London City Airport to London Taxi – Fixed Price from £81, Return £146
8.9 miles · about 32 min on clear roads · from £81 in a saloon, fixed before you book · return from £146.
London City Airport to London taxi, fixed price both ways. This transfer covers 8.9 miles door to door, about 32 min on clear roads and 45 min in weekday peak traffic. A saloon costs £81 one way, and £146 if you book the return from London back to London City Airport at the same time. The price is fixed before you book: no meter and no surge. It includes tolls, airport and port drop-off charges and meet and greet.
Below are the fares for every vehicle, the realistic journey times hour by hour, exactly where the driver meets you, and the 20 questions travellers ask most about this journey on Reddit, Tripadvisor, Cruise Critic and other forums in 2025-2026, with straight answers.
What a London City Airport to London taxi costs in 2026
These are the fixed fares for London City Airport to London, worked out the same way as the live quote on our booking page. They depend on the distance (8.9 miles) and the pickup and drop-off areas. The price you are quoted is what you pay.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Luggage (approx.) | One way | Return | Per person (full car, one way) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saloon | up to 4 | 2 large + 2 cabin | £81 | £146 | £20.25 |
| Executive | up to 3 | 2 large + 2 cabin | £92 | £166 | £30.67 |
| MPV | up to 6 | 5-6 large | £92 | £166 | £15.33 |
| 8 Seater | up to 7 | 7-8 large | £104 | £187 | £14.86 |
| 9 Seater | up to 8 | 8 large | £104 | £187 | £13.00 |
Included: door-to-door travel, all road tolls and crossing charges, airport and port drop-off or pick-up charges, flight or sailing tracking, 60 minutes of free waiting for airport arrivals, and help with luggage. Saturday 12:00-22:00 and Sunday 12:00-17:00 journeys carry a 10% peak supplement, which is shown before you pay. Nothing is added afterwards.
Budget, family, business or group: which London City Airport to London option fits
Forum threads about this route keep coming back to the same few needs. Here they are in order of how often travellers raise them.
Executive & corporate car London City Airport to London
For business travel, the executive car is from £92 one way. Company bookings can run on a corporate account with monthly invoicing and a VAT receipt for every journey. The driver tracks the flight, meets you with a name board and keeps the booking even if your meeting runs late. Popular requests here: “Canary Wharf”, “the City”, “Mayfair”.
Early-morning and late-night London City Airport to London taxis
We run 24 hours a day, and the fixed fare is the same at 04:00 as at noon. On weekday nights the roads are at their clearest, and London City Airport to London takes about 32 min. First trains and coaches often start too late for early departures, which is why “how early to arrive”, “90 minutes”, “bag drop opens 2 hours” come up so often in forum threads about this route.
Family & MPV taxi London City Airport to London: child seats and luggage
A family of four with holiday or cruise luggage rarely fits a saloon. The MPV takes up to 6 passengers and about 5-6 large cases, from £92 one way (£166 return). Ask for child or booster seats when you book and give the ages, and they are fitted before pickup. Travellers ask about “young children”, “toddler”, “luggage”.
Cheapest way from London City Airport to London: fixed fare vs train and coach
The lowest fixed fare is £81 in a saloon. Split between four people that is £20.25 each, and a return booked together is £146. The DLR stops right at London City Airport, about 20 minutes from Bank, and the Elizabeth line connects at Custom House. If you searched for “contactless”, “Oyster”, “£3.70”, the honest comparison is door to door: the public transport fare plus any taxi at each end, the time, and whether you can manage your bags.
Group & minibus transfers London City Airport to London (8 and 9 seater)
For groups, the 9 seater carries up to 8 passengers from £104, which is £13.00 a head when full. That is usually cheaper than two cars and keeps everyone together. For larger parties we split across vehicles that arrive together. Groups often search for “group of 4 adults and 2 teens”, “group of 4”, “family of six”.
Accessible and assisted travel
Tell us about wheelchairs, walking aids or anyone who needs extra time, and we send a suitable vehicle and allow for it in the pickup time. A wheelchair-accessible taxi can be arranged with notice. At airports, if you have booked special assistance, the driver can meet you at the assistance desk. Common questions: “step-free”, “lifts”, “avoid Bank steps”.
The route from London City Airport to London
London City Airport is at E16 and London is at central London (W1/WC2/EC). By road they are 8.9 miles apart.
The airport is on Hartmann Road. It links to the A1020 and A13 for the City and the A406, or through the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels for south-east London.
Leaving central London the realistic exits are the A4/M4 to the west, the A3/M3 to the south-west, the A23/M23 to the south, the A2/M2 to the south-east and the A12/M11 to the north-east. Most of the time on these trips is spent in the first ten miles.
How long London City Airport to London takes, and when to leave
On clear roads the journey takes 32 min. The same 8.9 miles take about 45 min in weekday peak traffic, so plan around the peak figure, not the best case.
| Leaving between | Typical journey | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 22:00-05:30 | 32 min | Clearest roads of the day |
| 05:30-07:00 | 33 min | Early flights and first sailings |
| 07:00-09:30 | 45 min | Morning peak, the slowest window |
| 09:30-15:30 | 37 min | Steady and predictable |
| 15:30-19:00 | 47 min | Evening peak: allow the full figure |
| 19:00-22:00 | 35 min | Easing quickly after 20:00 |
To be in London by 12:00, book the pickup for about 11:05. That allows the typical daytime time of 36 min plus a 15-minute margin.
Tolls, crossings and drop-off charges on this route
- If your London pickup or drop-off is inside the Congestion Charge zone, the charge (£18 a day since 2 January 2026, 07:00-18:00 weekdays and 12:00-18:00 at weekends) is inside the fixed fare.
- London City drop-off: £8 for 5 minutes since 6 January 2026.
- Every Rushxo vehicle meets the London ULEZ standard, so there is no emissions charge to add.
Where the driver meets you, and where you are dropped
Pickup at London City Airport
London City is small and fast. The driver tracks your flight and meets you just outside arrivals with a name board. Most passengers are through the terminal within 15 minutes of landing.
Drop-off at London
Drop-off is at the door of your hotel, home or office. For stations we use the nearest legal set-down point to the entrance you need.
Planning the pickup at London City Airport
Pickups after a flight are timed to the landing, not the schedule. The driver watches the flight and allows for the time it takes to get through: typically 30-45 minutes after landing for a short-haul flight with cabin bags only, and 45-75 minutes for long-haul or checked bags. Queues are longer while the EU Entry/Exit System beds in for non-UK passport holders. Your 60 minutes of free waiting start from the actual landing time, so you do not need to rush.
Arriving at London
We drop you at the door of your hotel, home or office, or at the closest legal set-down point for a station.
Worth knowing
- Check-in closes 20 minutes before departure for most London City flights, so timing matters more here than anywhere else.
- ULEZ covers all of Greater London; every Rushxo vehicle is compliant, so there is nothing to add.
Taxi vs train and coach from London City Airport to London
The DLR stops right at London City Airport, about 20 minutes from Bank, and the Elizabeth line connects at Custom House.
A pre-booked car costs more than a single rail or coach ticket for one person. For two or more people with luggage, or at hours when public transport is not running, the gap narrows quickly and the fixed fare often wins. At £20.25 each for four people in a saloon, you also avoid the connections at both ends.
| Rushxo fixed fare | Train / coach | |
|---|---|---|
| Door to door | Yes | No: plus a taxi or transfer at the end |
| Luggage | Loaded for you | Carried through stations |
| Early/late hours | 24/7 | Limited first/last services |
| Delays | Driver tracks your flight or ship | Missed connection is your problem |
| Price certainty | Fixed at booking | Walk-up fares vary |
London City Airport to London taxi: 20-second route video
Transcript: London City Airport to London by pre-booked taxi. 8.9 miles, about 32 min on clear roads and 45 min at peak. Fixed fares from £81 in a saloon, £92 in an MPV and £104 in a 9 seater. Return journeys from £146. Meet and greet, 24/7. Book at rushxo.co.uk.
What travellers ask most about London City Airport to London (2026 forum round-up)
We read the most-discussed threads about this journey on Reddit, Tripadvisor, Cruise Critic, the Rick Steves travel forum, Quora and FlyerTalk in 2025 and 2026. These are the 20 questions that come up most, with answers checked against current airport, port and operator information. Links go to the original discussions.
1. Taxi or DLR between central London and London City Airport?
Most forum regulars recommend the DLR. It stops right at the terminal, and posters say well over half of passengers use it because it is faster and more predictable than the road. A taxi is door to door and suits luggage, children, or very early and late flights, but cross-London traffic can double the journey time.
Discussed on: TripAdvisor: London City Airport (Mayfair) (2025) · TripAdvisor: London City Airport (group of 4, Knightsbridge) (2025)
2. How early should I arrive at London City Airport?
Posters generally say 90 minutes to 2 hours with checked bags and about 1 hour with carry-on only. Bag drop does not open until 2 hours before departure, so there is no point arriving earlier. Security is usually quick, and British Airways check-in there closes about 20 minutes before departure.
Discussed on: TripAdvisor: How early to arrive at LCY (2024) · Rick Steves Forum: London City Airport--When to arrive? (2020)
3. How much is a taxi from London City Airport to central London?
Posters report about £30–£35 by black cab to the City, Covent Garden or Mayfair in daytime, more at night, and about £20–£30+ by Uber (2017–2019 figures). They report around £70 from Kensington (2016). Current fares are higher, so get a fixed quote in advance.
Discussed on: TripAdvisor: Taxi, Uber cost from London City Airport (2019) · TripAdvisor: London city airport taxi or tube? (2017)
4. How long does a taxi take to London City Airport?
From the City, for example St Paul's early in the morning, posters report about 20 minutes, with 40 minutes as a safer estimate. From Mayfair, maps show about 45 minutes, but posters warn it can take about 1.5 hours. From Knightsbridge in traffic, estimates run from 1 to 2.5 hours.
Discussed on: TripAdvisor: London City Airort--how long a drive by taxi? (2012) · TripAdvisor: London City Airport (Mayfair) (2025)
5. Travelling with young children and luggage: taxi to London City or public transport?
Parents in 2025 threads asked whether a taxi from Whitehall or Knightsbridge is easiest. Experts say that on weekday mornings the road is unpredictable and the DLR is more reliable. They also note that a pre-booked car service can cost less than a metered taxi. For heavy luggage and small children, a door-to-door car with a traffic buffer remains the popular choice.
Discussed on: TripAdvisor: London City Airport weekday? (2025) · TripAdvisor: London City Airport (group of 4, Knightsbridge) (2025)
6. Getting between Mayfair, Knightsbridge or the West End and London City Airport
West End addresses are the most-asked starting points. The Tube plus DLR, via the Jubilee line to Canning Town or the Elizabeth line to Stratford, takes about 30–45 minutes. The road route crosses central London and is the least predictable. Posters with groups and bags weigh a pre-booked car leaving well before rush hour.
Discussed on: TripAdvisor: London City Airport (Mayfair) (2025) · TripAdvisor: London city airport taxi or tube? (2017)
7. What is the cheapest way for a group to reach London City Airport?
By contactless, posters report about £3–£3.70 per adult on the Tube plus DLR (2024–2025). A Young Visitor discount Oyster card halves fares for teenagers. For very early flights, the same posters suggest a car service, which for a group of 5–6 can compete on convenience.
Discussed on: Rick Steves Forum: London City Airport LCY (2024) · TripAdvisor: London City Airport (Mayfair) (2025)
8. Early morning flights from London City: how do I get there?
The terminal opens at 04:45 on weekdays and Saturdays. Posters note that a 7am taxi from the City can take just 20 minutes. For first-wave flights from further away, or with seniors and luggage, forum experts suggest a pre-booked car rather than relying on a cab turning up.
Discussed on: TripAdvisor: London City Airort--how long a drive by taxi? (2012) · Rick Steves Forum: London City Airport LCY (2024)
9. Are London City Airport's opening hours restricted at weekends?
Yes. The terminal is open 04:45–22:00 Monday to Friday, 04:45–13:00 on Saturday and 10:30–22:00 on Sunday. Saturday afternoon and early Sunday flights are not possible, which catches weekend travellers out when planning transfers.
Discussed on: London City Airport: LCY Opening Hours (2026)
10. Is London City Airport accessible for wheelchair users?
The terminal is step-free with lifts and short walks to the gates, and all DLR stations are step-free. Black cabs from the rank have built-in ramps. Assistance should be booked through your airline at least 48 hours ahead.
Discussed on: WheelieTravel: London City airport (LCY) wheelchair accessibility (2026) · TripAdvisor: London City Airport - how easy is it to use DLR? (2011)
11. How quick is immigration when arriving at London City?
Much quicker than Heathrow. Regulars with carry-on bags using the e-gates report being on a train about 15 minutes after leaving the aircraft. Non-UK/EEA passport holders at the staffed desks should allow 15–45 minutes. Posters note the airport handles far fewer passengers a day than Heathrow.
Discussed on: TripAdvisor: London City Airport immigration waiting time (2025)
12. Is the DLR easy with luggage, and which interchanges should I avoid?
The DLR itself is step-free with room for bags. Posters warn that the Bank interchange has lots of steps and that Canary Wharf means a long walk between stations. Step-free changes via Stratford or Canning Town are the usual advice. Seniors and heavy-luggage groups are often pointed towards a taxi instead.
Discussed on: TripAdvisor: London City Airport - how easy is it to use DLR? (2011) · TripAdvisor: Heathrow to London City Airport (2025)
13. Where do Uber and pre-booked cars pick up at London City Airport?
Black cabs wait at the rank directly outside the terminal. One local poster noted that Uber-type private hire cars cannot collect from the kerb and must use the car park, which can add a parking charge. Confirm the meeting point with pre-booked firms.
Discussed on: TripAdvisor: Taxi, Uber cost from London City Airport (2019) · London City Airport: Taxi ranks that are just outside the terminal (2026)
14. Does the Elizabeth line go to London City Airport?
No. You change to the DLR, for example at Stratford or Woolwich, or take a short bus from Custom House. A 2025 poster found Google's Custom House suggestion awkward and noted there is no taxi rank there. Heathrow to London City via the Elizabeth line and DLR takes about 75 minutes.
Discussed on: TripAdvisor: Heathrow to London City Airport (2025) · Rick Steves Forum: Tranafer from Heathrow to London City Airport (2023)
15. How close is London City Airport to Canary Wharf and the City?
The DLR reaches Canary Wharf in about 10 minutes and Bank in about 20, running every 8–12 minutes. Posters recommend DLR routes towards Bank or Tower Gateway for City and Tower Hill hotels. A short taxi ride from the City or Docklands is often quick outside the peaks.
Discussed on: WheelieTravel: London City airport (LCY) wheelchair accessibility (2026) · TripAdvisor: How early to arrive at LCY (2024)
16. Should I stay in a hotel near London City Airport?
Posters usually say no. Central London is well connected by the DLR, which stops right outside the terminal, though a Travelodge and an Ibis are nearby. Minicab firms were suggested as an alternative to public transport for the morning trip.
Discussed on: Rick Steves Forum: Hotel near London City Airport (2017)
17. How do DLR fares and contactless work for London City?
One contactless or Oyster tap covers the whole Tube and DLR journey. Posters remind travellers to tap out at the airport's standalone readers to avoid a maximum fare. Posters report roughly £3–£3.70 per adult from central London (2024–2025).
Discussed on: Rick Steves Forum: London City Airport LCY (2024) · TripAdvisor: London city airport taxi or tube? (2017)
18. Is a taxi the best way for older travellers or first-timers with luggage?
An older thread about a Russell Square hotel concluded a taxi was the best option with luggage, at about £30 at the time. Posters later warned that the Bank interchange is tough with bags. When the traveller values stress-free travel over cost, the forums lean towards a car.
Discussed on: TripAdvisor: 'Best way to get to London City Airport? (2010) · TripAdvisor: London City Airport - how easy is it to use DLR? (2011)
19. What if the DLR is disrupted on my travel day?
Posters advise checking DLR status and planned weekend engineering works before leaving, because disruption was flagged as the main timing risk. A pre-booked car is the usual fallback, and if booked early it avoids a scramble for cabs.
Discussed on: TripAdvisor: How early to arrive at LCY (2024) · Rick Steves Forum: Tranafer from Heathrow to London City Airport (2023)
20. How much time do I need to self-transfer between two London airports on separate tickets?
Forum regulars say to allow at least 4 hours from landing to departure for Heathrow to Gatwick. For Heathrow or Gatwick to Stansted, and for Gatwick to Luton, they say 5–6 hours or more. Clearing immigration, collecting bags, the road or rail journey and check-in or security at the second airport all add up quickly. On separate tickets the airline does not have to rebook you if you miss the second flight, so build in a generous buffer.
Discussed on: TripAdvisor: Heathrow To Gatwick (2024) · TripAdvisor: Stansted to Heathrow (2024)
London to London City Airport taxi: the return journey
Going back, London to London City Airport is fixed from £81 in a saloon (MPV from £92, 9 seater from £104). The simplest option is to book both legs together as a return from £146.
Pickup at London: We collect from any London address: hotel, home, office or station. For hotels we wait in the lobby or at the concierge desk; for stations the driver waits at an agreed exit with a name board. Inside the Congestion Charge zone the charge is already in the fare.
Full details for this direction: London to London City Airport taxi.
How to book a London City Airport to London taxi
- Enter your pickup and drop-off in the quote box at the top of this page, or on the booking page.
- Choose the vehicle. The fixed price for each is shown before you pay.
- Add your flight number, ship or event time, the number of cases, and any child seats.
- Pay by card, or on account for business. You get an instant confirmation, and driver details before pickup.
Prefer to talk? Call 020 8888 9988 or WhatsApp +44 7466 237870, 24/7.
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Fares calculated from our live pricing rules on 2026-09-26; journey times are road-routing estimates and peak allowances. Airport, crossing and congestion charges checked against official sources in September 2026.
London City Airport by DLR: routes and fares
If you are travelling light, the DLR is a quick alternative. Here is how it compares.
| Destination | Route | Time | Pay-as-you-go fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank (the City) | DLR direct | About 22 min | About £3.90 peak, £3.30 off-peak |
| Canning Town (Jubilee line) | DLR direct | About 9 min | About £2.30 |
| Canary Wharf | DLR to Canning Town, then Jubilee line | About 20 min | Zones 2–3 fare |
| Paddington | DLR to Custom House (change at Canning Town), then Elizabeth line | About 45–60 min | Zones 1–3 fare |
The DLR station
London City Airport has its own step-free DLR station in Zone 3, with a lift straight to the terminal. Oyster and contactless both work. There is no Elizabeth line station at the airport; the nearest connections are Custom House (via Canning Town) and Woolwich.
Opening hours
The terminal opens 04:45–22:00 on weekdays, 04:45–13:00 on Saturdays and 10:30–22:00 on Sundays, and there are no flights on Saturday afternoons. Black cabs wait at the rank directly outside the terminal.
Fares and times checked September 2026. Prices change, so confirm with the operator before you travel.