London City Airport (LCY) is located about 14 kilometers east of central London and handles short-haul international flights with a strong emphasis on business travel to destinations throughout Europe. Being located to the east, it is popular with business travelers working in the City of London and the Canary Wharf area.
London City Airport opened in 1988 and has a single runway and a terminal. Due to the size of the airport, arrivals and departures through London City Airport can be much quicker and easier than at the larger London airports, Heathrow and Gatwick.
Facilities at the airport include free Wi-Fi, luggage storage options, an exchange office, and a number of food and beverage outlets.
Travel times to central London are shorter than those to the other London airports as it is closer to the city center.
Public transportation options
London City Airport has a dedicated station on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), part of the transport network for London. The journey to Bank Station takes 22 minutes and Stratford International Station is only 15 minutes away.
You can join the London Underground (Tube) network from Bank Station (Northern, Central and Waterloo & City lines) or Stratford Station (Central, Jubilee and Overground lines) to continue your journey. Travelers heading to Canary Wharf have a travel time of just 18 minutes (via the DLR and Jubilee line)
DLR trains to and from London City Airport run approximately every 10 minutes from 5:30 am to 12:15 am Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, trains start later around 7 a.m. and end around 11:15 p.m.
To travel on London public transport it is advisable to use an Oyster card as cash rates are always the most expensive. An Oyster card can be purchased for a small deposit (£ 5) and then the fees are added as a credit to the plastic card. You can use your Oyster card for all your Transport for London trips by tube, bus, some local trains and the DLR. Note that the DLR station does not sell Oyster cards, so you will need to purchase in advance.
When you have finished your trip to London, you can save your Oyster card and use it on your next trip, or you can pass it on to a colleague or friend traveling to London, or you can get a refund at a ticket vending machine if you have less than £ 10 credit on the card.
Taxi options
While the flights are operating, you can usually find a line of black taxis outside the airport.
The fare is metered, but beware of additional charges, such as overnight or weekend trips. Tipping is not mandatory, but 10% is considered the norm. Expect to pay at least £ 35 to get to central London.
If you choose to travel in a mini-taxi, not a classic black taxi, use only a reputable mini-taxi company to reserve your car and never use unauthorized drivers offering their services at airports or stations.
Uber services operate throughout London.
