London airports

Lentil Soup

What is the best London airport to fly to from Ireland

afatbollix

London is a big place so depends on where your going.

City airport is closest to the city and good connectivity.

Heathrow has the tube and good for West London.

Gatwick has direct trains into London in about 30 minutes. But good for South London.

Stansted is a 50 minute train into London.

And Luton is a bus and a train ride into London.

road_high

I find Gatwick good as Aer Lingus fly there and train is reasonable in/out (I just get the cheaper mainline service). Heathrow is more expensive and I only use if it’s work paying. Have used Luton and stansted but they were for trips outside of London to those parts of England

endofrainbow

Totally depends on your final destination in London.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120211084#Comment_120211084

Not really. It's very easy get around London once you are in.

I would say it mostly depends on your budget.

Lentil Soup

Will be going to centre of London. Want the easiest cheapest route considering I have bit of difficulty walking long distance and use a stick

Caranica

Then I would say London City. Smallest of the airports and DLR is very easily accessible from the airport. Connection to the tube shouldn't involve long walks either. I'm also a Gatwick fan but walks there can be very long though not as long as Heathrow.

cml387

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120211187#Comment_120211187

That assumes you are flying from Dublin (or Belfast) as you can only fly to and from LCY from those places.

Pricewise Ryanair are probably going to be the cheapest and that means going to Stanstead. There is a regular train connection at a reasonable price to Liverpool St. station which is pretty central.

Caranica

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120211383#Comment_120211383

So much walking in Stansted airport though

theteal

So much walking in them all - oh how I miss Southend airport, fingers crossed for it to be used again.

Stansted cheapest and three are plenty of connecting travel options - actually, now that I think of it, there's not a huge amount of walking when arriving there, departing is a different story though.

City is the best for less faffing about but you do pay for the privilege.

cml387

If you are using a stick just ask for wheelchair assistance at the time of booking the flight. You'll be classed as a wheelchair walk-on so get a wheelchair to/from gate to train in Stansted.

retroactive

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120211444#Comment_120211444

Stansted arrivals isn't a bad walk at all iirc. I love the express into the city (although £20). Depending on where you're going in the city, this option is likely to be the most convenient

WishUWereHere

If You are going to use Stansted, be very careful

https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Attraction_Review-g1577375-d10199993-Reviews-Stansted_Express-Stansted_Mountfitchet_Essex_England.html#REVIEWS

VG31

Terminal 5 at Heathrow (BA) is a shorter walk to the Tube and Heathrow Express than Terminal 2 (Aer Lingus). It takes me a good 15 minutes to walk from the Aer Lingus arrivals gates at LHR to the Heathrow Express station and I walk very fast.

In terms of shortest walking and convenience, London City is by far the best.

beachhead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120211152#Comment_120211152

London City Airport is a good option.The DLR - Docklands Light Railway runs by the airport.The entrance to it is on the right before you leave the airport main exit.There will be steps to negotiate when changing onto the Tube for central London.Buy an Oyster card for travel.Next would be London Gatwick-it's got the quickest train journey(30-45 mins) into Victoria Station(near Buckingham Palace)but fares can be expensive unless booked in advance.Depending on the gate you arrive at off the Dublin plane in Gatwick you could have a long walk.Just one escalator down to the train platforms.London Heathrow involves a lot of walking too but it's on the Tube network with the Elizabeth Line going to Paddington station(near enough to the West End and a short walk(10-15 minutes) to Hyde Park-Oxford Street)in 30 minutes.Other Tube lines(with one change)are 50 minutes minimum.Luton and Stanstead(trains about 30-40 mins in London)are further out but have coach and train links.The railway in Stanstead comes in under the airport(convenient).Luton is a bit like Dublin with corridors twisting and turning depending on where the plane parks.If you have difficulty walking I would advise organising a wheelchair for all the London airports.It will save your legs for when leaving the airport.

Caranica

You don't need an oyster card any more, just tap your bank card/phone/smart watch

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120212527#Comment_120212527

All of those people are morons. Nowhere does it indicate that you can tap on that train.

I assume they were all people who started from London as it would be impossible to make that mistake the other way.

beachhead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120213056#Comment_120213056

What if someone doesn't want the grief of exchange rate and charges? Also,remember not to have any other cards close to the one you swipe

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120211152#Comment_120211152

The biggest question is what airport you plan on flying out of.

That will limit your options.

All of them have long walks so I would definitely request assistance.

VG31

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120213208#Comment_120213208

London City doesn't have any long walks.

theteal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120213197#Comment_120213197

Revolut. Can be added to phone apple/Google pay so the physical card is not needed.

Jeremy Sproket

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058283259/london-airports

Hands down LCY.

ittakestwo

I have gone Gatwick with Ryanair last few times. Train return is about £22 and leaves you at Thameslink station on Fleet street which is central. I find Gatwick very quick on return flight, as soon as off the train straight up escalators and you are beside outbound security.

WishUWereHere

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120213173#Comment_120213173

Yes it’s on the return from London where the problem occurs.

And thanks, I’m one of those ‘morons’ who got caught-nice to know people getting caught out are called names now.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120213864#Comment_120213864

Did you go on Tripadvisor to try and blame Stansted Express or did you just accept you made a mistake ?

It's the former I have a problem with.

Lentil Soup

I hope to fly from Shannon it ie nearer to me. Which one has least walking then?

Is there a charge for the wheelchair?

Thanks

endofrainbow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120216173#Comment_120216173

No but you need to book it in advance with your airline. 'some' wheelchair assist agents expect a tip......