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A Guide to London's Airports

travoholic | Aug 25, 2009 |

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London is one of the world's busiest hubs for international travel so it's no surprise to find that the city has five airports scattered around its outskirts. To a new arrival or someone looking to plan a trip from London, the airport options can be a bit overwhelming so here is a short guide to London's airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and LondonCity.

Getting from any of these airports to London depends on how well-connected it is. Fortunately, there are usually several options for getting into town which I have outlined.

HeathrowAirport

Heathrow is London's largest and busiest airport and is also the world's busiest for international passengers. It had five terminals and is home to 90 airlines flying to over 170 destinations worldwide. It is located in the Borough of Hillingdon which is located 22km west of Central London.

HeathrowAirport is well-connected to Central London by train but there are no buses and taxis are expensive. The cheapest way into town is to take the London Underground. This trip takes about 50 minutes depending on your final destination and costs £4.00 one-way. If you are travelling during rush hour be prepared to have to fight your way on and off the busy trains. A faster and more relaxed option is the Heathrow Express which takes about 15 minutes to get to Paddington Station. This option is far more expensive though at £16.50 one-way.

GatwickAirport

Gatwick is London's second-largest airport and is located 45km south of the city center. It is a major hub for charter airlines such as Thomas Cook, Thomson Airways and Monarch and discount airlines like easyJet and Ryanair. The airport has two terminals, North and South, and travel between them requires the use of an airport train.

GatwickAirport is accessible by both bus and train. Buses operated by National Express and easyBus run between the airport and Victoria Coach Station several times per hour. The cheapest fare (as low as £2 one-way) is on easyBus you need to book well in advance. The journey takes anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes depending on traffic. Trains also run regularly to Victoria Station. The Gatwick Express is the most expensive option at £16.90 one-way but it will get you into town without stopping in 30 minutes. First Capital and Southern also run trains make stops along the route but still only take about 45 minutes and they are a cheaper option.

StanstedAirport

Stansted is truly a budget airline hub with easyJet and Ryanair dominating the runways with the occasional flight from such masters of the air as Air Moldova or Air Berlin. Despite the limited number of airlines though, Stansted is London's third busiest airport.

It is located 48km northeast of the city center and there are bus and train connections from Stansted Airport to London. Standsted Bus, Terravision and easyBus all send vehicles into Victoria Station with stops long the way at Marble Arch and sometimes Golders Green and

Baker Street

as well. Stansted Express trains operate between the airport and

Liverpool Street

but are more expensive.

LutonAirport

Luton is another airport that is home mostly to budget and charter airlines. It is a small, one-runway airport and airlines fly mostly to destinations around Europe. LutonAirport is located 56km north of London in Bedforshire.

Being so far from Central London, getting to LutonAirport takes a bit of time and planning. It is connected to Victoria Station by two companies offering 24 hour bus services: Green Line and easyBus. Buses stop at Brent Cross,

Finchley Road

Baker Street

, and Marble Arch on their way to Victoria Station. First capital operates a train from the airport with stops at King's Cross, Farringdon, Blackfriars and LondonBridge.

LondonCityAirport

This airport is the closest to Central London located in the Borough of Newham, 11km southeast of the city center and near to Canary Wharf, London's financial district. The airport only has one runway and can only accommodate planes able to do short take-offs and landings. The airport is London's smallest and the main users tend to be business travellers. Airlines serve mainly destinations in the UK, as well as cities in Germany, France and Ireland. It also shuttles people to ski holiday destinations in the winter months.

The airport is connected to Central London by the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). This rail line transports passengers to several destinations in East London and also allows them to connect with the London Underground to reach multiple destinations in the city.