London is served by six airports, each with different distances, road connections and traffic patterns. Knowing realistic transfer times, not the optimistic estimates on airport websites, is the foundation of a stress-free arrival or departure.
The times below are based on road transfers by private car during typical traffic conditions. We provide ranges rather than single figures because London traffic is variable: a Monday morning journey from Heathrow to the City will take significantly longer than the same route on a Sunday afternoon. All times assume standard road conditions with no major incidents or closures.
Transfer times at a glance
| Airport | Distance | Mayfair | City of London | Canary Wharf | Off-peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow (LHR) | 15 miles W | 40–55 min | 50–70 min | 55–75 min | 30–45 min |
| Gatwick (LGW) | 28 miles S | 60–85 min | 65–90 min | 70–95 min | 50–65 min |
| City (LCY) | 7 miles E | 25–40 min | 20–30 min | 15–25 min | 15–25 min |
| Stansted (STN) | 40 miles NE | 65–90 min | 60–80 min | 55–75 min | 50–65 min |
| Luton (LTN) | 34 miles N | 55–80 min | 60–85 min | 65–90 min | 45–60 min |
| Southend (SEN) | 42 miles E | 75–100 min | 65–90 min | 60–85 min | 55–75 min |
Ranges cover typical weekday traffic. Peak windows of 07:00 to 09:30 and 16:30 to 19:00 add 15 to 25 minutes on most routes.
Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Heathrow is London's largest airport, situated 15 miles west of Central London. It is connected via the M4 motorway and A4 corridor, both of which experience heavy congestion during weekday peak hours (07:00 to 09:30 and 16:30 to 19:00).
Heathrow to Mayfair: 40 to 55 minutes via the M4 and A4 through Hammersmith into the West End. Off-peak, this can drop to 30 to 35 minutes. Heathrow to the City of London: 50 to 70 minutes. Heathrow to Canary Wharf: 55 to 75 minutes, where the Limehouse Link and Blackwall Tunnel approach are common bottlenecks. Heathrow to Kensington: 30 to 45 minutes along the A4 corridor.
A key detail many passengers overlook: if you are departing from Terminal 5 and your gate is in the satellite building (Gates A), you will need to take an internal transit train after security. Allow an additional 10 minutes for this. Our Heathrow chauffeur transfer team will advise on timing when confirming your booking.
Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Gatwick lies 28 miles south of Central London, accessed primarily via the M23 and M25. The distance is greater than Heathrow, but the motorway sections are often faster-flowing outside of rush hour.
Gatwick to Central London (Westminster/Mayfair): 60 to 85 minutes via the M23 to M25 to A23. Gatwick to South London (Croydon, Brixton, Dulwich): 35 to 45 minutes via the A23 directly. Gatwick to the City of London: 65 to 90 minutes, depending on whether the M25 eastern section or the A23/London Bridge route is used.
The M25 junction near Gatwick (Junction 7) is a known congestion point during morning and evening peaks. If your flight lands between 07:00 and 09:00, expect the higher end of these ranges. Our Gatwick chauffeur transfer drivers monitor traffic in real time and select the fastest available route.
London City Airport (LCY)
London City Airport is by far the closest airport to Central London, located in the Royal Docks area of Newham. Its proximity to the financial districts makes it the preferred airport for many business travellers.
London City to Canary Wharf: 8 to 15 minutes, one of the shortest airport-to-office transfers in Europe. London City to the City of London (Bank, Liverpool Street): 15 to 25 minutes via the A1261 Limehouse Link. London City to Mayfair: 30 to 40 minutes, routing through the City and along Embankment or through Clerkenwell. London City to South Kensington: 35 to 50 minutes.
London City also has the fastest check-in-to-gate time of any London airport, with the airport recommending passengers arrive just 90 minutes before departure for European flights. Combined with the short road transfer, this makes it exceptionally efficient for same-day business trips. Explore our London City Airport chauffeur service for more details.
Stansted and Luton
Stansted is located 40 miles north-east of Central London in Essex. The M11 motorway provides a direct connection, but the distance means journey times are longer and more variable. Stansted to Central London (Kings Cross, Bloomsbury): 65 to 90 minutes. Stansted to North London (Islington, Camden, Hampstead): 35 to 45 minutes. Stansted to the City of London: 60 to 80 minutes. Be aware that Stansted uses remote stands for some budget carriers, meaning you may be bussed from the aircraft to the terminal, adding 10 to 15 minutes before passport control. Our Stansted chauffeur service accounts for these variables automatically.
Luton sits 34 miles north of Central London, accessed via the M1. While technically outside Greater London, it handles a significant volume of passengers heading into the capital. Luton to Central London (Euston, Marylebone): 55 to 80 minutes. Luton to North London (St Albans, Barnet): 15 to 25 minutes. Luton to the City of London: 60 to 85 minutes. If you are travelling by chauffeur, you will be dropped directly at the terminal forecourt, bypassing the DART shuttle entirely.
Timing tips for London airport transfers
Avoid the M25 between 07:00 and 09:30. This affects Heathrow and Gatwick transfers most significantly. If your flight lands during this window, expect journey times at the upper end of the ranges quoted above. Friday evenings between 16:00 and 19:00 are consistently the worst period for outbound airport journeys from Central London.
For departures, work backwards from your flight time: allow 2 to 3 hours before departure at the airport, add the transfer time range, and then add a 15-minute buffer. It is always better to arrive at the airport early than to spend the journey anxiously watching the clock. A professional chauffeur will advise on the optimal pickup time based on real-time conditions and experience of the route.
The quoted journey time is only useful if it accounts for real traffic. A 40-minute transfer that actually takes 70 minutes during rush hour is not a 40-minute transfer.
