London attracts so many visitors from around the world that it needs to have five airports to accommodate them all. What follows is a brief overview of each of those airports and details of how you can travel between them and Central London.
Heathrow Airport – Heathrow is London’s largest airport and is the world’s busiest for international passengers. It has five terminals and acts as a regional base to more than 90 airlines, which fly to over 150 destinations worldwide. It is located 22km west of Central London. The cheapest way to get to Central London from Heathrow is by using the London Underground. The journey takes less than an hour – though it will depend on your final destination – and costs around $6.
Gatwick Airport – Gatwick is located slightly further from the centre of London (45km) however the transport network into the city is very good. If traveling by bus the journey can take up to 90 minutes, depending on the time of day and traffic conditions. Alternatively Gatwick trains run regularly into London Victoria. Gatwick is smaller than Heathrow and is better known for its charter and discount flights.
Stansted Airport – Stansted is the definition of a budget airline hub but, despite the limited number of airlines, it is still London’s third busiest airport. It is located 48km northeast of the city center and there are convenient and reliable bus and train connections between the two. Stansted Bus and easyBus all would be your best options – they both send vehicles between the airport and Victoria Station, with the option to jump off at Marble Arch or Baker Street if you prefer.
Luton Airport – This small airport operates a single runway for the use of budget airlines traveling to and from European destinations. Located in the county of Bedfordshire 55km north of London, Luton Airport takes a while to get to and there may be more than one bus journey needed depending on your starting point. There are several round the clock bus services to and from London though, mostly run by Green Line and easyBus.
London City Airport – This small, central airport is situated just 11km from the centre of London and is suited to light aircraft that specialize in short take-offs and landings. Its location close to Canary Wharf makes it ideal for business flights and private travelers destined for the nearby financial district. In addition, the airport is well connected to London in its entirety through the Docklands Light Railway and a network of bus routes.
Alternatives to the 5 London Airports include the centrally located Birmingham Airport and Manchester Airport to the north. Both of these large international airports have very good transport links to London and the rest of the UK, meaning you can be anywhere within the country with just a few hours traveling.
Not Try – Gatwick Hilton Hotel
Gatwick airport is London’s second biggest airport. It stands in the top 30 busiest airports in the world, and is the 8th largest in Europe by passenger traffic. It also has the single busiest runway in the world.
It is a major transportation hub for Europe, with flights arriving and departing from all corners of the continent. Even with the recession, Gatwick has continued to offer services in all three tiers of international flight, including services to charter airlines, no-frills carriers like EasyJet, and major full service airlines like British Airways.
Gatwick recently announced plans to expand their infrastructure with a one billion pound investment aimed at improving the visitor experience in terms of everything from access to aesthetics. Airport officials remain firmly convinced that this investment might even help them surpass the famous Heathrow in terms of amenities and passenger accessibility, and demonstrate the airport’s commitment to continued quality.
With a long history as a major hub of air travel, Gatwick has served as a gateway between London and the rest of the world for millions of people. However even with all the things Gatwick is famous for, there are just as many elements of its history that are not quite as evident, and can be a joy for the inquisitive historian to discover.
#1 – Architectural Advances
Gatwick unveiled the world’s first circular airport terminal (named the ‘Beehive’) in 1936. It was an extraordinary achievement, as it was the first terminal to combine literally every necessary stage of air travel. A direct rail link was also installed for the first time anywhere, which meant that passengers could board their aircraft directly rather than having to travel across the runway by bus or on foot. While passengers today might take the combined approach for granted, it all began at Gatwick and set the stage for future endeavors.
#2 – A Former Racecourse
Did you know that Gatwick used to be a racecourse? Purchased from private hands in 1890, the land was turned into a modern racing facility that even included its own railway station. Now called Gatwick Airport Station, this point was originally the Gatwick Racecourse Station, and even retained this name up until the opening of the Beehive forty five years later. The course even served as a substitute for the Grand National when the bombings in World War I made it unsafe to use the original course.
#3 – Private Fliers
Gatwick was not originally a public airport for major travel. In its early years, it was used as a home for a private flying club. The Surrey Aero Club used their growing prestige to promote interest in flying in general, and helped contribute to the continued growth of the airfield, to the point that Gatwick received its first commercial flying licenses in 1934.
#4 – World War II
During the second World War, all available resources had to be turned toward keeping Britain safe from the German Luftwaffe. Gatwick participated when it was requisitioned by the RAF as a combat airfield, and provided service to a number of important operations necessary to keeping England’s skies clear of bombers.
#5 – The Queen Of England
The Queen of England has twice graced Gatwick airport with her presence. Queen Elizabeth II first attended to re-open the airport after it underwent a major redevelopment in 1956, and she returned thirty years later with her husband Prince Phillip to preside over the opening of the new North Terminal.
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If you’ll be arriving in the UK via Gatwick Airport, and need a Gatwick car hire company, then visit http://www.gatwickcarhire.org.uk
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