London is a major port. It has three main airports, which are all located outside the city area: Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. London is the hub of the United Kingdom's rail network, with about a dozen mainline railway terminuses.

(Photographed by Adrian Pingstone in April 2005)

Heathrow Airport | Gatwick Airport | London City Airport

Travelling to London from London Heathrow

Heathrow (LHR) is 20 miles (32km) to the west of London.

You can travel to central London from Heathrow via underground train, train, taxi, bus or private transfer

Underground

The London Underground is the cheapest way to travel from Heathrow to central London.

Heathrow Airport has three underground stations - one shared by Terminals 1, 2 and 3, one at Terminal 4 and a third at Terminal 5. Trains run every 4 to 9 minutes and the average journey time is 50 minutes.

The underground trains use the Picadilly line. For information of stations on route see our tube map. Travelling by underground gives you more flexiability for you destination than 'normal' trains

Tickets:
A single ticket from Heathrow Airport into central London (Zone 1) is £4.50.

If you are travelling after 9.30am a One-Day Travelcard between Heathrow and central London costs £6.30 and gives unlimited travel on London Underground trains, the DLR and buses.

Train

The Heathrow Express is the fastest train service running from Heathrow Airport into central London. Its destination is London Paddington train and Tube station. Trains are non-stop.

The journey takes approximately:

• 15 minutes from Terminals 1, 2 and 3
• 27 to 32 minutes from Terminal 4
• 21 minutes from Terminal 5.

Tickets:
First Class: £26 (Single), £50 (Return)
Express Class: £16.50 single (online price), £32 return

www.heathrowexpress.com

Coach

National Express operates up to three coaches per hour to and from Victoria Coach Station in central London. The journey time is approximately 35 - 60 mins.

Tickets:

Online fares from £5.50 single

Taxi

A Black Cab taxi holds up to 5 people and can be picked up from outside the airport.

The journey time byby taxi into central London is 50 - 75 minutes.

Price:
Average cost from the airport into central London ranges from £43 - £75.

A 'meeting fee' of approximately £7 is often required for journeys from the airport, to cover parking and waiting times.

Travelling to London from London Gatwick

Gatwick is 30 miles (48km) south from central London

You can travel to central London via train, taxi or private transfer

Train

The Gatwick Express is the fastest train service running from Gatwick Airport into central London. The trains are non stop and run directly into London Victoria train and Tube station.

The journey takes 30 minutes (35 minutes on a Sunday).

Tickets:
First Class: £20 (Single), £38 (Return)
Express Class: £16:90 (Single), £28 (Return)

Ten percent cheaper when booked online
www.gatwickexpress.com

Coach

National Express operates an horly coach to and from Victoria Coach Station in central London. The journey time is approximately 65 - 95 mins.

Tickets:

Online fares from £7.50 single

Taxis

Checker Cars is Gatwick Airport's official concessionaire. The journey timeb into central London is 60 - 70 minutes.

The average cost from the airport into central London ranges from £78 - £98.

Credit cards are accepted, although there is a 10% handling charge.

A 'meeting fee' of approximately £7 is often required for journeys from the airport, to cover parking and waiting times.

Travelling to London from London City airport

London City aiport is 10 miles (16km) from central London.

By Docklands Light Railway and London Underground

Trains on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) connect the London City Airport with Bank Tube station where you can change on to Waterloo and City, Northern, Central, District and Circle lines on the Underground. The DLR station is 50 metres from the main terminal and is clearly signposted.

The average journey time into central London is 20 to 30 minutes depending on destination and route

Taxi

The journey time by taxi into central London is approximately 30 minutes. and the average cost ranges from £25 - £34

Other London airports include:

London Luton Airport - distance from central London: 32 miles (51km)

London Stansted Airport - distance from central London: 40 miles (56km)

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