport
One of the main benefits of flying into London City Airport is that it brings you right into London, with good transport links across the city. As a result, there’s less need to stay at an airport hotel, as there are a great many hotels across London to choose from!
However, if you have an early morning flight or arrive late in the evening, you might appreciate a hotel closer to the airport, so we recommend the following options:
- London City Airport Hotel – just 3 minutes walk from London City Airport, this is definitely the most convenient hotel for London City Airport. Rooms are comfortable with en-suite facilities, work desk and tea/coffee making facilities. Definitely the best option if proximity to the airport is key.
- Holiday Inn Express London ExCel – this hotel is a few minutes walk from the London ExCel centre, which is handy if you are visiting for a show at this large exhibition centre. It’s around a six minute taxi ride, or 22 minutes on the DLR from the airport. The hotel offers en-suite rooms with breakfast included, as well as a restaurant and bar.
- Hampton By Hilton London Docklands – a similar distance from the airport as the Holiday Inn Express, this 3* hotel offers good value en-suite rooms which include tea/coffee making facilities. Breakfast is included and there’s a restaurant on site.
How to Get from London Southend Airport to London
Located 40 miles east of London, Southend airport is the least busy of London’s six major airport. However, the airport has undergone expansions, and is used by a number of airlines which service primarily European destinations. It has fewer transport options than the other airports.
1. Train from London Southend Airport
Up to eight trains an hour operated by Greater Anglia connect London Southend airport with London’s Liverpool Street station, and the train station is on site at the airport, so easy to find. Trains run from 4.05am until 11pm.
Cost: Prices start at £12.10 to Stratford, and £15.10 to London Liverpool Street.
Journey time: 45 minutes to Stratford, 55 minutes to London Liverpool Street
Tips: None really, the train is an easy way to get from Southend airport to central London, and our recommended option.
2. Taxi from London Southend Airport
Being outside London’s black taxi area means you’ll need to book a private hire car or minicab. The official taxi firm for Luton Airport is Addison Lee. You can also pre-book a minicab with minicabit.
Cost: Approximately £100 into central London. It is also possible to split the taxi with other people for a fixed fare of £100 to London Liverpool Street. Minicabit prices start from around £62 into central London.
Journey time: Depends on time of day and destination, but likely 60 – 110 minutes.
Tips: We’d suggest the train if possible. For a group booking, a taxi might be cheaper if booked in advance.
Where to Stay Near London Southend Airport
There’s one hotel on site at London Southend Airport, which is the hotel we’d recommend if you are wanting to spend the night near the airport.
The airport is not far from Southend itself, and there are also many hotels to choose from in the city if you would prefer some other options.
- Holiday Inn Southend – this airport in on-site at the airport, and is the closest hotel to Southend Airport. It’s also just a 10 minute walk from Southend Airport Railway Station. Rooms are all en-suite, and feature tea/coffee making facilities.
- Southend Airport Bed and Breakfast – if you’re looking for a budget B&B near the airport, this is a very well rated option. Rooms feature shared bathrooms, free continental breakfast, and it’s less than a kilometre to the airport.
Further Reading for your visit to London
And that’s it for our advice on getting to central London from all of London’s airports. Before you go, here are some resources you might find useful for planning the rest of your trip.
- To help you plan your time in London effectively, check out our itineraries for 1 Day in London, 2 Days in London, 3 Days in London and 6 Days in London
- We have a complete guide to all our favourite hotels in London, with over 60 recommendations across all the main areas in London we recommend.
- A full review of the London Pass which can help you figure out if the pass would help you save you money on your trip to London.
- A guide to public transport in London, tips on how to buy and use the Oyster card in London, plus advice on the best way to pay for public transport in London.
- We have detailed guides to visiting the Tower of London and the London Eye which includes information on planning your visit and how to save money on these popular attractions
- Tips on finding the best Photography Locations in London that I put together
- For the Harry Potter fans amongst you, take a look at our guide to the key Harry Potter filming locations in London
- Our guide to 8 Things to Do in Kensington, London, in case you wanted to focus more on a specific region of the city
- Our experience taking a full day walking tour of London, in case you like the idea of a fully guided day
- We have a complete guide to the best food tours in London, which also details all the food and drink you might consider trying when in the capital
- If you are interested in day trips from London, we have posts on a Stonehenge, Bath & Cotswolds day trip, and tips on planning a Oxford day trip.
- Travelling on from London and looking to visit Edinburgh? Check out our guide to getting from London to Edinburgh. You can even take a private jet!
- How about heading to Paris from London? We have a detailed guide to the best way to get from London to Paris to help you plan
- The Eyewitness Travel Guide to London, which has all sorts of information within, including more itineraries and ideas for your trip
- Rick Steve’s London guide, the #1 bestseller on Amazon for UK travel guides, and always an excellent source of relevant information
And that’s it! We hope you found our post useful for your visit to London. If you have any questions – let us know in the comments below!
Carol says
Of course my flight into Heathrow Terminal 4 has to be on a day of a strike. I have to get to Park Plaza Riverbank London and am thoroughly confused. I don’t want to spend the earth and as it’s so close to my visit 4th Oct. I haven’t the option of staying at an airport hotel. Even if the strike doesn’t go ahead I’m still quite confused. I understand the nearest station? Metro? Underground? and bus/coach depot is Vauxhall. Can you help please?
Laurence Norah says
Hey Carol,
First of all let me say that I entirely sympathise, I recently had a similar issue arriving into Gatwick on a rail strike day, which made onward travel planning much more complicated!
Heathrow is thankfully a little easier as it is better connected by more means of transport. If you are arriving on the 4th October, then there are tube strikes, however buses and the Elizabeth line will be running.
So your best option is going to be to take the Elizabeth line into central London, and then take a bus to your hotel. So for example, you can take the Elizabeth line to Paddington train station, and from there you can take a bus such as the 344.
Alternatively, once you arrive at Paddington you could take a taxi or Uber to your hotel.
I hope this helps! If I’ve got your date wrong let me know 🙂
Safe travels!
Laurence
Carol says
Thank you for finding this info for me Laurence. I’m likely to be thoroughly lost, not a good way to start a trip but I’m sure once I actually arrive I’ll be spellbound!! Yep date is correct.
regards. Carol
Laurence Norah says
Hey Carol,
No worries. So Google Maps has pretty good public transport routing which is normally kept up to date with strikes. You do need data to use it, but Heathrow and Paddington both have free WiFi so you can get connected and plan your route in real time if you don’t have cellular data.
Enjoy your time in London 🙂
Laurence
Lorena says
Hello there! Thank you so much for your research! I am traveling to London with an 11-year-old. I was planning to use contactless for my travel fees, but I thought it would be convenient if my daughter had her own card. I have missed the window to order her an oyster card before our trip. Your blog said it was possible to buy an oyster card in London? Do you know the locations? The TFL website was vague about this; they made it seem like oyster cards had to be purchased in advance. Also, can she have a discounted youth oyster card without me also having an oyster card? We will be traveling together, but I prefer not to have a prepaid card. I welcome other suggestions for how best to travel with her. Thanks again!
Laurence Norah says
Hi Lorena,
You can definitely easily buy Oyster cards in person in London, pretty much all the tube stations have Oyster card vending machines and you can also normally get them at TfL ticket counters including at Gatwick and Heathrow airports. For the Young Visitors discount (well worth getting) I don’t believe you need an Oyster card as well, they should be able to load it onto her card. You just need to go to a ticket desk and ask them to add it for you.
Have a great time and let me know if you have any more questions!
Laurence
Ashlee says
Hi! Very helpful post 🙂 I’m visiting London in June for 7 days and was considering purchasing a 7 day Travelcard for the unlimited travel instead of paying per trip with the Oyster card. I noticed the travelcard doesn’t include the airport transport if you get Zone 1-2, so would you recommend paying for the train/tube with contactless then using the Travelcard after that? Or would it be cheaper to just use the Oyster card/contactless the whole time?
It can be very confusing trying to work this out so your expertise would be much appreciated!
Laurence Norah says
Thanks Ashlee!
So you are correct, Heathrow is in Zone 6, so the 1-2 zone travelcard wouldn’t cover that. A 7 day travelcard which covers zones 1-6 would be £70.30, compared to £38.40 for one that covers Zones 1-2.
A single fare on Oyster or Contactless would be £5.50 peak (6.30am – 9.30am), and £3.50 the rest of the time.
You can use either Oyster or Contactless to pay for the fare. If are ok to charge up the Oyster card with the fare then I would do that, it won’t affect your Travelcard which will only apply to journeys in zones 1 & 2.
I hope this answers your question, but let me know if it’s still not clear! I appreciate it can be rather a confusing system 🙂
Cynthia Koomas says
Your site is wonderful and full of useful information. I’m really enjoying reading it and taking notes for our upcoming visit from Montreal. What I didn’t see was the transportation options from London or the airports to Southampton to board a cruise.
Can you make any suggestions which are easy, rapid and within budget.
Thanks
Laurence Norah says
Hi Cynthia,
Thanks very much! So this article is primarily focused on getting into central London from the various airports, rather than other destinations in the UK. For Southampton though it’s quite easy, I’d say the best option would be to take a train. There are direct trains from London Waterloo station which take just over an hour, and that would be my recommended option. There are also direct trains from London Gatwick Airport. So it will depend a bit on where you plan to come from, but it is definitely an easy route to do. Have a great time in London and an awesome cruise!
Laurence
Shirley says
Hello . . . Thanks for sharing London’s tips & advice. My aunt is 82, one of her bucket list is London. Do u know the city is Handicap friendly? I like to bring a folderable wheelchair? Or, Do you have any senior activities I should add to my planner for March 2020?
Many Thanks!
Shirley
Laurence Norah says
Hi Shirley,
For the most part London is very accessible, with the majority of attractions and museums being accessible. In terms of transport, all the public buses are accessible. The only area I would advise caution is the underground or metro, as this is an old network and there are not that many step free underground stations, particularly in central London. Installing elevators into 100 year old stations has proven to be a bit of an engineering challenge! There’s some good information on the TfL website about accessibility across the London transport network here: https://tfl.gov.uk/transport-accessibility/
Have a great trip and let me know if you have any more questions 🙂
Laurence
David Lloyd says
That was quick. Many thanks.
David Llolyd says
I like your comprehensive descriptons of travel from London’s airports into town. I am sure you have noted that TFL is now operating a train service from Heathrow to Paddington which sounds good and avoids the costly Heathrow Express. It would be very helpful f you would add this to your list.
Laurence Norah says
Thanks very much David – I hadn’t seen that the TfL Rail service had launched to replace Heathrow Connect. I’ve updated the post accordingly – much appreciated!