London is unique among world cities in being served by six commercial airports. This is tremendously useful — you almost always have options — but choosing the wrong airport can add hours to your journey. Here is a straightforward guide to all six.
Heathrow (LHR) — The Primary Hub
15 miles west of central London. Off-peak transfer: 35–50 minutes. From £25.
Heathrow is the UK's busiest airport, handling over 75 million passengers per year across five terminals. British Airways operates almost exclusively from here, as do most major intercontinental carriers. For long-haul travel to North America, the Middle East, Asia, or Australasia, Heathrow is almost certainly your airport. Terminal 5 is one of the finest airport terminals in the world for premium travel.
Gatwick (LGW) — The Second Airport
28 miles south of central London. Off-peak transfer: 45–60 minutes. From £35.
The world's busiest single-runway airport and the UK's second largest. Two terminals — North and South. easyJet is a dominant operator alongside TUI and Norwegian. For European city breaks and budget travel, Gatwick is often the right choice and immigration processing tends to be faster than Heathrow.
Stansted (STN) — The Low-Cost Hub
35 miles north-east of central London. Off-peak transfer: 50–70 minutes. From £45.
Ryanair's primary London base and the UK's busiest low-cost airport. A single-terminal airport in Essex handling a vast number of short-haul European routes. For passengers based in north or east London, it can be a genuinely convenient option.
Luton (LTN) — The Northern Option
30 miles north of central London. Off-peak transfer: 45–65 minutes. From £40.
Primarily low-cost and charter operations, with Wizz Air and easyJet as major carriers. Its own railway station connects to the terminal via shuttle. Well-positioned for passengers based in north London or the northern Home Counties.
London City (LCY) — The Business Airport
6 miles east of central London. Off-peak transfer: 15–25 minutes. From £22.
The closest airport to the capital and the most convenient for business travellers. Located in the Royal Docks in Newham, just minutes from Canary Wharf and the City. A passenger landing at London City can be at their Canary Wharf desk in under 20 minutes off-peak. Limited routes — primarily European business destinations — but exceptional for frequent travellers between London and cities like Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Dublin, and Geneva.
Southend (SEN) — The Eastern Option
40 miles east of central London. Off-peak transfer: 60–80 minutes. From £50.
The smallest and most distant of the six airports, serving a limited number of European leisure destinations via Ryanair and easyJet. For passengers based in east London or Essex it can be the most convenient option — avoiding Heathrow traffic and congestion entirely.
London Airport Quick Reference
- LHR Heathrow — 15 miles, 35–50 min, from £25
- LGW Gatwick — 28 miles, 45–60 min, from £35
- STN Stansted — 35 miles, 50–70 min, from £45
- LTN Luton — 30 miles, 45–65 min, from £40
- LCY London City — 6 miles, 15–25 min, from £22
- SEN Southend — 40 miles, 60–80 min, from £50
P5 Chauffeurs covers all six airports 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Fixed prices, flight tracking on every arrival, and meet and greet at every terminal. Whichever airport you use, we will have you where you need to be.