Getting Downtown From London Airports

If you are coming to London by plane, most probably you will be arriving in either Heathrow (24 kms or 15 miles from London) or Gatwick (40 kms or 25 miles). Some planes are also coming to Stansted (80 kms or 50 miles) and the London City Airport (16 kms or 10 miles). You can take London Airport taxi from each of the airports, and it will be the most convenient option to take, although a bit expensive. It is highly recommended if you're traveling with somebody else and can share the cost (about £30). If you expected to be able to use the famous London tube to get you from the airport straight to your hotel or B&B, then you may be a little disappointed because only Heathrow has its own underground station. In fact, there are two tube stations at the Heathrow end of the Piccadilly Line. The first one is serving Terminals 1-3 and the second one is for Terminal 4. You will certainly enjoy your first ride on the tube train, but it may be overcrowded, especially around 5-7 PM. It will take you about 40 minutes to get to Central London from Heathrow. If you will be going to a hotel in the Notting Hill Gate or Victoria Station areas, then get off at Earl's Court Station and take another line - the District Line. As much as you may enjoy fast moving of the tube train, it may be somewhat difficult (or even impossible) to change the trains at the Earl's Court or any other station as a bit of walking and stair-climbing and passing through the turnstiles (revolving gates) will be involved. If such is your case, then you can take a bus run by Airbus. They have about 30 stops around Central London and the buses operate between 6 AM and 8 PM every day. The fare is very reasonable (£6) and it will get you downtown in about 60-90 minutes depending on traffic and location of your hotel. Airbus has pickup areas at each of all four terminals (look for "Airbus" or "Buses to London" signs). While at the airport, go to the Travel Information Centre operated by London Transport and get there free pocket-size Tube Map and "Travelling in London" booklet that you can study during your trip from the airport. When you reach your hotel, you will know almost everything you will need to know about the tube lines, stations and bus lines that will take you to the popular London attractions. The fastest way to get to town is to take the Heathrow Express train that goes to Paddington Station (15 minutes, £13 per person). The best way to transfer from Gatwick Airport to Central London is by Gatwick Airport Transfer. Which is more affordable, Reliable and cheaper or You can choose either the Gatwick Express or SouthEast train, both going to Victoria Station every 15 minutes daily between 5 AM and midnight and every 30 minutes during the night. The Express is a bit faster (30 minutes versus 40 minutes) and more expensive (£9.50 vs. £8.20), but it really does not matter which one you will take, as the difference between them is hard to notice. Bus service from Gatwick is only between 6:30 AM and 5:30 PM; the buses go to Victoria Coach Station. The trip lasts 75 minutes and costs £7.50. London Stansted Airport (STN) is a fairly new, modern airport that you may be using if you are coming to London by a charter flight or from a European country or UK destination (e.g., with a popular carriers easyJet and Ryanair). It is located quite far from Central London, if if you eant to get to Central London from Stansted Airport  you can take the Stansted SkyTrain and get to Liverpool Street Station in 40 minutes. The train runs every half hour and a single ticket costs £10. You can also take a Stansted Airport Taxi from Stansted, but your trip will be much longer - about 90 minutes (depending on traffic). London City Airport (LCY)  is the only airport located within the London city limits - in Silvertown. It is handling flights similar to Stansted (mostly European commuter flights) and it was voted the 'Best UK Airport'. There are three ways to get to Central London from London City Airport: a/ (recommended) take the Docklands Light Railway via Canning Town into Bank, which is on the Central Line (21 minutes journey); b/ take the Docklands Light Railway directly to Canning Town, where you can pick up the Jubilee Line into Central London (time - 7 minutes into Canning Town and approximately 18 minutes into Westminster); c/ take the Docklands Light Railway to Canary Wharf, via Poplar (21 minutes). You can also take London city airport taxi which is most cheaper option to get central London