Flying on Christmas Day? Here is the only way to reach a London airport on 25 December

Which airports and airlines operate on 25 December

All the main London airports are open on Christmas Day with a reduced flight programme. Heathrow typically sees long-haul arrivals from North America, the Gulf, India and East Asia throughout the day, plus a scattering of European departures. Gatwick and Stansted run a thin schedule dominated by leisure carriers; Luton and London City have very few movements. Airlines publish their Christmas Day schedules in November; if your ticket says 25 December, the flight almost certainly operates.

What does not operate is any of the ground transport. Terminals stay open, but the train and Tube stations beneath them are shut and the bus stands are empty.

Heathrow Express, Elizabeth line, Gatwick Express, Stansted Express: all closed

Boxing Day services are published by each operator in late November and early December; we update this table as they appear. See our Christmas engineering works tracker.

Fixed fare table: each airport ⇄ central London, saloon and MPV

From-prices as published on our airport pages. Your exact fare is fixed when you book — the price on the confirmation is the price you pay, whatever the traffic or the date. Postcode zone charges may apply for City, Bloomsbury and King's Cross addresses.

Fares from other parts of London and the Home Counties are quoted instantly online. Heathrow to Southampton cruise terminals is from £183 in a saloon; see Christmas and New Year cruise transfers if you are joining a Christmas sailing.

Arrivals on 25 December: meet and greet, name board, what the terminal looks like

Your driver is inside the terminal, in the arrivals hall, holding a board with your name on it. We track the flight from take-off, so an early arrival or a long delay simply moves the pickup; there is nothing you need to do. Sixty minutes of waiting after the scheduled landing time is free.

Christmas Day terminals are strange places: quieter than normal, with fewer shops open, a slower baggage service and no queue for the (closed) train. The upside is that the roads are as empty as they ever get, and Heathrow to Mayfair takes about 35 minutes. Our Heathrow arrivals meet-and-greet guide covers where to meet in each Heathrow terminal.

Departures on 25 December: pickup time worked back from check-in

Give us the flight and we suggest a pickup time working back from the airline's check-in closure, adding the Christmas Day journey time (short) and a margin. As a rule of thumb from central London: Heathrow, leave 2 hours 15 minutes before a long-haul departure; Gatwick and Luton, 2 hours 30 minutes; Stansted, 2 hours 45 minutes. Early Christmas morning departures are the simplest journeys of the year — no traffic at all.

Booking cut-off, cancellation, payment

• Book by 20 December. We reserve a set number of cars for Christmas Day and do not overbook.
• Pay by card online at the time of booking. Fixed price; nothing to pay the driver.
• Free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup for 25 December journeys.
• Flight cancelled by the airline? Tell us and we will move or refund the transfer.

• Quote and book online at any hour — the fare is fixed at the moment you confirm.
• Driver details (name, vehicle, registration, direct mobile) arrive the day before.
• Flight tracking on every airport pickup: if your flight is early or late, the pickup moves with it at no charge, with 60 minutes' free waiting after landing.
• Pay by card when you book. No cash, no meter, no surge.

Frequently asked questions

Is Heathrow Express running on Christmas Day 2026?

No. Heathrow Express, the Elizabeth line and the Piccadilly line all close on Christmas Day. There is no rail or Tube service to Heathrow on 25 December.

How do I get to Gatwick on Christmas Day?

By road. Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink run no trains on 25 December. A pre-booked car from central London is from £89 and takes 60–90 minutes; on Christmas Day it is usually at the quick end of that range.

Do you run to Stansted, Luton, London City and Southend on Christmas Day?

Yes, all six London airports, in both directions.

What if my Christmas Day flight is delayed?

We track it. The driver's pickup time moves with the flight and you get 60 minutes' free waiting from the actual landing time.

Is the fare really fixed over Christmas and New Year?

Yes. The price you see when you confirm the booking is the price you pay. It does not change with traffic, weather, flight delays or the date. What you may see is a different from-price for the peak days than for a Tuesday in March — that is set when you get your quote, not added afterwards.

How far ahead should I book?

For 24, 25, 26 and 31 December and 1 January we allocate a fixed number of vehicles and drivers, and once they are gone we cannot add more. Book by 20 December for Christmas and by 15 December for New Year's Eve to be safe; we will always try to help later than that, but cannot guarantee it.

Can I book by phone or WhatsApp?

Yes — call +44 20 8888 9988 or use the contact page. Online booking gives you an instant fixed fare and is the quickest route on busy days.

Last reviewed 9 September 2026. Timetables, closures and event details change; we update this page as operators publish their Christmas arrangements. See our pricing and sources policy.