London - Getting Around - Air

London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Tel: 0844335 1801.
Website:www.heathrowairport.com

Heathrow, 24km (15 miles) west of central London, is one of the world's busiest international airports.

Airport facilities: Facilities include bureaux de change, ATMs, airport information, hotel reservation and travel information desks, post offices in terminals two and four, left luggage, Internet access,showers, telephones and fax machines, shops, duty-free outlets, restaurants, cafes, bars and information centres. Car hire isavailable in all five terminals, from Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, National and Thrifty. The Business Centre Heathrow is located in the Queen's Building, between terminals one and two. Open Monday to Friday 0730 to 1900, it offers 20 meeting rooms and a conference suite, as well as a communications centre with computers with Internet access, faxes, photocopiers, audiovisual equipment and even showers.

Transport to the city: The Heathrow Express (tel: 0845 600 1515; www.heathrowexpress.co.uk) operates from terminals one, two, three and five with trains running every 15 minutes. Passengers from terminal four need to take the free transfer serviceto Heathrow Central and change. You can buytickets from theHeathrow Express desks or self-service ticket kiosks located at the station; tickets are also available for purchase on the train, for a premium, or online, with a 10% discount. A cheaper, but longer option is to take the Heathrow Connect rail service (tel: 0845 678 6975; www.heathrowconnect.com) to Paddington.

The airport is also on the London Underground Piccadilly line (tel: (020) 7222 1234; www.tfl.gov.uk).

There is also a Central Bus Station at Heathrow, where the main bus service to central London is operated by National Express (tel: 0871 781 8181; www.nationalexpress.com). At night, the N9 night bus service goes to central London every 30 minutes (journey time - 50 minutes).

The Airport Travel Line (tel: 0870 574 7777) provides coach transport information. The Travel Line (tel: 0871 200 2233) can provide information on all public transport to and from London.

Taxis are readily available and cost from around 40-70 for a journey to the city centre (depending on traffic conditions and time of day).


London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Tel: 0844335 1802.
Website: www.gatwickairport.com

Gatwick, 45km (28 miles) south of central London, is the second busiest international airport in the UK. A free train links the two terminals (north and south). Another useful website for passenger information is www.gatwick-airport-guide.co.uk.

Airport facilities: Both terminals have bureaux de change, ATMs, airport information desks, showers, left luggage facilities, shops, duty-free outlets, restaurants and bars. There is also an Internet cafe situated in the south terminal. Both terminals have car hire from Alamo, Avis, Dollar, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, National and Thrifty. The airport provides a Fast Track priority service for business-class travellers, as well as a full range of business services at the Hilton London Gatwick Airport Hotel (tel: (01293) 518 080; www1.hilton.com) and Sofitel London Gatwick Hotel (tel: (01293) 567 070; www.sofitel.com).

Transport to the city: The Gatwick Express (tel: 0845 850 1530; www.gatwickexpress.co.uk) train service to Victoria station operates every 15 minutes daily (journey time - 30 minutes). Other, slower, cheaper trains also run to Victoria (stopping at East Croydon and Clapham en route). Alternative train services by First Capital Connect (tel: 0845 748 4950; www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk) to St Pancras operate daily approximately every 15 minutes during peak hours, with a reduced service at night (journey time - 45 to 50 minutes).

National Express coaches (tel: 0871 781 8181; www.nationalexpress.com) link Gatwick and Heathrow airports (journey time - 70 minutes) daily approximately 0500 to 2230. Coaches also run from Gatwick Airport to Victoria. The Easybus EB3 service also serves Victoria.

The Travel Line (tel: 0871 200 2233) and the Airport Travel Line (tel: 0870 574 7777) can provide information on all public transport to and from London. Chauffeur-driven cars are provided by Checker Cars (tel: (01293) 502 808 (south terminal) or 501 377 (north terminal). Taxis are readily available and a trip to the centre of London costs around 80 for a journey time of approximately one hour 30 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.


London Stansted Airport (STN)
Tel: 0844335 1803.
Website: www.stanstedairport.com

Stansted is located 48km (30 miles) northeast of central London.

Airport facilities: Bureaux de change, ATMs, left luggage, airport information, hotel reservation desk, shops, duty-free outlets, restaurants, bars and car hire from Alamo, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and National. Lounges can be pre-booked for business meetings and Wi-Fi access is available throughout the terminal.

Transport to the city: The Stansted Express (tel: 0845 850 0150; www.stanstedexpress.co.uk) train service to Liverpool Street station operates daily 0530 to 2430, departing every 15 minutes (journey time - 49 minutes).

The main coach service to central London is the A6 (tel: 0871 781 8181; www.nationalexpress.com), which travels to Victoria coach station every 10 minutes, 24 hours a day (journey time - 1 hour 45 minutes).

The Airport Travel Line (tel: 0870 574 7777) provides further coach transport information. The Travel Line (tel: 0871 200 2233) can provide information on all public transport to and from London. Taxis are usually available at the airport or can be telephoned; Airport Carz (tel: (01245) 251 888) charges around 85 for the 60-minute (depending on traffic and conditions) journey to central London.


London Luton Airport (LTN)
Tel: (01582) 405 100.
Website: www.london-luton.co.uk

Luton airport is situated 52km (32 miles) north of central London.

Airport facilities: The airport has bureaux de change, ATMs, several information kiosks, shops, duty-free outlets, restaurants, bars and car hire from Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and National. The Aviance Executive Lounge (tel: (01582) 700 898) is located in the international departure lounge. Facilities include fax, telephone and Internet.

Transport to the city: First Capital Connect (tel: 0845 748 4950; www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk) provides a fast link (approximately 30 to 40 minutes) to St Pancras from the Luton Airport Parkway station. A free shuttle bus connects Luton Airport with the Parkway station. Trains operate daily approximately every 15 to 30 minutes, with a reduced service on weeknights.

Greenline (tel: 0844 801 7261; www.greenline.co.uk) operates coach services to Victoria coach station, departing every 30 to 60 minutes 24 hours a day (journey time - 60 to 90 minutes). easyBus also operates a direct express service to/from Central London (Victoria), seven days a week. The Travel Line (tel: 0871 200 2233) provides further information on travel to London.

Taxis are available 24 hours and cost approximately 60 for a journey to central London.


London City Airport (LCY)
Tel: (020) 7646 0088.
Website: www.londoncityairport.com

London City Airport is the most central of the capital's airports, located just 10km (6 miles) east of the City of London.

Airport facilities: These include bureaux de change, ATMs, information and hotel reservation desks, postal facilities, duty-free shopping, restaurants, bars, and car hire from Avis, Europcar and Hertz. The Meridian Business Centre (tel: (020) 7646 0900) offers fully serviced conference suites and office space for hire.

Transport to the city: A DLR (Docklands Light Railway) link connects the airport to Bank underground station on the Central Line and has direct connections with the Jubilee Line at Canning Town. Trains run every 7 minutes, and take 14 minutes to reach Canning Town, and 22 minutes to reach Bank station.

There is a stand with licensed black taxis, located directly outside the terminal building. Fares to central London start from 20-25. The Travel Line (tel: 0871 200 2233) provides further information on all transport to and from London.

Approximate flight times to London: From New York is 7 hours 40 minutes; from Los Angeles is 10 hours 20 minutes; from Toronto is 7 hours and from Sydney is 23 hours 5 minutes (plus stopover).