We're flying into London, staying a few days, then heading to Madrid. The flights from Heathrow and London City are about the same price. We're likely staying as central as we can afford, but maybe out toward Kensington. Both look tube accessible? Anything I should know to make this decision? Thanks!
Posted by
Denver, CO, USA
1601 posts
London City is a lot closer than Heathrow. It is a small airport that gets smaller aircraft due to a very short runway. The waiting area can also be quite crowded - however, the distance to town is very short.
I am not sure what the transport options are into town - don't know about the tube. Maybe on of the UK residents can chime in.
Posted by
Freedonia
16278 posts
Depending on where you're staying in Kensington, it's a straight sho via tube to Heathrow.
With London City, you take the tube to the Docklands Light Railroad (DLR), a driverless elevated train system. Your flights will be on regional jets rather than the larger ones that would go out of Heathrow--if this makes a difference to you.
Have you checked flights from any of the other London airports? I plugged in a date and found flights from Gatwick (LGW) to Madrid on Easyjet for about half of what BA is charging from LCY. Gatwick is about 30 minutes by train from Victoria Station.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5850 posts
Fly out of LCY.
While Heathrow is closer to Kensington, I have a strong preference for London City. I like LCY so much that I will pay more money to fly out of LCY. You can easily get to London City by public transportation (tube to DLR - Docklands Light Railway). London City is a tiny airport. No need to get there 2 hours in advance. No long security lines.
I lived in London for a year and traveled frequently for business and always chose LCY over any of the other airports when I could. In fact, I flew from AMS to LCY just last April. It is still a great airport. It is one of those airports where they wheel the stairs out to the planes but that doesn't necessarily mean that you will be on a really tiny plane. I haven't found the waiting area to be particularly crowded.
Posted by
OP
Novato, CA, USA
47 posts
Thank you all.
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
If you are travelling this month then be aware that the Docklands Light Railway station at Bank, which is the most convenient interchange from other Tube lines, is closed until the end of January. The most convenient interchange for City Airport until then will be to get the Jubilee Line from central London to Canning Town, although this is often closed at weekends. If this is shut you will need to make the interchange from Tower Hill to Tower Gateway, which is through the street and can be a hassle with luggage.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
I'll both repeat and add to Frank II's list of budget airline options.
Gatwick-Madrid on easyJet, Ryanair, and AirEuropa.
Luton-Madrid on easyJet.
Stansted-Madrid on Ryanair.
Posted by
Bromley, Kent,, UK
1829 posts
Maybe a taxi from your hotel to LCY?