From Mayfair, to any runway

Which airport is quickest from Mayfair?

Heathrow is the quickest large airport from Mayfair for most of the day, because the route leaves London on the A4 and M4 without crossing the centre. London City is only ten miles away but runs east through the City, so the journey times are often similar. Gatwick, Luton and Stansted are each 36 to 40 miles away.

These times come from road routing between Mayfair and each terminal, with a standard allowance for central London traffic in the rush-hour column. They are there to help you plan, and your chauffeur will always check live traffic before setting off.

How long does the drive from Mayfair to Heathrow take?

Allow about 35 minutes late in the evening or early on a weekend morning, and 50 minutes to an hour on a weekday between 07:00 and 10:00 or between 16:00 and 19:00. The route runs from Park Lane to Hyde Park Corner, west along Knightsbridge and Cromwell Road, then onto the A4 and the M4.

For a long-haul departure in the afternoon, we suggest a pickup around three hours before the flight. That leaves room for the rush, for check-in and for security, which at Heathrow can vary a great deal between terminals and times of day.

How does a pickup work on Mayfair’s streets?

Tell us the exact address or hotel name, and the chauffeur will come to the door. Many Mayfair streets are one-way, parking bays are resident-only, and some mews are too narrow for a larger car, so the details matter more here than in most of London.

Hotels around Park Lane, Grosvenor Square and Berkeley Square have their own set-down points, and the door staff are used to cars arriving for the airport. For a private address in a mews, the chauffeur may wait on the main street at the mews entrance and come to the door for your bags. If you are leaving from an office, give us the entrance you want to use; a side or rear door on a quieter street often makes loading easier than the main front entrance.

We ask chauffeurs to arrive a few minutes before the booked time and to message you when they are outside, so you are not standing on the pavement with luggage.

Does the Congestion Charge affect your fare?

Yes, for most daytime journeys. Mayfair is inside the Congestion Charging Zone, so any private hire journey that starts here 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.

Your fixed price includes it whenever it applies. An early-morning departure before 07:00 on a weekday avoids it, which is one of the reasons a dawn run to Heathrow can cost less than a mid-morning one.

When is London City the better choice?

London City earns its place when you are flying short-haul to a European business destination, travelling light and valuing time at the airport over time on the road. Its terminal is compact, so the walk from the kerb to the gate is short and security is usually quick.

The drive from Mayfair runs through the City of London and Limehouse, so traffic around Bank and Aldgate sets the pace. Outside the rush, it is a comfortable half-hour journey. At 08:30 on a Tuesday, Heathrow can be just as quick to reach, even though it is further away.

Which car suits a Mayfair departure?

Most Mayfair journeys are made in the E-Class or the S-Class. Both take three passengers and two large cases, and the S-Class adds space in the back for a working journey or a longer rest before a flight.

If you are travelling with a family or several cases, the V-Class takes six passengers and six large cases, and it is easier to load in a narrow street than two separate cars. Mention shopping bags or boxes from a recent purchase in the notes; they take up more room than people expect.