London has six major airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, London City, and London Southend. In this guide, I will advise you of the best ways to travel from each of these airports into the centre of London using public transport. Sometimes that may be the cheapest way to travel or it may be the easiest way to travel with lots of luggage. Different ways will suit different people. Read on to find out about all the different options.
Read more: How to use each mode of public transport in London.
Read more: How to pay for public transport in London.
Read more: Best apps to use to plan your journey.
Heathrow
Heathrow is located 14 miles to the west of London. It is London’s biggest airport with five terminals. You can find out what terminal you are flying into by checking their website. You can then plan your journey into London knowing where you are starting from. There is a free transfer between each terminal. If you are picking up a hire car, then there are plenty of options available but I would only recommend hiring a car if you are not visiting central London. As a local, I would never drive into the centre of London; public transport is much easier.
Read more: Heathrow terminal guides.
Fastest way from Heathrow to the centre of London
Heathrow Express train to London Paddington
The fastest option to get from Heathrow to central London is the Heathrow Express. It departs every 15 minutes from terminals 2, 3, 4, and 5, with a travel time of just 15-20 minutes (depending on your terminal) to Paddington Station.
Cost: £20 single fare or £10 if booked more than 60 days in advance. Children 15 years and younger travel for free.
Times: Runs from 05:12am until 00.25am
How to pay: Buy online beforehand to get a better rate or you can use an Oyster card or contactless credit/debit card to tap in and out on the yellow card readers.
Taxi
The easiest option if you have a lot of luggage. You can book in advance or pick up a cab from the airport. I would recommend looking at the different options on Get your Guide where you can choose a private transfer to central London.
Cost: Between £45 – 70 per taxi (not per person).
Times: 24/7 taking approximately 30-40 minutes.
How to pay: Book online beforehand or pay by card in the cab.
Cheapest Way from Heathrow to the centre of London
London Underground (Elizabeth Line)
The Elizabeth Line tube line runs frequently and quickly to and from London Heathrow airport. It costs more than a standard tube journey but depending on your travel preferences (these newer trains have air conditioning and Wi-Fi) or where you want to go, it is a faster option.
Cost: £12.80 for journeys that go through Zone 1 (central London).
Times: Runs from 04:40am to 23:00pm
How to pay: Oyster card, Contactless credit/debit card or buy a travelcard at the tube station.
London Underground (Piccadilly Line)
A standard tube line, the Piccadilly Line connects Heathrow to central London and is cheaper than the new Elizabeth line. Depending on where you want to end up, it could be the better option but is slower than the Elizabeth line.
Cost: £5.50 into zone 1 (central London)
Times: Runs from 05:00am to 23.30pm and takes approximately 50 minutes. There is a ‘Night Tube’ which runs throughout Friday and Saturday night but not from Terminal 4.
How to pay: Oyster card, Contactless credit/debit card or buy a travelcard at the tube station.
National Express Coach
The National Express coach service offers an affordable ride into Victoria Coach Station from each terminal. The further you book ahead, the cheaper it is and if you book a return, each leg can become cheaper.
Cost: starts from £5.20 one way
Timings: They run 24/7 but not very frequently through the night. Check the timetable for more details.
How to pay: Online only. The ticket office at Heathrow has closed permanently so make sure you plan ahead.
Read more: National Express Coaches.
Superloop Bus:
If you’re not heading into the centre of London but staying on the outskirts, then it is worth considering the Superloop Bus. It travels around the circumference of the city in both directions. Check out the routes here to see if it is suitable.
Cost: £1.75 (the cost of a local bus) You tap your contactless credit/debit card or Oyster card on the yellow card reader by the driver.
Times: They run from 05:40am to 00:10am, every 20 minutes approximately. An example journey from Heathrow to East Croydon (South London) is 97 minutes.
Gatwick Airport
Gatwick is located to the south of London and is an easy 30 minute journey into the centre of London. There are many public transport options with even a national cycle route passing the airport if you are bringing a bicycle! There are two terminals at Gatwick; North and South. They are connected by a free shuttle which only takes two minutes.
Fastest way from Gatwick to the centre of London
Gatwick Express to London Victoria:
The Gatwick Express is the fastest option (but only by a minute or two), leaving from the train station at the South Terminal. Trains run every 30 minutes and is non-stop to London Victoria. If you book online before your arrival, then it is cheaper.
Cost: £20.50 single journey if booked online, £40.80 return.
Times: Every 30 minutes running from 05:41 to 23.10
Standard train to Central London
Several train lines run from Gatwick into the centre. Thameslink offers direct trains to London Bridge, Blackfriars, and St Pancras International. Southern Railway connect Gatwick to Victoria and Clapham Junction. They are slightly slower than the Gatwick Express (sometimes by a minute or two) but cheaper. You will need to buy a ticket as Gatwick is outside of the London zones. It is cheaper to buy online beforehand and almost all tickets are flexible for the day of your travel. Alternatively, you can buy a ticket at Gatwick train station before you board. You will need to scan your ticket at the barriers before boarding the train.
Website: The trainline.
This will tell you the cheapest, direct train into London. Other websites are available.
Cost: From £11.90 if booked online for a single journey.
Times: Running every few minutes during the day with a journey time of approximately 32 minutes. Through the night, they are more infrequent stopping at London Blackfriars.
Taxi
The easiest option if you have a lot of luggage. You can book in advance or pick up a cab from the airport. I would recommend looking at the different options on Get your Guide where you can choose a private transfer to central London.
Cost: Between £140 per taxi (not per person).
Times: 24/7 taking approximately 90 minutes.
How to pay: Book online beforehand or pay by card in the cab.
Cheapest Way from Gatwick to the centre of London
National Express coach
The National Express coach offers a cheaper alternative to trains though it takes much longer. They depart from both terminals which you can check here.
Cost: From £5.20 for a single journey
Times: 24/7 approximately every hour, but there is a break between 23.30pm and 03.35am. The journey takes approximately 2 hours 30 minutes.
Read more: National Express Coaches
Luton Airport
Luton Airport is north of London in the countryside but there are good transport links to the centre of London. This airport is mainly used by budget airlines for travelling to and from Europe.
Fastest way from Luton to the centre of London
National Trains to St Pancras (central London)
Two trainlines service Luton with similar times and prices. You will need to buy a ticket as Luton is outside of the London zones. It is cheaper to buy online beforehand and almost all tickets are flexible for the day of your travel. Alternatively, you can buy a ticket at Luton Parkway train station before you board. You will need to scan your ticket at the barriers before boarding the train. To get to Luton Parkway Train station which is 2.3km away from the airport, there is a Luton Dart Shuttle with a small cost which runs every few minutes 24/7. If you’re booking online, then book a ticket from Luton Airport to St Pancras which includes the train and shuttle.
Website: The trainline.
This will tell you the cheapest, direct train into London. Other websites are available.
Cost: From £8.90 off peak for a single journey.
Times: 10 minutes from Luton Airport to Luton Parkway Train Station. Approximately 32 minutes to St Pancras in Central London. The shuttle and trains run 24/7.
Cheapest Way from Luton to the centre of London
National Express coach
National Express coaches offer cheaper yet slower options into London Victoria in central London. So great if you are travelling on a budget.
Read more: National Express Coaches
Cost: From £11 for a single journey booked online.
Times: Coaches run 24/7 with journeys into London Victoria taking approximately 90 minutes.
Stansted Airport
Stansted is to the North of London in the countryside. It is served by train and coach. The train station is just a two minute walk from the terminal. This airport is also mainly used by budget airlines to travel to and from Europe.
Fastest way from Stansted to the centre of London
Stansted Express
The Stansted Express is the fastest way to travel, with direct trains to London Liverpool Street station. They run very frequently with air conditioning and Wi-Fi.
Website: https://www.stanstedexpress.com/
Cost: From £9.90 for a single journey booked online in advance. I could only find tickets for £23.90 however.
Times: Trains start at 06.00am to 00.30am. Running every 15 minutes, the journey to Liverpool Street Station takes about 45 minutes.
National Trains to Liverpool Street Station (central London)
Other train services to and from Stansted have similar times and prices. You will need to buy a ticket as Stansted is outside of the London zones. It is cheaper to buy online beforehand and almost all tickets are flexible for the day of your travel. Alternatively, you can buy a ticket at Stansted train station before you board. You will need to scan your ticket at the barriers before boarding the train.
Website: The trainline.
This will tell you the cheapest, direct train into London. Other websites are available.
Cost: From £23.90 booked online.
Times: Trains run from 05:30am to 00.30am approximately every 15 minutes.
Cheapest Way from Stansted to the centre of London
National Express
These coaches offer a direct route into London Victoria, Liverpool Street Station and London Stratford.
Read more: National Express Coaches
Cost: From £7 for a single journey booked online in advance.
Times: 24/7 with journey times of 50 minutes into London Stratford, 90 minutes into Liverpool Street Station or 1 hour 50 minutes into London Victoria.
Standard Coaches
Other Coaches will also take you from Stansted to London Stratford to the east of the city but with good tube, DLR and train links into the centre.
Website: The trainline.
This will tell you the cheapest, direct train into London. Other websites are available.
Cost: From £7
Times: Running 24/7 every 30 minutes taking approximately 50 minutes into Stratford.
London City Airport
This is London’s most central airport. It is located in East London just 5 miles from the city centre and is connected to the city by DLR (Docklands Light Railway) or the tube.
Docklands Light Railway (DLR)
The most straightforward option is to take the DLR, which connects the airport to central London.
Cost: In London’s zone 3 so is part of the Daily Cap. You can use a contactless credit/debit card or oyster card to tap in on the yellow card readers. See my guide here about using public transport and here for paying for public transport.
Times: DLR trains depart every 4-10 minutes taking approximately 20 minutes to Bank station.
Tube (Elizabeth Line)
Another straightforward option depending on where you are going in London.
Cost: In London’s zone 3 so is part of the Daily Cap. You can use a contactless credit/debit card or oyster card to tap in on the yellow card readers. See my guide here about using public transport and here for paying for public transport.
Times: Tube trains depart every 4-10 minutes taking approximately 14 minutes to Liverpool Street Station or 17 minutes to Paddington station for example.
London Southend Airport
Southend Airport is located to the far East of London with minimal public transport access into the centre of London. I have flown from here but I wouldn’t recommend it!
Fastest way from Southend to the centre of London
National Train
The train station at the airport is just 100 steps from the terminal. You will need to buy a ticket as Southend is outside of the London zones. It is cheaper to buy online beforehand and almost all tickets are flexible for the day of your travel. Alternatively, you can buy a ticket at Southend train station before you board. You will need to scan your ticket at the barriers before boarding the train.
Website: The trainline.
This will tell you the cheapest, direct train into London. Other websites are available.
Cost: From £17.60 for a single journey to London Stratford, booked online in advance.
Times: Running a few times an hour, trains take approximately 60 minutes into Liverpool Street Station or 45 minutes to London Stratford.
