London

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By plane

Due to London's huge global city status it is the most served destination in the world when it comes to flights.

London (all airports code: LON) is served by a total of five airports. Travelling between the city and the airports is made relatively easy by the large number of public transport links that have been put in place over recent years. However, if transiting through London, be sure to check the arrival and departure airports carefully as transfers across the city may be quite time consuming. In addition to London's five official airports (of which only two are located within Greater London), there are a number of other regional UK airports conveniently accessible from London. Since they offer a growing number of budget flights, choosing those airports can be cheaper (or even faster, depending on where in London your destination is).

For transfers directly between London's airports, the fastest way (short of a taxi) is the direct inter-airport bus service by National Express . Buses between Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton run at least hourly, with Heathrow-Gatwick services taking 65min (£18) and Heathrow-Stansted services 90min (£20.50) (note that services between Stansted and Luton run only every two hours). However, it's essential to allow leeway, as London's expressways, especially the orbital M25 and the M1 motorway, are often congested to the point of gridlock. Buses have toilets on board.

Easybus offers transfers to Gatwick, Luton and Stansted starting at (£2) (http://www.easybus.co.uk/gb/bookGB.php)

London Heathrow

Heathrow (ICAO: EGLL, IATA: LHR) is London and Europe's largest airport and the world's busiest airport in terms of international passenger movement, with services available from most major airports world-wide. There are five terminals. Flights landing at Heathrow are often delayed by up to an hour as a simple result of air traffic congestion and waiting for parking slots. To complicate the matter, airlines that fly into Heathrow are currently playing a system-wide game of musical chairs as gate assignments are cycled through the new terminal, making it even more necessary for travelers to check their terminal and gate assignment in advance. A quick summary of transport options (also see Heathrow Airport):

  • Fastest: by Heathrow Express rail, ? 0845 600 1515, . Every 15 minutes, journey time 15 minutes. Travelcard not valid. Despite the Heathrow Express & Connect's speed, they are often not the fastest way to a final destination in London. These train lines terminate at London Paddington which for most people will require a tube, bus, or cab ride to their final destination. One way £16.50, return trip £32 (+ £3 surcharge if bought onboard). edit
  • Second fastest: by Heathrow Connect rail, ? 0845 678 6975, . Follows same route as Heathrow Express but stops at several intermediate stations to London Paddington so journey is 25 minutes and trains less frequent. One way £7.40, round trip £14.80. edit
  • Cheapest: by London Underground (Piccadilly line), ? 0845 330 9880, . Every few minutes, journey time approximately 1 hour, however this depends on your destination. For the cheapest single fare ask for an Oyster card (£3 refundable deposit). Zone 1-6 Travelcard valid. With Oyster one way £2.00-£3.50. edit
  • Taxi. A taxi from Heathrow to central London will cost £45-60. You may wish to consider taking a taxi if you have a lot of baggage or small children. Alternatively catch public transport into the city centre and then catch a taxi. There are two types of taxis: Black cabs (usually slightly more expensive - can be hailed on a street) or licensed mini cabs (cheaper - must be booked over the phone or on the web). There are over 1000 minicab companies in London. edit
  • Dot2Dot Shuttle (Dot2Dot), ? +44 (0) 845 368 2 368, . A door 2 door shuttle service, running 24/7. Costs about half of the Taxi, climate controlled with wide leather seats and plenty of room for luggage. It is recommended you pre book to guarantee a seat on the shuttle. One way £20, round trip £38. edit
  • Also: to South London, ? 0845 748 4950, . Bus 285 (or taxi) to Feltham railway station (20 minutes) then a train to London Waterloo on the South Bank or Clapham Junction in South West London. Furthermore, bus X26 (limited stop) is an express route stopping in three of South London's district centres: Kingston, Sutton and Croydon. Zone 1-6 Travelcard valid on all London buses and trains. £2 single. edit

London Gatwick

(IATA: LGW, ICAO: EGKK) London's second airport, also serving a large spectrum of places world-wide. To get to the centre of the city, the following options exist:

  • By rail: Gatwick Express, ? 0845 850 1530, . Every 15 minutes, journey time 30-35 minutes. To London Victoria. Travelcard not valid. One way £16.90, round trip £28.80, for the cheapest fare visit their website. edit
  • By rail: Southern Railway, ? 0845 127 2920, . Every 15 minutes, journey time 35-40 minutes. To London Victoria via Clapham Junction. Much cheaper than Gatwick Express - £11.90 (£3 if booked in advance). edit
  • By rail: First Capital Connect, ? 0871 200 2233, . To London Bridge, Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon, St Pancras International, Luton Airport and further north. Much cheaper than Gatwick Express - about £10. edit
  • By bus: Easybus, . Every 15-20 minutes, journey time 60-90 minutes. To Fulham Broadway. One way prices start from £2. Book online.. edit
  • By bus: National Express, . Every 30 minutes, journey time 75-110 minutes. To London Victoria. One way prices start from £7. Book online.. edit
  • Dot2Dot Shuttle (National Express Dot2Dot), ? +44 (0) 845 368 2 368, . A door 2 door shuttle service, running 24/7. Costs about half of the Taxi, with wide leather seats and plenty of room for luggage. Pree bookings are required for Gatwick services. Maximum of one way £25, round trip £40. edit
  • By car. 29 miles (47 km). edit
  • By cycle, . There is a long-distance cycle path into Central London, but as it involves going through the North Downs and South London and over, it will likely be quite a ride. For adventurous people. edit

When departing, note that after passing through security you will find no drinking fountains in the South Terminal departure lounge.

London Stansted

  • Arrive early, preferably around 10PM, and stake your territory immediately. Benches without armrests are in limited supply and fill up quickly.
  • If you arrive later, take a floor mat and sleeping bag. Sleeping on the floor is tolerated by the staff, but avoid pitching your bed in front of shops and counters.
  • A sleeping bag is generally recommended as the automatic doors constantly open and close as passengers arrive, and it can get chilly in winter.
  • Safety is not a problem. The airport is miles away from any settlement and security guards overlook the open-plan building 24/7.
  • Ear plugs and eye covers are a must, as the cleaning staff are noisy and shop assistants start arriving at 4AM to open shutters.
  • At least one cafe is open all night, offering snacks and hot drinks. Boots the chemist is also open 24/7
  • Toilets remain open and are normally in good condition. There is a drinking fountain to the left of the Accessorize storefront and the security entrance "Door 1", where you can fill water bottles for the night.

(ICAO: EGSS, IATA: STN) Currently London's third airport, the base for a large number of budget carriers (for example EasyJet and RyanAir ) and flights within Europe and a few inter-continental flights. There are several commercial wi-fi hotspots covering most of the airport, but they charge extortionate rates. A free wi-fi hotspot is in the arrivals gate area, next to the phone booths offering fixed internet. Transport options into central London:

  • By rail: Stansted Express to London Liverpool Street, ? 0845 600 7245, . Every 15 minutes, journey time 45-60 minutes. One way £17, round trip £26. Travelcard not valid. Most budget carriers' websites offer reduced price deals for the Stansted Express, allowing you to save a few pounds.. edit
  • By rail then London Underground: Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale then London Underground (Victoria line), ? 0845 600 7245, . Every 15 minutes. If you are going to South London, the West End or West London then take Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale then the London Underground (Victoria line). At Tottenham Hale ask for an Oyster card edit
  • By coach: National Express, ? 0870 580 8080, . Every 15-30 minutes. Journey time to Stratford: 1 hour. To Victoria: 90 minutes. To Stratford (tube: Stratford) or Victoria (tube: Victoria). Folding bicycles only. To Stratford: £8 one way, £14 round trip. To Victoria: £10, £16. Travelcard not valid. edit
  • By coach: Terravision, ? +44 (0)1279 68 0028, . Every 30 minutes. To Liverpool Street Station (tube: Liverpool Street) or Victoria (tube: Victoria). To Liverpool Street Station: £9 one way, £14 round trip. To Victoria: £9, £14. Travelcard not valid. edit
  • By minibus: EasyBus, . To Baker Street (tube: Baker Street) and Victoria Coach Station (tube/rail: Victoria). From £2 (advance web purchase) to £8 one way. Travelcard not valid.. edit
  • By taxi, . Journey time 90-120 minutes. The airport is actually quite a long way from London. It's normally a better idea to take a train to London Liverpool Street and continue by taxi from there. approximately £70. edit

London Luton

(ICAO: EGGW, IATA: LTN) Has traditionally been a holiday charter airport, but is now also served by some budget scheduled carriers. As per Stansted, and for the same reasons, many choose to spend the night here before flying, although "First Capital Connect" trains run 24 hours. To get to central London the following options exist:

  • By rail, . Journey time: 30-60 minutes. The rail station is not actually in the airport, but there is a shuttle bus from the airport to Luton Airport Parkway station which runs every few minutes and takes five minutes. It costs £1 single, or £2 return, if you are buying a rail ticket, Otherwise it costs £1.5 single or £3 return. From there, Thameslink trains run by First Capital Connect run four or more times an hour to London St Pancras International. £12.5 one way. Travelcard not valid.. edit
  • By coach: Green Line number 757, ? 0844 801 7261, . Every 20 minutes, journey time 90 minutes.. To Victoria (tube: Victoria) via Brent Cross, Finchley Road tube station, Baker Street, Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner. £14 one way if bought from the driver. Travelcard not valid. edit
  • By coach: National Express, ? 0870 580 8080, . Every 20 minutes, journey time 90 minutes.. To Victoria (tube: Victoria) via Golders Green and Marble Arch. From £1 (advance web purchase) one way. Travelcard not valid. edit
  • By minibus: EasyBus number EB2, . To Baker Street (tube: Baker Street) via Hastingwood Motorway Services and South Woodford. They now run from the city centre (Victoria), but terminate in Baker St on the way back from the airport. From £1 (advance web purchase) to £12 one way. edit
  • By car. 35 miles (60 km). edit

London City Airport

(ICAO: EGLC, IATA: LCY) A commuter airport close to the city's financial district, and specializing in short-haul business flights to other major European cities. You may find that from some origins, this may be your cheapest London airport to fly to, without even considering the cost savings of NOT comming from the distant larger London airports with £10+ transfer costs. Then there is the added bonus is that it is close to London City Centre! To get to the city centre the following options exist:

  • By Docklands Light Railway (DLR). See also: Get around. Travelcard valid. edit
  • By taxi. Journey time approximately 30 minutes. £20-35. edit
  • By car. 6 miles (10 km). edit
  • By bus, . Take the 474 bus to Canning Town station and then the 115 or N15 into central London. See also: Get around. Travelcard valid. edit

Other airports near London

  • London Southend Airport, ? +44 (0) 1702 608100, . (IATA: SEN, ICAO: EGMC) Currently undergoing redevelopment and is set to become London's sixth international airport once the new rail link is completed. At present it serves destinations in the British Isles only. edit
  • Southampton Airport, ? +44 (0)870 040 0009, . Every 30 minutes, journey time 1 hour. (IATA: SOU, ICAO: EGHI) is not officially a London airport, though accessible enough to conveniently serve the capital, especially South West London. A couple of budget carriers serving an increasing number of European destinations are based here. Direct trains connect Southampton airport to London Waterloo station. £30-35 round trip. edit
  • Birmingham International Airport, ? +44 (0)8707 335511, . Every 30 minutes, journey time 75 minutes. (IATA: BHX, ICAO: EGBB) is another non-London airport worth considering as a less congested and hectic alternative to Heathrow, being just over an hour away from London. As a major airport serving the UK's second largest city, there is a good choice of long distance and European destinations. Direct trains connect Birmingham International to London Euston and Watford. From £10 (advance web purchase) one way. £35-100 round trip.. edit

By train

London has one international high speed rail route (operated by Eurostar 08705 186 186 ) from Paris (2h15) and Brussels (1h50) diving under the sea for 22 miles (35km) via the Channel Tunnel to come out in England. It terminates at St Pancras International Station. There are no fewer than 12 main line National Rail terminals (although in conversation you may hear the brand National Rail infrequently if ever it differentiates main line and London Underground services; journey planner online or phone 08457 48 49 50). With the exception of Fenchurch Street (nearest tube: Tower Hill) these are on the London Underground. Most are on the circle line. Clockwise starting at Paddington, major National Rail stations are:

  • London Paddington, serves South West England and Wales including Slough, Maidenhead, Reading, Oxford, Bath, Bristol, Taunton, Exeter, Plymouth and Cardiff and Swansea. Also the downtown terminus of the Heathrow Airport Express (see above) and serves some suburban stations such as Acton Main Line and Ealing Broadway.
  • London Marylebone, serves some north western suburban stations such as Amersham, Harrow on the Hill and Wembley Stadium. Also serves Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Banbury, Stratford-upon-Avon and the city of Birmingham. It is much cheaper but slightly slower to take a train from Marylebone to Birmingham instead of a train from London Euston. Recently a new service to Shrewsbury, Telford , and Wrexham has been launched by the Wrexham & Shropshire railway company .
  • London Euston, serves the Midlands, north-west England and west Scotland: Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Chester, Oxenholme Lake District, Carlisle, Glasgow, and Holyhead for connecting ferries to/from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Sleeper trains to Scotland leave from Euston.
  • St Pancras International, serves Paris, Brussels, Luton Airport and the East Midlands: Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield.
  • London King's Cross, serves East Anglia, north-east England and east Scotland: Cambridge, Doncaster, Leeds, York, Kingston upon Hull, Newcastle upon Tyne, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. Platform 9 3/4 from the Harry Potter books is marked with a special sign, although platform 9 itself is actually in the fairly unpleasant metallic extension used by Cambridge trains.
  • London Moorgate, serves some northern suburbs.
  • London Liverpool Street, serves East Anglia: Ipswich and Norwich. Also the downtown terminus of the Stansted Airport Express.
  • London Fenchurch Street, serves commuter towns north of the Thames estuary to Southend.
  • London Bridge, London Cannon Street, London Waterloo East and London Charing Cross, serve south and south east London and England: Brighton, Dover, Eastbourne, Hastings and Ramsgate.
  • London Blackfriars, serves Gatwick Airport and Brighton.
  • London Waterloo, serves south west London and England: Portsmouth, Winchester, Southampton, Bournemouth, Weymouth, Salisbury and Exeter.
  • London Victoria, serves south east London and England: Brighton, Dover, Eastbourne, Hastings and Ramsgate. Also the downtown terminus of the Gatwick Airport Express.

In South London many areas have only National Rail services (no London Underground services but there are buses). London Bridge, Victoria, Cannon Street and Charing Cross serve the South East. London Waterloo serves the South West. First Capital Connect (frequently referred to as Thameslink) is a cross London route between Bedford and Brighton via Luton Airport (Parkway), St Pancras International, Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars, London Bridge and Gatwick Airport.

By bus

Most international and domestic long distance bus (UK English: coach) services arrive at and depart from a complex of coach stations off Buckingham Palace Road in St James's close to London Victoria rail station. All services operated by National Express or Eurolines (see below) serve Victoria Coach Station, which actually has separate arrival and departure buildings. Services by other operators may use this station, or the Green Line Coach Station across Buckingham Palace Road. The following are amongst the main coach operators:

  • National Express, ? 0870 580 8080, . is by far the largest domestic coach operator and operates services to / from London from throughout England, Wales and Scotland. Advance ticketing is usually required and recommended practice in any case edit
  • Eurolines, ? +44 08705 143219, . is an associate company of National Express, and runs coach services to / from London with various cities in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and continental Europe. Advance ticketing is required. edit
  • Megabus, ? 0900 160 0900, . operates budget coach services from/to London (Victoria Coach Station) to/from several major regional cities, it is even possible to get to Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. Fares are demand responsive but can be very cheap (£1.50 if you book far enough in advance). edit

By car

London is the hub of the UK's road network and is easy to reach by road, even if driving into the centre of the city is definitely not recommended. Greater London is encircled by the M25 orbital motorway, on which nearly all the major trunk routes to the rest of England and Wales radiate from. The most important are listed below.

  • M1: The main route to/from the North, leading from the East Midlands, Yorkshire and terminating at Leeds. Most importantly, Britain's longest motorway - the M6, branches from the M1 at Rugby, leading to Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, the Lake District and onwards to the Scottish border, and ultimately Glasgow.
  • A1/A1(M) The A1 is the original, historic "Great North Road" between England and Scotland's capital cities and has largely been converted to motorway standard; it runs up the eastern side of Great Britain through Peterborough, York, Newcastle and continues north through Northumberland and the Scottish Borders to Edinburgh.
  • M40/A40: Arrives in London from a north westerly direction, linking the city with Oxford and providing an additional link from Birmingham.
  • M4: The principal route to/from the West - leading to Bath, Bristol and cities South Wales (Cardiff and Swansea). It is also the main route towards Heathrow Airport.
  • M3: The main route to London from the shipping port of Southampton.
  • M2/M20: Together, these motorways are the main link to the coastal ferry (and Channel Tunnel) ports of Dover and Folkestone from Continental Europe.
  • M11: The M11 connects Stansted Airport and Cambridge to London, and it terminates on the north eastern periphery of the city.

In addition to the M25, here are two inner ring roads in London which skirt the central area:

  • A406/A205 North Circular/South Circular The North Circular is a half circle on the North of the Thames, and is mostly a dual carriageway. It has direct connections with the M4, M40, M1 and M11 motorways and can be useful if you want to quickly get around the northern suburbs of the city. The corresponding South Circular is really a local road which is made up of segments of main suburban thoroughfares.

Comparatively few people will actually drive into (or anywhere near) the centre of London. The infamous M25 ring road did not earn its irreverent nicknames "The Road To Hell" and "Britain's biggest car park" for nothing. The road is heavily congested at most times of the day, and is littered with automatically variable speed limits which are enforced with speed cameras. Despite the controversial "congestion charge", driving a car anywhere near the centre of London remains a nightmare with crowded roads, impatient drivers and extortionate parking charges (that's if you can find a space in the first place, that is!). Parking in the City of London is free after 6.30PM Monday to Friday, after 1.30PM on Saturday and all day Sunday.

There are also a number of Pay as you go car rental companies operating around London including WhizzGo and Car Clubs

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