Getting Around London
Find the best way to access the city from anywhere.
London Airport information
A major air transit hub, five major airports service London: Heathrow, Gatwick, London Luton, London Stansted, and London City.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Approximate taxi fare: 73 GBP
Heathrow Airport is London's and Europe's busiest airport, and the third busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic. About 24 kilometers west of central London, Heathrow is also a true dining and shopping experience. High-end boutiques abound, while other storefronts offer a range of goods, from technology and beauty products to gourmet chocolates and children's toys. Many of these shops are duty or tax free. Travelers can also pass the time at Heathrow at one of its many restaurants or bars. Business travelers can take advantage of business parking, which is closer to terminals and offers more frequent transfer service. The London Underground and the airport's Heathrow Express trains have a stop at the airport.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Approximate taxi fare: 108 GBP
Gatwick Airport is the city's second busiest airport with airlines flying to more than 200 destinations. Situated in Crawley, West Sussex, approximately 46 kilometers south of London, the airport is a major hub for British Airways, easyJet, and Virgin Atlantic. To make a trip to London Gatwick more enjoyable, the airport boasts numerous restaurants, bars, and shops, including pharmacies. Both terminals also feature Internet access and family play areas. Gatwick has long-term and short-term parking options, and the Gatwick Express offers high-speed travel between London and the airport.
London Luton Airport (LTN)
Approximate taxi fare: 121 GBP
London Luton, previously known as Luton International Airport, is based on the outskirts of Luton, Bedfordshire, roughly 48 kilometers north of London. Several budget airlines, including easyJet, Monarch Airlines, and Ryanair service the airport, with flights running to over 30 destinations in four continents. London Luton offers short-term, mid-term, and long-term parking. Shuttle services are also available between London and the airport.
London Stansted Airport (STN)
Approximate taxi fare: 139 GBP
Located close to Harlow in Essex and about 48 kilometers from the northeast of London, London Stansted Airport is home to thousands of low-cost flights that serve over 20 million passengers each year. Stansted consists of a main passenger terminal, a private aircraft terminal, and a cargo station. The airport offers a variety of services to help make passengers' shopping experience effortless. Guests can reach the airport through the Stansted Express and can also pre-book space at the parking facility.
London City Airport (LCY)
Approximate taxi fare: 40 GBP
London City Airport is located directly opposite the London Regatta Centre in the east of London and is ideal to fly to Europe and beyond. Serving over two million passengers, the airport serves the bulk of financial business travelers and is recognized as the closest private jet center to central London. London City offers seven eateries, retail outlets, wireless Internet access, and a foreign exchange desk. Short-term and long-term parking facilities are available, and the airport is easily accessible from a new stop on the Docklands Light Railway, which links to the London Underground.
London Southend Airport (SEN)
Approximate taxi fare: 147 GBP
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Approximate taxi fare: 73 GBP
Heathrow Airport is London's and Europe's busiest airport, and the third busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic. About 24 kilometers west of central London, Heathrow is also a true dining and shopping experience. High-end boutiques abound, while other storefronts offer a range of goods, from technology and beauty products to gourmet chocolates and children's toys. Many of these shops are duty or tax free. Travelers can also pass the time at Heathrow at one of its many restaurants or bars. Business travelers can take advantage of business parking, which is closer to terminals and offers more frequent transfer service. The London Underground and the airport's Heathrow Express trains have a stop at the airport.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Approximate taxi fare: 108 GBP
Gatwick Airport is the city's second busiest airport with airlines flying to more than 200 destinations. Situated in Crawley, West Sussex, approximately 46 kilometers south of London, the airport is a major hub for British Airways, easyJet, and Virgin Atlantic. To make a trip to London Gatwick more enjoyable, the airport boasts numerous restaurants, bars, and shops, including pharmacies. Both terminals also feature Internet access and family play areas. Gatwick has long-term and short-term parking options, and the Gatwick Express offers high-speed travel between London and the airport.
London Luton Airport (LTN)
Approximate taxi fare: 121 GBP
London Luton, previously known as Luton International Airport, is based on the outskirts of Luton, Bedfordshire, roughly 48 kilometers north of London. Several budget airlines, including easyJet, Monarch Airlines, and Ryanair service the airport, with flights running to over 30 destinations in four continents. London Luton offers short-term, mid-term, and long-term parking. Shuttle services are also available between London and the airport.
London Stansted Airport (STN)
Approximate taxi fare: 139 GBP
Located close to Harlow in Essex and about 48 kilometers from the northeast of London, London Stansted Airport is home to thousands of low-cost flights that serve over 20 million passengers each year. Stansted consists of a main passenger terminal, a private aircraft terminal, and a cargo station. The airport offers a variety of services to help make passengers' shopping experience effortless. Guests can reach the airport through the Stansted Express and can also pre-book space at the parking facility.
London City Airport (LCY)
Approximate taxi fare: 40 GBP
London City Airport is located directly opposite the London Regatta Centre in the east of London and is ideal to fly to Europe and beyond. Serving over two million passengers, the airport serves the bulk of financial business travelers and is recognized as the closest private jet center to central London. London City offers seven eateries, retail outlets, wireless Internet access, and a foreign exchange desk. Short-term and long-term parking facilities are available, and the airport is easily accessible from a new stop on the Docklands Light Railway, which links to the London Underground.
London Southend Airport (SEN)
Approximate taxi fare: 147 GBP
London Train information
Network RailNetwork Rail owns and operates Britain's rail infrastructure and manages 18 of the biggest stations across Britain. Main routes take guests to Glasgow, Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds, among other destinations. There are nine major British rail stations in the capital, with Paddington, Victoria, and Euston as the main stations. St. Pancras International acts as the gateway to European destinations, thanks to its Eurostar connections to Paris, Lille, Brussels, and beyond. Tickets are available online from National Rail and the train companies.
London Underground information
The London Underground metro system, often called the Tube, is the world's longest underground railway at about 400 kilometers of track. The Underground services three million people daily at 268 stations on 11 lines, including Bakerloo, Central, Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee, Metropolitan, Northern, and Piccadilly. The Victoria and Waterloo City Lines connect the central city and many suburbs to the north of the Thames. The Underground is divided into six zones, and fares are dependent on zone and time of day, with prices ranging from GBP 2 to GBP 6 per trip. The Oyster Card, introduced in 2003, is an electronic card that covers particular zones on a weekly or monthly format.
London Public Transportation Information
London's iconic double-decker buses are an easy, quick, and cheap way to travel around the city, providing several sightseeing opportunities along the way. These buses command about 8,000 vehicles covering 700 routes, making it one of the biggest bus systems in the world. About 1.5 million passengers ride the buses each year. The electronic Oyster Cards, used on other Transport for London transportation, can be used on the buses.
London River Services operate commuter journeys along the River Thames. With a network of 29 piers, the service is used by more than 2,000 passengers every day and approximately three million people a year. The river service connects with the rest of public transport network such as the Tube and buses. River buses run on a timetable, with more frequent services during peak rush hours. Fares vary based on the pier and many operators provide discounted fares to people traveling with Travelcard.
Rental Cars
Rental car companies are numerous and most service all London airports. Common companies include Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Easycar, and Enterprise. Premium rental cars can be arranged to allow passengers to enjoy several sensational destinations in the city at their own pace.
Taxis
Hackney Carriages are the only official licensed black cabs to shuttle visitors around the city in one of 21,000 vehicles. The taxis can be hailed in the street, and guests will immediately spot the yellow "hire" light that is situated on top of the vehicles. Rates are based on time of day, the distance covered, and the speed of the taxi.
London River Services operate commuter journeys along the River Thames. With a network of 29 piers, the service is used by more than 2,000 passengers every day and approximately three million people a year. The river service connects with the rest of public transport network such as the Tube and buses. River buses run on a timetable, with more frequent services during peak rush hours. Fares vary based on the pier and many operators provide discounted fares to people traveling with Travelcard.
Rental Cars
Rental car companies are numerous and most service all London airports. Common companies include Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Easycar, and Enterprise. Premium rental cars can be arranged to allow passengers to enjoy several sensational destinations in the city at their own pace.
Taxis
Hackney Carriages are the only official licensed black cabs to shuttle visitors around the city in one of 21,000 vehicles. The taxis can be hailed in the street, and guests will immediately spot the yellow "hire" light that is situated on top of the vehicles. Rates are based on time of day, the distance covered, and the speed of the taxi.
