You’ve arrived in London, but how do you get to central London so you can finally unwind? Arranging an affordable airport to accommodation transfer can be challenging after an exhausting flight. But fear not; this blog is intended to ease your worries and ensure you arrive in London, ready to go.
The Underground (the Tube)
London boasts its exceptional Transport for London (TfL), and its tube system is second to none. For adults, it can cost as little as £1.80 to use the Tube during off-peak hours making it one of the more inexpensive methods to enter central London. Simply use your contactless, an Oyster card or ticket (redeemable at the ticketing machines with cash or card) to board the tube. Don’t be afraid to ask the helpful TfL staff for assistance with any questions. To note, the Elizabeth line is among the simplest ways to travel from London Heathrow to central London. Additionally, the line makes it simple to travel to East London, Reading and Essex, which is helpful if your accommodation is situated just outside London.
Coaches
I would advisex to take a coach into central London if you’re arriving from an airport other than London Heathrow. These are typically affordable if you reserve in advance, and they frequently drop you off outside King’s Cross Station or Victoria Station so that you can take public transport to your final destination. Most coaches also offer free Wi-Fi, allowing you to FaceTime loved ones or simply stream some music without using up your mobile data. My personal preference for coaches is Megabus and National Express, but I’m sure any other coach company will do the trick as well.
Heathrow Express
Heathrow Express is the quickest and most efficient way to get into central London if you’re flying into London Heathrow. In contrast to the typical time on the Tube — which can take up to an hour — the trip from the airport to London Paddington only takes 15 minutes. Additionally, there’s no way to get lost because this is a non-stop journey!
Gatwick Express
Gatwick Express is very similar to Heathrow Express, but the only difference is that Victoria Station is 30 minutes away. Additionally, you can save 10% on your journey when you book online, which is a great deal!
Taxis
If all fails, your only remaining choice might be to hail a taxi. When you’re a student living on a tight budget, black cabs in London can be quite expensive. Therefore, I suggest using Bolt or Uber if you want to get to your accommodation on a budget. Alternatively, if you stay within university halls, you can coordinate arrival times and dates with flatmates, then split the taxi cost. (I recommend joining your accommodations’ group chat to find out who’s staying at your halls.) Additionally, it’ll be an excellent opportunity to get to know one another during the journey, and you never know — you might just have made your first friend at LSE.
Final remarks
London has six airports: London City (LCY), London Southend (SEN), London Gatwick (LGW), London Heathrow (LHR), London Luton (LTN), and London Stansted (STN). As soon as you’ve made your flight reservations, double-check which terminal you’ll be landing at. LGW currently has two terminals: a South terminal and a North terminal. On the other hand, there are five terminals at LHR. Given that coaches and train stations differ for each terminal, keeping track of which one you are arriving at is essential if you don’t want to miss your pre-booked coach — they won’t hang around for you!
To learn more about how to get to central London, click the links below for more guidance:
