Trains from London to Manchester

London Heathrow is one of London’s busiest airports and is located 14 miles west of the city center. You can get from Heathrow Airport to central London by train, tube (the London Underground) or bus.

Trains from Heathrow Airport

Getting from Heathrow to London has never been easier. The Heathrow Express is the fastest train service available – you can get from London Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 and 5 to Paddington station in just 20 minutes!

If you don’t need to rush to the city center but still want to take the train, you can travel on the Elizabeth line, the new railway service named after Queen Elizabeth II. You can take the Elizabeth line from any rail station at Heathrow Airport and get off at some of the main stations in London, including Paddington, Liverpool Street and Farringdon, in about 45 minutes.

Alternatively, you can take the Piccadilly line (blue) of the London Underground from any Heathrow Terminal to central London. Journey times can take up to 1 hour, depending on the station you’re getting off at. Please note that you’ll need an Oyster Card or a contactless payment card to take the Tube.

Need more information? Check our guide to trains to and from Heathrow Airport.

Buses from Heathrow Airport

If you’d prefer a cheaper option, you can also take a National Express bus – they usually run between Heathrow Airport and Victoria Coach station, taking around 35 minutes. For more information, check out our dedicated page to National Express.

Getting the train to central London is often a convenient option from Gatwick Airport. You’ll fly into one of two terminals: Gatwick North Terminal or Gatwick South Terminal. The South Terminal is only a 2-minute walk away from Gatwick Airport train station. To get quickly from Gatwick North Terminal to Gatwick South Terminal, you can take the free shuttle bus.

Trains from Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Airport is in West Sussex, just south east of London. From there, London city center is only 30 minutes away if you travel by train.

The Gatwick Express is the quickest way to get to central London from Gatwick Airport. It will get you to London Victoria station in about 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a Southern or Thameslink train – these are commuter trains so they will make more stops along the way, making the trip 10-15 minutes longer. While Southern services also stop at Victoria station, Thameslink trains stop at other key places like London St. Pancras, Farringdon, Blackfriars, and London Bridge.

Buses from Gatwick Airport

If you want to save some money and don’t mind a slower trip into central London, you can also travel on a National Express bus. Their services depart from Gatwick North Terminal and take about 90 minutes to get to Victoria Coach station.

Stansted Airport is 40 miles northeast of London and is home to many UK budget airlines. You can get from Stansted Airport to central London by train or bus.

Trains from Stansted Airport

The Stansted Express is the quickest way to get into the city center. Trains run up to every 15 minutes and depart from the station right below the terminal, and 50 minutes later arrive at London Liverpool Street. You can also get to Tottenham Hale in around 40 minutes.

Buses from Stansted Airport

You can also travel on a National Express bus to central London from Stansted Airport. National Express services can take you to a variety of places within the city, including London Stratford, Victoria Coach station, King’s Cross and Paddington.

Located in zone 3 and only 6 miles east of the city center, London City Airport is the closest airport to central London.

Trains from London City Airport

From London City Airport you can take the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) – this is similar to the Tube. In about 7 minutes you’ll get to Canning Town where you can transfer to the Jubilee line (grey line) to get into the city center.

You can also take the DLR to Bank, which is London’s financial district. DLR trains leave from London City Airport every 8 to 15 minutes.

Buses from London City Airport

If you want to take the bus from London City Airport, you can hop on one of the following bus services:

• The 473, which stops in Stratford, Silvertown, North Woolwich, and Prince Regent DLR Station
• The 474, which stops in Canning Town, North Woolwich, and East Beckton via Silvertown.

You’ll need an Oyster Card or contactless card to travel on any of these buses, as cash payments are not accepted.

Trains from Luton Airport

The nearest train station is called Luton Airport Parkway and is about 1 mile from Luton Airport. You’ll need to hop on the Luton DART from the airport to the train station, as it’s not possible to walk between the two. As of June 2023, the DART costs £4.90 for an adult single.

From Luton Airport Parkway station, you can travel with East Midlands Railway or Thameslink. East Midlands Railway trains can get you to the city in as little as 20 minutes – there are hourly trains to London St Pancras International. Thameslink services also stop at St Pancras International station and continue to several other stations in the city.

Find out more about trains from Luton Airport in our guide.

Buses from Luton Airport

There are two types of buses you can take to get from Luton Airport to central London in about 50 minutes:

• The GreenLine 757 will take you from the airport to Baker Street, Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner, or Victoria Station
• National Express buses can get you to Paddington or Victoria Coach station

Located around 40 miles from London, London Southend Airport is a smaller airport with only one terminal and fewer transport options.

Trains from London Southend Airport

Head out of the terminal and hop on one of Greater Anglia’s services. These trains run up to every 20 minutes throughout the day and can take you to London Liverpool Street in just under an hour, with other stops including Stratford on the way.