London The Airports

Heathrow (☎087 0000 0123; www.baa.co.uk/main/airports/heathrow), 15min. from central London, is just what you’d expect from one of the world’s busiest international airports. Airlines and destinations are divvied up among its four terminals as listed below, with a few exceptions—if in doubt, check with the airline.

Terminal 1: Domestic flights and British Airways’s European destinations, except for flights to Amsterdam and Paris. Also British Airways flights to Tokyo, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
Terminal 2: All non-British Airways flights to Europe with the exception of Air Malta and KLM; British Airways flights to Basel.
Terminal 3: Intercontinental flights, except British Airways, Qantas, and Sri Lankan Airlines; British Airways flights to Miami.
Terminal 4: British Airways intercontinental flights and services to Amsterdam and Paris; Air Malta; KLM; Qantas; Sri Lankan Airlines; and any other flights that won’t squeeze into terminals 1, 2, or 3.

Transportation To And From Central London

Underground. The cheapest and best way to get to London, Heathrow’s two Tube stations form a loop on the end of the Piccadilly Line. Trains stop first at Heathrow Terminal 4 and then at Heathrow Terminals 1, 2, and 3 (both Zone 6) before swinging back toward central London. For those with heavy luggage, note that stairs are prevalent in most Tube stations. (☎08453 309 880; www.thetube.com. 50-70min. from central London, every 4-5min. Cost around £5, depending on where you are going.)

Train. The Heathrow Express provides a speedy but expensive connection from Heathrow to Paddington station. An added bonus is check-in facilities at Paddington. (☎08456 001 515; www.heathrowexpress.co.uk., daily every 15min. 5:10am-11:40pm. Railpasses and Travelcards not valid. £14, round-trip £26; children £6.50/12.50; £2 extra if bought on the train. Ask about day returns, student discounts, and group specials. AmEx/MC/V.) The new Heathrow Connect is a cheaper alternative to the Express, with direct routes from Paddington, Ealing Broadway, West Ealing, Hanwell, Southall, and Hayes to Terminals 1, 2, and 3. For Terminal 4, take the first Heathrow Express train. (☎08456 786 975; www.heathrowconnect.com. Daily every 30min. 5:30am-midnight. Railcards accepted. £9.50 to Paddington.)

Bus. While cheaper than trains, buses take longer and can end up in traffic. The National Express runs between Heathrow and Victoria Coach Station. (☎08705 808 080; www.nationalexpress.com. 40-85min., approx. every 20min. 5:35am-9:35pm Heathrow-Victoria, 7:15am-11:30pm Victoria-Heathrow. Railpasses and Travelcards not valid. From £8; ages 3-15 half price. AmEx/MC/V.)

Taxi. Metered fares to central London are unlikely to be under £50, and journey times are never under one hour.

Carting Your Luggage. The walk from Heathrow’s international terminals to the Tube can be quite long. Take advantage of the free luggage carts, which can be pushed most of the way.

Gatwick

Gatwick (☎08700 002 468; www.baa.co.uk) is much farther from London—30 minutes south of London—but numerous swift and affordable train services make it easy to get to. Transport facilities are concentrated in the South Terminal; a free monorail shuttle connects the South Terminal to the newer North Terminal, which has better shops and restaurants.

Transportation To And From Central London

Train. The Gatwick Express runs non-stop service to Victoria station. (☎08456 001 515; www.gatwickexpress.com. 30-35min., daily every 15 min. 5am-11:45pm. £13, round-trip £24; ages 5-15 £6/11.75; tickets available for purchase on the train.) Additionally, Thameslink commuter trains head regularly to King’s Cross, stopping in London Bridge and Blackfriars. Beware that Thameslink stations typically have lots of stairs. (☎08457 484 950; www.thameslink.co.uk. 50min., daily every 30min., £10.)

Buses, Shuttles, And Taxis—0h My. Road service is slow and unpredictable. National Express’s Airbus A5 takes roughly 1hr. to travel to Victoria bus station but can also be much longer with a wait at Brighton. (Contact details same as for Heathrow. Daily every hr. 4:50am to 10:15pm from Gatwick, 7am-11:30pm from Victoria. From £6.20.) You should never take a taxi from Gatwick to London; the trip will take over an hour and cost at least £90. If you have heavy bags, take the train to Victoria and catch a taxi from there.

Stansted

In Essex, 30 mi. north of London, Stansted (☎08700 000 303; www.baa.co.uk/main/airports/stansted) is a hub for many discount airlines.

Transportation To And From Central London

The train station is below the terminal building. The Stansted Express offers frequent service to Liverpool St. Station. (☎08457 484 950; www.stanstedexpress.co.uk. 45min.; daily every 15-30min. 6am-midnight from Stansted, 5am-11pm from Liverpool Street. £14.50, round-trip £24; children 5-15 £7.25/12.) The 24hr. National Express Airbus A6 runs every 15min. to Victoria station. The 24hr. A9 runs every 30min. to East London. (Contact same as for Heathrow. 1-1hr. From £8.)

Luton

Luton (☎01582 405 100; www.london-luton.co.uk) serves mostly charter flights and no-frills budget airlines.

Transportation To And From Central London

The Thameslink train line links Gatwick to King’s Cross and continues north to Luton. (Contact same as Gatwick. 30-40min.; every 30min. M-Sa 3:20am-1am, Su less frequently 6am-11:15pm. £10.40.) Green Line 757 buses run to the West End and Victoria. (☎08706 087 261; www.greenline.co.uk. 1-1hr.; 3 per hr. 8am-6pm, 2 per hr. 6-11pm, 1 per hr. 11pm-8am. £9, round-trip £12.50; ages 5-15 £5.50/8.)

London City Airport

Built over the former Royal Docks in Docklands, it was once the heart of London’s trading empire. Today, the main export is pin-striped business men (☎7646 0088; www.londoncityairport.com).

Transportation To And From Central London

Every 10min., shuttles make the 30min. run to Liverpool St. via Canary Wharf, or the 5min. run to Canning Town on the Jubilee Line. (To and from Liverpool St. via Canary Wharf: M-F 6:55am-9:20pm, Sa 6:45am-1:15pm, Su 11:56am-9:20pm; £3.50 to Canary Wharf, £6:50 to Liverpool St. To and from Canning Town: M-F 6am-9:30pm, Sa 6am-1pm, Su 12:13am-9:13pm; £3.) Bus #69 also runs to Canning Town, while the #473 stops at Silvertown rail station. (Both approx. every 10min., daily 6am-midnight, £1.)