Written by Graham Smith, Hannah McKinsey, Jake Evans, Karen Price, Sandra Frank
26/08/2025
Pixabay, Pexels
London is a highly connected city, featuring six major international airports: Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW), Stansted (STN), Luton (LTN), London City (LCY), and Southend. The city's rail network is extensive, with key national and international train stations including St Pancras International, Paddington, Victoria, Liverpool Street, Euston, and King's Cross. For bus and coach travel, Victoria Coach Station serves as the primary hub.
By Air:
Heathrow Airport (LHR):: The Heathrow Express train offers a swift journey to London Paddington in approximately 15 minutes, with fares ranging from £5.50 when booked in advance to £25 on the day. The Elizabeth Line provides a journey to Paddington for around £12.80. For a more economical option, the Piccadilly Line on the London Underground takes about 50 minutes to central London for approximately £5.80 using an Oyster or contactless card. Coach services also connect Heathrow to London Victoria Coach Station from £8.40, with a fastest journey to Earl's Court in 25 minutes.
Gatwick Airport (LGW):: The Gatwick Express train provides a direct 30-minute service to London Victoria. Alternatively, coaches like National Express, FlixBus, and Oxford Bus Company's 'The Airline' connect Gatwick to central London in about 70-75 minutes, with prices starting from £11.99.
Stansted Airport (STN):: The Stansted Express train reaches London Liverpool Street in 50 minutes, costing around £28 for a one-way ticket. Coach services, including National Express, FlixBus, Terravision, and Flibco, are a more affordable choice, with one-way fares from around £5-£6, though travel times are longer. Flibco offers return tickets to central London from £18.98.
Luton Airport (LTN):: A quick Luton DART shuttle connects to Luton Airport Parkway for train services (Thameslink, East Midlands Railway) to central London, with the entire journey costing from around £10. Coach services like National Express, Green Line, and Megabus are also available, with journeys lasting approximately 50 minutes to an hour.
London City Airport (LCY):: This airport is well-integrated into the public transport network via the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). A journey to Zone 1 can cost £3.80 during peak times or £3.00 off-peak using Oyster or contactless payment, typically taking 15 minutes to an hour depending on your final destination.
By Train (Domestic):
Major train operators connect London to cities across the UK. Booking tickets in advance can lead to significant savings, often up to 1/3 off standard fares, especially when utilising a Railcard. Off-peak travel generally offers cheaper tickets.
By Train (International - Eurostar):
Eurostar services operate from London St Pancras International to European cities such as Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Lille. A journey to Paris can take as little as 2 hours and 17 minutes. Fares for a standard one-way ticket start from €44 (£39) if booked several months in advance, but can vary greatly depending on booking time and class.
By Bus/Coach:
National Express, Megabus, and FlixBus offer extensive networks across the UK and to some European cities from London Victoria Coach Station. Domestic routes, such as Bristol, can be as low as £6 for a one-way ticket and take around 2 hours 20 minutes. International routes, like to Paris, typically cost around £95-£102 and take between 7 hours 25 minutes and 9 hours 5 minutes. Coach travel is often the most budget-friendly option, but with longer travel times.
By Ferry:
While no direct ferries arrive in London itself, services to England connect ports like Dover, Hull, and Newhaven from mainland Europe. For instance, a ferry from Calais to Dover takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, with prices around $272. From these ports, onward travel to London is available via train or coach.
At TFA Travel we believe in travel for all. Our mission is to enable people to explore the world as easily as possible without having to pay a travel agent a huge commission.
Our typical audience are those that want to see something new and get involved with authentic experiences of a country. Whether you are a backpacker, solo traveller, solo female traveller, straight or LGBTQ+ couple, family, you will find local and authentic experiences here.
