Cheap London Flights
and City Travel Advice

Almost every time I fly to Europe, I take advantage of the cheap London flights from the US and Canada and make a stopover in London for a few days.

In most cases it is also cheaper to fly from London to other cities in Europe than to travel by train, so after a few days in London, I hop on a plane and head off to other cities in the UK or Europe.

London is a great place to start your vacation in the UK and Europe, as it is a central location. From here many famous destinations are only an hour away by air and a couple of hours away by rail.

Day trips can be easily done by bus or by rail and there is so much to see and history to experience.

Getting to Your London Holidays
by Cheap London Flights

London has many airports but these are the major international airports:

1. London Heathrow Airport, located west of London, has the largest air space in the world and is the busiest for international traffic.
2. London Gatwick Airport, south of London, accommodates trans-Atlantic flights and low cost, short-haul flights.
3. Stansted Airport, north-east of London, is mainly for low cost short haul flights and a main hub for Ryanair.
4. Luton Airport, north of London, also caters to the low cost short haul flights but getting to Luton is not as easy and takes more travel time as there is no express train to the airport.

Travel Tips to the London Airports

LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT

Heathrow Express

This express train goes to Paddington Station which is about 20 minutes and the train runs every 15 minutes.

Be aware that although advertisements about the Heathrow Express state this train service is a fast way to travel between downtown London and Heathrow Airport, the ads don’t include the extra travel time required getting to your destination in various parts of downtown from Paddington Station.

Give yourself at least an extra 30 minutes between London Heathrow and your hotel.

On one of my vacations in London, I missed a scheduled London Bus tour at Victoria Station because I stayed at a hotel near the airport.

Although I took the Heathrow Express to Paddington, I had to take the Tube to Victoria Station which took longer during the morning rush hour.

By Shuttle

Consider taking London Private or Share Airport Transfer for easy worry free travel.

London Tube

Take the Piccadilly Line.

Travel time between Heathrow and downtown London is approximately 1 hour from Leicester Square which is in central London.

When heading back to Heathrow, make sure you know from which terminal your flight departs.

Ensure the destination listed on the front of the train states Heathrow, as not all Piccadilly Line trains go to Heathrow.

LONDON GATWICK AIRPORT

Gatwick Express

This is a direct train from Victoria Station and travel time is approximately 30 – 45 minutes and runs every 15 minutes.

The Thameslink Rail

An alternate route would be taking the Thameslink from Farringdon, Blackfriars or London Bridge Stations with travel time from 45 – 60 minutes and frequency of 30 minutes.

Please note there is no Tube service to Gatwick Airport.

Airlines at Gatwick Airport providing service for cheap London flights include:

Ryanair, easyJet, Monarch Airlines, Thomson Airways, Flybe, Thomson, Air Transat, Delta Air Lines, Us Airways, Lufthansa, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airways and more.

STANDSTED AIRPORT

Standsted Express

This express train leaves from both Liverpool Street Station and Tottenham Hale Station on the Victoria Line. Travel time from Liverpool Street is about 45 minutes, 35 minutes from Tottenham, and 20 minutes from Oxford Circus.

Please note there is no Tube service to Stansted Airport.

Airlines at Standsted Airport providing service for cheap London flights include:

Aurigny, Airberlin, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Lufthansa, easyJet, Germanwings, Pegasus Airlines, Ryanair, bmi baby, Thomas, Virgin Atlantic Airways and more.

LUTON AIRPORT

The Thameslink Rail

Take the Thameslink rail from London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon, or King’s Cross to Luton Airport Parkway Station for the free connecting shuttle bus service.

Or, take a train (First Capital Connect) from King's Cross/St. Pancras, 33 mins to Luton Airport Parkway; then switch to a bus for a 10 min ride to the Luton airport itself.

Another option would be to take the Greenline Coaches which run from Victoria Station (Buckingham Palace Road), Hyde Park Corner, Marble Arch, George Street and Baker Street. Frequency is around 30 minutes and travel time is approximately 90 minutes.

Although Luton Airport caters to great discounted and cheap London flights, it takes more planning and time to get there.

Airlines at Luton Airport providing service for cheap London flights include:

Aer Arann, Blue Air, easyJet, El Al, Flybe, Monarch, Ryanair, Thomson, Wizz Air and more.

Underground Travel London
3 Things to Plan before Taking the Tube

I love walking and taking the stairs, but when I am travelling with a suitcase and a carry-on bag, I do not enjoy hauling them up and down the many stairs in the London Underground.

After my first few trips to London and hauling my baggage up and down many stairs in the London Tube and down many long streets, I decided to make my travel life easier.

Now when I book my hotels, I ensure they are near London Underground stations which have elevators, and then if they are not easy walking distance, I take a taxi to my hotel. In most cases, I have found great hotel deals and booked within easy walking distance from the London Tube.

Consider This when Booking a Hotel for your London Vacation:

1. If you have problems walking on stairs, book a hotel near a Tube station which has elevators.
2. Avoiding Stairs Tour Guide - Print off this map and study it to see which Tube stations have elevators.
3. Getting Around London - A Guide to accessibility for wheelchairs.

Transportation Tips for London Holidays

After arriving with your cheap London flights, getting around on your London Holidays can seem daunting, if you have to drive to your hotel and all the tourist attractions.

Purchase an Oyster Card or London Travel Card for easier access to the London Tube, buses and even some taxi services.

If possible, avoid the temptation of driving around London. Use the London Underground, also known as the Tube, and the classic Black Cabs, or the Double-Decker buses and London bus tours. They are far more convenient and fun too.

If you have limited time and hope to see as much as possible on your travel London, take advantage of the Tube, the Cabs and the London Bus Tours. They are much better than being stuck in traffic and missing out on the fabulous sightseeing experiences.

More Tips for London Holidays:

River Services for Travel in London

London provides a network of river buses and pleasure cruises along the River Thames. There are regularly scheduled commuter boats which may be slower and more expensive than the Tube but offer an exciting way to see the city of London.

Getting Around on your London Holidays
Transport for London – The Official Government site for London transportation options and advice.

London Taxis and Minicabs
Be cab wise. Only licensed taxis (London black cabs which are not always black) can pick up passengers on the street.

The Minicabs are licenced vehicles that you often need to book in advance. They charge a fixed fare and best agreed before you get in the minicab. Minicabs are generally cheaper than black cabs for longer journeys.

Look for a Transport for London (TFL) License Plate usually placed in the front window.

Eurostar London to Paris

In contrast to cheap London flights, and more expensive than flights to cities in Europe, travelling with the Eurostar trains is definitely a lot of fun. They are extremely fast and it is amazing to watch the scenery whiz by. Sightseeing is like watching a movie.

From the St. Pancras International train terminal in London, the Eurostar London to Paris journey time is approximately two and a quarter hours, and from London to Brussels the trip is one hour and 50 minutes.

On route to Paris, a high speed rail links to the Chunnel Tunnel, taking you under the English Channel for 20 minutes, but making it easy to visit Paris for a day trip or a weekend getaway.

If you find it claustrophobic to be in tunnels, wander down to the wonderful Eurostar bar for a coffee, cocktail, beer or wine, or a light meal and chat with other travellers.

Although Paris is a popular and short haul trip, there are many Eurostar destinations from London’s St. Pancras International terminal.

If you prefer flying, there are so many cheap London flights, or from London to many cities in Europe and other destinations.

Cheap London Flights - Return to Great Vacation Ideas Travel Guide
Cheap London Flights - Return to London Vacation Ideas