Kingston, between two big airports

Heathrow or Gatwick from Kingston?

Both are realistic, and the right answer depends on the flight. Heathrow is about 12 miles away and takes around 36 minutes off-peak, or about 47 minutes in the weekday rush, via Kingston Bridge, Hampton and the A312 or the A316 and the M4. Gatwick is about 29 miles away but mostly by fast road: the A3 to the M25 near Leatherhead, then round to the M23, around 48 minutes off-peak and an hour in the rush.

If you are comparing flights to the same destination from both airports, the difference in drive time is only about ten minutes, so the fares, the flight times and the terminal you prefer can decide it. For long-haul flights, Heathrow usually has more options; for summer holiday flights, Gatwick often does.

How does Kingston’s town-centre traffic affect a pickup?

Kingston town centre is surrounded by a one-way ring road, and much of the shopping area inside it is pedestrianised. For an address in or near the centre, the chauffeur will plan the approach carefully, because a wrong turn on the ring road means another full loop.

Give us the full address and, for flats in the town-centre developments around the riverside and the station, the building name and the entrance with a drop-off point. On busy Saturdays and in the weeks before Christmas, the ring road and Kingston Bridge are slow for much of the day, so we may suggest an earlier pickup.

What is the route to Heathrow like?

The usual route crosses Kingston Bridge and runs through Hampton Wick and Hampton to the A312 and the airport’s southern side, which suits Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 well. For the central terminals, chauffeurs may use the A316 and the M4 instead. Both routes avoid central London entirely.

For a long-haul flight, we suggest a pickup about three hours before departure. For an early morning flight, the roads are quiet and the drive can take under half an hour, so a later pickup is often fine.

How early should you leave for a Gatwick flight?

Gatwick’s busiest departure wave is between 06:00 and 08:00, and most passengers need to be at the terminal two hours before a short-haul flight. For a 07:00 departure, that means a pickup at about 04:10 from Kingston or Surbiton. At that hour the A3 and the M25 are almost empty, and the timing is reliable.

For a midday or afternoon flight, allow for traffic on the M25 between Leatherhead and Reigate, which is one of the busier stretches on a Friday. The chauffeur checks it before setting off.

Can you drive to Farnborough for a private flight?

Yes. Farnborough Airport, one of the busiest business aviation airports in Europe, is about 29 miles from Kingston and around 50 minutes away via the A3 and the M25 and M3, or across country through Walton and Chertsey. Tell us the handling agent and the flight details, and the chauffeur will wait at the right terminal building.

Biggin Hill, in Bromley, is about an hour away across south London, and we cover that too.

What about London City, Luton and Stansted?

All three are long journeys from Kingston, because each lies on the far side of London. London City takes about 67 minutes via central London, Luton about 77 minutes via the M25 and the M1, and Stansted nearly two hours. For these airports, we suggest generous margins and, for long-haul connections, a conversation with us about the best timing.

How do pickups work in the suburbs?

In Surbiton, Berrylands, New Malden and Chessington, most homes have a driveway or a quiet residential road outside, so the car can wait at your door. For the private estates in Coombe and Kingston Hill, where roads may be gated, add the gate code or directions in the notes.

In New Malden, the High Street is busy during the day, particularly around the Korean restaurants and shops, and the chauffeur may wait on a side street and message you with the spot.

Which car suits a Kingston journey?

The Mercedes E-Class suits one or two travellers on either airport run. Families with holiday luggage should book the V-Class, which takes six passengers and six large cases, with room for pushchairs and car seats. For a cruise from Southampton, the V-Class is also the usual choice, and the drive via the A3 and the M3 takes about an hour and a quarter.

If you are travelling with rowing or sports equipment from one of the river clubs, describe it in the notes so we can plan the vehicle.