World Travel Guide

City Guide  - London  - Air
Air

London Heathrow Airport (LHR)

Tel: (0870) 000 0123. Fax: (020) 8745 6061.
Web site: www.baa.co.uk

Heathrow, 24km (15 miles) west of central London, is the world's busiest international airport. Terminals one to three are linked to terminal four by courtesy bus services.

Major airlines:
Over 90 airlines operate in and out of Heathrow serving 200 destinations worldwide. All domestic flights operate from terminal one.

Airport facilities:
These include bureaux de change, ATMs, airport information, hotel reservation and travel information desks, postal services, telephones and fax machines, shops, duty-free outlets, restaurants, cafés and bars, and a London Tourist Board centre in the underground station. There is also car hire available in all four terminals from Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, National and Sixt.

Business facilities:
The Business Centre in the Queen's Building (tel: (020) 8759 2434) offers 20 meeting rooms, a conference suite, computers with internet access, faxes, photocopiers and audiovisual equipment.

Transport to the city:
The frequent Heathrow Express (tel: (0845) 600 1515; web site: www.heathrowexpress.co.uk) train service to Paddington station takes 15 minutes and costs £12. From there, the Hotel Express coach (£2) takes visitors to hotels in the area. The airport is also on the Piccadilly underground line with the fare into the city centre costing £3.80. Bus services include Airbus Heathrow Shuttle (tel: (020) 7222 1234; web site: www.airbus.co.uk) to Victoria or King's Cross train stations (journey time - one hour). At night, the N97 bus service travels to central London every 30 minutes. Taxis to the city centre cost around £40 (depending on traffic conditions).

London Gatwick Airport (LGW)

Tel: (01293) 535 353. Fax: (01293) 504 153.
Web site: www.baa.co.uk

Gatwick, 45km (28 miles) south of central London, is the second busiest international airport in the UK. The Inter Terminal Transit train links the two terminals (north and south).

Major airlines:
102 airlines use Gatwick airport serving over 280 destinations worldwide.

Airport facilities:
Both terminals have bureaux de change, ATMs, airport information desks, shops, duty-free outlets, restaurants and bars. There is a post office in the south terminal. Both terminals have the following car hire providers: Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and National.

Business facilities:
The airport provides a Fast Track priority service for business-class travellers, and a full range of business services at the London Gatwick Hilton Hotel (tel: (01293) 518 080) and Le Meridien London Gatwick Hotel (tel: (01293) 567 070).

Transport to the city:
The Gatwick Express train service (tel: (0870) 530 1530) to Victoria station takes 30 minutes. Alternative services by Thameslink (tel: (0845) 748 4950) to King's Cross station take 40 minutes. Coaches by Speedlink to Heathrow airport, Flightline to Victoria Coach Station and National Express to destinations nationwide depart from the ground floor of the south terminal (tel: (0870) 574 7777 or (0870) 608 7261). Chauffeur-driven cars are provided by Gatwick Airport Cars (tel: (01293) 562 291) and Gatwick Goldline Cars (tel: (01293) 502 277). A taxi ride to the centre of London costs about £65, depending on traffic conditions.

London Stansted Airport (STN)

Tel: (0870) 000 0303. Fax: (01279) 662 066.
Web site: www.baa.co.uk

This impressive modern airport is an expanding hub for the increasingly popular budget airlines, which offer cut-price flights to many major cities across Europe. It is located 48km (30 miles) northeast of central London.

Major airlines:
Scheduled flights to over 90 destinations are offered by 24 carriers including Aer Lingus, Lufthansa, SAS, Swissair and Virgin Express, as well as the budget airlines Buzz, Go and Ryanair.

Airport facilities:
These include bureaux de change, ATMs, airport information, hotel reservation desk, shops, duty-free outlets, restaurants, bars and car hire from Avis, Budget, Europcar and Hertz.

Business facilities:
The first-class lounge (open to all passengers for a fee) has workstations with fax, telephone, e-mail and internet. There is also an internet café in the main terminal.

Transport to the city:
The Stansted Express (tel: (0845) 748 4950; web site: www.stanstedexpress.com) is the frequent and recently revamped rail service to Liverpool Street station. There are also coach services (tel: (0870) 574 7777) to Victoria Coach Station and Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Stansted Airport Cars (tel: (01279) 662 444) charge around £80 for the journey to central London.

London Luton Airport (LTN)

Tel: (01582) 405 100. Fax: (01582) 395 313.
Web site: www.london-luton.co.uk

This recently revamped airport is 52km (32 miles) north of central London.

Major airlines:
Luton serves over 60 destinations and is the base for Britannia Airways, Monarch Airlines and easyJet.

Airport facilities:
The airport has bureaux de change, ATMs, information desk, fax, shops, duty-free outlets, restaurants, bars and car hire from Avis, Budget, National and Sixt.

Business facilities:
An executive lounge is located in the international departure lounge (tel: (01582) 700 105). Facilities include fax, telephone, e-mail and internet.

Transport to the city:
The new Luton Airport Parkway Station opened in 1999, providing a fast link to Central London on Thameslink. A free shuttle bus connects Luton Airport with the Parkway station. There are coach services to Victoria Coach Station, and Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Taxis are available 24 hours and cost about £85 to central London.

London City Airport (LCY)

Tel: (020) 7646 0088. Fax: (020) 7511 1040.
E-mail: info@londoncityairport.com
Web site: www.londoncityairport.com

The business-orientated London City Airport is the most central of London's airports, located ten kilometres (six miles) east of the centre.

Major airlines:
Scheduled flights are provided by Air Engiadina, Air France, Alitalia, Braathens/Malmö, CityJet, Crossair, KLMuk, Lufthansa, Luxair, Sabena and VLM.

Airport facilities:
These include bureaux de change, ATMs, information and hotel reservation desks, postal facilities, duty-free shopping, restaurants, bars, and car hire from Avis and Europcar.

Business facilities:
The Business & Conference Centre (tel: (020) 7646 0900) offers fully serviced conference suites and office space.

Transport to the city:
The Airport Shuttle bus (tel: (020) 7646 0088) runs to Canary Wharf (£2) and Liverpool Street station (£5). Shuttle buses also run every ten minutes to Canning Town station (£2), which is served by the Jubilee Line and Docklands Light Railway. Silvertown & London City Airport train station is a ten-minute walk from the terminal building for Silverlink Metro services to Richmond via Willesden Junction. Computacab taxi services (tel: (020) 7646 0850) charge £29 into central London.

Approximate flight times to London:
From New York is 7 hours 40 minutes; from Los Angeles is 10 hours 20 minutes; from Toronto is 7 hours; and from Sydney is 23 hours 5 minutes (plus stopover).

Arrival/departure tax:
None.



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