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

Heathrow (LHR) is 24 km west of central London; Gatwick (LGW) is 45 km south; Stansted (STN) is 60 km northeast; Luton (LTN) is 50 km north; London City (LCY) sits in zone 3, 10 km east. The right choice depends on your airport, your luggage and the hour you land.

Prices below are 2026 estimates for one adult into zone 1. Contactless fares are capped per day, so a Tube ride plus onward travel often costs less than the single fare suggests.

The Elizabeth line is the default for most arrivals. It runs from Heathrow's terminals into Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road and Liverpool Street, with step-free access at the main stations. It is faster than the Piccadilly line and cheaper than the Heathrow Express.

The Piccadilly line is the cheapest rail option and runs deep into the West End and King's Cross, but it stops often and takes 50–60 minutes. It is fine with light luggage; the carriages are narrow and busy at peak times.

The Heathrow Express is the fastest link to Paddington at 15–20 minutes, but costs roughly double the Elizabeth line for a few minutes saved. Buy in advance online for a lower fare. Taxis from the ranks outside each terminal cost £60–100 to zone 1 and take 45–90 minutes depending on traffic.

Gatwick has its own station inside the South Terminal. Thameslink and Southern trains run to London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pancras, while Southern also serves Victoria. The Gatwick Express to Victoria is faster but costs more. A taxi to zone 1 is £90–130 and rarely beats the train unless you land after midnight.

Stansted sits 60 km northeast. The Stansted Express reaches Liverpool Street in 45–50 minutes; coaches to Victoria and Stratford take 60–90 minutes and cost less. Luton needs a shuttle bus from the terminal to Luton Airport Parkway, then a train to St Pancras in 35–45 minutes, or a direct coach to Victoria.

London City is the easiest of all: the DLR reaches Bank in about 20–25 minutes for a normal Tube fare, with no need for a taxi.

Rail and Tube fares are the cheapest reliable way in. Contactless payment with a bank card or phone gives you the same fare as an Oyster card, and daily caps limit what you spend. Peak fares apply on weekday mornings and late afternoons; off-peak is cheaper.

Taxis and private hire are the expensive option. Black cabs use a meter; minicabs must be booked in advance and should never be hailed on the street. Rideshare apps work at all London airports but pick-up points can be a long walk from arrivals.

If you are staying more than a few days and using the Tube heavily, a Travelcard or contactless capping is usually better than single tickets. Check whether your airport rail line is included in the cap; the Heathrow Express and Gatwick Express are not.

Tap the same card or phone every time. If you switch between a physical card and a phone, each is counted separately for the daily cap and you may pay more.

Allow extra time on Sundays and public holidays, when engineering works close some lines. Check the Transport for London status page before you travel. Night Tube runs on some lines on Friday and Saturday nights, but not all, so check the last train if you land late.

With heavy bags, the Elizabeth line and the DLR are step-free at the main stations; the Piccadilly line is not. If you arrive after the last train, a black cab or pre-booked minicab is the only option.

Buy an eSIM before you land so you can check live times and book a ride without hunting for a SIM shop.