Airports · LHR, LGW, STN, LTN, LCY, SEN · Checked against operators’ pages
London Airports to the City: LHR, LGW, STN, LTN, LCY, SEN, from £10
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London travel video: a practical first-trip guide | Mubboo Flights
This 3-minute city guide connects Westminster, Big Ben, the Thames, London Eye, and Tower Bridge into a practical first-trip plan, helping travellers choose what fits instead of rushing through a checklist. English narration with reviewed English subtitles in the YouTube player.
Which airport, when you get to choose
Most travellers do not choose; the flight does. When it’s close, pick London City for Canary Wharf or the City, and Heathrow or Gatwick for most other hotels.
Good to know
- A cheaper fare to a farther airport isn’t cheaper once transfer time and a longer taxi ride are added in.
| Rail link | Inside Greater London | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| LHR | Elizabeth line, Piccadilly line, Heathrow Express | Yes | Most central hotels |
| LGW | Gatwick Express to Victoria | No | South and southwest London |
| STN | Stansted Express to Liverpool Street | No | North and east London |
| LTN | Luton DART plus Thameslink to St Pancras | No | North London |
| LCY | DLR to Canary Wharf | Yes | Canary Wharf and the City |
| SEN | Greater Anglia to Liverpool Street or Stratford | No | East London, if your flight lands there |
LHR: £10 by Heathrow Express
The Elizabeth line is the default. Heathrow puts every central stop under 40 minutes on contactless or Oyster. Any Tube or Elizabeth line journey that starts, ends or passes through Zone 1 is charged at the peak rate at any time, so a trip into central London has no off-peak saving to wait for.
Heathrow Express is faster into Paddington itself, worth the higher fare only when Paddington is genuinely your destination.
See or book a private Heathrow transfer
- Follow signs for the Elizabeth line or Piccadilly line in any terminal; both take contactless or Oyster.
- Tap in at the platform gate; for a journey into Zone 1, Heathrow’s peak fare applies no matter the time of day.
- For Paddington itself, take Heathrow Express instead, from Terminals 2 and 3.
Good to know
- TfL’s own taxi-fares page gives an illustrative black-cab range of £70-£120 to central London, under any of its tariffs.
- The Piccadilly line is the cheapest option but the slowest, at under an hour.
| Item | £ per adult | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Standard single | £26 | ≈ US$34 |
| Standard advance single | £10 | ≈ US$13 |
| Standard return | £42 | ≈ US$55 |
| PREMIER+ single | £32 | ≈ US$42 |
On your own
The Elizabeth line for most central hotels; Heathrow Express only for Paddington itself.
Pre-booked transfer
Worth it for a late arrival or a group with luggage; check whether the price covers Heathrow’s drop-off charge.
Heathrow Express: £10 booked ahead; a private car starts from ≈ US$70.
Prices checked 27 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation
LGW
Gatwick Express is the default: a non-stop run to London Victoria in as little as 31 minutes, on pay-as-you-go Oyster, contactless or its own tickets.
Gatwick sits just south of London. It publishes no fixed adult fare; the ticket picker prices Anytime, Off-Peak and Web Duo fares by when you travel.
See or book a private Gatwick transfer
- Follow signs for the railway station in the South or North Terminal.
- Tap in with contactless or Oyster, or buy a ticket at the machine.
- Board any Gatwick Express service; it runs non-stop to London Victoria.
Good to know
- The terminal drop-off and pick-up charge is at least £10, payable online until midnight the next day.
On your own
Gatwick Express to London Victoria on contactless, Oyster or its own tickets.
Pre-booked transfer
Worth it for a fixed price: a Gatwick taxi fare is agreed with the driver or capped by the meter.
STN
The Stansted Express is the default: it runs every 15 minutes to London Liverpool Street in 50 minutes, stopping at Tottenham Hale and Stratford for east or north London hotels. Tickets start from £9.90 per person booked ahead.
- Follow signs for the railway station from the terminal.
- Buy a Stansted Express ticket from £9.90 at the machine or online before boarding.
- Board any Stansted Express service; alight at Tottenham Hale or Stratford for east or north London.
Good to know
- National Express coach services also run from the airport; no fare was confirmed on the check date.
On your own
The Stansted Express to Liverpool Street, or Tottenham Hale or Stratford for east or north London.
Pre-booked transfer
Worth it for a fixed price or late arrival; Mubboo has no verified Stansted transfer inventory today, so compare options on Viator.
LTN: £2.99 by easyBus
The Luton DART is the default first step: a shuttle train reaching the airport’s onward rail station in 4 minutes. Combined with a Thameslink or East Midlands Railway train, St Pancras International is as little as 32 minutes away.
easyBus is a cheaper alternative from Brent Cross or Golders Green, reaching Victoria or Paddington in as little as 50 minutes.
- Follow signs for the Luton DART to the airport’s rail station.
- Change onto any Thameslink or East Midlands Railway train bound for St Pancras International.
- For easyBus instead, book online in advance for the cheapest fares to Victoria or Paddington.
Good to know
- Coaches and buses also stop directly outside the terminal for other London destinations.
| Item | £ one way | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| To Victoria via Brent Cross | £10 | ≈ US$13 |
| To Paddington via Golders Green | £2.99 | ≈ US$4 |
On your own
The Luton DART plus Thameslink or East Midlands Railway to St Pancras; easyBus only near specific stops.
Pre-booked transfer
Worth it for a fixed price or late arrival; Mubboo has no verified Luton transfer inventory today, so compare options on Viator.
easyBus from Luton: £2.99 one way.
Prices checked 27 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation
LCY
The DLR reaches Canary Wharf in 25 minutes on an ordinary TfL pay-as-you-go fare. It’s the only one of the six airports on a normal Tube-network ticket rather than a separate one.
London City’s own page lists DLR trains every 4 to 10 minutes and puts Westminster about 45 minutes away; the airport sits in fare Zone 3.
- Follow signs for the DLR station, which sits at the terminal itself.
- Tap in with contactless or Oyster, the same as any other TfL station.
- Board any DLR service toward Bank or Canary Wharf; both link onward to the Underground network.
On your own
The DLR is faster and simpler than any transfer for this airport.
Pre-booked transfer
Rarely worth it here; Mubboo has no verified London City-specific transfer inventory today.
SEN
The Greater Anglia train is the only sensible way in, from a station a short walk from the terminal. Up to six peak trains an hour reach Liverpool Street or Stratford.
Change at Stratford for the Underground or DLR, or at Liverpool Street or Shenfield for the Elizabeth line.
- Walk the roughly 100 steps from the terminal to the airport’s own railway station.
- Buy a ticket at a machine (24 hours) or staffed office (06:00-23:00); the terminal is card and contactless only.
- Board any Greater Anglia service to Liverpool Street, changing at Stratford or Shenfield as needed.
Good to know
- Southend is the furthest of the six airports from central London, despite the name.
| Item | minutes |
|---|---|
| To Liverpool Street | 52 |
| To Stratford | 43 |
On your own
The direct Greater Anglia train; change at Stratford for east London or the Elizabeth line.
Pre-booked transfer
Worth it for a fixed price or late arrival; Mubboo has no verified Southend transfer inventory today, so compare options on Viator.
Late arrivals and luggage
Transport for London confirms the Night Tube and the London Overground night service always charge the off-peak rate. Neither serves every one of these six airports, so check your specific route.
Southend’s ticket office closes at 23:00. At the other outer airports, a black cab’s meter runs at TfL’s night Tariff 3 (22:00-05:00) unless you agree a fare first, so a pre-booked transfer earns its price.
Good to know
- Confirm your airport’s last scheduled train first; none of the six runs a true 24-hour service.
- Whatever you book, check whether tolls, waiting time and meet-and-greet are already included in the price.
Heathrow or London City after the last train
A metered black cab under Tariff 3, or a booked car for a price fixed before landing.
Gatwick, Stansted, Luton or Southend after the last train
An agreed taxi fare (the meter is the cap), or a transfer booked at a price fixed before you land.
What it costs, and where to book
| Plan | Tickets and transport | Book |
|---|---|---|
| Heathrow Express, advance single | £10 | Private car from Heathrow from ≈ US$70 |
| easyBus from Luton | £2.99 | – |
Prices checked 27 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation. Amounts over 20 are rounded up. Ticket prices are per person for the first reviewed ticket and change by date.
Explore London Before You Book
Take a virtual drive or walk, then find tours and tickets for the places you like.
Airport transfers and day-one experiences worth booking
A booked transfer earns its price at Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and Southend, where cab fares are agreed with the driver, and anywhere for a late arrival or a group with luggage. It’s rarely worth it by day at Heathrow or London City.
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Questions people ask
Which London airport is actually inside London?
Only Heathrow and London City sit inside Greater London itself. Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and Southend are all in neighbouring counties, however central their names sound.
Is the Tube ever cheaper at quiet times from Heathrow?
No. Transport for London charges every Tube and Elizabeth line journey to or from Heathrow at the peak rate whenever it starts, ends or passes through Zone 1, whatever time you travel.
Does every airport have a station right at the terminal?
Not quite. Luton needs a 4-minute DART shuttle to reach its rail station first, and Southend’s station is about 100 steps from the terminal; the other four have a station at or inside the terminal itself.
Can I pay with Oyster or contactless everywhere?
Only at Heathrow, on Gatwick Express, and at London City, where ordinary pay-as-you-go applies. Stansted, Luton and Southend need a separate national-rail ticket instead.
Is it worth pre-booking a transfer from Stansted, Luton or Southend?
It is worth it when you want the price fixed before you land, since a black-cab fare to any of the three is agreed with the driver, with the meter only as the maximum. For a daytime arrival, the train is usually still the faster and cheaper choice.
Plan deeper in London
- London guide
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- London in 3 Days: Can You Do It for £95?
- Tower, Abbey & Eye Combo Tickets: £120
- One Day in London: Can You Do It for £70?
- Free Things to Do in London, or Pay £40?
- Day Trips from London, from About £35
- Tower of London Tickets: Crown Jewels & Beefeater Tour
- Thames River Cruise: Best Options & What to Book
- London Eye Tickets: Standard or Fast Track?
- Westminster Abbey Tickets: What to Know Before You Go
Sources (17)
Every figure above was checked on the dates shown.
- Heathrow Airport, By rail or train — www.heathrow.com/transport-and-directions/by-rail-or-train (checked 2026-09-27)
- Heathrow Express, fares and tickets — www.heathrowexpress.com (checked 2026-09-27)
- Transport for London, Tube and rail fares — tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/tube-and-rail-fares (checked 2026-09-27)
- Transport for London, Taxi fares — tfl.gov.uk/modes/taxis-and-minicabs/taxi-fares (checked 2026-09-27)
- Gatwick Express — gatwickexpress.com (checked 2026-09-27)
- Gatwick Airport — www.gatwickairport.com (checked 2026-09-27)
- Stansted Airport, Getting to and from — www.stanstedairport.com/getting-to-and-from/ (checked 2026-09-27)
- Stansted Airport, By Stansted Express — www.stanstedairport.com/getting-to-and-from/by-stansted-express/ (checked 2026-09-27)
- London Luton Airport, To and from LLA — www.london-luton.co.uk/to-and-from-lla (checked 2026-09-27)
- London Luton Airport, Trains to and from London — www.london-luton.co.uk/to-and-from-lla/trains/to-from-london (checked 2026-09-27)
- easyBus, London Luton route — www.easybus.com/routes/london-luton/ (checked 2026-09-27)
- London City Airport, Getting to and from — www.londoncityairport.com/getting-to-and-from (checked 2026-09-27)
- London City Airport, Getting to and from (DLR) — www.londoncityairport.com/getting-to-and-from (checked 2026-09-27)
- London Southend Airport, Getting to and from: Trains — www.londonsouthendairport.com/getting-to-and-from/trains/ (checked 2026-09-27)
- Mubboo Tours inventory for London (the booking platform destination 737), Heathrow airport transfer terms, searched 27 September 2026 — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=737&term=Heathrow+airport+transfer¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-27)
- Mubboo Tours inventory for London (the booking platform destination 737), Gatwick to London terms, searched 13 September 2026 — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=737&term=Gatwick+to+London¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-13)
- Mubboo Tours inventory for London (the booking platform destination 737), rejected shelf terms for Stansted/Luton/London City/Southend, searched 27 September 2026 — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=737&mode=keyword&sort=featured¤cy=USD (checked 2026-09-27)