The Cheapest Ways To Get To London Airports

We've all been there – spending hours hunting for the cheapest flights, only to realise that getting to the airport might cost more than your ticket to Spain. It's a holiday planning pothole that's easy to fall into.

Here's some news that might make your wallet a bit happier. Heathrow Express is offering new £10 Advance Discounted Tickets for single journeys between Central London and Heathrow. The new price means the posher, faster train is now cheaper than the Lizzy Line.

The offer is straightforward: book at least 45 days in advance for a specific day and direction. While these tickets are non-refundable, the competitive price point makes them worth considering.

The offer got us thinking; with train fares to airports sometimes rivalling short-haul flight prices, it's about time we took a closer look at all the options.

Before booking an airport transfer, check below. We'll compare the options and hopefully help you avoid any nasty surprises to your holiday budget. After all, wouldn't you rather spend that extra cash on an upgrade to sea view?

Gatwick Airport

What’s the cheapest way to get to Gatwick airport?

The cheapest option is by coach: National Express offers tickets starting from £8.

What’s the cheapest route to Gatwick from a central London railway station?

Using a contactless card or Oyster during off-peak times via any station on the ThamesLink line is the most cost-effective. However, for peak times, booking an advance return rail ticket works out cheaper. Gatwick is directly connected to London Blackfriars City Thameslink, Elephant & Castle, London Bridge, London St Pancras International and Farringdon.

Alternatively you can take the direct, and priciest, Gatwick Express service from London Victoria.

Off-peak costs

Contactless: £10.10
Rail ticket: £12.85 (based on a £25.70 anytime return ticket)
Gatwick Express: £20.40 (from London Victoria, based on £40.80 anytime return ticket)

Peak costs

Rail ticket: £12.85 (based on a £25.70 anytime return ticket)
Contactless: £18.40
Gatwick Express: £20.40 (from London Victoria, based on £40.80 anytime return ticket)

What’s the cheapest route when starting from any station in London’s Zone 1?

The cheapest off-peak option is using contactless for the whole journey. But at peak times, it’s cheaper to book an advance ticket from Clapham Junction and use contactless to reach Clapham Junction from Zone 1.

After that, things get a bit complicated based on what route you decide to take, so we’ve laid out all of the options below.

Off-peak costs

Contactless: £12.70, if you change at Vauxhall, Battersea Power Station/Battersea Park, Battersea Power Station/Queenstown Road, or Elephant & Castle
Contactless: £12.80, on all other routes
Rail ticket + contactless: £14.10, based on a £11.30 advance rail ticket from Clapham Junction and £2.80 contactless off-peak Zone 1 & 2 Tube fare
Gatwick Express + contactless: £23.10, taking the Gatwick Express from London Victoria as well as the Zone 1 & 2 tube fare

Peak costs

Rail ticket + contactless: £14.70, based on an £11.30 advance rail ticket from Clapham Junction + £3.40 peak contactless Zone 1 & 2 tube fare
Contactless: £17.70, if you change at Vauxhall, Battersea Power Station/Battersea Park, Battersea Power Station/Queenstown Road, or Elephant & Castle
Contactless: £21.20, on all other routes
Gatwick Express + contactless: £23.20 taking the Gatwick Express to London Victoria, plus the tube fare

Heathrow Airport

What’s the cheapest way to get to Heathrow airport?

The tube is the cheapest way to get to Heathrow Airport from central London – it’s possible to pay just £5.10, while National Express coach tickets are from £8.40.

What’s the cheapest route from a central London railway station?

Off peak or peak, the cheapest way to get to Heathrow via rail is the Piccadilly line, followed by the Heathrow Express, then the Elizabeth Line.

Piccadilly line: £5.10, with the Hatton Cross tap-out trick.*
Piccadilly line: £5.60
Heathrow Express: £10, with an advanced ticket. It’s important to note, if you tap in with an Oyster card it’ll cost you £25.
Elizabeth line: £13.30, anytime fare

*If you take the Tube to Hatton Cross and exit there, it costs £5.10. Tap back in at Hatton Cross and this part of the journey is free due to the Heathrow Free Travel Area, allowing you to use any trains between the terminals and Hatton Cross for free.

What’s the cheapest route when starting from any station in London’s Zone 1?

The calculations stay the same if you need to take the tube from Zone 1 to reach your airport train. It’s still cheapest to take the Piccadilly Line, followed by the Heathrow Express and then the Elizabeth Line.

Passengers on the Elizabeth Line can change to the Heathrow Express at Paddington and would save themselves 60p to 50p each, if they’ve booked a Heathrow Express for £10 in advance.

Off-peak costs

Piccadilly line: £5.10, with Hatton Cross tap out trick
Piccadilly line: £5.60
Heathrow Express + contactless: £12.70, £10 Heathrow Express advance ticket and £2.70 off-peak Zone 1 contactless fare
Elizabeth line: £13.30, anytime fare

Peak costs

Peak costs are the same as the above, except if you combine the Heathrow Express with the tube. This will cost £12.80 based on a £10 Heathrow Express advance ticket and £2.80 peak Zone 1 contactless fare

Any other tips or tricks?

Yes. Families can make extra savings over the Elizabeth line by choosing the Heathrow Express, because it’s free for children aged 15 and under travelling with an accompanying adult with a valid ticket.

Luton Airport

What’s the cheapest way to get to Luton airport?

Taking the coach is the cheapest way, with National Express fares starting at £8 from central London and £6 for the return trip.

What’s the cheapest route from a central London railway station?

The cheapest option is typically an advance ticket, but these sell out quickly. Most travellers find using a contactless card on the day costs less than higher fares available online.

Two rail operators serve the Luton route: EMR (East Midlands Railway) and Thameslink. EMR runs the Luton Airport Express with advertised fares starting at £8.20 one-way, while Thameslink offers similar services. However, these low fares are scarce and may not align with your flight schedule. Both operators provide inconsistent pricing.

If you're fortunate enough to find one of these bargain fares, they're worth securing. EMR states they'll allow passengers to board a later train if they can prove their flight was delayed, even though these cheap tickets are typically valid only for a specific departure time. It's worth noting, however, that it's unclear how this policy would apply in cases of delayed luggage rather than a delayed flight.

For most travellers, an anytime return ticket is often the cheapest advance fare option. Compare prices: if advance rail tickets cost more than £20.80 at peak times or £16.60 off-peak, use a contactless card to save money. Note that trains don't go directly to the terminal. The final leg uses the DART monorail system, which opened in 2023.

We've included the advance anytime return fare in our comparison because cheaper tickets sell out quickly, and booking a specific train might not be practical for after a flight.

Off-peak costs

Contactless: £16.60, which includes a £11.70 train ticket plus £4.90 for the DART
Train ticket: £21, based on a £42 anytime return ticket (includes the DART)

Peak costs

Contactless: £20.80, which include a £15.90 train ticket, plus £4.90 for the DART.
Train ticket: £23.30, based on a £46.60 anytime return ticket (includes the DART)

Stansted Airport

What’s the cheapest way to get to Stansted airport?

The cheapest option is by coach. National Express offers tickets from central London starting from £9.90.

What’s the cheapest route from a central London station?

There’s only one route to Stansted airport via rail from central London and that’s the Stansted Express. It costs £36.30 for an anytime return within a month, which works out at £18.15 each way.