A photo of the London skyline during golden hour with Tower Bridge on the left and other famous buildings including The Shard with reflections on the river Thames in the foreground

London airports: map, list and travel guide

Q: What are the main London airports?

The five busiest London airports are London Heathrow , London Gatwick , London Stansted , London Luton and London City . London Southend .is the sixth and smallest. Together, they serve more than 300 international destinations.

Q: How do you get from London airports to the city centre?

All six airports have transport links into London . Heathrow has the Piccadilly line, Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express; Gatwick has the Gatwick Express and Southern rail; Stansted has the Stansted Express; Luton has rail plus the Luton DART; London City has the DLR; and Southend has Greater Anglia trains. Coaches, taxis and private transfers are also available from all airports.

Essential London airport information

Map of London airports showing travel time to central London

London airports map

Check travel times to central London from each of the six major London airports.

London Heathrow Airport

Read about London Heathrow Airport connections with central London, hotel transfers and more.

London Gatwick Airport

Find all you need to know about London Gatwick Airport terminals, trains to London and more.

Cheap flights to London

Discover tips on how to book cheap flights to London and find the best deals.

Discover London’s airports with essential information on locations, transport connections and travel tips. Compare your options, find the most convenient arrival point and plan your journey into central London with ease.

More London airport guides

London Stansted Airport guide

Check out how to travel between London Stansted Airport and central London, plus hotels and more.

Entrance to London Luton Airport with passengers walking their suitcases up stairs

London Luton Airport guide

Travel into London Luton Airport which is within easy reach of central London and popular with budget travellers.

London City Airport guide

Read about London City Airport's easy connections with central London, plus hotel transfers and car parking.

London Southend Airport guide

Find information on how to get to central London from London Southend Airport, plus hotel transfers and more.

London airport transfers

A photo of people wheeling suitcases through the entrance to The Queen's Terminal at Heathrow Airport

Airport transfers

Read this practical guide to London airport transfers, including trains, coaches, taxis and car hire.

Heathrow Express

Travel between Heathrow Airport and central London's Paddington station in just 15 minutes.

From £26.00

Gatwick Express

Head to London's Victoria Railway station from Gatwick Airport in 30 minutes by direct train.

From £15.70

A group of passengers are walking with their suitcases in hands in Stansted arrival hall.

Stansted Express

Board the Stansted Express to reach London's Liverpool Street station in 47 minutes.

From £19.50

A photo of a National Express coach driving through a road in Westminster in London from above, with cars following nearby

Coaches to London

Discover the best coach services to travel to central London and beyond from London's airports.

Elizabeth Line

Hop on the Elizabeth line to travel to and from central London to London Heathrow Airport.

Explore by category

All Airports

Best hotels near London's airports

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Hilton airport hotels

A room at Hilton London Gatwick, with a large bed featuring a brown throw, low-level lighting and a window.

London Gatwick Airport hotels

London Heathrow Airport hotels

Tickets, hotels and offers

Theatre tickets

Attraction tickets

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Hilton hotels in London

Arriving in London

A photo of the three different customs entrances in a London airport arrivals hall

UK customs

UK visas

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Left luggage

London airports FAQs

How many airports are there in London?

London has six main international airports: London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, London Luton, London City and London Southend. Together they form the busiest airport system in the world by passenger numbers.

What are the main London airports?

The five busiest London airports are London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, London Luton and London City. London Southend.is the sixth and smallest. Together, they serve more than 300 international destinations.

Which London airport is closest to the city centre?

London City Airport is the closest airport to central London, thanks to its location just 9.5km (6 miles) east of central London, with DLR connections into central London in around 20 to 30 minutes.

Which London airport is easiest to get to?

London City Airport is the easiest airport to get to from most central London locations – it has a direct DLR link and no need to transfer. London Heathrow is a close second, with the Piccadilly and Elizabeth lines running directly into central London, plus the fast Heathrow Express to London Paddington.

Which London airport is best to fly into?

For the widest choice of flights, London Heathrow Airport is hard to beat. For budget airlines, London Stansted and London Luton airports offer the most options. For speed and ease of access to the city, London City Airport is unrivalled.

How do you get from London airports to the city centre?

All six airports have transport links into London. Heathrow has the Piccadilly line, Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express; Gatwick has the Gatwick Express and Southern rail; Stansted has the Stansted Express; Luton has rail plus the Luton DART; London City has the DLR; and Southend has Greater Anglia trains. Coaches, taxis and private transfers are also available from all airports.