info@britishexpresscars.co.uk
Quick answer
Changing airports in London is a separate journey of 40 minutes to 1½ hours by road: Heathrow–Gatwick takes 40 minutes to an hour (from £69), Heathrow–Luton 40 minutes to an hour (from £75), Heathrow–London City about 1½ hours (from £99) and Heathrow–Stansted about 1 hour 10 minutes (from £104). Allow at least 4–5 hours between flights on separate tickets.
How long does it take to transfer between London airports?
| Connection | Drive time | Distance | Fixed price from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow → Gatwick / Gatwick → Heathrow | 40 min – 1 hr | 38 miles (61 km) | £69 |
| Heathrow → Luton / Luton → Heathrow | 40 min – 1 hr | 34 miles (54 km) | £75 |
| Heathrow → London City | About 1 hr 30 min | 25 miles (40 km) | £99 |
| Heathrow → Stansted / Stansted → Heathrow | About 1 hr 10 min | 62 miles (99 km) | £104 |
Most of these routes use the M25, which is busiest on weekday rush hours and Friday afternoons. London City is the exception: it sits in east London's Docklands, so the route crosses the city.
How much time should I allow between flights at different airports?
When your flights use two airports you are making a self-transfer: you collect your bags, clear passport control if arriving internationally, travel by road, then check in again. Build your time like this:
- Arrival: 45–90 minutes from landing to leaving the terminal (immigration and baggage).
- Road transfer: the drive time from the table, plus 30 minutes for traffic.
- Departure: your airline's bag-drop deadline and security – check the departure airport's advice (Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Heathrow).
As a rule of thumb, allow at least 4–5 hours between scheduled landing and departure on separate tickets, and more for long-haul arrivals or peak days.
Is a private car better than a coach or train between airports?
- No changes: there is no single direct train between Heathrow and Stansted, Luton or Gatwick; a car goes terminal to terminal.
- Luggage stays with you in one vehicle, which matters when you are carrying checked bags between flights.
- Delays are handled: we track your inbound flight and move the pickup automatically, at no extra cost.
- Fixed fare per vehicle, so a family pays one price rather than several tickets.
Where will the driver meet me?
At Heathrow your driver waits in the arrivals hall: outside WHSmith at Terminals 2 and 3, outside Costa Coffee at Terminal 4 and at Pret A Manger at Terminal 5. At the other airports the driver waits in arrivals with a name board. Full details are on our Heathrow transfers page.
Need a car? Get a fixed price in under two minutes.
Book the transfers mentioned in this guide
Heathrow to Gatwick Transfers — fixed-price quote
Gatwick to Heathrow Transfers — fixed-price quote
Heathrow to Stansted Transfers — fixed-price quote
Heathrow to Luton Transfers — fixed-price quote
Heathrow to City Airport Transfers — fixed-price quote
Heathrow Airport Transfers — fixed-price quote