London is served by five airports spread across a wide area, each with its own mix of rail, bus and taxi options into the centre. Knowing which service to take from which airport can save you a significant amount of time and money — and the choices are not always obvious. Here is the full picture for all five.
From Heathrow (LHR)
Heathrow is the UK's busiest airport and sits about 24 km west of central London. It has four operational terminals (2, 3, 4 and 5), all connected to the underground network. You have three realistic rail options, at very different price points.
Elizabeth line (the Crossrail)
The Elizabeth line, which opened in full in 2023, is now the smartest way into the city for most travellers. Direct services run to Paddington in around 25–30 minutes and continue through central London — Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Liverpool Street and beyond — without any changes. Trains run every few minutes during the day. The fare is standard Underground pricing, payable by Oyster card, contactless bank card, or a paper Travelcard. It is significantly cheaper than the Heathrow Express and serves a far wider range of destinations in a single journey.
Heathrow Express
The Heathrow Express is a premium non-stop train to London Paddington in 15 minutes, running four times an hour. It is the fastest option but costs substantially more than the Elizabeth line — advance fares are cheaper, but walk-up prices are high. If your destination is Paddington or close to it, and speed matters more than price, it remains a valid choice. Book in advance online to pay less than you would at the station.
London Underground (Piccadilly line)
The Piccadilly line runs from all Heathrow terminals into central London. It is slow — 50 minutes to King's Cross St. Pancras, longer to the West End — and involves many stops, but it is the cheapest rail option and goes directly to destinations the other services do not. A good choice if you are heading to Zone 1–3 areas east of Paddington and do not want to change trains.
Coach from Heathrow
National Express and other operators run coaches from Heathrow to Victoria Coach Station and other points. Slower than rail, but useful for parts of London not well served by the Piccadilly line, and generally cheaper.
Taxi from Heathrow
Black cabs (black taxis) are available from the taxi ranks outside each terminal. The journey to central London takes roughly 45–75 minutes depending on traffic, with fares running to significant sums for a central drop-off. Rideshare apps operate from designated pick-up points and are often cheaper.
From Gatwick (LGW)
Gatwick is about 45 km south of central London and has two terminals — North and South — connected by a free shuttle train. It is the second-busiest London airport and has good rail links.
Gatwick Express
The Gatwick Express is a non-stop service to London Victoria, taking 30 minutes. It runs roughly every 15 minutes and is fast and comfortable, though fares are higher than standard Southern or Thameslink trains and it only goes to Victoria.
Southern and Thameslink trains
Regular Southern and Thameslink trains also serve Gatwick, calling at London Bridge, St Pancras International, Farringdon and other central stations. Journey times are 35–55 minutes and fares are cheaper than the Gatwick Express. Thameslink is particularly useful if you are heading north of the river. Services run frequently throughout the day.
Coach and taxi
National Express coaches run to Victoria. Taxis are expensive given the distance; rideshare apps are a realistic option for groups or late-night arrivals.
From Stansted (STN)
Stansted is about 55 km north-east of central London and is the main base for Ryanair's UK operations, along with other budget carriers. The terminal is a single building, which simplifies things.
Stansted Express
The Stansted Express runs between the airport and London Liverpool Street in about 47 minutes, with some services calling at Tottenham Hale (for the Victoria line). Trains run every 15–30 minutes. Book in advance for the lowest fares — walk-up prices are considerably higher. Liverpool Street puts you in the City of London, with good onward connections via the Underground and Elizabeth line.
National Express and FlixBus coaches
A range of coaches serves Stansted, going to Victoria, Stratford and Liverpool Street. Journey times vary — typically 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours in reasonable traffic, but much longer during London rush hours. Fares are cheap if booked in advance. Worth considering for late-night arrivals when train services are less frequent, or for destinations on the coach corridor.
From Luton (LTN)
Luton Airport Parkway station is about 1.5 km from the terminal, connected by a shuttle bus (the Luton Airport Transit, or LAT). The whole transfer adds 5–10 minutes to your rail journey. The airport is roughly 50 km north-west of central London.
Thameslink trains
Thameslink runs from Luton Airport Parkway to St Pancras International in about 25–35 minutes (some services are slower). From St Pancras you can connect to the Underground, the Elizabeth line at Farringdon, or Eurostar services. Ride the shuttle bus first, then board the train. Standard Thameslink fares apply; purchase before boarding or at station machines.
National Express coaches
Coaches from Luton go to Victoria and other points. Journey time is typically 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours in normal traffic, with significant variation. Cheap if booked early.
From London City (LCY)
London City Airport is in Newham, just 10 km east of central London — the closest of all five airports to the centre. It handles mostly business travellers and some European leisure routes.
Elizabeth line
Custom House station, served by the Elizabeth line, is a short walk from the terminal. From there, trains reach central London in 15–25 minutes and run frequently. This is by some margin the easiest airport transfer of any London airport — straightforward, fast and at standard Underground fares.
DLR (Docklands Light Railway)
The DLR also calls at the station adjacent to the airport. It connects to Canary Wharf and Bank in the City of London, as well as Stratford. Good for destinations in east London; slightly slower than the Elizabeth line for most central destinations.
Oyster, contactless and Travelcards
For all journeys within the standard London Underground zone fare structure, you can pay using an Oyster card (London's rechargeable smartcard) or a contactless bank card or phone. Contactless is accepted on the Tube, DLR, Elizabeth line, Overground and most TfL services, and is capped daily and weekly, so you will never pay more than the equivalent of a Travelcard even without buying one. Paper Travelcards (day or weekly) are also valid. The Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express and Stansted Express use separate ticketing and are not covered by an Oyster card — you need to buy a separate ticket for those.
Tip: For most leisure travellers, the Elizabeth line from Heathrow, a Thameslink train from Gatwick or Luton, the Stansted Express from Stansted, and the Elizabeth line or DLR from London City are the sensible default choices. The premium express trains (Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express) are fastest but cost significantly more and only justify the price if your destination is Paddington or Victoria respectively.
Getting to the airport: the same in reverse
All the above options work in both directions. If you are departing from one of the main rail termini, check the London Underground guide for the quickest route to your departure station. For onward European rail travel from London, the Eurostar guide covers connections via St Pancras International.
Frequently asked questions
Which London airport is easiest to get into the city from?
London City is the closest and simplest: the Elizabeth line connects it to central London in around 15–20 minutes. Heathrow is also well connected via the Elizabeth line, which is much cheaper than the Heathrow Express.
Can I use my Oyster card on the Heathrow Express or Gatwick Express?
No. The Heathrow Express and Gatwick Express use separate tickets, not the Oyster or contactless system. For Oyster-compatible rail travel from Heathrow, use the Elizabeth line or Piccadilly line; from Gatwick, use Southern or Thameslink trains.
How long should I allow to get from central London to Stansted Airport?
Allow at least 1 hour 30 minutes from Liverpool Street on the Stansted Express, plus time to check in and clear security. If travelling during peak hours from elsewhere in the city, add time for your Underground or overground connection to Liverpool Street.
Is it worth taking a taxi from a London airport?
For solo or duo travellers, public transport is almost always cheaper and often faster. Taxis and rideshare apps become more competitive for groups of three or four, particularly late at night when trains are less frequent or you have a lot of luggage.
Sources and further reading:
- Timetables and fares for all TfL services: Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk).
- Gatwick and Stansted Express bookings and information: individual train operator sites.
- National Express coaches from all airports: nationalexpress.com.
- Route comparisons cross-checked with Rome2Rio.