London City Airport (LCY) sits in the Royal Docks, closer to central London than any other London airport. That makes it the fastest airport to reach by taxi for most destinations — around 15 minutes to Canary Wharf, 25 minutes to the City, and 35–45 minutes to the West End depending on traffic.
Because LCY handles mostly business travellers and short-haul European flights, the arrivals area is compact and fast to clear. Pre-booked taxi pickup is straightforward: your driver meets you inside the terminal with a name board.
On departure, LCY's small size means you can check in and clear security in 20–30 minutes — so we aim to drop you off 60 minutes before short-haul departures.
Fixed fares to and from London City Airport. Prices shown are starting fares for a one-way journey in a standard saloon.
| Route / Vehicle | Details | From |
|---|---|---|
| Canary Wharf / Docklands | Saloon | |
| The City / Liverpool Street | Saloon | |
| Shoreditch / Hoxton | Saloon | |
| West End / Covent Garden | Saloon | |
| Kensington / Chelsea | Saloon | |
| O2 Arena / Greenwich | Saloon | |
| Heathrow Airport (inter-airport) | Saloon | |
| Gatwick Airport (inter-airport) | Saloon |
Quotes for other London postcodes and beyond are calculated instantly at the booking stage. MPV, estate, and executive vehicles are available for all routes.
LCY is directly served by the Docklands Light Railway, which is often quicker and cheaper than a taxi for certain destinations. We'll be honest about when each option is best:
| Option | Time / Detail | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-booked taxi | Door-to-door (15–45 min) | From | Groups, luggage-heavy trips, late arrivals after DLR closes, direct routes to west London |
| DLR | 20 min to Bank, then onward | From .60 | Solo travellers heading to the City or Canary Wharf with light luggage |
| Elizabeth line | Connect via Custom House DLR | From | West London and Heathrow connections |
If you're heading to west London, north London, or travelling with significant luggage, a pre-booked taxi almost always beats public transport. For Canary Wharf or the City with a backpack, DLR is usually quicker.
Your driver meets you inside the arrivals hall (ground floor of the main terminal) holding a board with your name. There's no separate "pre-booked" queue at LCY — the pickup is direct.
From for a standard saloon. The journey takes about 15 minutes via the Lower Lea Crossing and Aspen Way.
From to the City (Liverpool Street, Bank) and to the West End (Covent Garden, Leicester Square). Journey time 25–45 minutes depending on traffic.
Yes — inter-airport transfers from London City to Heathrow start at and take about 75 minutes. To Gatwick, from , about 90 minutes.
Yes, we operate 24/7. LCY's first flights depart around 6am and last arrivals are usually before 10pm, but we cover the full range.
For Canary Wharf or the City with light luggage, DLR is cheaper and often quicker. For west London, north London, groups, or heavy luggage, a pre-booked taxi is better value once you factor in connection time.
Fixed fare. Meet-and-greet at the terminal. Book in under 60 seconds.
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