City of London, door to departures

Which airport should a City traveller use?

For short-haul business trips to Europe, London City is hard to beat. The drive east along the A13 takes about 25 minutes off-peak and around 36 minutes in the rush, and the terminal is small enough that a traveller with hand luggage can be through security quickly. Many City firms default to it for day trips to Frankfurt, Paris, Zurich or Amsterdam.

For long-haul flights, Heathrow is usually the airport. The drive is about 19 miles, taking around 46 minutes when the roads are clear and up to 67 minutes in the weekday rush. Gatwick, Stansted and Luton are each over an hour away by car.

Is the Elizabeth line quicker to Heathrow?

Often, yes. From Liverpool Street, Moorgate or Farringdon, the Elizabeth line runs directly to Heathrow, and at busy times of day it will usually beat a car through traffic. We would rather say so than sell you a slower journey.

A car is the better choice when you are carrying more luggage than is comfortable on a train, when you want to work or take a call in private on the way, when several colleagues are travelling together, or when the flight is early or late enough that trains are infrequent. It also saves the walk from your office to the station and from the Heathrow platform to your terminal, which with a large case is not nothing.

How do pickups work around restricted streets?

The Bank junction and a number of other City streets are open only to buses and cyclists for much of the working day, and some lanes and courts are closed to vehicles altogether. A chauffeur who does not know the City can lose ten minutes circling.

Tell us the building and, ideally, the entrance you want to use. Many large office buildings have a side entrance or a loading bay on a street that a car can reach easily, and reception teams are used to cars collecting for the airport. If your office is on a restricted street, the chauffeur will wait at the nearest open point and message you with the exact spot.

At weekends, the City is much quieter, and pickups from the residential areas around the Barbican and Golden Lane are straightforward.

Does the Congestion Charge apply?

Yes, for journeys during charging hours. The whole City is inside the Congestion Charging Zone, so a pickup between 07:00 and 18:00 on a weekday, or between 12:00 and 18:00 at weekends and on bank holidays, incurs the £18 daily charge. It is included in your fixed price whenever it applies.

An evening departure after 18:00 or an early start before 07:00 avoids it, which is one reason many City travellers choose a late-evening flight home.

How much time should you allow on a weekday?

For London City, most business travellers with hand luggage leave the office about 90 minutes before departure, but check your airline’s check-in deadline, which is often earlier than people assume. For Heathrow on a weekday afternoon, allow at least two and a half hours before a short-haul flight and three hours before a long-haul one.

If a meeting runs over, message the chauffeur. They will wait, and if the delay threatens the flight, we will tell you honestly whether the train would now be faster.

What about arriving back into the City?

For an arrival at London City, the chauffeur meets you just past the arrivals doors, and the drive back to the Square Mile is short. For Heathrow, the chauffeur follows the flight and waits in arrivals at your terminal, whether the plane is early or held for an hour.

Many City travellers go straight from the airport to a meeting or back to the office. Tell us the destination address and the entrance, and whether you need a quiet journey to take a call on the way. If you are heading home to the Barbican or elsewhere in the City after a long flight, the car takes you to the door of your block.

Which car suits a City journey?

For a single executive, the E-Class or the S-Class is the usual choice; the S-Class gives more room to work or take a call in the back. For a team travelling together to a client, the V-Class seats six with luggage, and one car is easier to arrange than three.

Companies that book regularly can set up an account for invoicing. Ask us about it when you book.