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Fly into London

London Heathrow airport

From Heathrow by train

The Heathrow Express is the fastest way to travel into Central London. Trains leave Heathrow Airport from approximately 5.12am until 11.40pm. Operating 150 services every day, Heathrow Express reaches Heathrow Central (Terminals 1 and 3) from Paddington in 15 minutes, with Terminal 5 a further four minutes. A free transfer service to Terminal 4 departs Heathrow Central every 15 minutes and takes four minutes.

Heathrow Connect services run from London Paddington, calling at Ealing Broadway, West Ealing, Hanwell, Southall, Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow Central (Terminals 1 and 3). For Terminals 4 and 5, there's a free Heathrow Express transfer service from Heathrow Central. Heathrow Connect journey time is about 25 minutes from Paddington to Heathrow Central. For more information, and details of fares, visit the Heathrow Connect website.

 

From Heathrow by tube

The Piccadilly line connects Heathrow Airport to Central London and the rest of the Tube system. The Tube is cheaper than the Heathrow Express or Heathrow Connect but it takes a lot longer and is less comfortable.

Tube services leave Heathrow every few minutes from approximately 5.10am (5.45am Sundays) to 11.35pm (11.25pm Sundays).

The journey time to Piccadilly Circus is about 50 minutes. There are three Tube stations at Heathrow Airport, serving Terminals 1-3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5.

For more information, and details of fares, visit the Transport for London (TfL) website.  If you're going to be using London's public transport system, it's worth buying an Oyster card.

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From Heathrow by taxi

There are usually taxis queuing for customers at London's airports. Only use a black cab or reputable minicab and never use unauthorised drivers. Ask the driver or minicab company how much your journey will cost beforehand.

A metered trip in a black cab to/from Central London generally costs from £48 to £90 and takes 30 minutes to one hour. All Heathrow Terminals have an approved taxi desk and authorised taxi rank. Visit the Heathrow Taxis website.

Heathrow is located 20 miles to the west of Central London.

Gatwick by train

From Gatwick by train

The Gatwick Express is the fastest way into Central London. There are 4 trains an hour between Gatwick Airport's South Terminal and London Victoria Station daily. Journey time is 45 minutes and the service is non-stop to Victoria.

You can also get the First Capital Connect train to London Bridge, City Thameslink, Blackfriars, Farringdon or St Pancras International. There are several services an hour, and hourly services throughout the night.

Southern offers regular services during the day from Gatwick to London Victoria via East Croydon and Clapham Junction.

London City Airport

Docklands Light Railway & tube

London City Airport has its own station on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). Services run every eight to 15 minutes. Fares on the DLR are the same as those on The Tube. The DLR connects to the Tube at Canning Town and Canary Wharf (Jubilee Line) or Bank (Central Line).

From London City by taxi

There are usually taxis queuing for customers at London City Airport. The cost of the cab is metered and displayed inside the cab. Only use a reputable mini-cab and never use unauthorised drivers.

London Luton airport

From Luton by train

A regular shuttle bus links the airport to Luton Airport Parkway train station in around eight minutes. From there, frequent rail services travel to Central London and take 27 minutes with East Midlands Trains and 25 minutes with First Capital Connect. 

Expensive black taxi cab and drivers on street road waiting in traffic in downtown summer

From Luton by taxi

There are usually taxis queuing for customers at London City Airport. The cost of the cab is metered and displayed inside the cab. Only use a reputable mini-cab and never use unauthorised drivers.