Barnet, between the M1 and the A1

Should you fly from Luton or Heathrow?

Look at the flight first and the drive second, because from Barnet both airports take about the same time. Luton is about 24 miles up the M1 and takes around 42 minutes on a clear road; Heathrow is about 22 miles by the North Circular, the A40 and the M4 spur, and also takes around 42 minutes. In the weekday rush, allow about 55 minutes for either.

Luton is the easier airport for many short-haul holidays and city breaks, with a compact terminal and a short walk from the drop-off area. Heathrow has the long-haul network and the main airlines. If the price and the times are similar, the smaller airport is usually the quicker one from the moment you step out of the car to the moment you reach the gate.

How long does the drive to Heathrow take?

The North Circular is the variable. When it is flowing, Heathrow is about three quarters of an hour from Finchley or Hendon. When it is slow, particularly between Brent Cross and Hanger Lane on a weekday morning, the same journey can take an hour or more. Chauffeurs check it before setting off and sometimes cut across on the A41 and local roads to join the A40 further west.

For a long-haul departure in the morning, we suggest a pickup about three hours before the flight. For an evening flight on a Friday, allow a little longer; the North Circular carries heavy traffic in both directions from mid-afternoon.

Is Thameslink quicker to Gatwick than a car?

Often, yes. Gatwick is the awkward airport from Barnet: about 64 miles by road via the M25 and nearly an hour and a half off-peak, or close to two hours in the rush. Thameslink trains from Mill Hill Broadway, Hendon, Cricklewood and the newer Brent Cross West station run through central London to Gatwick without a change.

A car makes sense when you have heavy luggage, travel as a family or group, or fly at an hour when trains are infrequent. For a solo traveller with a small case and a daytime flight, the train is a fair choice, and we would rather say so than sell you a longer journey than you need.

The same line runs north to Luton Airport Parkway, where a shuttle connects to the terminal. With only a small bag, that works well too. With a family and several cases, the car wins on comfort, because it goes from your door to the terminal kerb.

How do pickups work across the borough?

Barnet covers a lot of different streets. In Golders Green and Hampstead Garden Suburb, many roads are narrow, tree-lined and busy with parked cars, so the chauffeur may stop a few doors along and walk to you. In Colindale and the new developments around Brent Cross, flats often have a single entrance with a set-down area; tell us the building name so the chauffeur goes to the right one.

For houses in Mill Hill, Totteridge and Arkley, which can be set back from the road or down private drives, add any gate code or directions in the notes. We would rather have too much detail than a chauffeur waiting at the wrong gate while your check-in time slips.

On Saturdays, parts of Golders Green and Edgware are much quieter than on weekdays, and on major religious holidays some roads see heavy foot traffic. Tell us if your pickup falls on a day when access to your street is likely to change.

What about London City and Stansted?

London City is about 18 miles away along the North Circular and takes around 34 minutes, which makes it a realistic choice for short business trips to Europe. The terminal is small, and a short-haul traveller with hand luggage can often arrive an hour before departure, but always check the airline’s deadline.

Stansted is about 37 miles and just over an hour away via the North Circular and the M11. It suits early departures to European holiday destinations, and the roads before six are nearly always clear.

Which car suits a Barnet journey?

For a business trip from Finchley or Hendon, the Mercedes E-Class covers most needs. For a longer drive to Gatwick or Stansted, the S-Class is the quietest cabin we run and the most comfortable place to rest before a flight.

Families with holiday luggage should book the V-Class, which takes six passengers and six large cases. For school groups, sports teams and extended families, the V-Class keeps everyone in one vehicle.