The definitive guide on how to get to central London from London Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and City Airport. Here are the fastest and cheapest ways to get to central London: tube, shuttle, train, bus, and taxi connections.
Getting to London: Connections to London Heathrow, Stansted, Luton, Gatwick, and City Airports
London has five airports located more or less close to its city center. Apart from City Airport , which is located within the city limits, near Docklands, London's other airports are located outside the city .
The time it takes to reach central London from the various airports varies greatly depending on the means of transport used. Prices also vary considerably.
With so many connections available between London airports and the city centre , it can be difficult to work out the most convenient and economical way to get to central London .
Below is a guide on how to get to central London from Heathrow, Stansted, Luton, Gatwick and City Airport airports .
LONDON CONNECTIONS: How to get from Heathrow Airport to London City Centre
Heathrow Airport is one of the largest airports in the world and has 5 terminals, from which many international flights depart every day!
Although Heathrow Airport is located quite far from central London , it boasts an excellent transport network and each terminal has its own Underground station.
Given its vast size, Heathrow Airport offers a free bus (no. 555) that connects the various terminals . Alternatively, the Heathrow Connect connects the various terminals with Paddington Station.
Heathrow Express: Train from Heathrow Airport to central London
The fastest way to get to central London from Heathrow Airport is the Heathrow Express , a fast train that connects all the airport terminals with Paddington train station in just 15 minutes. The train departs every 15 minutes and a single ticket costs £27 (£25 if purchased online and £22 for off-peak travel). Buy Heathrow Express tickets online and avoid the queues .
Train times from Paddington Station to Heathrow Airport .
Train times from Heathrow Airport to Paddington Station .
Getting to Central London by Tube from Heathrow Airport
If the Heathrow Express is the fastest way to get to central London, the cheapest way is definitely the Tube .
The Piccadilly connects Heathrow Airport to central London in about 50 minutes and costs around £6 each way (without an Oyster Card ). You can buy tickets directly at the entrance to the tube.
Buses and shuttles from Heathrow Airport to central London
Another cheap way to get to central London from Heathrow Airport is by bus.
National Express coaches , for example, run day and night between the airport and the main bus station, Victoria Coach Station , near the tube station of the same name. Departures are every 20 minutes, and the journey takes about 40-50 minutes, depending on traffic. We recommend purchasing tickets online (around £6) to ensure a seat on the coach.
Alternatively, you can take bus 285 from Heathrow bus station to Feltham station in about 25 minutes, and then take the South West Train to London Waterloo. The total journey cost is around £8. You can buy bus tickets on board, while train tickets can be purchased at the station or online.
Taxi from Heathrow Airport to Central London
Taxis , on the other hand, are very expensive and not always the fastest way to reach central London , especially due to traffic. Here you'll find "Black Cabs ," London's typical black taxis, which will set you back £50 to £70 and take an hour to reach central London from Heathrow Airport .
LONDON CONNECTIONS: How to get from Gatwick Airport to London City Centre
Located 45 kilometres south of London, Gatwick Airport is the city's second busiest airport.
This is the preferred stopover for the airline Easyjet British Airways and Thompson Airlines aircraft .
Although Gatwick Airport is far from the centre, there are fast connections to central London .
Gatwick Express: Train from Gatwick Airport to Central London
The Gatwick Express is a fast train that connects Gatwick Airport with central London , specifically Victoria Station Gatwick Express trains depart every 30 minutes and take you to the heart of the city in just 15 minutes.
A one-way ticket costs £19.90 (£17.80 if you buy it online ) and runs from 5am to 12am for the journey from Victoria Station to Gatwick Airport, and from 5.50am to 12.30am for the journey from Gatwick Airport to central London .
Southern Railways trains , which depart every 5 minutes and connect Gatwick Airport to Clapham Junction station in 25 minutes and Victoria Station in 40 minutes.
Easybus: Shuttle bus from Gatwick Airport to central London
The cheapest way to get to central London from Gatwick Airport is EasyJet's EasyBus shuttle bus
Click here to buy EasyBus tickets online.
Taxi from Gatwick Airport to Central London
There's also a taxi option to get from the airport to central London, but it's very expensive. The ride costs around £90 and takes about an hour and a quarter.
LONDON CONNECTIONS: How to get from Stansted Airport to London City Centre
Located in the county of Essex to the north-east of London, Stansted Airport is favoured by many low-cost airlines flying to London , particularly Ryanair .
Despite its steadily growing air traffic in recent years, Stansted Airport is smaller than Heathrow and Gatwick airports and has only one terminal, making it much easier and quicker to get around.
Flibco: the new connection between Stansted and central London
The most convenient way to get to central London from Stansted Airport is by Flibco's direct shuttleFlibco, Europe's leading road travel company, offers comfortable, safe, and affordable bus services. Flibco buses depart every 30 minutes between central London and London Stansted Airport, giving you the flexibility to choose the departure time that best suits your travel plans.
Prices start at around £14 per flight, depending on the package you choose. The exact price varies based on time of booking and availability, but flibco.com always offers excellent value for a comfortable and stress-free trip, especially when purchased online.
If your flight is late, don't worry: your ticket is valid for the entire day and can be used on any departure that day—even until 4:00 AM the following morning. Travelers can easily book their tickets via the "Coach to London Stansted" and reach the city center in less than 60 minutes.
Shuttles and buses from Stansted Airport to central London
The cheapest way to get to London from Stansted Airport is definitely the shuttle services operated by EasyBus and National Express , which will take you from the airport to Victoria Station in an hour and a half to two hours, depending on the time and traffic.
National Express buses depart every 20-30 minutes, and a one-way ticket costs around £5. The service runs 24 hours a day, and you can bring two 20kg bags plus one carry-on bag.
National Express shuttles also have two alternative routes connecting Stansted Airport to Liverpool Street (journey time: 1 hour and 15 minutes) and Stratford (about 50 minutes). Buy tickets online here
Stansted Airport is also connected to central London by Terravision , which operates shuttle buses to Victoria, Liverpool Street, and King's Cross stations. The journey time is also approximately 120 minutes, with services departing every 30 minutes. Tickets cost £10 (£8 for the journey from Stansted to King's Cross). These shuttles offer free Wi-Fi on board.
Buy Terravision bus tickets online.
Stansted Express: Train from Stansted Airport to Central London
Again, the quickest way to get to central London from Stansted Airport is the fast “Stansted Express” .
The ticket costs £19 and gets you to Liverpool Street in just 45 minutes. The Stansted Express runs from 4:00 AM to 11:30 PM, with trains departing every 15 minutes. Buy your Stansted Express ticket online to avoid queues and save time.
Taxi from Stansted Airport to Central London
Taxis are obviously the most expensive option, given Stansted Airport's distance from central London . The journey takes about an hour and costs £100.
LONDON CONNECTIONS: How to get from Luton Airport to London City Centre
Located in the county of Bedfordshire, north of London, Luton Airport is roughly the same distance from central London as Stansted Airport. This airport, the smallest of the four airports located outside London, is dominated by the low-cost carriers Easyjet and Ryanair.
bus from Luton Airport to central London
National Express coaches connect Luton Airport to central London , specifically Victoria Station, in one hour and twenty minutes. The service runs 24 hours a day, with buses departing every 30 minutes. A one-way ticket costs £9.
Trains from Luton Airport to Central London
There is also a train connecting Luton Airport to central London. Trains depart from Luton Airport Parkway Station, which is connected to the airport by a free shuttle service that takes just five minutes.
From here, you can take the train directly to King's Cross Station, a 40-minute journey. Trains depart every 15 minutes and run 24 hours a day, Monday to Saturday, and from 6:00 a.m. on Sundays. A one-way ticket costs £18 for adults and £9 for children: buy your ticket online !
Information on train times and stops from Luton Airport to central London.
Taxi from Luton Airport to Central London
The price of a taxi from Luton Airport to central London is around £60 and the journey takes about an hour.
Connections between London City Airport and London City Centre
Opened in 1987, London City Airport is London's newest airport and is located within the city limits, near Canary Wharf . This airport is primarily used by business travelers and corporate travelers, due to its close proximity to central London and its financial district.
Only direct flights to Europe depart from here, and the strong point of London City Airport is the extremely fast check-in time, no more than 30 minutes.
Getting to Central London by Tube from London City Airport
London City Airport is connected to central London by the Docklands Light Railway , the light rail line that runs to Bank tube station: from this station you can access the Underground and travel throughout London. DLR Map
Bus from London City Airport
From London City Airport, bus 473 runs to Stratford, Silvertown, North Woolwich, and Prince Regent Station, while bus 474 runs to Canning Town, North Woolwich, and East Beckton.
Taxi from London City Airport to Central London
London City Airport is just a few kilometers from central London, so a taxi can be a convenient way to reach your destination quickly and affordably. A taxi ride from London City Airport costs about 20-30 pounds and takes up to 30 minutes.