| If you are coming to London by plane, most | | | | 60-90 minutes depending on traffic and location of |
| probably you will be arriving in either Heathrow | | | | your hotel. Airbus has pickup areas at each of all |
| (24 kms or 15 miles from London) or Gatwick | | | | four terminals (look for "Airbus" or "Buses to |
| (40 kms or 25 miles). Some planes are also | | | | London" signs). While at the airport, go to the |
| coming to Stansted (80 kms or 50 miles) and the | | | | Travel Information Centre operated by London |
| London City Airport (16 kms or 10 miles). | | | | Transport and get there free pocket-size Tube |
| You can take taxi from each of the airports, and | | | | Map and "Travelling in London" booklet that you |
| it will be the most convenient option to take, | | | | can study during your trip from the airport. When |
| although a bit expensive. It is highly recommended | | | | you reach your hotel, you will know almost |
| if you're traveling with somebody else and can | | | | everything you will need to know about the tube |
| share the cost (about £50 by black cab). | | | | lines, stations and bus lines that will take you to |
| There are regular bus connections between each | | | | the popular London attractions. |
| of the airports and the city, with numerous stops | | | | The fastest way to get to town is to take the |
| in central London and in its most popular | | | | Heathrow Express train that goes to Paddington |
| accommodation districts. | | | | Station (15 minutes, £13 per person). |
| If you expected to be able to use the famous | | | | The best way to transfer from Gatwick Airport |
| London tube to get you from the airport straight | | | | to Central London is by train. You can choose |
| to your hotel or B&B, then you may be a | | | | either the Gatwick Express or SouthEast train, |
| little disappointed because only Heathrow has its | | | | both going to Victoria Station every 15 minutes |
| own underground station. In fact, there are two | | | | daily between 5 AM and midnight and every 30 |
| tube stations at the Heathrow end of the | | | | minutes during the night. The Express is a bit |
| Piccadilly Line. The first one is serving Terminals | | | | faster (30 minutes versus 40 minutes) and more |
| 1-3 and the second one is for Terminal 4. You will | | | | expensive (£9.50 vs. £8.20), but it |
| certainly enjoy your first ride on the tube train, | | | | really does not matter which one you will take, as |
| but it may be overcrowded, especially around 5-7 | | | | the difference between them is hard to notice. |
| PM. It will take you about 40 minutes to get to | | | | Bus service from Gatwick is only between 6:30 |
| Central London from Heathrow. If you will be | | | | AM and 5:30 PM; the buses go to Victoria Coach |
| going to a hotel in the Notting Hill Gate or Victoria | | | | Station. The trip lasts 75 minutes and costs |
| Station areas, then get off at Earl's Court Station | | | | £7.50. |
| and take another line - the District Line. | | | | Stansted is a fairly new, modern airport that you |
| As much as you may enjoy fast moving of the | | | | may be using if you are coming to London by a |
| tube train, it may be somewhat difficult (or even | | | | charter flight or from a European country or UK |
| impossible) to change the trains at the Earl's Court | | | | destination (e.g., with a popular carriers easyJet |
| or any other station as a bit of walking and | | | | and Ryanair). It is located quite far from Central |
| stair-climbing and passing through the turnstiles | | | | London, but you can take the Stansted SkyTrain |
| (revolving gates) will be involved. If such is your | | | | and get to Liverpool Street Station in 40 minutes. |
| case, then you can take a bus run by Airbus. | | | | The train runs every half hour and a single ticket |
| They have about 30 stops around Central London | | | | costs £10. You can also take a bus from |
| and the buses operate between 6 AM and 8 PM | | | | Stansted, but your trip will be much longer - about |
| every day. The fare is very reasonable | | | | 90 minutes (depending on traffic). |
| (£6) and it will get you downtown in about | | | | |