London's Airports: Locations And Travel Plans

London, England, is served by six international airports and several smaller airports, making it the busiest airport system in the world by passenger numbers. The six international airports are Heathrow, Stansted, Gatwick, Luton, Southend, and London City Airport. These airports handle over 60% of the UK's air traffic, serving 14 domestic destinations and 396 international destinations. Heathrow is the largest airport in the United Kingdom, located 16 miles from the centre of London. Gatwick is the second-busiest airport in the UK, located 27 miles south of the city. Stansted is London's third-busiest airport, followed by Luton, London City Airport, and Southend Airport.

Heathrow Airport

Heathrow is spread across four terminals (Terminals 2, 3, 4, and 5), with two parallel runways and four operational passenger terminals. The airport is the primary hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. It is easily accessible via train, Tube, taxi, coach, or local bus. The Heathrow Express train to London Paddington is the fastest way to travel between Heathrow Airport and Central London, taking around 15 minutes.

Heathrow began as a small airfield in 1930 but was expanded after World War II. Today, it serves as a major hub for flights across the North Atlantic, offering flights to 214 destinations in 84 countries. The airport has Anglican, Catholic, Free Church, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh chaplains, providing multi-faith prayer rooms and counselling services.

Heathrow has a wide range of restaurants, cafes, and shops, including duty-free options. It also offers various parking options, including short- and long-term car parks. The airport provides assistance and accessibility services for passengers with special needs.

Gatwick Airport

The airport is well-connected to London by road and rail. It is linked directly to the M23 motorway at Junction 9 and to the A23 Brighton Road. Gatwick Airport railway station is located adjacent to the South Terminal and offers direct connections to London Victoria and London Bridge stations. Thameslink trains also connect the airport to St Pancras International, Bedford, and Cambridge. Additionally, the Gatwick Express provides non-stop connections to London Victoria.

The airport also provides a range of transport options for travellers, including train, car, and coach services. It is well connected to over 120 train stations across London and the South East. For those travelling by car, there are several parking options available, including barrier-free entry and short-walk options. Additionally, Airport Cars Gatwick is the official taxi partner operating from both the North and South Terminals.

In recent years, Gatwick Airport has faced challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly impacted passenger traffic. However, it has shown resilience and continues to be a major gateway to London and the surrounding region.

Stansted Airport

The airport has one main passenger terminal, which opened in 1991, and three passenger satellites containing the departure gates. The terminal was designed by Foster and Partners and is regarded as influential for airport architecture. The building features open canopies that visually connect the landside and airside, and it challenged conventional airport layouts by relocating essential services underground, creating an open and flexible main concourse with natural illumination.

The Stansted Express train service connects the airport to London Liverpool Street, with a journey time of 47 minutes. The airport is also served by National Express and Airport Bus Express coach services, and by licensed minicabs. Short and long-stay car parks are available for travellers driving to the airport.

Luton Airport

London Luton Airport (IATA: LTN, ICAO: EGGW) is an international airport located in Luton, England, 1.7 miles (2.7 km) east of the town centre. It is one of London's six international airports and is the fourth-largest and fourth-closest to central London, after Gatwick, Heathrow, and City airports. Luton Airport is owned by Luton Rising, a company wholly owned by Luton Borough Council, and operated by London Luton Airport Operations Ltd (LLAOL).

The airport is a major base for low-cost airlines and is located 56km (35 miles) or about an hour by car northwest of central London. It is easily accessible by public transport, with the Luton Airport Parkway train station just four minutes from the airport via the Luton DART, a dedicated rail link. The Luton DART also connects the airport terminal and Luton Airport Parkway station. Trains from London Luton Airport to central London take as little as 32 minutes, with Thameslink as the primary operator.

London Luton Airport has one terminal building, with the ground floor featuring a main hall with check-in desks, a security screening hall, shops, service counters, and arrivals facilities. The upper floor, accessible via stairs from the security screening hall, includes a departures lounge with stores, restaurants, and departure gates. The airport has a range of car hire options and short-term, mid-term, and long-term car parks.

The history of Luton Airport dates back to 16 July 1938, when Luton Municipal Airport was opened by the Secretary of State for Air, Kingsley Wood. During World War II, the airport was used by the Royal Air Force, and commercial activity resumed in 1952. Luton Airport played a pivotal role in the development of the package holiday business in the 1960s, and by 1969, a fifth of all holiday flights from the UK departed from Luton. The airport underwent significant expansion in the late 1970s to accommodate up to 5 million passengers annually.

In the 1990s, the arrival of new operators and low-cost carriers contributed to a rapid increase in passenger numbers, making Luton the fastest-growing major airport in the UK. This growth led to an £80 million extension funded by a 30-year concession contract with a public-private partnership consortium, London Luton Airport Operations Limited. A new £40 million terminal was opened in November 1999, featuring check-in desks, baggage and flight information systems, and commercial outlets.

In 2018, Luton Airport handled over 16.5 million passengers, making it the fifth busiest airport in the UK and the fourth busiest serving London. The airport serves as a base for easyJet, TUI Airways, Ryanair, and Wizz Air, with most routes within Europe and some charter and scheduled flights to Northern Africa and Asia.

London City Airport

The airport has a small, two-storey passenger terminal building with 18 gates. The ground floor contains check-in desks, while the first floor houses the departure lounge with shops, bars, and cafes. The airport offers a range of amenities, including fresh food and drink options and a revitalising spa treatment.

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