Information on
Arriving In London

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London, being among the world's largest cities, is served by five commercial airports. While all of these airports offer good connections to the city center, it's important to keep in mind that some options, especially those catering to budget airlines, may be situated quite far from London.

Prior to booking your flight to London, it is crucial to take into account your accommodation's location in the city and opt for the most convenient airport or station accordingly. We suggest planning your travel from the airport or station to your lodging in advance to prevent a potentially costly or time-consuming commute upon your arrival.

To ensure your convenience, we have created a list of the primary airport hubs below, along with comprehensive information on the optimal transportation options from the airport to your Home from Home accommodation in London.

Heathrow Airport

Arriving at
HEATHROW AIRPORT

Heathrow, which is the third busiest airport globally, serves as London's most bustling airport. Situated only 14 miles west of central London, there are several efficient and hassle-free modes of transportation available to reach your lodging from the airport.

By underground: Referred to locally as 'the tube', London's underground system is renowned for its speed and efficiency. Heathrow airport, positioned in zone 6, can be accessed via Heathrow Terminals 1, 2, 3 (a single station), Terminal 4, and Terminal 5. Trains depart frequently, even during peak hours, and the journey duration from Heathrow Central to central London is typically between 40-50 minutes. Tickets and 'Oyster Cards' are available for purchase from stations, the airport, and some airlines, with Travel Cards (valid for one day, one week, or one month) often providing excellent value for money. These cards can also be utilized on other TFL services such as buses, trains, and all underground lines.

By train: For the quickest travel option from Heathrow, 'The Heathrow Express' is recommended. This train service operates between the airport and Paddington Station, with trains departing every 15 minutes and the journey lasting approximately 15 minutes. Paddington Station is conveniently located for those staying in West London, but if your accommodation is situated elsewhere in the city, you may need to use the underground service. Depending on your destination, it might have been more cost-effective and faster to take the underground directly from Heathrow. Ticket prices range from £10 to £30 depending on the advance booking period. A detailed list of fares can be accessed here.

By taxi: If you have made a reservation with us, we would be delighted to assist you in booking an airport transfer. Our experienced partner company will arrange for a driver to meet you upon arrival and transport you directly to your lodging. You can find comprehensive details regarding our transfer service here. Alternatively, if you prefer to arrange your own taxi, taxi ranks are clearly marked at each Heathrow terminal. We advise taking only licensed or London (black) cabs for your safety.

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Gatwick Airport

Arriving at
GATWICK AIRPORT

Gatwick is the second busiest airport in the UK and London. Positioned 29 miles south of central London, it is not directly served by an underground line. However, it is well-connected via overground train services, making it a suitable arrival point if your lodging is situated in South London.

By train: Similar to Heathrow, Gatwick Airport is served by 'The Gatwick Express' train service. Trains operate every 15 minutes until midnight, with a reduced night service starting around 03:30. The journey to London Victoria takes approximately 35 minutes. Single tickets can be purchased from the ticket office for about £20, while online bookings made in advance are slightly cheaper. Alternatively, the regular non-express services offered by Connex South Central and Thameslink are considerably more affordable (you can use your Travel Card or Oyster), with four or five trains running every hour (with a reduced night service), and the journey taking only 35 minutes.

By taxi: Similar to Heathrow, if you are not booking an airport transfer through us, we suggest booking only licensed taxis/minicabs or official London 'Black Cabs'. Since Gatwick is farther away from the city than Heathrow, we recommend taking a train to Victoria or Clapham Junction if your accommodation is not in South London and then taking a taxi from there.

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Gatwick Airport

Arriving at
STANSTED AIRPORT

Stansted airport is situated about 35 miles to the northeast of London, in Essex county. As with Gatwick, Stansted is not within the city limits and is not served by the underground network, but it is well-connected by overground trains. If your accommodation is in East or Northeast London, this is likely one of the best airports to use. However, if your accommodation is not in this area, the transfer from the airport to your accommodation may take some time.

By train: Additionally, there are other train operators that serve Stansted airport such as Greater Anglia and CrossCountry, which offer more affordable options for passengers. These trains stop at various stations between Stansted and London, and some may require a change of train. Passengers can use their Oyster card or purchase a ticket from the station.

By coach: There are also coach services available, such as National Express and Terravision, which offer direct services from Stansted to various locations in London. These services may be more affordable than the train, but the journey time is longer due to traffic. It's worth noting that coach services may have limited services at night.. The location of the coach station at Stansted Airport is beneath the Short Stay Car Park between Zones C and D. Passengers can obtain their tickets from the coach ticket desk located in the arrivals area of the terminal, which operates from 06:00 to 21:30, or from the coach station itself, which is accessible 24 hours a day.

By taxi: Because Stansted is located far from London, it can be expensive to take a taxi. It is better to use transfer services to get to central London and take a taxi from there. If you prefer to take a taxi, it is important to only use licensed taxis or minicabs, or the official London Black Cabs. There are clearly marked taxi ranks outside the terminal building, where passengers can get a taxi to their accommodation.

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Gatwick Airport

Arriving at
LUTON AIRPORT

Luton airport is situated in Bedfordshire, about 30 miles north of London. It is a smaller airport located outside the city and is mainly used by budget airlines like EasyJet, Monarch, Ryanair, and Thomson Airways. If you are planning to fly into Luton, it is advisable to factor in additional travel time to reach your accommodation, especially if the check-in times are during very late or early hours. It is also important to be cautious of cheap flights with inconvenient arrival times.

By train: A quick and direct train service operated by Thameslink runs between central London and Luton Airport Parkway train station, with frequent departures. The journey from King's Cross Station to Luton Airport Parkway takes around 35 minutes. Although the station is not within walking distance of the airport, there is a complimentary shuttle bus, called the Luton Airport Express, which can be found outside the terminal building at Bay 1. The bus will take approximately 10 minutes to reach Luton Airport Parkway station, where you can catch a southbound Thameslink train to Central London.

By coach: The Green Line 757 offers an hourly coach service every day of the week, operating 24 hours a day, to connect Luton Airport and Central London. The journey lasts a little over an hour, and a single ticket typically costs about £10.

By taxi: Similar to Stansted, we advise against taking a taxi or airport transfer to Luton unless you are arriving late at night. Due to its distance from London, these options can be quite expensive. If you do decide to take a taxi, we recommend only using licensed and official cabs.

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Gatwick Airport

Arriving at
LONDON CITY AIRPORT

London City Airport is situated in the Royal Docks area, just 7 miles to the east of Central London and in proximity to Canary Wharf. Despite being smaller in size when compared to other airports in London, it has great connectivity and is the closest airport to the city.

The Docklands Light Railway: The DLR (Docklands Light Railway) is an overground rail system that links East London and is the most convenient mode of public transportation to and from London City Airport. The airport falls under zone 3, and DLR trains run at an interval of 8 to 15 minutes. It takes approximately 15 minutes for the DLR to travel from the airport to the nearest major station, Stratford International.

By bus: Regular London buses serve the airport and Oyster and travel passes are accepted. The buses 473 and 474 run between the airport and Stratford International to the north, and Woolwich to the south.

By taxi: It is possible to find London Black Cabs and minicabs at London City Airport for those who prefer using taxi services. Additionally, more information about the airport transfer service can be found on the airport's website.

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Gatwick Airport

Arriving at
KING’S CROSS ST. PANCRAS

King’s Cross St. Pancras is a major transportation hub located in the north of Central London. It is within walking distance to both the City of London and Westminster and serves as the London station for Eurostar trains coming from continental Europe. Due to its central location, the station is well-connected by all forms of public transport. It has multiple overground links, its own underground station (tube station) that connects to six lines including Circle, Piccadilly, Hammersmith & City, Northern, Metropolitan, and Victoria, as well as many bus stops and taxi stands.

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