Arrival & Transport

London has six airports — be mindful when booking which one you choose, as some are far from the center.

Heathrow (LHR)

London's main airport (27 km west). Connection to the center: Elizabeth Line (Crossrail, from £12.80, 30–40 min to Paddington — the best and cheapest option!), Heathrow Express (£25, 15 min to Paddington, expensive but fast), Piccadilly Line (£5.60 with Oyster, 50–60 min, cheap but slow).

Gatwick (LGW)

Second largest airport (45 km south). Gatwick Express (from £17.80, 30 min to Victoria) or Southern Rail (from £10, 35 min, cheaper). Many low-cost carriers.

Stansted (STN)

Ryanair and low-cost carrier hub (60 km northeast). Stansted Express (from £14, 47 min to Liverpool Street). National Express Bus (from £6, 90 min to Victoria — budget option).

Luton (LTN)

Low-cost carrier airport (55 km north). Thameslink train from Luton Airport Parkway (from £12, 30 min to St Pancras). Shuttle bus from the terminal to the station (10 min).

London City (LCY)

Small business airport directly in the Docklands — the closest to the center (15 min by DLR to Bank). Flights from some German cities.

Eurostar from Germany

The Eurostar connects Brussels, Paris, and Amsterdam directly with London St Pancras International. From Germany: ICE/Thalys to Brussels-Midi (from Cologne 1:47h), then Eurostar to London (2 hours through the Channel Tunnel). Total travel time from Cologne: approx. 4.5 hours.

• Prices: Eurostar from €39 one-way (book early!). In combination with DB-Sparpreis from Germany: total costs from €60–80 per route.
• Advantages: Arrival at St Pancras International — right in the heart of London, directly next to King's Cross. No airport transfer, no security hassle, no luggage restrictions (except weight). And the journey through the Channel Tunnel under the English Channel is an experience in itself.
• Passport Control: The British border control takes place before departure in Brussels (Juxtaposed Controls). Have your passport ready! An ID card is no longer sufficient since Brexit.

Underground (The Tube)

The London Underground (1863, oldest subway in the world!) is the backbone of London transport: 11 lines, 272 stations, 402 km network. The Tube is fast, reliable (mostly), and the easiest way to get around London.

• Oyster Card / Contactless: ALWAYS use an Oyster Card (deposit: £7, rechargeable) or a contactless credit card (Apple Pay, Google Pay) — never buy single tickets at the machine! Single ride with Oyster: £2.80 (Zone 1), without Oyster: £6.70 (!) — the difference is huge.
• Daily Cap: No matter how often you travel — with Oyster/Contactless you never pay more than £8.10 per day (Zone 1–2). The system calculates automatically.
• Zones: London is divided into 9 zones. The center is Zone 1, most tourist destinations are in Zone 1–2. Heathrow is Zone 6.
• Operating Hours: Mon–Sat approx. 5 am–12 am, Sun 7 am–11:30 pm. On weekends: Night Tube (Fri/Sat night) on some lines — Victoria, Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly run continuously.

Buses

The red double-decker buses are iconic — and surprisingly useful. Single ride: £1.75 (only with Oyster/Contactless, no cash!). The Bus No. 11 takes a spectacular route from Liverpool Street via Bank, St Paul's, Fleet Street, Strand, Trafalgar Square, Westminster, and Chelsea — a sightseeing tour for £1.75.

On Foot

London is more pedestrian-friendly than you think. Many stations that appear far apart on the Tube map are only 10–15 minutes apart on foot (e.g. Covent Garden → Leicester Square: 3 minutes on foot, but one Tube station). The Tube map distorts distances!