London City Airport Taxi Cost 2026 – Fixed Fares vs DLR, Elizabeth Line and Black Cab
London City is the cheapest London airport to reach by public transport and the most expensive to reach by metered cab per mile, which makes the choice unusually clear-cut. This guide sets out what a pre-booked fixed fare costs from each part of London, what the DLR and Elizabeth line cost instead, and when each makes sense.
Fixed taxi fares to London City Airport
Pre-booked, per car, agreed before you travel, tunnel charge included.
| From | Saloon | Executive | V Class | Typical time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central London (West End, Westminster) | £135 | £161 | £187 | 35–55 min |
| Canary Wharf | £135 | £161 | £187 | 15–25 min |
| Bromley / Beckenham | £90 | £116 | £142 | 30–45 min |
| Watford | £107 | £129 | £166 | 60–80 min |
| Heathrow Airport | £82 | £105 | £143 | 55–80 min |
Live booking-engine prices at the time of writing. Weekend journeys carry a 10% supplement; returns booked together are 1.8 times the single fare.
What the alternatives cost
The DLR runs from Bank to London City Airport station in about 22 minutes for a pay-as-you-go fare of a few pounds, and it is the right answer for one person with a cabin bag on a weekday morning. The Elizabeth line does not serve City directly: you change at Custom House for the DLR, which adds ten minutes. A black cab from the West End on the meter is typically £50 to £70 depending on traffic, and app cars quote £35 to £80 with surge on the same run. Our fixed saloon fare from central London is higher than a quiet-day meter because it carries a 24-hour guarantee, meet and greet and the inner-London tunnel and pickup charges; from outer London and Kent it is usually cheaper than the meter and always cheaper than a surge.
When the taxi wins
Three or more people, early flights before the DLR is running at full frequency, hold luggage, a pickup from anywhere outside Zone 2, or a connection from another airport. A family of four from Bromley pays £90 for the car against four DLR fares plus a train into London Bridge, and arrives in 35 minutes instead of 75. For a solo business traveller from Canary Wharf, the DLR is quicker at 08:00 and the taxi is quicker at 06:00. See London City: taxi or DLR for the full comparison and London City Airport transfer to book.
Common questions
How much is a taxi from London City Airport to central London?
Is the DLR cheaper than a taxi to London City?
Does the Elizabeth line go to London City Airport?
Are there extra charges on top of the fixed fare?
How much is London City to Heathrow?
EES and your airport transfer
My flight home might land late because of EES queues. What happens to my transfer?
Give your flight number when you book, so the driver can follow the actual landing time rather than the scheduled one.
Will I go through EES at Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted?
No. UK airports do not run EES. When you fly to a Schengen country, you register on arrival at the European airport, and your exit is recorded when you fly home.
Do children have to register for EES?
Yes, every non-EU traveller gets a record, babies included. Children under 12 are photographed but not fingerprinted.
Do I need ETIAS as well?
Not yet. ETIAS, the EU's separate online travel authorisation, has not launched, so there is nothing to apply for. The EU will announce a start date months in advance; until then, avoid websites that charge for it.
EES is the EU's digital border check for non-EU travellers, fully in use since April 2026. It is not a visa. Checked September 2026; rules can change, so see the EU Travel to Europe site before you travel.