London does not have one airport; it has five major ones, each in a different direction and at a different distance from the centre. Flights from Turkey land at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton, while London City mainly serves short European routes. Getting from the London airports to central London can be a completely different experience depending on where you land and which neighbourhood your hotel is in. This guide compares trains, the Tube, coaches, taxis and transfers for each of the five airports.
مطار هيثرو (LHR)
Heathrow is London’s largest airport, about 25 kilometres west of the centre. Many international services land here, including the Istanbul flights of Turkish Airlines and British Airways.
- Heathrow Express: the fastest train, running non-stop to Paddington in about 15 minutes. Ideal if you are staying around Bayswater, Paddington or Marylebone.
- Elizabeth line: runs without changes to central stations such as Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon and Liverpool Street. The journey takes 30–45 minutes and goes straight into the West End.
- Piccadilly line (Tube): the most economical option, running direct to South Kensington, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden. It takes about an hour and can be crowded with luggage at peak times.
- Taxi and transfer: 45 minutes to an hour and a half to the centre depending on traffic, and the most comfortable choice for families and travellers with plenty of luggage.
مطار غاتويك (LGW)
Gatwick lies south of London, about 45 kilometres from the centre, and handles a large share of holiday and short-haul flights.
- Gatwick Express: non-stop to Victoria in about 30 minutes.
- Southern trains: a slightly slower alternative to Victoria with intermediate stops.
- Thameslink: direct to London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pancras, handy if you are staying in the east or north of the city.
- Taxi and transfer: one to two hours to the centre depending on traffic.
مطار ستانستد (STN)
Stansted is north-east of the city, about 55–60 kilometres from the centre, and is heavily used by low-cost airlines.
- Stansted Express: runs to Liverpool Street in about 50 minutes, with a Tube connection at Tottenham Hale.
- Coaches: regular services to Victoria, Liverpool Street and Stratford; cheaper, but journey times depend on traffic.
- Taxi and transfer: around an hour and a half to the centre, and the most practical option for late-night arrivals.
مطار لوتون (LTN)
Luton is north of London, about 55 kilometres from the centre.
- DART and train: a short automated shuttle, the DART, links the terminal with Luton Airport Parkway station, where Thameslink and East Midlands Railway trains reach St Pancras in about 30–40 minutes.
- Coaches: services run towards Victoria and Baker Street.
- Taxi and transfer: an hour to an hour and a half to the centre.
مطار لندن سيتي (LCY)
London City is in Docklands, in the east of the city, and is the closest airport to the centre. It is very near the business districts of Canary Wharf and the City.
- DLR: runs from the airport to Bank in about 25 minutes, with a change to the Jubilee line at Canning Town.
- Taxi and transfer: 30–60 minutes to the centre depending on traffic.
Which option suits you?
The right choice depends on where your hotel is, how much luggage you have and how many of you are travelling. If you are alone or a couple with light bags, trains are the fastest and most predictable option. If you are a family with children, have large suitcases or land late at night, a door-to-door transfer saves both time and energy: walking from a station to your hotel with luggage, or climbing Tube stairs, is more tiring in London than many visitors expect.
You can see transfer options by airport on these pages: Heathrow transfer, Gatwick transfer, Stansted transfer, Luton transfer and London City transfer.
Tickets and payment tips
- Contactless bank cards and Oyster cards work on the Tube, buses, the DLR and the Elizabeth line; use the same card for every journey so that daily and weekly fare caps apply automatically.
- For express trains such as the Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express and Stansted Express, buying tickets online in advance is usually better value.
- Black cabs run on the meter; because airport journeys are long, a transfer with the fare agreed in advance is often more predictable.
- Trains and the Tube are very crowded at peak times (07:00–10:00 and 16:00–19:00); travel outside these hours if you can.
- If you arrive with small children, lifts are not available at every Tube station; the Elizabeth line and most mainline stations are step-free, which makes a real difference with a buggy.
Arriving late at night
Some flights from Turkey land in London late in the evening or close to midnight. At that time express trains run less often, the last service on some lines may already have gone, and Tube connections take longer. Allowing for passport control and baggage reclaim, you may leave the airport an hour after landing. In that case a pre-arranged transfer that tracks your flight and waits if you are delayed is the safest choice. Also check that your hotel’s reception is open 24 hours and let them know you will arrive late.
Where to stay
Matching your airport to your hotel can cut journey times considerably: Paddington, Kensington and the West End suit Heathrow arrivals; Victoria and London Bridge suit Gatwick; Liverpool Street and Shoreditch suit Stansted; and King’s Cross and St Pancras suit Luton. Compare districts in detail in our guide to where to stay in London, and see every hotel for your dates on the London hotels page.
Conclusion
London’s five airports face in different directions, but all of them offer fast, regular connections to the centre. Choose between train and transfer with your hotel’s location, your luggage and your landing time in mind, and your first step into London will start with enjoyment rather than exhaustion.
