Semih
Travel editor at Reisedrop · 2026-06-04
London has several airports, and the answer to the transfer question depends first of all on which one you land at. From the largest one in the west, it is just over twenty kilometres to the city centre, with excellent rail connections.
Express train, Elizabeth Line or Underground
The express train covers the journey to Paddington in around a quarter of an hour. The newer Elizabeth Line is a little slower, but cheaper and stops right in the middle of the city. The classic Underground is the most economical option, but it takes time and involves stairs. The key question is how far your hotel is from the final station.
Private transfer: fixed price and a driver who waits
A pre-booked private transfer means: the driver knows your flight number, waits if you are delayed, the price is fixed before you book, and luggage is included. It is the best option for late arrivals, for families needing child seats, and for anywhere farther out than the city centre. If you are travelling light and want to stay spontaneous, you do not need it.
Uber in London: yes, but with its own pick-up zone
Ride services are part of everyday life in London and are allowed at the airport. You will not be picked up outside arrivals, though, but in the short-stay car parks for the relevant terminal, and depending on the terminal, on a different level. The app tells you the row and floor. If you are coming out of the terminal with two children and four suitcases, it is worth reading those directions in advance.
When a private transfer makes sense
For families, early morning flights and hotels without a good rail connection, a pre-booked driver is the most relaxed solution, above all because the price is fixed in advance and London is otherwise one of the more expensive taxi cities. If you arrive at one of the more distant airports in the north or south, it also saves you a long chain of bus and train connections.
Hire car: almost never in London
The city centre charge, the low-emission zone, driving on the left and parking prices make a hire car in London the worst idea of the day. It only makes sense if you are leaving the city, heading for the Cotswolds, the coast or Scotland. In that case, it is best to pick it up only once you are leaving London.
How Reisedrop handles the question after booking
After your hotel booking we do not ask whether you want to buy a transfer, we ask how you are getting to your accommodation in London. You see two options side by side: a private transfer you lock in beforehand, and a direct link into the Uber app with your destination pre-filled if you would rather stay flexible. No flood of suppliers, no invented guide prices. Private transfers and rental cars are booked with external providers, and with Uber you are forwarded straight to Uber. Price, availability and booking sit with the respective provider. We are not a partner of Uber and deliberately show no Uber prices.
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