World City Guide

Getting There By Air

London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Tel: (0870) 000 0123. Fax: (020) 8745 4290.
Website: www.baa.co.uk

Heathrow, 24km (15 miles) west of central London, is one of the world’s busiest international airports, coping with over 63 million passengers every year. The airport is massive, with terminals one to three linked to terminal four by the Heathrow Express and London Underground services. After a 10-year deliberation and some fierce opposition, plans to build a fifth terminal were approved in 2001 and there is currently talk of a new runway as well.

Major airlines: British Airways (tel: (0870) 850 9850; website: www.britishairways.com) operates both national and international flights from Heathrow. There are approximately 90 airlines that operate in and out of Heathrow, serving about 170 destinations worldwide. These include Air Canada, Air France, Alitalia, Cathay Pacific, Gulf Air, Iberia, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, South African Airways, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. All domestic flights operate from terminal one.

Airport facilities: Facilities include bureaux de change, ATMs, airport information, hotel reservation and travel information desks, post offices in terminals two and four, left-luggage, showers, telephones and fax machines, shops, duty-free outlets, restaurants, cafs, bars and a London Tourist Board centre in the London Underground station. There is Internet access available in terminal four. There is also car hire available in all four terminals, from Avis, Europcar, Hertz, National and Thrifty.

Business facilities: The Business Centre Heathrow (tel: (020) 8759 2434; website: www.the-bch.co.uk) is located in the Queen’s Building, between terminals one and two. Open Monday to Friday 0730-1900, it offers 20 meeting rooms and a conference suite, as well as a communications centre with computers with Internet access, faxes, photocopiers, audiovisual equipment and even showers.

Transport to the city: The Heathrow Express (tel: (0845) 600 1515; website: www.heathrowexpress.co.uk) train service to Paddington station operates every 15 minutes Mon-Sat 0507-2401 and Sun 0503-2401 from terminal four (journey time – 23 minutes) and Mon-Sat 0503-2401 and Sun 0508-2408 from terminals one, two and three (journey time – 15 minutes). Single tickets cost 14, while a return ticket costs 26. Tickets can be purchased from Heathrow Express desks or self-service ticket kiosks located at the station; tickets are also available for purchase on the train, for a 2 premium, or online, with a 10% discount.

The airport is also on the London Underground Piccadilly line (tel: (0845) 330 9880 or (020) 7222 1234; website: www.tfl.gov.uk). Trains operate Mon-Sat 0500-2345 and Sun 0545-2315. Tickets to the city centre cost 3.80 (journey time – 45 minutes). Please note that until Sep 2006, the underground station at Terminal 4 is closed while the Picadilly line is extended to Terminal 5 (currently under construction). A replacement bus service is in use from Hatton Cross. Allow extra time for your journey.

There is also a Central Bus Station at Heathrow, where the main bus service to central London is operated by National Express (tel: (0870) 575 7747; website: www.nationalexpress.com). Tickets cost 4 for a single and 8 for a return. At night, the N9 night bus service goes to central London every 30 minutes (journey time – 50 minutes) and costs 1. 20.

Speedlink (tel: (0870) 575 7747; website: www.speedlink.co.uk) coaches link Heathrow and Gatwick airports (journey time – 70 minutes) daily approximately 0500-2230. A single ticket costs 17. Coaches also run from Heathrow Airport to Victoria. A single ticket is 10, return 15.

The Airport Travel Line (tel: (0870) 574 7777) provides coach transport information. The Travel Line (tel: (0870) 608 2608) can provide information on all public transport to and from London.
Taxis are readily available and cost around 45 for a journey to the city centre (depending on traffic conditions and time of day).

London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Tel: (0870) 000 2468.
Website: www.baa.co.uk

Gatwick, 45km (28 miles) south of central London, is the second busiest international airport in the UK, serving over 29 million passengers a year. The free Inter Terminal Transit train links the two terminals (north and south).

Major airlines: British Airways (tel: (0845) 850 9850; website: www.britishairways.com) operates both national and international flights from Gatwick. Over 90 other airlines also use Gatwick airport, serving over 200 destinations worldwide. These include Alitalia, American Airlines, Britannia Airways, easyJet and Virgin Atlantic.

Airport facilities: Both terminals have bureaux de change, ATMs, airport information desks, showers, left luggage facilities, shops, duty-free outlets, restaurants and bars. There is also a post office and an Internet caf situated in the south terminal. Both terminals have car hire from Avis, Europcar, Hertz, National and Thrifty.

Business facilities: The airport provides a Fast Track priority service for business-class travellers, as well as a full range of business services at the Hilton London Gatwick Airport Hotel (tel: (01293) 518 080) and Le Meridien London Gatwick Hotel (tel: (01293) 567 070).

Transport to the city: The Gatwick Express (tel: (0845) 850 1530; website: www.gatwickexpress.co.uk) train service to Victoria station operates every 15 or 30 minutes (depending on the time of day) daily 0520-0135 (journey time – 30 minutes). Single tickets cost 12, while a return ticket costs 23.50. Other, slower trains also run to Victoria (stopping at East Croydon and Clapham en route). Alternative train services by Thameslink (tel: (0845) 748 4950; website: www.thameslink.co.uk) to King’s Cross Thameslink operate daily approximately every 15 minutes during peak hours, with a reduced service at night (journey time – 45-50 minutes). A single ticket costs 10. Coaches depart from the ground floor of the south terminal.

Speedlink coaches, operated by National Express (tel: (0870) 575 7747; website: www.nationalexpress.com) link Gatwick and Heathrow airports (journey time – 70 minutes) daily approximately 0500-2230. A single ticket costs 17.50. Coaches also run from Gatwick Airport to Victoria. A single ticket is 6.20, return 11.40.

The Travel Line (tel: (0870) 608 2608) can provide information on all public transport to and from London. Chauffeur-driven cars are provided by Checker Cars (tel: (01293) 502 808 (south terminal) or 501 377 (north terminal); fax: (01293) 569 790). Taxis are readily available and a trip to the centre of London costs around 77 for a journey time of approximately one hour and 30 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.

London Stansted Airport (STN)
Tel: (0870) 000 0303. Fax: (01279) 662 066.
Website: www.baa.co.uk

This impressively modern and user-friendly airport is an expanding hub for the increasingly popular budget airlines, which offer cut-price flights to many cities across Europe. One of Europe’s fastest growing airports, Stansted is located 48km (30 miles) northeast of central London and serves 16 million passengers per year.

Major airlines: Scheduled flights to over 100 destinations are offered by over 25 airlines. The budget airline Ryanair (tel: (0871) 246 0000; website: www.ryanair.com) dominates the Stansted skies, with over 60 destinations covered. The other key low-cost carrier, serving around 20 destinations, is easyJet (tel: (0870) 600 0000; website: www.easyjet.com).

Airport facilities: Newly renovated and expanded facilities include bureaux de change, ATMs, left-luggage, airport information, hotel reservation desk, shops, duty-free outlets, restaurants, bars and car hire from Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and National.

Business facilities: Meeting rooms are available for hire from easymeeting (tel: (01279) 662 570), in Enterprise House, situated next to the main terminal building. Broadband wireless Internet access is available from BT Openzone (website: www.bt.com/openzone) situated in the departure lounge. A one-hour pass costs 6.

Transport to the city: The Stansted Express (tel: (0845) 850 0150; website: www.stanstedexpress.co.uk) train service to Liverpool Street station operates daily 0530-2430, departing every 15 or 30 minutes, depending on the time of day (journey time – 45 minutes). Single tickets cost 13, while a return ticket costs 24.

The main coach service to central London is the A6 Airbus (tel: (0870) 575 7747; website: www.nationalexpress.com), which travels to Victoria coach station every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day (journey time – 1 hour 45 minutes). Tickets cost 10 for a single and 15 for a return.

The Airport Travel Line (tel: (0870) 574 7777) provides further coach transport information. The Travel Line (tel: (0870) 608 2608) can provide information on all public transport to and from London. Taxis are usually available at the airport or can be telephoned; Airport Carz (tel: (0870) 224 5000) charge around 80 for the 60-minute (depending on traffic and conditions) journey to central London.

London Luton Airport (LTN)
Tel: (01582) 405 100.
E-mail: info@london-luton.co.uk
Website: www.london-luton.co.uk

The UK’s seventh largest airport is 52km (32 miles) north of central London. Luton served 6.5 million passengers in 2001.

Major airlines: Luton serves over 60 destinations and is the base for Britannia Airways (tel: (0870) 607 6757; website: www.britanniaairways.com) and the popular low-cost airline easyJet (tel: (0870) 600 0000; website: www.easyjet.com). Other airlines include Monarch Airlines and Ryanair.

Airport facilities: The airport has bureaux de change, ATMs, several information kiosks, shops, duty-free outlets, restaurants, bars and car hire from Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and National.

Business facilities: The Aviance Executive Lounge (tel: (01582) 700 898) is located in the international departure lounge. Facilities include fax, telephone, e-mail and Internet.

Transport to the city: Thameslink (tel: (0845) 748 4950; website: www.thameslink.co.uk) provides a fast link (approximately 30-40 minutes) to King’s Cross Thameslink from the Luton Airport Parkway station. A free shuttle bus connects Luton Airport with the Parkway station. Trains operate daily approximately every 15-30 minutes, with a reduced service on weeknights. A single ticket costs 10.70.

Greenline 757 (tel: (0870) 608 7261; website: www.greenline.co.uk) operates a coach service to Victoria coach station, departing every 30-60 minutes 24 hours a day (journey time – 60-90 minutes). Tickets cost 8 for a single. The Travel Line (tel: (0870) 608 2608) provides further information on travel to London.

Taxis are available 24 hours and cost approximately 60 for a journey to central London.

London City Airport (LCY)
Tel: (020) 7646 0088.
E-mail: info@londoncityairport.com
Website: www.londoncityairport.com

The business-orientated London City Airport is the most central of the capital’s airports, located just 10km (6 miles) east of the City of London. The airport is relatively small, with only 15 airlines. However, 1.6 million passengers travel through the airport each year.

Major airlines: Lufthansa (tel: (0845) 773 7747; website: www.lufthansa.com) operates the majority of flights from London City Airport, with four connections to Frankfurt per day. Other major airlines are Air France, British Airways and KLM UK. Scheduled flights are also provided by Luxair, ScotAirways and VLM.

Airport facilities: These include bureaux de change, ATMs, information and hotel reservation desks, postal facilities, duty-free shopping, restaurants, bars, and car hire from Avis, Europcar and Hertz.

Business facilities: The Meridian Business Centre (tel: (020) 7646 0900; fax: (020) 7476 3727; e-mail: meridian@londoncityairport.com) offers fully serviced conference suites and office space for hire.

Transport to the city: There are two airport shuttle buses, which operate Monday to Friday approximately 0600-2100, Saturday 0600-1300 and Sunday 1100-2100. The green shuttle bus runs to Canning Town station (journey time – five minutes), costing 3. Canning Town is served by London Underground (tel: (0845) 330 9880 or (020) 7222 1234; website: www.thetube.com), as well as Silverlink Metro (tel: (0845) 601 4867; website: www.silverlink-trains.com). The blue bus runs to Canary Wharf (journey time – 10 minutes) and Liverpool Street station (journey time – 30 minutes), with tickets costing 3.50 and 6 respectively. Canary Wharf and Liverpool Street are both on the London Underground network.

There is a stand with licensed black taxis, located directly outside the terminal building. Fares to central London start from 20-25. The Travel Line (tel: (0870) 608 2608) provides further information on all transport to and from London.

Approximate flight times to London: From New York is 7 hours 40 minutes; from Los Angeles is 10 hours 20 minutes; from Toronto is 7 hours and from Sydney is 23 hours 5 minutes (plus stopover).

Arrival/departure tax: None.