London has six airports and one very good public transport system. Once you understand contactless fares and zones, moving around is simple.
From the airport
- Heathrow: the Elizabeth line or Piccadilly line into central London, or the faster Heathrow Express to Paddington.
- Gatwick: frequent trains to Victoria and London Bridge, around 30 to 35 minutes.
- Stansted: the Stansted Express to Liverpool Street, around 50 minutes, or a coach for less money.
- Luton: a shuttle to Luton Airport Parkway then a train to St Pancras, roughly an hour in total.
- City Airport: the DLR, which is the quickest airport connection in the city.
Coaches are considerably cheaper than trains from the outer airports and take about twice as long. If you land late at night, check the last train, because night coaches often keep running after rail services stop.
Paying for transport
Tap in and out with a contactless bank card or phone. Fares are capped daily and weekly, and you do not need an Oyster card as a visitor. Always tap out on trains and the Tube or you will be charged a maximum fare. On buses you only tap in.
Zones and geography
London is priced in concentric zones, with zone 1 in the centre. Most visitor attractions are in zones 1 and 2. Staying a little further out is cheaper for accommodation and only adds a few minutes on the Tube, so long as you are near a station on a line you will actually use.
Where to stay
- South Bank and Waterloo for walkability to major sights.
- King's Cross for excellent rail links and eurostar departures.
- Shoreditch for food and nightlife, slightly further from museums.
- Kensington for museums and parks in a quieter setting.
Practical notes
Stand on the right on escalators. Buses do not accept cash. Tipping is modest, around 10 percent in restaurants and often already added as a service charge. Rain is possible in every season, so a light waterproof is more useful than an umbrella in wind.
Weekend engineering works close sections of the Tube regularly. Check the transport app before planning a cross city journey on a Sunday morning.
Common questions
- Is the Heathrow Express worth the extra cost?
- Only if you are in a hurry and heading to Paddington. The Elizabeth line is far cheaper and covers more of central London.
- Do I need cash?
- Rarely. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including small shops and markets.
- How far apart are the airports?
- Very far. Connecting between Stansted and Gatwick, for example, can take three hours, so avoid tight self connections.
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