London City Airport Bus
London City Airport (LCY) is the international airport serving London, located only 11 km from the city center, making it the closest to the central London. Although being the smallest airport with around 10 carriers, it is possible to reach over 50 destinations from it. The number of passengers increases each year with more than 4.8 million in 2018. There are several ways to get to and from the airport.
London City Airport is located very close to the central London, therefore there are no direct shuttle bus lines from the airport. The options to get to the center are following:
Tube: The most common and fastest way to get to and from the airport is using the Dockland Light Railway (DLR) with the airport having its own station. Trains are departing every 15 minutes and it can take you to Canning Town or Woolwich Arsenal in less than 10 minutes and Stratford in less than 20 minutes. A single ticket to the central London is around £5.
NOTE: If you’re planning to stay in London for a few days, consider buying Visitor Oyster Card, rechargeable smartcard for cheaper fares in public transport. You can book the card before your arrival to London so it can be delivered to your home, in that case, you can start using it right away when you arrive. If you decide to buy it while already there, you can purchase it at the airport or Tube station. London City Airport is located in the zone 3.
Bus: It is possible to get to and from the airport using local bus transport, there are two lines served by London Buses:
- line 473 – The line goes to Stratford via Plaistow and North Woolwich. Check timetable
- line 474 – The line goes to Canning Town, Manor Park and East Ham. Check timetable
Taxi service: Getting a taxi in London is easy, fast and comfortable. At London City Airport you can choose between the iconic black cabs and minicabs. Black cabs can be found outside the terminal, if the yellow taxi sign is on, you can hire it. Black cabs are safe because they are licensed and metered, the minimum charge is £2.60. Here are some estimated prices to certain places: Buckingham Palace £35, Canary Wharf £14, City of London £30 and Westminster £35.
Cheaper option may be Minicab but they can be licensed and unlicensed, in the second case, always agree on the price before the ride.
Transfer: If you are not a fan of public transport and hesitate to take a taxi, we recommend you to book a private transfer online which will wait for you at the airport and take you to your destination. You can even pre-order a child safety seat in case you are travelling with children.
Renting a car at London City Airport: For those who would prefer to reach the city and explore the area on their own, the best option is to rent a car directly at the airport. Offices of several car rental companies such as Avis, Budget, Europcar, Sixt and Hertz are located outside the main terminal. Compare rental prices in advance and book your car online.
Renting a bus at London City Airport: Larger groups of passengers should consider renting a bus at the airport. However, it is recommended to book it online, so the bus rental companies have enough time to advise you on the meeting point and all other information.
FAQ – bus and transport from London City Airport
It shouldn’t be a problem to reach the city since the public transport operates till late in the evening, but still, if you find yourself arriving in the middle of the night you can always consider a taxi or a private transfer.
The biggest advantage of this airport is its location, so there are many options to stay the night. London City Airport Hotel is definitely a decent and the closest option, just a 3-minute walk from the terminal. Some other hotels you can consider are Novotel London Excel, Aloft London Excel and a low-cost hotel Ibis budget Hotel London City Airport.
Yes, you will find 3 Travelex offices where you can exchange money, also, there are 2 ATMs on the ground floor and one more within the international baggage reclaim area, and they accept most credit cards including American Express.
Yes, the airport offers a safe left-luggage service for all the passengers. Search for the Information Desk where they will let you store your luggage giving you a ticket which you need to save till you pick the luggage up again. The price is £10 per item, per 24-hour period. The service is available from 05:00 to 22:00 during the weekdays, from 05:00 to 13:00 on Saturdays, and from 11:00 to 22:20 on Sundays.
You can call the airport on number +44 (0)20 7646 0088 or +44 (0)20 7646 0000, or you can send them an email at Terminal.DutyOfficer@londoncityairport.com
If you want to continue from London to some other places in the UK, you won’t find any direct lines from the airport, but you will have to get to the main bus station and find your bus. Here are some direct routes from London which you can check and book below:
| London – Leicester | London – Manchester | London – Northampton | |
| London – Bolton | London – Ashington | London – Derby |
You can check any other desired route on Getbybus.
