London’s status as an international city isn’t by accident. Over the course of a hundred years, the city has slowly amassed a wealth of transport hubs that include train and coach stations and six satellite airports with easy routes into the city. Guests touching down in the city anxious to make their booking at a restaurant near Hyde Park, for example, could find themselves at their table ordering food within an hour of touching down.
Of course, there are a few factors to bear in mind when making plans post-touchdown. Most importantly, is your hotel booking for family or club double rooms easy to get to from the airport you’ve arrived at? This blog will outline the rail routes from each of the six airports around London into the centre of the city.
Gatwick
One of the leading airports into London and the South Coast, Gatwick Airport is a major transport hub complete with two terminals for flights. The airport’s train station is within the Oyster Card zone so you can simply pay via contactless. Trains into London Victoria from Gatwick run every 15 minutes, with the Gatwick Express running directly into the city. These trains take around half an hour to reach the Victoria terminus.
Heathrow
The busiest airport in Europe is well connected to the centre of the city. You can reach Heathrow via the Piccadilly Line, which stops at all four of the terminals in Heathrow. Expect an Underground journey into the centre of the city lasting about 50 minutes. Your faster – and more expensive – alternative is the Heathrow Express train, which takes only 15 minutes to reach Paddington Station, perfect for guests of boutique hotels near Hyde Park London who are short of time to make their reservation.
Stansted
Located in the northwest of the city, Stansted Airport is connected to both Stratford station and Liverpool Street Station. The latter is the fastest route into London for guests of hotels in Hyde Park London, taking about 45 minutes via the Stansted Express.Trains to Stratford however, are less expensive but will take you more than an hour when factoring in the other train stops on its route.
Luton
Another northern satellite airport, Luton is easy to reach from Kings Cross St Pancras Station via Thameslink trains. The Luton train takes about 30 minutes, but will only take you to Luton Parkway station, where you’ll have to get a shuttle bus to the airport, at only an extra 10 minutes.
City Airport
City Airport is unique in that it’s the only airport without its own train station. Instead, you can take the Docklands Light Rail, an automated train system to Bank Station. This journey should only take about 20 minutes.
London Southend Airport
The smallest airport in London, those touching down here can reach London in just an hour. The Essex airport has its own trainline run by Abellio Greater Anglia, and takes around an hour to reach London Liverpool Street Station in the City of London district.
