Hotels near London City Airport

Our London City Airport hotels are the only place to rest your head if you’re flying in and out of this Docklands airport. The most centrally located of all the capital’s airports, it serves European and internal destinations, plus New York JFK. If you’re going to The O2, ExCel or working in Canary Wharf and Docklands, staying at one of our hotels near London City Airport will put you right next to where you need to be whilst giving you great access to places like Tower Bridge, the City, Bank, St Paul’s, Westfield Stratford City and the West End. 

What is London City Airport?
London City Airport is an international airport located in the Royal Docks, just 6 miles from the city centre, making it one of the easiest and most accessible airports to reach from the capital.

How many terminals does London City have?
There’s just one, two-storey passenger terminal at London City, with gates all reachable within 30 minutes of the terminal entrance.

Who uses London City Airport?
London City Airport is open to all kinds of travellers. However, the close proximity to central London and speed of check in makes this a particularly popular option for business travellers flying in and out of the city.
 

How long does it take to get from London City Airport to central London?
Depending on where you’re heading in the city, you can expect to take between 20 minutes and an hour to reach your destination. The tourist sites of Westminster are around a 30 minute taxi journey west of the airport, or would take about 45 minutes by public transport. The business area of Canary Wharf is just 10 minutes by taxi or 20 minutes on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR).

How do I get to London City Airport?

By Train and Underground
London City Airport has its own Zone 3 stop on the DLR, just opposite the airport entrance, making it well connected to a range of train and tube options, such as Canning Town and Stratford. Trains to the city leave from London City Airport every 10to 15 minutes. If you’re a new visitor to London, consider picking up an Oyster card from the train station, as this will make travelling on public transport throughout the city much easier.

By Bus
Two bus lines service London City Airport: the 473, which goes to Stratford via Plaistow and North Woolwich, and the 474, which goes to Canning Town, Manor Park and East Ham.

By Taxi
You can take a London Black taxi into the city from just outside the terminal building. If the light is on, then it’s available. Some guide prices you can expect (depending on time of day and traffic) include: 

• £35 to Buckingham Palace, Covent Garden and Oxford Street
• £10 to the Excel Exhibition Centre
• £14 to Canary Wharf

By Car
If you’re driving to London City Airport, use the postcode E16 2PX in your Sat Nav or GPS for the terminal building or E16 2PB for the car park. Blue badge holders can park free onsite for up to 30 minutes. All other parkers can pay £3.50 for up to 10 minutes or £8 for between 10-20 minutes when dropping off or picking up. For all other parking there are both long and short stay car parks on site.

Is London City Airport within the congestion zone?
Fortunately, London City Airport is located outside the congestion zone, so any drivers travelling from outside the city won’t have to pay the fare.

How do I get from Heathrow to London City Airport?
Many travellers to and from London City Airport need to travel directly to Heathrow Airport for the next leg of their journey – this is about 28.5 miles across London to the west. Unfortunately there is no direct shuttle or coach service between the two, but you could try the following transport options:

By Car
When leaving London City Airport, take the A1261 west towards the city, then the A1203 and the A3211 to Duke of Wellington Place. From here you can follow the A4 and M4 all the way to Heathrow Airport. The journey should take around an hour and a half, depending on traffic.

By Taxi
It’s best to pre-book if you wish to travel between the two airports by taxi. You can expect prices starting from between £50 - £60 upwards, for a journey of around an hour and a half. Metered taxis are available in front of the terminal, but are likely to be more expensive.

By Underground and Train
There are several route options available by train and tube, so it may be worth checking based on your individual timings. However, one recommended route is to take the DLR from London City Airport to Bank, the central line from Bank to Holborn and then the Piccadilly Line to Heathrow. 
 

How long do I need to be at London City Airport before my flight?
Travellers are able to check in hold baggage from two hours before their flight is due to depart. While London City Airport prides itself on speedy processing, it’s worth giving yourself no less than an hour to check in, go through security checks and get to your gate.

Does London City Airport have fast track security?
No, there’s no fast track security available at London City Airport. The only way to avoid queuing in line and speed up your journey is by booking the first class lounge – then you’ll be collected from the terminal and driven straight to the lounge where you’ll be checked in for departure.

What time does London City Airport open?
London City Airport is closed overnight, but opens at 5.30am. Passengers can’t check in any earlier than two hours before their flight time.

Does London City Airport close at night?
London City Airport closes at 10pm, with no further passengers allowed into the terminal.

What time do flights stop at London City Airport?
The airport is permitted flights until 10.30pm at night – no further flights will take place after this time.

Is London City Airport busy?
Whilst it’s unlikely to be as busy as some of the region’s larger airports, London City Airport can still be crowded at times, depending on when you’re travelling. Leave yourself at least an hour to get through check-in and security, to avoid disappointment.

What is there to eat at London City Airport?
You’ll find a range of popular coffee shop chains at London City Airport, which will serve a range of hot and cold food such as sandwiches and salads. For longer sit-down meals, you’ll find a selection of restaurants serving everything from burgers to pancakes.

Is there a lounge at London City Airport?
There’s one lounge at London City Airport – the First Class Lounge. It’s a little pricier than regular airport lounges, but includes collection from the terminal or airport car park straight to the lounge in the Private Jet Centre for refreshments. When it’s time for your flight, an escort will take you straight to the aircraft ready for departure.

Can I print my boarding pass at London City Airport?
You can either show your boarding pass on your phone or collect it from a self-service kiosk at the airport (although you’ll need your booking reference).

Does London City Airport have Duty Free?
It certainly does. All of the usual cosmetics, alcohol and confectionery brands are available at Aelia Duty Free, in the Departures area once you’ve gone through security. There’s also a range of British products and souvenirs available. 
 

Which airlines fly into London City Airport? 
A range of airlines service London City Airport, to a variety of destinations. You’ll be able to fly in and out using any of the following airlines: 

• Air Antwerp
• Alitalia
• Aer Lingus
• British Airways
• KLM
• Lufthansa
• Luxair
• British Airways operated by SUN-AIR
• Swiss International Airlines
• LOT Polish Airlines

Where do flights from London City Airport go? 

You can travel to a wide variety of domestic and international destinations from London City Airport – mostly short haul, but with options to travel to New York as well. You can travel to and from any of the following locations:

• Amsterdam (AMS)
• Antwerp (ANR)
• Berlin (TXL)
• Billund (BLL)
• Budapest (BUD)
• Chambery (CMF)
• Dublin (DUB)
• Dusseldorf (DUS)
• Edinburgh (EDI)
• Faro (FAO)
• Florence (FLR)
• Frankfurt (FRA)
• Geneva (GVA)
• Glasgow (GLA)
• Granada (GRX)
• Ibiza (IBZ)
• Isle Of Man (IOM)
• Luxembourg (LUX)
• Mahon (MAH)
• Malaga (AGP)
• Manchester (MAN)
• Milan (LIN)
• Mykonos (JMK)
• New York (JFK)
• Nice (NCE)
• Prague (PRG)
• Rome (FCO)
• Rotterdam (RTM)
• Santorini (JTR)
• Skiathos (JSI)
• Split (SPU)
• Venice (VCE)
• Vilnius (VNO)
• Warsaw (WAW)
• Zurich (ZRH)