Which is the best London airport to choose?

January 23, 2026

Choosing which London airport for your trip can be complicated if you are unfamiliar with their differences and locations. As an American living in London since 2013, I have a lot of experience learning what makes one better than the other.

If there was a simple answer for everyone, you probably wouldn’t be reading this! However, with the information below, you will be able to make a decision on what is best for you.

And if you’re struggling to plan your trip to London, use our London Trip Planning page to get started.

London Airport Options

The array of choices available to you for airports near London can be confusing. Judging by the name, you will find 6 options identified as a London airport. From largest to smallest, these are: Heathrow Airport (LHR), Gatwick Airport (LGW), London Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LLA), London City Airport (LCY) and London Southend Airport (SEN).

However, bigger isn’t always better. For international travel, larger airports generally mean more time checking in, going through security, boarding your flight, going through border control, and waiting at baggage claim.

When deciding which is the best London airport to choose, you need to consider distance, as only one airport is actually located close to central London. This is the area of ​​London that is the most popular location for travelers who want to choose a hotel during a visit. The options are shown below, from closest to farthest distance.

  • London City Airport, 14 km (9 miles)
  • Heathrow, 26 km (16 miles)
  • Gatwick, 45km
  • Luton, 55 km (34 miles)
  • Stansted, 63 km (39 miles)
  • Southend, 64 km (40 miles)

Hotels

If you haven’t yet booked your hotel for your trip to London, here’s an interactive map to help you get started! It is based on the most central location in the city.

What is the most popular

Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport are popular options for first-time travelers to London. To be honest, these are the two that my husband (who has lived in London his whole life) and I choose the most. We prefer to pay more for convenience and almost always book flights on British Airways due to the large number of flights to the continent.

If we book very early flights from Gatwick we stay in a hotel near the airport as we live in North London. For transport we use Heathrow Express, Uber, London Underground or Gatwick Express. Arriving early gives me enough time to visit World Duty Free.

If cheap ticket prices are your main concern, you’ll likely find the best deals at other London airports. When I say cheap, I mean around £30 each way or less to European destinations! However, these budget airlines tend to charge for choosing a seat, bringing carry-on luggage, checking a bag, and basically breathing on the plane – in our opinion. The seats also offer very, very little legroom.

Ryanair actually uses this whole concept of having to pay extra for absolutely everything as a unique selling point on their social media accounts. They don’t apologize!

If you want a really clear comparison between Heathrow and Gatwick, this is just one of many things I describe (plus cost differences) in my London trip planners.

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Let’s take a look at some other options to consider when determining which is the best London airport to choose. These options would appeal to people traveling between London and other UK or European destinations.

London Stansted Airport

London Stansted provides access to 200 destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It has a main passenger terminal.

Regarding transport, Stansted Airport train station is located within the terminal building. Stansted Express runs to Liverpool Street in central London every 15 minutes when trains are running. If you book tickets online in advance, you can pay from £9.90 for a one-way ticket from London Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport. This offer allows you a fully flexible ticket.

You can travel on any train on the departure date you book and return at any time within the month. This option is available up to 6 months in advance. Keep in mind that availability is limited, so you’ll want to book early.

The journey usually takes around 45-53 minutes. The busiest routes from Stansted Airport are: Dublin, Istanbul-Sabiha Gökçen, Edinburgh, Rome-Ciampino and Tenerife South. The most popular airlines are below.

how-to-get-to-stansted-london-airport-flibco-transport-8
  • British Airways
  • easyJet
  • Emirates
  • Jet2.com
  • Ryanair
  • TUI Airways

London Luton Airport

Luton is 28 miles north of central London. It is the 5th busiest airport in the United Kingdom and has one terminal and a single runway. Luton Airport is the base and headquarters of easyJet. Most of its routes pass through Europe. In general, you will fly on the airlines below at great prices.

plane travel
  • easyJet
  • Ryanair
  • TUI Airways
  • Vueling

The fastest train from St Pancras station in central London to Luton Airport Parkway station takes 22 minutes, but on average takes 40 minutes. There is a 10-minute shuttle between the train station and the airport terminal. You can check National Rail for more details, but a Super Off-Peak single ticket costs £13.10.

London City Airport

This airport officially opened in 1987 and is quite small compared to other airports in London. It has a single-story, two-story passenger terminal. They claim you can go “front door to door in 30 minutes.”

British Airways (Club World) London City Service claims to be the smartest way to reach New York. The exclusively business class service is the closest thing to a commercial flight to a private jet. You can also go through immigration checks along the way to avoid lines at JFK. There are only 32 seats on the plane.

London City Airport is busiest during the winter months. And the most popular destinations are: Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Dublin, Edinburgh, Zurich, Geneva and Milan. Airlines that land and depart from London City Airport are listed below.

plane-iberia-madrid
  • Aer Lingus
  • British Airways
  • Iberia
  • KLM
  • Lufthansa
  • luxury
  • Swiss international airlines

The most popular (and cheapest) transport option would be the Docklands Light Railway. You can use a contactless card or Oyster card and easily connect to the London Underground and London Overground. The Elizabeth line can take you to Stratford or Canning Town and you can take the DLR for a short journey to London City Airport.

London Southend Airport

As the furthest airport from London, you’ll choose this one if you’re planning a holiday to the east coast of England and are hiring a car.

The main rail connection between the airport and London Liverpool Street is the Stansted Express. It is operated by Greater Anglia, with frequent departures (around four per hour on weekdays) and journey times of around 45 to 48 minutes to reach the city. The airport offers up to five services per hour during peak hours.

You can buy tickets at the station, at the ticket office and at ticket machines. Off-peak one-way fares start from £16.70 to Liverpool Street. They offer discounts on rail passes, season tickets and groups.

Fares booked in advance can start from around £14-£17 one way. Standard train discounts for eligible railcards and groups apply. Tickets can be purchased online, at the station ticket office or at ticket machines. You must have a valid ticket before boarding, as Oyster/contactless pay as you go is not yet generally accepted on this service.

Final Thoughts

I wish this was a simple answer for everyone. If you are traveling alone to London on business and plan to travel mainly to the City or Canary Wharf area, then London City Airport is best for you.

A couple or family on holiday might consider Heathrow Airport and then an Uber or Heathrow Express. A budget traveler with a little more time would also consider Heathrow Airport, but then take the Elizabeth Line or Piccadilly Line to central London. People traveling from the continent would likely use Gatwick, Stansted, Luton or London City to travel by train to central London once they land.

For those who have visited London or live in London, what is the best airport to choose based on your situation? Do you systematically prefer one over the other? Does an airline loyalty program make a big difference? Is it a matter of time, budget and/or convenience?

what-is-the-best-london-airport-to-choose

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