London has four main airports that we serve: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton. Which one is best for you usually comes down to three things: where your airline flies from, where you live, and how you want to get there. This guide compares them side by side.
The four London airports at a glance
- Heathrow, west of London: the UK’s main long-haul airport, with four terminals (2, 3, 4 and 5). Most British Airways flights use Terminal 5. The Heathrow Express runs to London Paddington in about 15 minutes, every 15 minutes.
- Gatwick, south of London: a mix of short- and long-haul flights from two terminals, North and South. The Gatwick Express runs to London Victoria in about 30 minutes, from the station at the South Terminal.
- Stansted, north-east of London: mainly short-haul flights to Europe, from a single terminal. The Stansted Express runs to London Liverpool Street in around 50 minutes.
- Luton, north of London: mainly short-haul flights with airlines such as easyJet, Wizz Air and Ryanair, from a single terminal. Trains run from London St Pancras to Luton Airport Parkway, where the Luton DART takes you to the terminal; the whole trip can take as little as 32 minutes.
Journey times are from Heathrow Express, Gatwick Airport, London Stansted Airport and London Luton Airport (checked October 2026). Timetables change, so check before you travel.
Which airport is closest to you?
If you live north of London, in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire or Cambridgeshire, Luton and Stansted are usually the nearest. South London, Surrey and Sussex are closest to Gatwick, and west London and the Thames Valley to Heathrow. If your airline flies from more than one of them, the nearest airport can save you an hour or more on the road.
Getting there: train or taxi?
All four airports have fast trains into central London, which work well if you live near the line and travel light. A pre-booked taxi takes you from your door to the terminal with no changes, which matters more with children, heavy luggage, an early flight, or when you live away from the railway.
Being dropped off by car costs money at every terminal: £7 per visit at Heathrow, £10 for the first 10 minutes at Gatwick, £10 for up to 15 minutes at Stansted and £9 for 12 minutes at Luton (each airport’s official website, checked October 2026). With a fixed-price transfer from Quick Airport Transfers these charges are already included in your price.
Flying from Gatwick
Gatwick’s two terminals are linked by a free shuttle train, and the railway station is at the South Terminal. Check which terminal your airline uses before you set off, and choose that terminal when you book. Our Gatwick airport taxi guide explains booking, meeting your driver and what the price includes.
Guides for each airport
- Heathrow: Heathrow airport taxi and our Heathrow terminals guide
- Gatwick: Gatwick airport taxi
- Stansted: Stansted airport taxi and our Stansted booking tips
- Luton: Luton airport taxi and our Luton Airport taxi guide
Transfers between the London airports
If you land at one airport and fly out of another, we also run transfers between them, for example Gatwick to Heathrow or Stansted to Luton, at a fixed price. Add both flight numbers when you book: we track your arriving flight and include 45 minutes of free waiting from the time it lands.
Get your fixed price
We take you to and from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and Manchester from any UK address. Get an instant fixed-price quote, or call us 24/7 on +44 1582 800333.
