London Airports

Travelling to a new city for the first time can be a little confusing if you’re not too sure where the airport you’re landing at is in relation to the city itself.

London is the biggest city in Europe and five airports serve the people travelling to and from it. Heathrow and Gatwick are the two principle long haul hubs, Stansted and Luton handle mainly low cost European and package holiday flights and City Airport serves UK domestic and western Europe short haul flights.

Heathrow, 14 miles west of central London, is the largest of the five and to be honest its a mess. It first opened in 1946 and bits have been added ever since, Terminal 5 is due to open in 2008. If you’re coming for the first time be prepared for a crowded place that’s a bit of a maze.

Heathrow Terminal 1 deals mainly with domestic flights, UK carriers to Europe plus some South African Airways and El Al flights. Terminal 2 is for the non UK carriers to Europe, Terminal 3 for US, South American and Asian long haul flights and Terminal 4 handles mainly British Airways flights along with KLM and Qantas.

If you don’t see a guy holding a sign with your name on it, offering chilled champagne and a stretch limo ride you may need alternative transport into London. The cheapest way to the centre of town is by the Underground (Tube), it runs from 5am until 11.45pm and costs £4 one way, taking about 45 minutes. The Heathrow Express takes 15 minutes to Paddington station non-stop costing about £14. Coaches go to Victoria station for £10 one way and taxis are available for around £40.

Gatwick is the second busiest London airport, located 28 miles south of the centre of the city, near Crawley in Surrey. Driving in from there can sometimes be a long crawl, far better to take the Gatwick Express to Victoria station, £12 for the 30 minute journey.

Stansted and Luton are both just over 30 miles to the north of London and unless someone’s picking you up the Stansted Express to Liverpool Street station or the train to Kings Cross from Luton is probably the best way to go, fares between £12-15. Coaches run from both but are not quick.

With any of these airports the trains are generally the best way to go unless you’re being collected or don’t mind spending a chunk of change on taxis.

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