LHRHeathrow
Elizabeth line · Piccadilly line · Heathrow Express
Check the station for your terminal and the best interchange for your address.
Read the guide
Useful information for travellers
London Airport Guide
Find your way through the terminals, plan the journey into London and prepare for arrival. Practical pointers from your first steps in the airport to meeting your driver.
Airport Guide
Where does your journey begin?
Choose a topic for a practical checklist, then explore the related guides to prepare for your journey.
Terminals & mapsYour terminal, entrance and key landmarks.
Quick checklist
Check the terminal in your flight booking and on the airport website. Save the map and identify arrivals or check-in and the right exit. For a connection, check whether you need to change terminals.
Read the article: Gatwick North Terminal GuideRead the article: Gatwick South Terminal Guide
Arrivals & meeting pointsFrom landing to your arranged meeting.
Quick checklist
Save your meeting instructions and driver contact before travelling. Follow the airport signs after landing. Let the driver know when you are ready at the agreed meeting point rather than choosing a different exit.
Getting to LondonTrain, Tube, coach or private transfer.
Quick checklist
Compare the complete journey: the airport connection, interchanges and the final leg with luggage. Check the timetable for your date, ticket conditions and a backup option. Review early and late journeys separately from daytime travel.
Read the article: Heathrow Transport: Trains, Coaches and Private TransfersRead the article: Gatwick to London: Transport Options
Documents & border controlWhat to check before you leave.
Quick checklist
Check official government entry and document requirements for your circumstances, along with the airline’s requirements. Save necessary confirmations for offline access. LAT does not decide entry eligibility or whether a passenger may board.
Read the article: Going through UK customs
Fast Track & securityUnderstand exactly what you are booking.
Quick checklist
Before paying, check which process the service covers: security screening, passport control or assistance. Confirm the terminal, date, time slot and conditions with the operator. Different services are not interchangeable.
Read the article: Gatwick Airport Security Guide
Shops & cafésFood and shopping in the right place.
Quick checklist
Look for facilities in your terminal and on the correct side of security. Check opening hours, especially for a late arrival. Have a backup plan for anything you must buy.
Airport loungesAccess, visiting times and conditions.
Quick checklist
Check the location, entry conditions, maximum stay and rules for children. Confirm whether your ticket or access programme is accepted. Allow time to reach the departure gate afterwards.
Read the article: Business Facilities at Gatwick Airport
Airport hotelsPlan the stay as well as the flight.
Quick checklist
Check the hotel address and route to your terminal. “Near the airport” does not necessarily mean walkable. Confirm check-in times, any shuttle and late-arrival arrangements directly with the hotel.
Choose your airport
London airports: plan your onward journey
Consider the whole journey to your destination, not just the airport. These pointers help you choose where to start.
LHR
LGWGatwick
Gatwick Express · Southern · Thameslink
The railway station is at South Terminal. Allow for the inter-terminal shuttle when using North Terminal.
Read the guide
STNStansted
Stansted Express → Liverpool Street
Choose your interchange for the final destination, not simply for reaching central London.
LTNLuton
Luton DART + train
DART links the terminal to onward rail services. Check the complete journey and what your ticket includes.
LCYLondon City
Royal Docks · London
Check your route across London and your meeting point. Collection and drop-off require different arrangements.
SEN
Southend
Train → Stratford · Liverpool Street
Check the timetable for your date and the onward connection to your London address.
Check current timetables, fares and availability with the operator before travelling. The illustrations are not terminal maps.
Travel tips
Travel with a little more confidence
Six practical checklists to keep the important details in hand.
Before departure
Save travel documents, tickets, your address and route for offline access.
After landing
Follow the airport signs and allow time before your onward journey.
Meet your driver
Open your instructions and confirm the agreed meeting point.
Stay connected
Check roaming, phone battery and how you will pay for transport.
Children & assistance
Discuss seats, luggage and assistance needs before travelling.
Late arrival
Check final departures and arrangements for checking into your hotel.
Transport services by LAT
From the airport to your address
Arrange a car and driver for your journey to London or further afield. Add your route, passengers, luggage and meeting details when booking.
Pre-arranged meetingA car for your journeyDoor-to-door route
LAT transfersQuestions before you travel
Useful starting points. Check the details for your particular flight with the airport or airline.
How should I choose an airport for London?
Compare suitable flights first, then the complete journey to your address. Consider changes, luggage, arrival time and the whole travel cost, not just the airfare.
Where can I check my terminal?
Start with your flight booking and the airport’s official website. Check again before departure rather than relying only on an old printout or a previous journey.
How much time should I allow after landing?
There is no single allowance for every flight. Include leaving the aircraft, relevant airport procedures, baggage collection and reaching the meeting point. Do not plan an onward connection from the landing time alone.
Who should I contact about baggage?
Follow your airline’s instructions for checked baggage. For an item left in a terminal, use the airport’s official lost-property service. LAT does not trace baggage.
How do I find my LAT driver?
Use the meeting instructions and location in your booking. For help with the transfer itself, contact LAT using your booking details.
Is this an official airport website?
No. This is an information section run by transfer company LAT. Contact the airport or airline about flights, documents, baggage or terminal operations.