Getting to and around London

There are various ways to get from the Airport to your London hotel most of which are covered here – or let us organise it for you at AIRPORT/LONDON HOTEL TRANSFERS

GETTING TO CENTRAL LONDON FROM THE AIRPORTS

HEATHROW AIRPORT TO CENTRAL LONDON

By Underground
There are two Underground Stations at Heathrow Airport, one for Terminals 1,2 and 3 and the other for Terminal 4. Both provide regular train services into Central London on the Piccadilly Line of London’s Underground.

• Frequency - trains run every 3-7 minutes
• Times - first train leaves Terminal 4 at 0458 and Terminals 1, 2 and 3 at 0508. Last train departs Terminal 4 at 2334 and Terminals 1, 2 and 3 at 2349.
• Journey Time - approx 45-60 mins depending on destination
• Price - one way ticket to Zone 1 (central London zone) is £3.40, child £1.40. After 0930 a One Day Travelcard costs £4.50 and gives you unlimited travel on London Underground tubes and buses.

For further information on the Underground call London Transport on 020 7222 1234.

By Train
Launched in June 1998 the ‘Heathrow Express’ is the fastest rail link from Heathrow Airport into Central London and it offers a regular service to London’s Paddington Station.

• Frequency - trains run every 15 minutes
• Times - departures from Terminal 4 are at 02, 17, 32 and 47 past each hour from 0502 until the last train at 2347. Departures from Terminals 1, 2 and 3 are 07, 22, 37 and 52 past each hour from 0507 until 2352.
• Journey Time -15 minutes from Heathrow Central (Terminals 1, 2, 3) and 20 minutes from Terminal 4.
• Price - one way ticket is £10.00, return £20.00. First class £20.00, return £40.00. Children, under 5 are free, 5-15 are £5.00

For further information call the Heathrow Express Customer Care Line on 0845 6001515.

By Bus and Coach
The most direct and regular coach services to Central London are the Airbuses. Airbuses A1 and A2 take you to fixed drop-off points in Central London.
Airbus A1 goes to Victoria Rail Station via several London hotels on Cromwell Road, Knightsbridge and Hyde Park Corner.
Airbus 2 goes to Kings Cross via Holland Park, Notting Hill, Bayswater, Marble Arch, Marylebone, Euston and Russell Square.
Airbus Direct will take you to your hotel but 24 hours notice is required.

• Frequency - buses run every 20-30 minutes
• Times - Airbus’s A1 and A2:
  Terminal 1 – first bus 0635, last bus 2145
  Terminal 2 – first bus 0630, last bus 2145
  Terminal 3 – first bus 0555, last bus 2153
  Terminal 4 – first bus 0540, last bus 2130
  Airbus Direct needs to be booked 24 hours in advance and an Airbus representative will meet you from your flight and assist you with your luggage.
• Journey Time - approx. 60-70 minutes
• Price - Airbus A1 and A2 are £6.00 one way, £10.00 return, children under 5 are free, under 16 one way £3.00, return £5.00.
  Airbus Direct is £12.00 one way, £24.00 return, children under 5 are free, under 16 are single £6.00 and £12.00.

For further information about the Airbuses call 020 8400 6655.

There is also an all night bus service from Heathrow to Central London, which is the N97 provided by London Transport from the central bus station at Heathrow Airport to London’s Trafalgar Square.
The route is: Heathrow Airport Central, Cranford, Hounslow West, Hounslow, Isleworth, Brentford, Gunnersbury, Turnham Green, Hammersmith, Lillie Road, West Brompton, Earls Court, South Kensington, Knightsbridge, Hyde Park Corner, Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square.

• Frequency - twice an hour
• Times - each hour at 20 minutes and 50 minutes past the hour from 2350 until 0450
• Journey Time - about an hour
• Price - £1.50 one way

By Car
Direct access to Central London is via the M4 motorway, which is adjacent to Heathrow Airport.

• Journey Time - approx. 45-60 minutes depending on traffic. Avoid the midweek rush hours of 0700-1000, 1600-1900 Mon-Fri as it is a major commuter route

By Taxi
There are clearly signposted taxi ranks in each terminals Arrival area.

• Journey Time - approx. 50-60 minutes
• Price - approx. £35.00-£45.00

Heathrow Airport Information
General Airport and Flight Information. Tel: 020 8759 4321

GATWICK AIRPORT TO CENTRAL LONDON

By Train
There are two train services that run direct into Central London to London Victoria Station

Gatwick Express	Connex South Central
Frequency/Times - daily every 15 minutes from 0520 to 0050 and hourly overnight	Frequency/Times - Mon-Fri five trains per hour and hourly overnight
Journey Time - 30 minutes	Journey Time - 35 minutes
Price - one way ticket £9.50 day return £11.00	Price - one way ticket £7.50 off peak day return £7.80

There are also through trains to London King’s Cross and beyond where Thameslink trains run through London Bridge, Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon and King’s Cross Thameslink stations to St Albans, Luton and Bedford.

• Frequency - four trains an hour during the day
• Journey Time - 45 minutes to King’s Cross
• Price - one way £9.50, day return £10.50

For further information call the National Rail Enquiries on 0345 484950.

By Bus and Coach
There is a frequent Flightline coach service from Gatwick to London’s Victoria Coach Station.

• Frequency/Times - daily at 0715, then 0945 every hour until 1445, then 1545, then every hour until 1935. Two evening services run at 2135 and 2335.
• Journey Time - 60-70 minutes
• Price - one way £7.50, return £11.00

For further information call the Bus and Coach Information line on 0990 747777.

By Car
From Gatwick Airport join the M23 motorway at junction 9 and follow M23 and A23 into Central London.

• Journey Time - approx. 60-75 minutes depending on traffic

By Taxi
Taxi ranks are clearly signposted.

• Journey Time - approx. 60-75 minutes depending on traffic
• Price - £40.00-£50.00

Gatwick Airport Information
Flight Information. Tel: 0990 111666
North Terminal. Tel: 01293 507140
South Terminal. Tel: 01293 502478

LONDON CITY AIRPORT TO CENTRAL LONDON

By Bus and Coach
Shuttle Buses run direct to Liverpool Street rail station and also to the Canary Wharf business area on the Docklands Light Railway.

• Frequency/Times - daily every 10 mins. First departure to Liverpool Street is 0650 Mon-Fri, 0710 Sat and 1100 Sun. Last bus leaves for Liverpool Street at 2100 Mon-Fri, 1220 Sat and 2120 Sun.
• Journey Time - to Liverpool Street 20 mins, Canary Wharf 10 mins
• Price - one way; £4.00 to Liverpool Street and £2.00 to Canary Wharf

By Car
For the City of London take the A1011/the Limehouse Link road which will take about 20 minutes.
For the Canary Wharf business district the drive time is 10 minutes.

By Taxi
There is a taxi rank on the forecourt and fares are approx. £20.00 to the West End (approx. 30 mins) and £15.00 to the City.

By Train
There is a train service from the Silvertown and Airport station on the North London Line and although it doesn’t serve any of London’s main stations, it is the closest station to the airport, being a 5-10 minute walk.
The Docklands Light Railway, the DLR, has a service to Bank station in the heart of the financial district from either Canary Wharf or Prince Regent station. This is not a direct service, as you need to change trains at Westferry station.
An airport shuttle bus provides frequent transfers to Canary Wharf for the DLR connection. The nearest DLR station is Prince Regent; the number 473 bus goes direct.
Journey time to Bank station from the airport is around 40 minutes depending on connections.

London City Airport Information
For Flight and General Information. Tel: 020 7646 0000

LUTON AIRPORT TO CENTRAL LONDON

By Train
The fastest and most frequent way is the ‘Luton Flyer’ train. Take a high frequency shuttle bus from the airport to Luton Rail Station where trains run to Kings Cross Station.

• Frequency - 3 to 4 per hour depending on time of day
• Times - first departure Mon-Sat 0318, Sun 0608. Last departure Mon-Fri 2453 and Sat, Sun 2340.
  
• Journey Time - 45-60 minutes including the shuttle bus
• Price - single £10.20

For further information call the National Rail Enquiries on 0345 484950.

By Coach
Take the Luton and District 757 bus/coach.

• Frequency/Times - departures every hour, more frequently at peak times. Mon-Fri, 0630-2300. Sat, Sun 0635, then 0830 then every hour
• Journey Time - approx. 70-90 minutes
• Price - one way £7.00

For further information call 020 8668 7261

By Car
Go two miles to junction 10 of the M1 motorway, which goes to North London.

• Journey Time - approx. 70-80 minutes to the West End

By Taxi
Approx. cost to the West End would be £50.00-£60.00.

Luton Airport Information
For flight or other information call the Luton Airport information desk on 01582 405100

STANSTED AIRPORT TO CENTRAL LONDON

By Train
The fastest and most frequent way is on the ‘Skyline’ rail service to London’s Liverpool Street station. There is a stop at Tottenham Hale, which connects with the Victoria Line of the Underground from where you can go to the West End.

• Frequency/Times - daily every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour from about 0500. Last departure 2359.
• Journey Time - approx. 45 minutes
• Price - one way £10.00

For further information call the National Rail Enquiries on 0345 484950.

By Car
Stansted is on the M11 motorway at Junction 8. Approximately 20 minutes drive south of the airport the M11 connects with the M25 London Orbital Motorway at Junction 27.

• Journey Time - approx. 70 minutes to Central London

By Taxi
Stansted has no taxi rank so you have to book one at the desk in International Arrivals.

• Journey Time - approx. 70 minutes to Central London
• Price - approx. £1.20 per mile, £1.40 between midnight and 0600

Bus
Flightline coaches serve Victoria Coach Station in Central London.

• Frequency/Times - every hour from 0800, last one at 2215
• Journey Time - 1 hour 45 minutes
• Price - one way £9.00, return £13.00

Stansted Airport Information
For Flight and Further Information. Tel: 01279 680500

GETTING AROUND LONDON

BY LONDON UNDERGROUND

London’s extensive Underground, the world’s first underground rail network which opened in 1863, is also known as "the tube" and is the most often used form of transport as well as usually being the quickest and cheapest.

From Monday to Saturday trains start shortly after 0500 and finish between 2330 and 0030 depending on what station. On Sunday they start about two hours later and finish about an hour earlier.

They are very frequent and are every 5-10 minutes depending on the route and time of day.

Fares for both the Underground and buses are based on London being divided into concentric Zones from 1 to 6 with Zone 1 being the very centre of London including the West End where most hotels and attractions are.

The most economical way of getting around is to buy a Travelcard, which you buy for all the zones through which you want to travel. It gives you unlimited travel in Greater London on the Rail Network, Buses (for Night Buses see each category below), Underground and the Docklands Light Railway, whereby you can travel on any combination as many times as you wish. Travelcards, although valid for use on buses, can only be bought at Underground, Railway Stations and selected newsagents.

One Day Travelcards are valid after 0930 Mon to Fri and anytime weekends and public holidays. Not valid on Night Buses.

Weekly Travelcards are valid any time day or night for seven consecutive days and you need a photocard for adults and children, which are free and easy to obtain. Just take a passport size photo to any Underground or National Railways ticket office. Proof of age will be needed for 14 or 15 year olds. Can be used on N-prefixed Night Buses at the end of the first day of validity.

LT Cards are a one day card and valid at any time. Not valid on Night Buses or for travel to stations north of Queen’s Park on the Bakerloo Line.

Family Travelcards are valid after 0930 Mon-Fri, all day at weekends and on public holidays and are available to family type groups consisting of up to two adults, travelling with at least one, and up to four children. Each traveller has a ticket and adult tickets are 20% cheaper than the normal Travelcard price for adults. Children are each charged a flat fare of 50 pence. Members of the party do not need to be related but must travel together at all times. Not valid on Night Buses.

Weekend Travelcards save 25% off the price of two normal One Day Travelcards and are valid for the two days of the weekend, or for travel for any two consecutive days during public holidays.

Carnet is a book of ten single tickets for travel on the Underground in Zone 1 only and save about 10% on the price of individual tickets. It can be bought in advance of your journey and is valid for 12 months. They can be used by you or by anyone you choose to give them to.

Children. 5 to 15 year olds travel at a reduced fare but 14 and 15 year olds need to carry a Child Rate Photocard (see Weekly Travelcards above). All children under 5 travel free on the Underground.

Tips

• Try to avoid rush hours (Mon-Fri 0800-0930 and 1700-1830) as it’s very crowded but at other times it is fast and efficient.
• The different Underground lines have their own names and colours to make them easy to identify when planning your journey
• Travelcards offer the best value and you can choose the one that suits you.
• Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the Underground.

For further information contact London Travel Information. Tel: 020 7222 1234

BY BUS

London is renowned for its bright red double-decker buses. It is a fine way to travel around the city and can be a great way to see a lot of London along the way, and often for short distances buses are cheaper than the Underground and can sometimes be quicker, but do avoid the rush hours

As with the Underground, fares for buses are based on London being divided into concentric Zones from 1 to 6 with Zone 1 being the very centre of London including the West End where most hotels and attractions are. The most economical way of getting around is to buy a Travelcard which you buy for all the zones through which you want to travel and it gives you unlimited travel in Greater London on the Rail Network, Buses, (for Night Buses see each category below), Underground and the Docklands Light Railway, whereby you can travel on any combination as many times as you wish. The Travelcard although valid for use on buses, can only be bought at Underground, railway stations and selected newsagents.

One Day Travelcards are valid after 0930 Mon-Fri and anytime weekends and public holidays. Not valid on Night Buses.

Weekly Travelcards are valid any time day or night for seven consecutive days and you need a photocard for adults and children, which are free and easy to obtain. Just take a passport size photo to any Underground or National Railways ticket office. Proof of age will be needed for 14 or 15 year olds. Can be used on N-prefixed Night Buses at the end of the first day of validity.

LT Cards are a one day card and valid at any time. Not valid on Night Buses.

Family Travelcards are valid after 0930 Mon-Fri, all day at weekends and on public holidays and are available to family type groups consisting of up to two adults, travelling with at least one, and up to four children. Each traveller has a ticket and adult tickets are 20% cheaper than the normal Travelcard price for adults. Children are each charged a flat fare of 50 pence. Members of the party do not need to be related but must travel together at all times. Not valid on Night Buses.

Weekend Travelcards save 25% off the price of two normal One Day Travelcards and are valid for the two days of the weekend, or for travel for any two consecutive days during public holidays.

Children. 5 to 15 year olds travel at a reduced rate but 14 and 15 year olds need to carry a Child Rate Photocard (see Weekly Travelcards above). Up to two accompanied children under 5 can travel free.

For further information contact London Travel Information. Tel: 020 7222 1234.

BY BLACK TAXI AND MINICABS

Probably the best in the world, London’s black taxis are part of London’s tradition, you will see them everywhere and they tend to know Central London very well. When the yellow "For Hire" sign on the top is lit then the taxi is available. You can either, pick them up from a taxi rank, (normally found by the bigger hotels and main tourist areas), hail them down in the street or book by phone on 020 7286 0286/020 7253 5000/020 7272 0272.

Every black taxi has a meter so you know exactly what you are being charged. Charges are based on distance travelled or time elapsed and there is a minimum fare of about £1.50. A standard journey from the City to the West End will cost about £6.00 outside rush hour. Tipping although discretionary is common with 10% being the norm.

Minicabs are unlicensed and do not always know London that well. They cannot be hailed in the street and have to be booked by phone when it is worth negotiating a fare. They usually work out cheaper than black taxis especially for longer journeys. There is usually a minimum fare of about £3.00.