London has six airports and no rail line that joins them up. Fly into Stansted and out of Heathrow, or land at Luton with an onward flight from Gatwick, and you have a cross-London transfer to make, usually with luggage and a check-in deadline at the other end.
This guide covers the airport-to-airport runs other than Heathrow–Gatwick, which has its own guide: how far each one is, when the coach works, and how to plan the transfer so a delay on the first flight does not cost you the second.
How far apart are London's airports?
Approximate road distances (OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data, rounded to the nearest mile). Real journey times depend heavily on the M25 and the time of day.
| Transfer | Approx. distance | | :-- | :-- | | London City – Heathrow | about 26 miles | | Luton – Heathrow | about 39 miles | | Luton – Stansted | about 43 miles | | London City – Gatwick | about 47 miles | | Southend – Gatwick | about 61 miles | | Stansted – Heathrow | about 68 miles | | Stansted – Gatwick | about 76 miles | | Luton – Gatwick | about 77 miles | | Southend – Heathrow | about 77 miles |
Two things surprise people. London City to Heathrow is the shortest by distance but crosses the whole of London, so it is slower than its mileage suggests. And the Stansted, Luton and Southend runs to Gatwick are long because almost every route goes round the M25.
Coach, train or minicab?
The coach. National Express runs direct coaches between several airport pairs, including Stansted–Heathrow and Luton–Heathrow. For a solo traveller with plenty of time between flights, it usually costs the least. Check the current timetable on nationalexpress.com for your date and time, because frequency varies through the day.
The train. There is no direct rail link between any two London airports. A rail transfer means going into central London and out again, often with a change, which is hard work with luggage.
A minicab suits:
- Tight connections. A car leaves when you are ready, not on the next scheduled departure.
- Groups and families. The fare is per vehicle, not per person, so it shares well. How much fits explains sizing for luggage.
- Late arrivals and early departures, outside coach hours.
- A delayed first flight. A pickup tied to your flight number moves with your landing time; a coach ticket for a fixed departure does not.
Planning a connection between two airports
This is where most of the risk sits, so plan it properly:
- Work backwards from the second flight. The deadline that matters is the bag-drop or check-in cut-off at the second airport, not its departure time. Our guide to how early to arrive at the airport covers the published times.
- Count the time inside the first airport. Passport control and baggage reclaim can take well over an hour after landing on a busy afternoon. Our waiting time guide gives realistic ranges.
- Allow for the M25. Distances above are short on paper, but the M25 can add a lot at peak times. Build in more slack than the distance suggests.
- Check whether your two flights are on one booking. If they are on separate tickets, the second airline is not usually obliged to wait or rebook you if the first flight is late. Check your booking terms, and leave a bigger buffer if you are self-connecting.
- Know your terminals. Heathrow and Gatwick both have more than one. See which Heathrow terminal you need and which Gatwick terminal you need, and give us the departure terminal when you book.
How to book an airport-to-airport minicab
Give us the arriving flight number for the pickup and the terminal for the drop-off. The pickup is set against your actual landing time, so a delay moves the car rather than leaving it waiting at the wrong time. Add meet and greet (an optional £10 extra) if you want the driver waiting inside arrivals with a name board.
If your first flight is cancelled or badly delayed, tell us as soon as you know. A cancellation does not cancel the car automatically. Our delayed or cancelled flight guide explains what to do.
What does an airport-to-airport minicab cost?
Airport-to-airport journeys are not on our fixed airport fare list. They are priced from the route: distance, time of day and vehicle. Any price we show is an estimate, and we confirm the final price when you book. Airport drop-off charges are set by each airport; see our drop-off charges guide.
Frequently asked questions
Q: How do I get from Stansted to Heathrow? A: By coach or by car; there is no direct train. National Express runs direct coaches, and a minicab covers the roughly 68-mile road route door to door, which suits groups, luggage and tight connections.
Q: How far is Luton Airport from Heathrow? A: About 39 miles by road, mostly via the M1 and M25. Journey time depends heavily on M25 traffic, so allow a generous buffer.
Q: How much time do I need to transfer between two London airports? A: Work backwards from the second airline's bag-drop deadline, then add the time to clear the first airport and a generous allowance for M25 traffic. If your flights are on separate tickets, allow more, because the second airline usually won't wait.
Q: Is there a train between London airports? A: No London airport has a direct rail link to another. A rail transfer means travelling into central London and out again, usually with at least one change.
Q: Will my minicab wait if my first flight lands late? A: Give us your flight number when you book. The pickup is set against your actual landing time, so a delay adjusts it rather than leaving you without a car.
Ready to book your transfer?
Enter both airports and your flight details in our booking form, or book in conversation with our AI assistant. We provide the journey directly with our licensed drivers.