London's Airport Options: How Many And Which One?

London, UK, is served by six major airports: London City, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Stansted, and London Southend. Each airport has its own unique characteristics and serves different needs, whether it be for business travellers, those seeking cheap flights, or those looking for convenience and easy connections to the city centre. In this article, we will explore each of these airports in detail, providing insights into their locations, transport options, and the airlines that operate from them. We will also discuss the history of these airports and why London, as a major global city, requires so many aviation hubs.

London Heathrow Airport: The busiest airport in the UK, with five terminals and located 26km from the city centre

London Heathrow Airport is the busiest airport in the UK. Located 26 kilometres from the city centre, it is the closest of London's six international airports to the city. Heathrow is the UK's major air hub, serving travellers from all six continents daily. It is also the most important international airport in the city, with five terminals spread across four different locations.

Heathrow is situated 16 miles from the centre of London, in the southwest corner of the Piccadilly Line. This line provides access to terminals one, two, three, and four, as well as terminal five. The airport is easily accessible via the London Underground, with tube trains arriving every 10 minutes and taking approximately 50 minutes to reach Westminster. Heathrow also offers a fast and direct train service, the Heathrow Express, which operates from all four airport terminals to Paddington Station. The first train departs at 5:10, and the last one shortly after 11:00 pm.

The airport caters to various airlines, including British Airways and its codesharing partners in the OneWorld aviation alliance, as well as Star Alliance member airlines and other international carriers. Heathrow's four terminals provide a range of facilities, including worldwide hotel chains such as Sofitel, Hilton, and Yotelair, which are conveniently located within the airport premises. Additionally, other accommodation options, such as the Atrium, Ibis Styles London Heathrow, and the Leonardo hotel, are situated close to the terminals.

Heathrow provides essential travel information and interactive maps on its website and mobile app. These resources enable travellers to navigate the airport seamlessly, from check-in to departure gates. The Heathrow app offers real-time navigation with turn-by-turn directions, ensuring a smooth journey for passengers.

London Gatwick Airport: The second-busiest airport in the UK, located 45km from London

London has six airports with multiple terminals and runways, and travel between them is extremely cheap and simple. London Gatwick Airport is the second-busiest airport in the UK in terms of passenger traffic, after Heathrow Airport. It is located 45km from London and is the second-biggest airport in the city. Gatwick Airport is conveniently positioned just south of London, with direct links to the M23 at Junction 9 and to the A23 Brighton road. It is also accessible by train, car, or coach.

Gatwick Airport has two terminals, the North Terminal and the South Terminal, which cover 98,000 m2 and 160,000 m2, respectively. It operates as a single-runway airport, using a main runway with a length of 3,316 metres. A secondary runway is available but can only be used if the main runway is out of use. In 2018, 46.1 million passengers passed through the airport, a 1.1% increase from 2017.

Gatwick Airport serves as a hub for several airlines, including British Airways, easyJet, Wizz Air, and TUI Airways. It is unique among London's airports in its representation of the three main airline business models: full service, low-cost, and charter. easyJet is the largest operator at Gatwick, with over 100 routes and a fleet of more than 60 aircraft. The airport also has a variety of dining options, ranging from traditional British cuisine to exotic Asian delicacies.

Gatwick Airport has won awards for its environmental initiatives and aims to improve sustainability. It has set goals for increasing public transport use and reducing parking restrictions. The airport is policed by the Gatwick District of Sussex Police, and access to airside portions is controlled by a dedicated team of security officers.

London Stansted Airport: Known for budget flights, 63km from London

London is served by six airports, and London Stansted Airport is known for its budget flights. Located 63 kilometres from London, Stansted Airport is the UK's fourth busiest airport. It is situated 64 kilometres (40 miles) northeast of London and is home to many of the UK's low-cost airlines, serving mostly European destinations.

London Stansted Airport (STN) is easily accessible by car, coach, and rail. The Stansted Express train service is the quickest way to get to central London, with trains departing every 30 minutes from the airport terminal, which is located directly beneath the airport. The journey to London Liverpool Street takes around 47 minutes, and Tottenham Hale, which offers connections to Stratford and the London Underground Victoria line, takes around 36 minutes.

National Express and Airport Bus Express provide coach services to London, with buses running around the clock to Liverpool Street, Victoria Coach Station, Baker Street, and King's Cross.

For travellers driving to the airport, short-stay, mid-stay, and long-stay parking options are available. The short-stay car park is within walking distance of the terminal, while a shuttle bus connects the mid-stay and long-stay car parks to the terminal.

The Arrivals hall at Stansted Airport offers a range of shops, restaurants, currency exchange services, and car rental desks. The Departures area is located on the ground floor, and after check-in, passengers must go through security control before entering the departure area, which features additional shops, bars, and restaurants.

Stansted Airport is also known for its architecture, with an award-winning terminal building designed by Foster and Partners. The building's "floating" roof creates the impression of a stylised swan in flight and features open canopies that visually connect the landside and airside areas.

London Luton Airport: Known for low-cost, short-haul flights, 55km from London

London Luton Airport is located 55 kilometres from the centre of London. Known for its low-cost, short-haul flights across Europe and North Africa, Luton is the fourth-busiest airport serving London, and one of six international airports in the city.

The airport is situated 1.7 miles (2.7 km) east of Luton town centre, and is owned by Luton Rising, a company wholly owned by Luton Borough Council. It is operated by London Luton Airport Operations Ltd (LLAOL). Luton Airport has a long history, with the site first being used as an airport in 1938. During World War II, it was used by the Royal Air Force, and commercial activity resumed in 1952.

Luton Airport has played a significant role in the development of the package holiday business, with a fifth of all holiday flights from the UK departing from the airport in 1969. The airport has continued to expand over the years, with various updates and changes made to its infrastructure. In 1990, it was renamed London Luton Airport to emphasise its proximity to the capital.

Today, Luton Airport is a major base for low-cost carriers such as EasyJet, Ryanair, Vueling, and Wizz Air. These airlines offer scheduled routes from destinations in Europe to London all year round. The airport also serves as a base for TUI Airways and previously served as a base for Monarch Airlines. In addition to European routes, there are some charter and scheduled flights to destinations in Northern Africa and Asia.

Travelling to and from London Luton Airport is convenient, with several transport options available. The airport has its own railway station, Luton Airport Parkway, which is connected to the airport terminal by the Luton DART, a dedicated rail link. The journey between the airport and the train station takes approximately four minutes, and trains from there to central London take as little as 22 minutes. Thameslink and East Midlands Railway provide frequent services to London and other destinations.

For those who prefer to travel by bus or coach, National Express and Green Line offer 24-hour services to London and other locations. Licensed taxis are also available at the airport, and car hire options are provided through companies such as Avis, Enterprise, and Europcar.

London City Airport: The smallest and closest airport to central London, located in the financial district

London has six airports, including London City Airport, which is the closest airport to central London. Located in the financial district, London City Airport is about 6 miles (9.7 km) east of the City of London and 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Canary Wharf. These are the two centres of London's financial industry, which is a major user of the airport.

London City Airport is one of the easiest and most accessible airports in London. It is located just 9.5km (6 miles) east of central London and 4.8km (3 miles) from Canary Wharf. The airport is served by the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), with its own dedicated station, as well as local bus routes 473 and 474. Taxis are also readily available at the airport, with a price comparison tool on the airport's website for instant quotes on minicab fares.

London City Airport is a smaller airport, with a single 1,508-metre-long (4,948 ft) runway and a two-storey passenger terminal building with 18 gates. In 2019, the airport handled over 5.1 million passengers, making it the fifth busiest airport in the London area. The airport is primarily used by business travellers, with destinations such as Luxembourg and Frankfurt, although the number of leisure destinations served has increased in recent years.

The airport has stringent rules to limit noise impact from aircraft operations. This, along with the physical dimensions of the runway and the steep glideslope, limits the types of aircraft that can use the airport. The airport is also within the Ultra Low Emissions Zone, so visitors arriving by car may need to pay the ULEZ charge.

London City Airport offers a range of facilities, including fresh food and drink options, a revitalising spa treatment, and a left luggage facility. The airport also has dedicated staff to assist travellers with accessibility needs.

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