London Airport Transfers
How to Get to and from the Airport in London
Explore the best and quickest way to travel from and to all major London airports with our London airport transfers guide.
Visitors to London have several convenient options for travelling to and from the city's major airports. The Visitor Oyster card can be used on many trains and underground services, making it easy to connect with London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport.
Alternatively, National Express bus transfers provide a cost-effective and straightforward way to reach London Luton Airport, London Heathrow Airport, London Stansted Airport, London Gatwick Airport, and London City Airport. Additionally, taxis and private cab services are readily available for booking at all London airports, offering a flexible and direct mode of transportation.
Using a Visitor Oyster Card for Airport Transfers
Using a Visitor Oyster card as your airport transfer ticket is convenient and cost-effective. Here are the key benefits:
- Cost Savings: Enjoy cheaper fares compared to single tickets or paper travelcards.
- Accepted everywhere: Valid on London Underground.
- Convenience: Avoid the hassle of buying tickets on arrival.
- Flexibility: Pay-as-you-go system with daily fare caps, ensuring you won't overspend.
The Visitor Oyster smartcard is only available for purchase online. It is conveniently delivered to your selected address before you travel and is ready to use upon your arrival in London.
Buy a Visitor Oyster card →Flying into Heathrow or Gatwick? Our airport transfer cards come with £50 credit pre-loaded, enough for your train into London and around two days of travel in Zones 1–3: Heathrow Airport transfer or Gatwick Airport transfer.
From/To London Heathrow Airport
Elizabeth Line
- Train frequency: Every 20 minutes
- Journey duration: Approximately 30 minutes
- One way trip cost: £12.80
Piccadilly Line
- Train frequency: Every 5 minutes
- Journey duration: Approximately 50 minutes
- One way trip cost: £5.80
Heathrow Express
- Train frequency: Every 15 minutes
- Journey duration: Approximately 15 minutes
- One way trip cost: £25
Visitor Oyster card Heathrow Airport transfer →
£50 credit pre-loaded: covers the Heathrow Express, Elizabeth line or Tube into London, with credit left for around two days of travel.
From/To London Gatwick Airport
Southern Railway
- Train frequency: Every 15–20 minutes
- Journey duration: Approximately 40 minutes
- One way trip cost: Peak: £19.20 / Off-peak: £10.70
Thameslink
- Train frequency: Every 15–20 minutes
- Journey duration: Approximately 30–40 minutes
- One way trip cost: Peak: £19.20 / Off-peak: £10.70
Gatwick Express
- Train frequency: Every 15 minutes
- Journey duration: Approximately 30 minutes (to London Victoria)
- One way trip cost: £24
Visitor Oyster card Gatwick Airport transfer →
£50 credit pre-loaded: covers the Gatwick Express or National Rail into London, with credit left for around two days of travel.
From/To London City Airport
Docklands Light Railway (DLR)
- Train frequency: Mon–Fri every 8 mins; Sat–Sun every 10 mins
- Journey duration: Approximately 20 minutes (to Bank station)
- One way trip cost: Peak: £3.70 / Off-peak: £3.00
Other Ways to Get to/from London Airports
Besides using a Visitor Oyster card, visitors to London can conveniently travel to and from the city's major airports using a variety of transportation options. Express train services such as the Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express, and Stansted Express offer fast and direct routes to central London. National Express buses provide an economical alternative with services connecting all major airports to central London and other destinations. Taxis and private hire cabs are also widely available at all airports, offering door-to-door service.
Travelling from London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport, situated about 14 miles west of Central London, is the busiest airport in the UK and a major international gateway in Europe. It is well-connected with central London via the Elizabeth and Piccadilly Lines, which directly link the airport to the city centre.
Tip: our Visitor Oyster card Heathrow Airport transfer comes with £50 credit, enough for the Heathrow Express into London Paddington and around two days of travel in Zones 1–3.
Heathrow Express
- Train frequency: Every 15 minutes
- Journey duration: Approximately 15 minutes
- Tickets price: From £25
In addition to rail connections, Heathrow Airport offers a variety of taxi and private hire cab services available directly on-site at dedicated taxi ranks outside each terminal.
Travelling from London Gatwick Airport
London Gatwick Airport, located approximately 30 miles south of Central London in West Sussex, benefits from direct access via the Gatwick Express train to London Victoria Station in about 30 minutes. Southern and Thameslink train services also provide frequent connections to various parts of London.
Tip: our Visitor Oyster card Gatwick Airport transfer comes with £50 credit, enough for the Gatwick Express into London Victoria and around two days of travel in Zones 1–3.
Gatwick Express
- Train frequency: Every 15 minutes
- Journey duration: Approximately 30 minutes (to London Victoria)
- Tickets price: From £24
Traditional black cabs, private hire services, and app-based ridesharing options like Uber are readily available at Gatwick. National Express buses also provide affordable and direct transfers to multiple locations in central London, running 24/7.
Travelling from London Stansted Airport
London Stansted Airport is located in Essex, approximately 42 miles northeast of the city centre. The Stansted Express provides a swift rail connection between the airport and London Liverpool Street Station.
Stansted Express
- Train frequency: Every 15 minutes (peak times)
- Journey duration: Approximately 45 minutes
Taxis, licensed black cabs, and private hire vehicles are available at the terminal. National Express buses offer affordable and direct transfers to Victoria Coach Station and other key London locations.
Travelling from London City Airport
London City Airport (LCY) is located in the Royal Docks in the London Borough of Newham, approximately 6 miles east of Central London, within Transport for London's Zone 3.
Docklands Light Railway (DLR)
- Train frequency: Mon–Fri every 8 mins; Sat–Sun every 10 mins
- Journey duration: Approximately 20 minutes (to Bank station)
- One way trip cost: Peak: £3.70 / Off-peak: £3.00
Black cabs, pre-booked minicabs, and ride-hailing services are also available directly outside the terminal.
Travelling from London Luton Airport
London Luton Airport is situated approximately 28 miles north of Central London in Bedfordshire. The Luton Airport Parkway station, linked to the airport by a frequent shuttle bus, provides regular train services to London St Pancras International in as little as 25 minutes on the fastest trains.
Taxis, private hire vehicles, ride-hailing services, and National Express Airport buses (running 24/7) are all available for onward travel from Luton.
Travelling from London Southend Airport
London Southend Airport is situated in Essex, approximately 42 miles east of Central London. The Southend Airport railway station, just a short walk from the terminal, offers direct train services to London Liverpool Street Station with a journey time of around 53 minutes.
A dedicated taxi rank, licensed black cabs, and private hire companies all operate at the airport, providing flexible onward travel options.
Travelling on the Tube and buses too?
Order your ticket before you arrive and step straight into London.