Choosing between London's five major airports? Compare distance, fares, terminals & transfer times. MiniCab Lane covers all airports — fixed fares, 24/7 service.
London has five major commercial airports, and for most travellers, the answer to "which one should I use?" Travel expenses aren't limited to the flight itself; what comes next can make a significant difference. Transfer time to your destination, minicab fare, terminal layout, and the reliability of your pick-up all vary significantly between airports. This guide cuts through the confusion so you can make the right choice for your journey — and book the right London airport transfer before you fly.
The single biggest factor most travellers overlook when choosing an airport is the cost and time of the ground transfer. A cheaper flight into Stansted can easily be erased by a longer, pricier transfer into Central London.
| Airport | IATA | Miles from the centre | Transfer time* | MiniCab Lane from |
| Heathrow | LHR | 15–20 miles | 45–60 min | £50 (saloon) |
| Gatwick | LGW | 28 miles | 55–75 min | £60 (saloon) |
| Stansted | STN | 38 miles | 60–75 min | £65 (saloon) |
| Luton | LTN | 35 miles | 60–80 min | £55 (saloon) |
| London City | LCY | 9 miles | 25–40 min | £40 (saloon) |
*Typical off-peak time to Central London by pre-booked minicab.
Heathrow handles more long-haul routes than any other UK airport, with direct services to over 180 destinations. If you are flying intercontinentally — North America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia — the chances are your airline operates from Heathrow. It is London's best-connected airport by a significant margin. Heathrow airport taxi bookings must specify your terminal — Terminal 2, Terminal 3, Terminal 4, or Terminal 5 — as each has its own pick-up zone and approach road. Getting this wrong costs time.
Gatwick is the UK's second busiest airport and handles a broad mix of full-service and low-cost carriers. easyJet, British Airways, TUI, and Norwegian all operate from Gatwick, covering popular European, Caribbean, and North African routes. It has two terminals — North and South — connected by a free inter-terminal transit. Always confirm your terminal when booking a minicab to Gatwick; the pick-up points are on opposite sides of the airport. Transfer time into Central London from Gatwick is typically 55–75 minutes by minicab, making it the second longest of the five major airports.
Stansted is the primary base for Ryanair in the UK and handles a high volume of Eastern and Southern European routes. Flight prices from Stansted are frequently the lowest of any London airport, but the trade-off is distance. At 38 miles from Central London, a minicab from Stansted is the longest and most expensive ground transfer of the five airports. If the fare saving is £30 but the additional transfer cost versus Gatwick or Luton is £20, the net advantage is marginal — worth calculating before you book.
Luton sits 35 miles north of Central London and serves a mix of budget carriers including Wizz Air, Ryanair, and easyJet. Its location makes it particularly convenient for passengers based in north or west London, as the M1 approach avoids central traffic. For those in St John's Wood, Wembley, Harrow, or Watford, a minicab from Luton may be faster door-to-door than from any other airport. The airport's direct train link (Luton DART, opened 2023) into St Pancras is a genuine improvement, though a minicab remains faster for destinations not served by that rail corridor.
London City Airport is 9 miles from the City of London — the shortest airport transfer of all five. It specialises in short-haul business routes and serves passengers in Canary Wharf, the Square Mile, and east London far more efficiently than Heathrow or Gatwick. No traffic, no long terminal walks, and direct connections across Europe and to New York's JFK via partner airlines. A taxi from London City Airport is the quickest airport-to-office journey available anywhere in London — often under 30 minutes for east and central destinations.
If you have a choice of airport, here is the practical framework to apply:
What is the nearest airport to Central London?
London City Airport is the closest to Central London, approximately 9 miles from the City of London and around 25–40 minutes by minicab. Heathrow is the second closest major airport, at 15–20 miles from the centre.
London City Airport has the lowest minicab fare from Central London, starting from approximately £40 for a saloon. Heathrow is next from around £50, followed by Luton (£55), Gatwick (£60), and Stansted (£65). These are fixed fares with no surge pricing when booked through MiniCab Lane.
It depends on your destination within London. For west and central London, Heathrow is closer and faster. For south London, Gatwick reduces transfer distance considerably. Both airports offer direct, fast transfer options — the deciding factor for most travellers is which airline operates their route.
Yes. Stansted is approximately 10 miles further from Central London than Gatwick, and the fixed transfer fare is typically £5–£10 higher. The journey time from Stansted is also 5–15 minutes longer, depending on traffic.
Yes. MiniCab Lane provides pre-booked, fixed-fare minicabs from all five major London airports — Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and London City. All bookings include real-time flight tracking, 60 minutes of free waiting time, and meet-and-greet service. Book at minicablane.com.
Book Your Airport Transfer — Any London Airport
Fixed fares · All five airports · Flight tracking · Meet & greet · 60 min free waiting. Book at minicablane.com or call +44 2030 062690.