Trains from Manchester to London

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

Trains to Heathrow Airport

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

If you don’t need to rush 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 some of the main stations in London, including Paddington, Liverpool Street and Farringdon, and you’ll arrive at Heathrow in about 45 minutes.

Alternatively, you can take the Piccadilly line (blue) of the London Underground to any Heathrow Terminal from central London. Journey times can take up to 1 hour, depending on where you catch the Piccadilly line from. 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 to 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 from central London to Gatwick Airport can be a useful option for some people. You’ll fly from 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 to Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Airport is in West Sussex, just south east of London – it’s around 30 minutes away from the city center if you travel by train.

The Gatwick Express is the quickest way to get to Gatwick Airport from central London. It leaves from London Victoria station and can get you to Gatwick 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.

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

Buses to Gatwick Airport

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

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

Trains to Stansted Airport

The Stansted Express is the quickest way to get to Stansted from the city center. Trains run up to every 15 minutes and depart from London Liverpool Street, arriving at Stansted Airport around 50 minutes later. You can also travel from Tottenham Hale.

Buses to Stansted Airport

You can also travel on a National Express bus to Stansted Airport. National Express services depart from a number of places around London, 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 to London City Airport

From Canning Town in London, you can take the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) – this is similar to the Tube. In about 7 minutes you’ll get to London City Airport. To get to Canning Town, you’ll need to take the Jubilee line.

You can also take the DLR from Bank, which is London’s financial district, straight to London City Airport.

Buses to London City Airport

If you want to take the bus to 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 either of these buses, as cash payments are not accepted.

Trains to 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 to the airport from the train station, as it’s not possible to walk between the two.

You can travel with East Midlands Railway or Thameslink to get to Luton Parkway station. East Midlands Railway trains can get you to the airport in as little as 20 minutes – there are hourly trains from London St Pancras International. Thameslink services also depart from St Pancras International station, as well as some other stations in the city.

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

Buses to Luton Airport

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

• The GreenLine 757 will take you to the airport from Baker Street, Marble Arch or Victoria Station
• National Express buses to Luton Airport depart from Victoria Coach station, Marble Arch, Paddington and Baker Street

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

Trains to London Southend Airport

Hop on one of Greater Anglia’s services from London Liverpool Street. These can take you to London Southend Airport in just under an hour, with services running up to every 20 minutes.