Heading to or from London Luton Airport? A wealth of options is open to you, and our handy guide will give you all the details. Whether you're looking to get the Luton to London train or you're searching for a London to Luton bus, we'll give you the lowdown on how to catch these efficient public transport links.
London Luton Airport parking is also a popular choice amongst drivers. If that's you, check out our comprehensive guide to your long-stay options below. And, if you prefer to stay at the airport, we've got details of some of the most popular hotels near London Luton Airport, including what facilities to expect and how close they are to the terminal.
So, keep reading to learn about your transfer options to and from one of London's most popular airports.
Photo by Geoff Collins
Luton Airport to London: By train
Trains from Luton to London are frequent and easy, with a journey time of as little as 32 minutes from London St Pancras to the airport. The trip does involve a transfer onto a light rail system.
At London St Pancras, you jump onto the East Midlands Railway EMR Connect service to Corby. The first stop on this route is. To get to the airport, simply alight here and jump onto the dedicated Luton DART shuttle service, which will whizz you through to the airport in no time.
To get back to London, you simply jump onto the dedicated Luton DART shuttle service, which will whizz you home from the airport in no time! Arriving at London Luton Airport Parkway, you’ll then want to hop on the East Midlands Railway EMR Connect service to London St Pancras. You’ll pass through stations such as Luton, Bedford, Wellingborough, Kettering and Corby, so there are plenty of non-London options for connections to various National Rail routes, too.
Prices can be surprisingly cheap if you book in advance, and are still reasonable even if you don't. If you're interested in catching the Luton Airport to London train, head over to our easy-to-use Journey Planner. Be sure to enter "Luton Airport" and not "Luton Airport Parkway" as your destination.
Luton Airport to London: By bus/coach
You can also travel from Luton to London by coach. There are pros and cons to this form of transport. On the plus side, coaches can be cheaper than trains, especially when you haven't booked train tickets in advance. They also tend to stop at more places on their journey to the airport, so you may have more flexibility on your journey from London. Coaches from London Luton to London and vice versa keep running through the night, meaning you have options no matter how late you arrive at the airport.
On the other hand, coaches will take longer than the train, with journey times to London usually taking somewhere between 50m and 1h 10m. Some routes can take much longer, so check the duration carefully before you book!
If you want to take advantage of the flexibility and value of coach travel at London Luton Airport, check out our dedicated Coach Journey Planner.
Luton Airport to London: By car
Let's face it, nothing can beat the flexibility of driving to the airport. Everything is in your control: you arrive at the time you need, rather than having to stick to someone else's timetable, and you can transport your whole family and all your luggage without having to worry about traversing train or bus stations.
The downside to all this is that it can be costly to use the car. Official on-site London Luton Parking will set you back over £100 for a week's stay in the furthest location, and the cost rises significantly if you'd like to park within walking distance of the terminal.
One other option is getting a friend to drop you off. If you choose this option, they can drop you off for free, but you'll be a ten-minute walk away. You can be dropped off directly outside the terminal building, but it will cost £5 for just five minutes' stay, with each additional minute up to the maximum 20 minutes costing another £1. Overstay and you'll pay a big penalty.
If you're travelling into Central London, you'll also have the Congestion Charge to contend with, at £15 per day.
With all that said, if you have a big family, driving can make a lot of sense. To get there from London, you simply head to the M1 motorway. Head north and leave at Junction 10. You then just follow the A1081 directly into the airport complex.
Photo by Jnpet
Luton Airport to London: By taxi
One of the most luxurious ways to start an air journey is to be chauffeured to the terminal. If that sounds good, then a London Luton Airport cab might be right for you.
Although it can be one of the more expensive ways to go between the capital and the airport, it does have some huge advantages. You can be picked up from wherever you need, rather than having to get to a station. Somebody else worries about directions and traffic; you just sit back and concentrate on your trip. Essentially, you get the positives of taking the car without having to worry about parking.
Prices for a car and driver range from £70–£100, depending on which part of London you're in. If you're interested, input your flight number and postcode into our Airport Transfers page and you'll be shown all your options, including the price to upgrade to a luxury vehicle!
Need to stay at Luton Airport instead?
Maybe you're not ready to make the journey back from Luton Airport to London on the same day your flight arrives? That could well be the case if you get in very late at night. Don't worry - there is a solution for you! Luton Airport has plenty of on-site hotels.
The Ibis London Luton Airport is a three-star hotel 10 minutes from the airport. They have a restaurant, meeting rooms and free Wi-Fi throughout. Prices are normally around £80–£100, with breakfast adding about £12 per person.
The Holiday Inn London Luton Airport is right next to the Ibis, about 10 minutes from the terminal. In addition to the restaurant and Wi-Fi, they also have an on-site fitness centre. Rooms start at around £85–£110 per night (with premium options costing extra). Breakfast comes in at roughly £15 per room.
The Hampton by Hilton London Luton Airport is further away than the other two, at roughly a mile by road. It is, however, right next to the DART rail shuttle service, so there is a very easy connection into the airport. Guests benefit from free Wi-Fi and a free hot breakfast. Standard rooms cost between £85–£140.
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