When you arrive in London you're most likely to land at Heathrow Airport. But there are actually five airports servicing London - Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and London City. You'll probably get to know them well during your time in the UK.
Heathrow Airport
Heathrow is 30km west of London. There are five terminals at Heathrow and where you land or depart from depends on the airline and the destination.
The cheapest way from Heathrow to central London is on the London Underground. Heathrow is in zone six and is on the Piccadilly line. Buy an Oyster card to pay for your travel around London.
The fastest way from Heathrow is on the Heathrow Express train, which travels to and from Paddington station every 15 minutes. The journey takes 15 minutes and costs £28.
Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport is 40km south of London. There are two terminals: Gatwick North and Gatwick South. You can travel between the two on a free bus (every 3 minutes, journey time 5 minutes; allow 20 minutes all up for the transfer). The free train that linked the terminals is closed until May 2010 for refurbishment.
Getting from Gatwick Airport to central London
By bus
The cheapest way from Gatwick Airport to London is on easyBus. Fares start at only £2 one way, and from £4 return. The cheapest fares are available with easyBus. Click here to get the best fares. easyBus is for all airline passengers, whoever you fly with - not only easyJet.
easyBus runs from Gatwick North Terminal to Fulham Broadway. At Fulham Broadway, easyBus departs from bus stop ‘M' on Fulham Road, right outside the Fulham Broadway underground station.
The journey takes 65 minutes and buses run up to every 20 minutes. From Gatwick Airport, the earliest departure is 7.15am, the latest is at 12.35am. From Fulham, the earliest departure is 6am, the latest is 11.20pm.
Bookings for easyBus can be made online. Click here to make a booking or you can pay the driver on the day.
By train
Trains to central London depart from Gatwick South terminal. The cheapest trains (about £11 one way) from Gatwick Airport to central London are with First Capital Connect and Southern Railway.
First Capital Connect run trains from Gatwick to London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon and King's Cross, and continue to Luton and Luton Airport Parkway (the stop for Luton Airport). It takes 30-40 minutes from Gatwick to London Bridge. Note: because of engineering work, on weekends trains from Gatwick terminate at London Bridge.
Southern run trains from Gatwick to London Victoria station, taking 35-40 minutes.
The Gatwick Express trains run every 15 minutes and take about 30 minutes to reach London's Victoria station. Tickets are £16.90 one-way and £28.80 return
Stansted Airport
Stansted Airport is 60km north-east of London.
Getting from Stansted Airport to central London
By bus
The easiest and cheapest way to get from Stansted Airport to central London is on easyBus. Fares start at only £2 one way, and from £4 return. The cheapest fares are available with easyBus. Click here to get the best fares. easyBus is for all airline passengers, whoever you fly with - not only easyJet.
easyBus runs from the Stansted Airport Coach Station (which is just outside the airport) to Baker Street (journey time 80 minutes) and the Victoria Coach Station stop 8 (journey time 90 minutes).
easyBus runs to and from Stansted Airport every 20 minutes. From Stansted Airport, the earliest departure is 7am, the latest is 1.05am. From Victoria the earliest departure is at 3am, the latest is 10.20pm.
Bookings for easyBus can be made online. Click here to make a booking or you can pay the driver on the day.
Train
The only train service from Stansted Airport to central London is the Stansted Express. It runs between the airport and London Liverpool Street station, and takes 45 minutes. Trains depart every 15 minutes, one way is £18 and a return ticket is £26.80.
Luton Airport
Luton Airport is 50km north-west of London.
Getting from Luton Airport to central London
By bus
The easiest and cheapest way to get from Luton Airport to central London is by easyBus. Fares start at only £2 one way, and from £4 return. The cheapest fares are available with easyBus. Click here to get the best fares. easyBus is for all airline passengers, whoever you fly with - not only easyJet.
Easy Bus runs from Luton Airport Bus Station (just near the airport), to Brent Cross (journey time 40 minutes), Finchley Road (50 minutes), Baker Street (60 minutes), Marble Arch (70 minutes), and London Victoria (on Buckingham Palace Rd stop 6 (80 minutes)
easyBus run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week between Luton Airport and central London, except Christmas Day
By train
First Capital Connect run trains to central London from Luton Airport Parkway station. There is a shuttle bus which runs regularly from Luton Airport to the station (cost £1) and takes about 10 minutes.
Trains from Luton Airport Parkway station run to St Pancras (about 35 minutes) and then on to Farringdon, Blackfriars, London Bridge and Gatwick Airport.
Note: because of engineering work, on weekends trains from Luton terminate at St Pancras.
One way from Luton Airport to central London is about £12.
London City Airport
London City Airport is a smaller airport, just east of the City. The Docklands Light Railway trains (DLR) leave London City Airport every 7 to 15 minutes, with journey times of just 7 minutes to Canning Town, 18 minutes to Canary Wharf and only 22 minutes to Bank.