London Heathrow Airport

London Heathrow Airport

Heathrow claims to be the world's busiest international airport. It's certainly the liveliest airport in the UK, with more than double the traffic of its nearest rival (Gatwick). More than 90 airlines carry an estimated 62 million passengers to some 200 British and overseas destinations.

The airport is located 16 miles (25 km) southwest of the city center. Two rail options are available for reaching central London:

Heathrow Express. This nonstop train service opened in 1998 and takes only 15 minutes to reach Paddington Station. In the airport, follow the "Heathrow Express" signs to the nearest station. (You can buy your ticket before boarding or on the train.) At Paddington, you'll find check-in desks for more than two dozen airlines where you can obtain boarding passes and get rid of your luggage before your return to Heathrow.

Underground. Trains of the Piccadilly Line require about an hour to cover the distance from Heathrow to central London. The tube's fare is about half that of the Heathrow Express. A tourist TravelCard is an even better deal, because you can use it on other underground trains and buses to reach your hotel and explore London. (Note: Underground trains are more cramped and crowded than the Heathrow Express, so splurge on the latter if you're traveling at rush hour or burdened with heavy luggage.)

London Gatwick Airport

Gatwick, once known primarily as a charter airport, has grown into the United Kingdom's second-largest airport with 102 airlines serving 280 destinations and carrying more than 30 million passengers a year--all from a single runway.

The airport is located south of London. The most convenient way to reach the city is on the Gatwick Express, which leaves from a station near the arrivals hall and takes about 30 minutes to reach Victoria Station. You can buy tickets in the station or after boarding. Trains leave every 15 minutes during the day and evening, with hourly departures from approximately midnight until early morning. In London, trains arrive and depart from platforms 13 and 14 of Victoria, which has check-in facilities for British Airways and American Airlines.

Note: If you're on a tight budget, you can take a slower, cheaper British Rail train to London from the airport railway station. Also inquire about roundtrip (return) tickets, which may offer savings depending on the length of your stay in Britain.

London Luton Airport

Luton is north of London, near where the M1 and M25 motorways cross. ThamesLinks trains run from London to the new Luton Airport Parkway station, where a frequent shuttle bus covers the short distance between the station and the airport terminal. Travel time to Kings Cross Thameslink is approximately 35 minutes. You can buy rail tickets near the car-rental desks, by the terminal exit doors.

London City Airport

With a location only 6 miles (9 km) from the London financial district, London City Airport bills itself as "the leading airport in Europe dedicated to the business traveler." More than a dozen international and regional airlines serve approximately 30 destinations in Britain and Europe

Rail-travel options include:

Docklands Light Railway. Take the shuttle bus to Canary Wharf, where you can board a DLR train for Bank Station or Tower Gateway and change to the Underground. (Tower Gateway requires switching trains at Westferry, except for about noon to 6 p.m. on weekends.)

Underground. Ride the shuttle bus to the Jubilee Line's station in Canning Town, where you can catch a tube train to Waterloo or the West End. Other underground options are available in combination with local buses; the London City Airport Web site (below) has details.

Note: The London Transport TravelCard is good for DLR, Underground, and bus travel.