Havering airport transfers
Havering, London’s gateway to Essex
Havering is the most easterly London borough, and its closest airports are to the east. London City is about 24 minutes away, Southend about 41 and Stansted just under an hour. Heathrow, on the other side of London, is well over an hour.
The London Borough of Havering covers Romford, Hornchurch, Upminster, Rainham, Harold Wood, Harold Hill and Collier Row, with the M25 running along its eastern edge and the A12, the A127 and the A13 leading out into Essex. Much of it is suburban, with a lot of green belt, and it feels closer to Essex than to central London in many ways.
That includes its airports. From Havering, the three airports to the east and north-east are all within an hour, and the ones most people think of first, Heathrow and Gatwick, are the long journeys. This page sets out the choices and how to plan each one.
Which airport is closest to Havering?
By road, London City is the quickest, at about 11 miles and around 24 minutes via the A13 or the A1020. Southend is next, at about 25 miles and 41 minutes straight along the A127. Stansted is about 33 miles and 55 minutes via the M25 and the M11.
Gatwick is about 50 miles and 63 minutes via the Dartford Crossing and the M25, which is quicker than many people expect. Heathrow is about 37 miles but takes around 68 minutes, because the route has to cross the whole of London or go round it.
Why is Southend such a good fit for Havering?
Because the A127 runs almost straight from Romford and Upminster to the airport, and the terminal is small. The drive takes about 41 minutes off-peak and around 53 minutes in the rush, and once you arrive, the walk from the drop-off zone to check-in is short.
Southend’s route network is smaller than Stansted’s, mostly short-haul holiday and city-break destinations. When your destination is on its list, it is often the least stressful airport journey you can make from Havering. Note that Southend now charges for its express drop-off zone; when you travel with us, the charge is included in your fixed price.
How does the drive to Stansted work?
The car joins the M25 at junction 28 or 29, runs north to the M11 and on to the airport. It is motorway almost the whole way, about 33 miles, and takes around 55 minutes off-peak or 72 minutes in the rush.
For Stansted’s early departures, the M25 is usually clear before six in the morning. For a 06:30 flight, a pickup at about 03:30 leaves two hours at the terminal for bag drop and security in the busy first wave.
Is Gatwick realistic from Romford?
Yes. The usual route runs south on the M25, over the Dartford Crossing and round to the M23. It is about 50 miles but mostly motorway, and it takes around 63 minutes on a clear road. The Dartford Crossing charge, when the route uses it, is part of your fixed price.
For summer holiday departures, allow extra time for traffic at the crossing, which can queue at busy times. The chauffeur checks it before setting off.
What does a Heathrow journey involve from here?
Planning. Heathrow is about 37 miles away, and the drive takes around 68 minutes off-peak and nearly an hour and a half in the rush, whether the chauffeur goes through London on the A12 and the A406 or round the M25.
The Elizabeth line from Romford, Gidea Park or Harold Wood runs into central London, where you can change for Heathrow. With light luggage, that is a reasonable choice. With a family or heavy cases, or for an early flight, the car from your door removes the changes. For long-haul departures, we suggest a pickup about four hours before the flight.
How do pickups work in Havering?
Most homes in Hornchurch, Upminster, Emerson Park and Harold Wood have a driveway or a quiet road outside, so the car can wait at your door. For houses on private roads, add any gate codes in the notes.
Romford town centre has a ring road, pedestrianised streets and a busy market, and the chauffeur will meet you at the nearest point where a car can stop. For flats near Romford station, give us the building name and the entrance with a drop-off area.
Can you bring me home after a late landing?
Yes. Stansted and Southend both handle many late-evening holiday arrivals, and delays can push landings past midnight, when trains and buses back to Havering are few. The chauffeur follows your flight, waits in arrivals however late it lands, and drives you home on roads that are usually clear at night.
Book the return leg with the outward journey, add the flight number, and the pickup will adjust automatically if the flight is early or late.
Which car suits a Havering journey?
The Mercedes E-Class suits one or two travellers on the short run to Southend or London City. Families with holiday luggage should book the V-Class, which takes six passengers and six large cases. For golf trips and ski holidays, mention the equipment so we can match the car to it.
For groups heading to a wedding or a celebration abroad, the V-Class keeps everyone together.
Every airport
From Havering to the terminal
Off-peak and weekday rush-hour times from road routing, fastest first.
| Airport | Distance | Off-peak | Rush hour | Main roads |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London City | 11 mi | 24 min | 31 min | A1020, A13 |
| Southend | 25 mi | 41 min | 53 min | A127 |
| Biggin Hill | 30 mi | 46 min | 60 min | A21, M25 |
| Stansted | 33 mi | 55 min | 72 min | A120, M11 |
| Northolt | 31 mi | 62 min | 81 min | A40, A406 |
| Gatwick | 50 mi | 63 min | 82 min | M23, M25 |
| Luton | 46 mi | 64 min | 83 min | B651, B653 |
| Heathrow | 37 mi | 68 min | 88 min | M4, A312 |
| Farnborough | 79 mi | 97 min | 126 min | A331, M3 |
In every fare
What the price includes
- 01
Flight tracking
The chauffeur follows your flight number, so an early landing or a delay moves the pickup with it.
- 02
Meet and greet
Your chauffeur waits in arrivals with a board showing your name, and takes the bags from there.
- 03
A fixed price
Agreed when you book. Traffic, a longer route on the day or a late landing do not change it.
- 04
Parking and drop-off
Airport drop-off and short-stay parking charges are part of the price, not added afterwards.
- 05
A route from live traffic
The chauffeur checks the roads before setting off and picks the line that is moving.
Nearby
Areas close to Havering
Straight-line distance between the two areas.
- Barking and Dagenham3.3 mi away
- Redbridge5.0 mi away
- Newham7.5 mi away
- Greenwich8.2 mi away
- Waltham Forest8.5 mi away
- Stratford8.5 mi away
- Bexley8.8 mi away
- Tower Hamlets9.5 mi away
Journey planner
From Havering to any airport
Heathrow Havering
- Distance
- 37miles
- Off-peak
- 68min
- Weekday rush
- 88min
Usual line: M4, A312, A40. Chauffeurs choose on the day from live traffic.
Good to know
Questions, answered
How long does it take from Romford to Southend Airport?
About 41 minutes off-peak along the A127, and around 53 minutes in the rush.
Is Stansted or Southend closer to Upminster?
Southend is closer and usually quicker. Stansted is about 55 minutes away, but it has far more flights, so the destination often decides.
Who pays the Dartford Crossing charge on a Gatwick journey?
We do. It is included in your fixed price whenever the route uses the crossing.
How far is Heathrow from Hornchurch?
About 37 miles, typically around 70 minutes off-peak and up to 90 minutes in the rush.
Is Havering inside the Congestion Charge zone?
No. The zone covers central London only. Chauffeurs normally avoid it on the way to Heathrow, and if a route ever passes through it during charging hours, the charge is included.
Do you collect from Rainham and Harold Hill?
Yes. We cover the whole borough, including Rainham, Harold Hill, Collier Row, Elm Park, Gidea Park and Cranham.
Ready when you are
Your chauffeur, already waiting
A named chauffeur, a fixed price and a quiet car, at every London airport.