Getting there
Planes, trains, automobiles, or maybe even helicopter – we tell you the best way to go.
- Planes
- London has several international airports: Heathrow, to the west, is on the Piccadilly Line, or 15 minutes from Paddington on the Heathrow Express train (£14.50). Gatwick, to the south, is 30 minutes from Victoria via the Gatwick Express (£14.90). Stansted and Luton, to the east, are where most of the budget carriers land. There are trains to Liverpool Street four times an hour (£14.50) from Stansted, and a regular rail service to King’s Cross from Luton. City Airport in Docklands is dominated by European business flights and is on the DLR line.
- Boats
- There are commuter and leisure boats all along the river: the main service runs from Putney with regular stop-offs all the way to Greenwich Pier. See www.tfl.gov.uk/river for timetables and routes.
- Trains
- International trains arrive at St Pancras (www.stpancras.com), which has good links via the Underground. The Tube network will be your saviour, taking you anywhere you need to go (www.tfl.gov.uk/tube); your best bet is to buy an Oyster card from any station for reduced-price journeys (valid on buses too) across the capital.
- Automobiles
- On weekdays from 7am to 6pm, there’s an £8 daily Congestion Charge payable to drive into and around central London (www.cclondon.com); parking is easy, but pricey. Beware overzealous traffic officials.