London Airports: Complete Overview & Transfer Guide

Which airports are there in London?

Before we dive into each airport in detail, here’s a overview of all six airports in the city.

Want to check what flights are available? Your best bet is Skyscanner — that’s where we always look first, because you get a full picture of all connections and can easily compare prices.

Book a flight to London on Skyscanner
Extra tip: If you ever experience a flight delay, our article on flight delay compensation gives you tips on how to get your money back.

London's airports on the map

To give you a better sense of where London’s airports are located, we’ve marked all of them on a map. The most important attractions in London are in the city center.

Transfer from London Heathrow to the city

Here’s a quick overview of all the options you have for getting from London Heathrow into the city:

Elizabeth Line from Heathrow to London

• Travel time: 25–50 minutes – depending on your destination
• Operating hours: daily from 5:00 AM–midnight
• Frequency: every 5–10 minutes

We recommend taking the Elizabeth Line from Heathrow Airport into central London. It’s the airport transfer with the best value for money.

The Elizabeth Line stops at Terminals 2 through 5 and takes you into the city without any transfers. Depending on your destination, you simply change trains at the right station or arrive directly at your hotel in London.

Payment is completely hassle-free via tap-to-pay with a credit card, smartphone/smartwatch, or Oyster Card at the station entrance and exit — no need to buy a ticket in advance.

All other Heathrow transfer options and info can be found here:

Transfer from London Gatwick to the city

Here’s a general overview of all transfer options from London Gatwick to the city center:

Gatwick Train Transfer from Gatwick to London

• Travel time: approx. 35 minutes
• Operating hours: daily from 5:30 AM–midnight
• Frequency: every 10–15 minutes

The best way to get from Gatwick to central London is by train. The Gatwick Train Transfer gets you to stations like Victoria, London Bridge, or St Pancras without any transfers.

You can buy e-tickets on the ThamesLink website for around 10 to 14 pounds.

Alternatively, you can pay with your Oyster Card and only pay £5.60. We’d recommend getting one anyway for getting around London in general — you can buy it in advance online or on-site at a machine.

Book Oyster Card online
All other Gatwick transfer options and info can be found here:

Transfer from London Stansted to the city

Here’s an overview of all transfer options from London Stansted to the city center:

Stansted Express from Stansted to London

• Travel time: approx. 45 minutes
• Operating hours: daily from 5:30 AM–12:30 AM
• Frequency: every 30 minutes

We recommend taking the Stansted Express from the airport into central London.

The train takes you directly to Liverpool Street Station without any transfers, where you can conveniently switch to the Underground or other trains.

The Stansted Express also stops at Tottenham Hale along the way — a great place to hop off if you’re staying south of the center (like in Stockwell or Brixton).

A one-way ticket currently costs around £20. You’ll save money by booking the outbound and return journey together.

Particularly convenient: For the outbound journey, you only need to commit to a date, not a specific time. The return trip can then be taken flexibly within 30 days of the outbound journey.

Book Stansted Express ticket online
All other Stansted transfer options and info can be found here:

Transfer from London City Airport to the city

Here’s a quick overview of all transfer options from London City Airport to the city center:

Docklands Light Railway from London City to London

• Travel time: approx. 20 minutes
• Operating hours: daily from 5:30 AM–12:30 AM
• Frequency: every 8–10 minutes

We recommend hopping on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) right at the terminal — it’s the most convenient and fastest connection from London City Airport to the city center.

The trains run regularly and get you to Canning Town DLR station in about 20 minutes. From there, you can transfer to the Jubilee Line on the Underground.

The cost is between £3 and £4 for a one-way trip depending on the time of day. You pay using London’s standard tap-to-pay system — just hold your Oyster Card, credit card, or smartphone/smartwatch up to the reader when you board and exit. No paper ticket needed.

London Luton & London Southend

Two more airports worth knowing about: Luton and Southend.

London Luton and London Southend are among the city’s smaller airports and, in our opinion, are not a great choice for a trip to London.

Cheap flights often land here, but the price advantage disappears quickly. The transfer into the city center is inconvenient, expensive, and usually takes significantly longer than from the bigger airports.

Luton is also notorious for chaotic operations, long wait times, and an overcrowded terminal — and that’s with just under 10 million passengers a year. Southend is quieter, but it’s far outside the city and barely served by major airlines anymore.

Our advice: When possible, go with one of the better-connected airports like Heathrow, Gatwick, or Stansted. It saves time, hassle, and money.

Frequently asked questions about London's airports