London airport to city centre: trains, buses, taxis and costs

London, Ontario is a small city with a small airport. YXU handles regional and a few sun-charter flights, and the terminal is minutes from the curb, so the transfer is short and cheap compared with Toronto or Vancouver. The trade-off is frequency: buses are limited, and there is no rail link.

If you are connecting onward to Toronto, Stratford or the Niagara Peninsula, note that London's VIA Rail station is downtown, not at the airport. You need a taxi or bus into the city first, then the train.

A taxi from YXU to downtown is the simplest choice and the one most locals use. Expect roughly CAD 30–45 for the 10 km run, more at night or in bad weather. Taxis wait at the terminal curb; there is no need to book ahead, though a pre-booked car helps if you land late.

Rideshare pickup points at small Canadian airports are sometimes a short walk from the doors rather than at the taxi rank. Check the app's pickup pin before you walk out. Uber and Lyft both list London, Ontario, but coverage can thin out late at night.

Tipping on taxis in Canada runs 10–15%. Card payment is normal in London taxis; ask before the trip if you only have cash.

London Transit Commission (LTC) runs the city bus network, and some routes serve the airport area. This is the cheapest way in at CAD 3–4 a ride, but it is not designed for arrivals: service is limited in the evening and on Sundays, and you may need a transfer downtown.

If you take the bus, have the exact fare or a tap card ready, and check the last departure before you fly — the airport is not a major transit hub, so the final bus of the day can leave early. For a late landing, treat the bus as unavailable and budget for a taxi.

For onward travel, London's VIA Rail station downtown connects to Toronto, Stratford and Sarnia. You cannot walk there from the airport; take a taxi or bus into the city first.

The transfer is one of the cheaper airport runs in Canada because the distance is short. Budget CAD 30–45 for a taxi, CAD 25–40 for a rideshare, or CAD 3–4 for the bus. Hotel shuttles, where they exist, are usually free to guests.

If you are heading onward, add the cost of a VIA Rail ticket from downtown London: the corridor to Toronto is roughly CAD 45–200 depending on how early you book. Booking a week or more ahead usually cuts the fare sharply.

Small airports mean small margins. If your flight lands after the last bus, you are relying on taxis and rideshare, so have one of them set up before you board.

London sits between Toronto and Windsor, which makes it a useful stop rather than a destination airport for most visitors. If your real target is Stratford, Niagara or Toronto, compare flying into Toronto Pearson instead: the drive from Pearson to London is about two hours, so a connection through YXU is usually faster if a flight exists.

In winter, allow extra time for any transfer. Snow and ice are normal from December to March, and the parent country guidance on winter tyres applies to rental cars on many routes.