A Quick Look At London’s 5 Airports
The city of London is one of the most popular capitals of the world and accordingly boasts 5 notable airports to help channel visitors into the UK. Central London is easily reached from each of the airports, as you can see from the brief overview below.
Heathrow Airport – Heathrow is located approximately 20km from the centre of London and benefits from its own London Underground station. The journey into the city centre takes up to 50 minutes however the cost is minimal at around $6 each way. Heathrow is by far the busiest of the 5 airports, with 5 terminals catering for 90 airlines that between them fly to over 170 worldwide destinations.
Gatwick Airport – Gatwick is located slightly further from the centre of London (45km) however the transport network into the city is very good. If traveling by bus the journey can take up to 90 minutes, depending on the time of day and traffic conditions. Alternatively Gatwick trains run regularly into London Victoria. Gatwick is smaller than Heathrow and is better known for its charter and discount flights.
Stansted Airport – Although not as big as the major airports Stansted caters for a range of budget airlines, a fact that makes it a popular choice for tourists. The airport is located nearly 50km NE of London’s centre but the variety of transport links make commuting easy. Terravision, Stansted Bus and easyBus are reliable methods of travel into London with Marble Arch, Baker Street and Victoria Station being popular destinations.
Luton Airport – Luton Airport is located 56km north of London. It is a small airport (it has just a single runway airport) and it is predominantly used only by budget airlines flying to various destinations around Europe. As the airport is relatively far from central London, and involves going through busy areas, getting there by care or bus requires time and planning. There is a train station near to the airport though, which will get you to the city center in less than an hour.
London City Airport – Although this small inner-city airport only offers a single runway it is highly popular with business travelers destined for the financial district of London. Located close to Canary Wharf the London City Airport is just 11km from the city centre and is well connected via the Docklands Light Railway and a plethora of bus services. It is worth mentioning that planes landing here must be able to perform short take-offs and equally short landings.
As an alternative, if you do not fancy flying directly into London, you can also fly to Birmingham Airport or Manchester Airport. Both of those are international airports are centrally located in the UK, meaning that you can reach either London or the north of the country in just a few hours.
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Gatwick Airport : One Of The Most Famous Airports In The UK
Gatwick airport is one of the most famous airports in the United Kingdom and Europe as a whole. It stands in the top 30 busiest airports in the world, and is the 8th largest in Europe by passenger traffic. It also has the single busiest runway in the world.
Though it is a relatively old airport, it has been regularly modernized, and just recently they announced a further one billion pound investment would be made in improving their infrastructure. Those responsible for running the airport feel that this investment will allow them to match, or even surpass, Heathrow airport, whose shadow it is has constantly had to exist under, in terms of amenities and passenger accessibility.
With a long history as a major hub of air travel, Gatwick has served as a gateway between London and the rest of the world for millions of people. However even with all the things Gatwick is famous for, there are just as many elements of its history that are not quite as evident, and can be a joy for the inquisitive historian to discover.
#1 – Advances in Architecture
In 1936, Gatwick unveiled the world’s first circular airport terminal, dubbed the Beehive. It was an extraordinary achievement, as it was the first terminal to combine literally every necessary stage of air travel. There was a rail link directly to the terminal, and for the first time passengers could directly board their aircraft instead of having to travel across the runway on foot or by bus.
#2 – Private Fliers
Gatwick was not originally a public airport for major travel. In its early years, it was used as a home for a private flying club. The Surrey Aero Club used their growing prestige to promote interest in flying in general, and helped contribute to the continued growth of the airfield, to the point that Gatwick received its first commercial flying licenses in 1934.
#3 – Royal Attentions
Gatwick has been graced on two separate occasions with a Royal presence at important opening ceremonies. In 1956 the airport temporarily closed in order to undergo a major redevelopment, and it was Queen Elizabeth II who oversaw the ceremonies in 1958. Then, thirty years later, the Queen and Prince Phillip were also present for the opening of the new North Terminal as well.
#4 – World War II
During the second World War, all available resources had to be turned toward keeping Britain safe from the German Luftwaffe. Planes that were based at and flew from Gatwick airport played a pivotal role in Britain’s success in winning the battle of the skies, which ultimately led to the success of the Allies as a whole.
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