Sachin Walls
London is served by several airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick. Heathrow Airport is a major hub for long-haul flights across the North Atlantic and is the base for British Airways. It is located in the London Borough of Hillingdon and is the largest of London's airports. Gatwick, on the other hand, is located in West Sussex and is the second-busiest airport in the United Kingdom. It is also one of the top 10 busiest international airports in the world and is the main base for easyJet, the UK's largest airline by number of passengers. Both airports are accessible via train or bus transfers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Heathrow: London Borough of Hillingdon, West London |
| Gatwick: West Sussex | |
| Busiest Airport | Heathrow: Busiest airport in London and the main gateway into the UK for non-European visitors |
| Gatwick: Second busiest airport in London and the UK | |
| Number of Terminals | Heathrow: 4 |
| Gatwick: N/A | |
| Number of Runways | Heathrow: 2 |
| Gatwick: 1 | |
| Number of Destinations | Heathrow: 218 destinations across 86 countries |
| Gatwick: 193 destinations in 60 countries | |
| Major Airlines | Heathrow: British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Aer Lingus |
| Gatwick: EasyJet, British Airways, Norse Atlantic Airways, TUI Airways, Wizz Air | |
| Transport to London | Heathrow: Heathrow Express, London Underground, Elizabeth Line |
| Gatwick: Gatwick Express, Thameslink, Southern Rail, National Express coaches, Flixbus coaches, Airline coaches |
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What You'll Learn
- Heathrow and Gatwick are two of London's major airports
- Heathrow is London's largest airport and a hub for long-haul flights
- Gatwick is London's second-largest airport and the second busiest in the UK
- Both airports are accessible via train or bus
- Heathrow is west of London, while Gatwick is further away from the city centre
Heathrow and Gatwick are two of London's major airports
Gatwick Airport, located in West Sussex, is the second-largest airport in London and the United Kingdom. It is one of the top 10 busiest international airports in the world and handles flights to more destinations than any other UK airport. EasyJet, British Airways, Norse Atlantic Airways, TUI Airways, and Wizz Air are some of the major airlines using Gatwick as their base. While Gatwick is nearly twice as far from central London as Heathrow, the travel time between the airport and the city centre is comparable, especially when using public transportation.
Both Heathrow and Gatwick offer various transportation options to and from London. National Express, Flixbus, and The Airline coaches operate between the two airports and provide connections to London. Additionally, train services, such as Heathrow Express, Elizabeth line, and London Underground, connect Heathrow to central London stations like Paddington and Victoria. Similarly, Gatwick is connected to London Victoria and London Blackfriars stations through Southern Rail and Thameslink train services.
Heathrow and Gatwick are not only two of London's major airports but also crucial gateways to the city and the country. They cater to a large number of passengers and offer connections to destinations worldwide, contributing significantly to London's and the United Kingdom's aviation landscape.
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Heathrow is London's largest airport and a hub for long-haul flights
Heathrow Airport, located in Greater London, is London's largest airport and one of the world's busiest travel hubs. It is named after the village of Heathrow, which was situated near the present-day Terminal 3. Heathrow boasts an impressive connectivity score of 317, according to the OAG's Megahubs Index in 2019, and was Europe's busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic in 2015.
Heathrow is a major hub for long-haul flights, with Terminal 3 historically dedicated to long-haul routes for foreign carriers to the United States and Asia. The terminal first opened in 1961 as the Oceanic Terminal and was later expanded in 1970 with the addition of an arrivals building. Today, Terminal 3 continues to serve as a key gateway for long-haul travel, accommodating major airlines such as Emirates, Qantas, and Virgin Atlantic.
The airport's dominance in the long-haul market is evident through its busiest routes, which include Heathrow to New York JFK, Dubai, Singapore, and Los Angeles. Heathrow's strong connections to these destinations contribute to its standing as a prominent hub for long-haul travel.
Additionally, Heathrow's role as a major global travel hub is underscored by its status as the base for ninety airlines, including well-known carriers such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Lufthansa. The airport's vast network of airlines and routes make it a crucial gateway for international travel to and from London.
Heathrow's size and significance as an international travel hub are further emphasised by the presence of multiple terminals, each serving a distinct purpose. Terminal 5, for example, is exclusively used by British Airways as its global hub, while Terminal 4 caters to the SkyTeam alliance and select other airlines.
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Gatwick is London's second-largest airport and the second busiest in the UK
London has four major airports and several smaller ones, but Heathrow and Gatwick are the two most well-known. Heathrow is the largest airport in London and the main gateway into the UK for non-European visitors. It is located in the London Borough of Hillingdon, in the western suburbs of London. It has four terminals and two parallel runways. Heathrow is heavily slot-constrained, making it difficult for airlines to increase their capacity. This has created a need for alternative London airports, with Gatwick being the primary option.
Gatwick Airport is located in West Sussex and is London's second-largest airport and the second busiest in the UK. It is also one of the top 10 busiest international airports in the world and the second busiest single-runway airport globally. During July 2023, 47 airlines connected Gatwick with 193 destinations in 60 countries. EasyJet, the UK's largest airline by passenger numbers, has its main base at Gatwick. Other airlines using Gatwick as a base include British Airways, Norse Atlantic Airways, TUI Airways, and Wizz Air.
Gatwick is nearly twice as far from central London as Heathrow, but the journey time is not significantly longer, especially when using public transport. National Rail, Southern Rail, Thameslink, Gatwick Express, and various bus services connect Gatwick to central London.
Both Heathrow and Gatwick are major hubs for transatlantic flights. The route between London (Heathrow and Gatwick) and New York (JFK and Newark) was the busiest long-haul route in the world in 2011, with 3,898,460 passengers travelling between the two cities.
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Both airports are accessible via train or bus
London is served by several airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick. Both airports are accessible via train or bus.
Heathrow by Train
Heathrow Airport is located in the London Borough of Hillingdon, in the western suburbs of London. It is the largest of London's airports and is considered the main gateway to the United Kingdom for non-European visitors. Travellers can take the Heathrow Express train between Heathrow and Paddington Station in Central London. From Paddington, passengers can connect to the London Underground network to reach other parts of the city. The Heathrow Express journey takes approximately 15 minutes, and tickets start at £27.50. Alternatively, the Elizabeth line offers a more affordable option, with tickets starting from £12.80, although the journey takes longer, at around 45-to-60 minutes.
Heathrow by Bus
For a cheaper travel option, National Express coaches provide a direct bus service between Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport, as well as other London airports like Stansted, Luton, and London City Airport. Flixbus and The Airline coaches, operated by the Oxford Bus Company, also run between Heathrow and Gatwick. These bus services operate throughout the day, seven days a week.
Gatwick by Train
Gatwick Airport is located in West Sussex and is the second-busiest airport in the United Kingdom. Southern Rail provides a regular train service between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport, with trains departing every 15 minutes. The journey takes approximately 33 minutes, and tickets start from £18.30. Additionally, Thameslink operates a stopping service between London Blackfriars and Gatwick Airport every 30 minutes, with tickets starting from £12.90.
Gatwick by Bus
National Express coaches also provide a direct bus connection between Gatwick and Heathrow, as well as other London airports. These buses are a more affordable option but may take longer, especially during peak hours.
Both the Heathrow and Gatwick websites provide detailed information on travel options, journey times, and costs. It is always advisable to allow plenty of time for travel to and from the airports, considering factors such as passport control, baggage reclaim, and potential traffic or transport delays.
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Heathrow is west of London, while Gatwick is further away from the city centre
Heathrow and Gatwick are two of London's airports. Heathrow Airport is located in the western suburbs of London, while Gatwick is situated in West Sussex, further away from the city centre. Both airports are major hubs for international travel, with Heathrow serving as London's primary gateway for non-European visitors and Gatwick being the second-busiest airport in the United Kingdom.
Heathrow Airport, with its four terminals and two parallel runways, is the largest of London's airports. It is a significant hub for long-haul flights, particularly across the North Atlantic, and serves as a base for British Airways. The airport's western location has made expansion challenging, and it consistently operates at full capacity. Heathrow's proximity to London's city centre makes it a convenient option for travellers.
Gatwick, on the other hand, is located in West Sussex, placing it at a greater distance from central London than Heathrow. Despite this, travel time to the city centre is comparable to that of Heathrow, especially when using public transportation. Gatwick is the second-largest airport in London and the UK, and it handles flights to more destinations than any other UK airport. EasyJet, the UK's largest airline by passenger numbers, uses Gatwick as its main base.
Both Heathrow and Gatwick airports offer a range of transportation options to and from London. National Express coaches, Flixbus coaches, and The Airline coaches operated by the Oxford Bus Company provide direct connections between the two airports and the city centre. Additionally, train services, such as the Heathrow Express and Southern Rail, offer frequent transfers to and from London's major stations.
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Frequently asked questions
Both airports are located in London, UK. Heathrow Airport is in the London Borough of Hillingdon, in the western suburbs of London. Gatwick Airport is located in West Sussex, around 25 miles south of Trafalgar Square, London.
You can get to central London from both airports by train or bus. The Gatwick Express train takes 30 minutes to reach Victoria Station, while Southern, Thameslink, and Great Northern trains take 30 to 45 minutes to reach central London. The Heathrow Express train takes 15 minutes to reach Paddington Station, and the London Underground takes 60 minutes to reach Victoria Station. National Express coaches run between the two airports throughout the day, 7 days a week.
It depends on various factors such as your origin, destination within London, and price. Heathrow is the largest airport in London and is considered the main gateway into the UK for non-European visitors. It is the base for British Airways and serves six continents. However, due to operating at full capacity, it has been unable to increase service to certain cities. Gatwick is the second-largest airport in London and the UK, and it is one of the top 10 busiest international airports in the world. It is a major hub for low-cost carriers like EasyJet and serves many destinations in the US and Europe. For North American travellers combining a trip to London with a visit to Europe, London City Airport is a good option as it is closer to the city centre.
