Heathrow Airport Transportation
www.heathrowairport.com
Heathrow sits 24km (15 miles) to the west of the center of London. The cheapest route to London from Heathrow Airport is by Tube. The Piccadilly Line runs west into central London. The trips lasts about an hour and costs £4. If for some reason you're not up for the Tube, there's the Heathrow Express, which runs every 15 minutes from Heathrow to Paddington Station and costs a pricey £14.50 for a single Express Class fare (£7.20 for children). If you plan to use this option, it's best to buy your ticket online beforehand to get these fares. The price goes up for purchase at a ticket machine and even further if purchased onboard. Other options are the National Express coach service to Victoria Coach Station (every 30 minutes; 45 minute trip; £10 one-way; £15 return). By taxi (pause for gasps, tears, or laughter) expect to spend about £50 for a one-hour drive.
Gatwick Airport Transportation
www.gatwickairport.com
Gatwick is situated 50km (30 miles) to the south of the center of London. The fastest way to get to central London from Gatwick is by the Gatwick Express Train, which goes to Victoria Station every 15-30 minutes, a 35-minute trip, for £14.90 one-way and £26.80 return. It may not be cheap, but it sure is convenient. One alternative to Gatwick Express is the Southern Train to Victoria via East Croyden and Clapham Junction. Four trains an hour make the 35-minute trip, which costs £8.90. Yet another alternative is the Thameslink train. It runs to London Bridge and King's Cross every 15 minutes during the day time, taking between 30 and 45 minutes to make its journey. The one-way fare runs £10. Lastly, the cheapest (though least convenient) option is to take a National Express coach from Gatwick into London (Victoria Station and Pimlico's Bessborough Street). The bus ride lasts 90 minutes, departs once an hour, and costs £6.60 for a one-way journey and £12.20 for a return.
Stansted Airport Transportation
www.stanstedairport.com
Stansted is located 60km (35 miles) to the northeast of the center of London. The fastest option to central London from Stansted is the reliable Stansted Express train to Liverpool Street Station (every 15 minutes; 45-minute trip; £15.50 one-way; £25.50 return). Tickets can be purchased from automated machines on the train platform.
A cheaper way into Central London from Stansted is the airport express bus offered by Terravision. The bus service connects Stansted airport to London's Victoria Station. It runs every 20 minutes during normal hours and takes about 75 minutes. Tickets run £8 one-way and £14 round-trip. Visit the Terravision booking engine to purchase bus tickets in advance.
A slower, though slightly cheaper, option is the National Express A6 bus. It runs to Victoria Coach Station every 15 minutes during normal hours. The A6's journey lasts 90 minutes and costs £10 for a one-way ticket (£16 for a round-trip ticket). National Express also runs buses between Stansted and London's Liverpool and Victoria stations (A7) and between Stansted and London's Stratford station (A9).
Luton Airport Transportation
www.london-luton.co.uk
Luton is located 51km (32 miles) north of the center of London. Free shuttle buses are offered from Luton Airport to Luton Airport Parkway station. From here there are links to Thameslink trains to central London (every 15 minutes; 35 minutes to King's Cross station; £12.10 for a one-way journey). Otherwise the Greenline bus #757 runs every 30 minutes directly from the airport terminal to the city's center (75 minutes; £9.50 one-way, £15 return). EasyJet also runs a minibus transfer between Luton and the Baker Street Tube Station in central London. Prices range between £2 (for an off-peak journey purchased online) to £8 (the walk-up cost).
London City Airport Transportation
www.londoncityairport.com
London City Airport is located 16km (10 miles) to the east of central London. Transportation options to and from City Airport are few. One option is to take the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) to Bank station in The City. The DLR journey takes 22 minutes and costs £3. The DLR and the Tube connect at Canning Town, Canary Wharf, and Bank stations. Another option is the 474 bus (£1.50), which will to Canning Town where you can connect to the Tube. Lastly, you can take the taxi route, but it will cost you. A taxi from London City Airport will run anywhere from £12 (to Canary Wharf) to £40 (to Earls Court).
A Note About Rail Transit
All of the major train-lines from outside of Britain go to one of the four main rail stations in London: Waterloo Station, Victoria Station, Liverpool Street Station or King's Cross Station. All are easily accessible by London's bus or underground transit. |
