Waterloo, from the South Bank to the airport

Coming from a cruise at Southampton?

Some cruise passengers take the train from Southampton to Waterloo and then look for a car to the airport. If you are flying on the same day as you leave the ship, it is almost always easier to go directly from the cruise terminal to the airport by car. Heathrow is about 80 minutes from Southampton’s docks by road, and there is no change of vehicle with a cruise’s worth of luggage.

If you are spending a night or two in London first, the train into Waterloo makes sense, and we can collect you from the station or your hotel on the day of your flight. Our Southampton guide covers direct transfers from the port in detail.

Which airport is quickest from Waterloo?

London City, at about 31 minutes off-peak via Blackfriars and the City, or 45 in the rush. Heathrow is about 41 minutes off-peak via Westminster Bridge, the Embankment and the A4, or around an hour at busy times. Gatwick is about 68 minutes via the Elephant and Castle and the A23, and Luton and Stansted are each well over an hour.

How does a train-to-plane connection work?

Give us your train and your flight. The chauffeur follows the train, meets you at the end of your platform or under the famous four-faced clock on the main concourse, and walks you to the car at the nearest legal stopping point. Waterloo has several exits, and the roads around it are busy bus routes, so the chauffeur will tell you which exit to use before you set off.

For a long-haul flight from Heathrow, allow at least three and a half hours between the train’s scheduled arrival and your departure.

How do South Bank events affect pickups?

The South Bank is one of London’s busiest cultural districts. Before and after performances at the National Theatre, the Southbank Centre and the Old Vic, and on busy days at the London Eye, the roads around Waterloo and York Road fill with taxis and people. New Year’s Eve fireworks close the riverside completely.

If you are leaving straight from a performance for a late flight, tell us the venue and the end time, and the chauffeur will wait on a quieter street, such as Stamford Street or Cornwall Road, and message you with the spot.

Does the Congestion Charge apply at Waterloo?

Yes, for journeys during charging hours. Waterloo and the South Bank are 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 bank holidays, incurs the £18 daily charge. It is part of your fixed price when it applies. Evening pickups after a show avoid it.

Can you collect from St Thomas’ Hospital or County Hall?

Yes. St Thomas’ Hospital, across Westminster Bridge Road, and the hotels in County Hall are a few minutes from the station. Tell us the entrance, and for patients, any mobility needs. The chauffeur will wait at the drop-off point and help with bags.

Leaving from a South Bank hotel?

The South Bank and the streets around Waterloo have a large number of hotels, from the riverside towers near Westminster Bridge to smaller hotels on the roads behind the station. Most have a forecourt or a place where a car can stop, and the chauffeur will wait at the entrance and come to reception if you ask.

For an early-morning Heathrow departure, the drive from the South Bank along the Embankment and the Cromwell Road is quick before six, often around half an hour. For a London City flight, the route east through Blackfriars and the City is even shorter at that hour. Tell us the hotel and the flight, and we will suggest the right pickup time.

Is the train a better way to reach any airport from here?

Sometimes. The Jubilee line from Waterloo connects to the DLR for London City, and a short hop to Victoria or London Bridge puts you on a direct train to Gatwick. With light luggage, those work. After a long train journey with cases, or with children, a car from the platform to the terminal kerb avoids the changes.