Introduction
London City Airport (LCY) is located in the historic Royal Docks area of East London. As a relatively compact airport with a single terminal, it primarily serves short- to mid-haul flights across Europe. Its strategic position makes it one of the most easily accessible airports in the city.
Interesting fact. You won’t find a control tower at London City Airport. The reason is that it was the first major international airport to be entirely managed by remote digital air traffic control, which is situated about 115 miles away in Swanwick, Hampshire.
Location
Located approximately 6 miles east of the City of London and 3 mi from Canary Wharf, and is easily accessible by Tube, bus or taxi.
Facilities and Terminals
A single terminal serves all flights making it relatively straightforward to navigate. London City Airport is completely accessible for disabled travellers with facilities and services for those requiring assistance if required.
London City Airport departures can be found on the first floor of the terminal. Passengers must clear security before entering the departure lounge, which has shops, bars and cafes.
The London City Airport arrivals hall is on the ground floor of the small terminal.
London City Airport is known for its ease at getting through check-in and security with short queues and quick processing. You’ll likely breeze through to your departure lounge – or on your return through baggage reclaim and passport control – in no time at all.
Shops and Dining
Terminal amenities include duty-free and a small range of retail stores and dining options as well as a spar where travellers can enjoy a pre-flight massage or beauty treatment.
London City Airport lounges
Sadly, London City Airport lacks in-terminal lounges.
Hotels
There is a good range of hotels, nearly all brand new chain hotels in the vicinity of City Airport. Most of the hotels are primarily there to service the Excel Exhibition and Conference Centre situated close by.
On Airport Hotels
The nearest hotel to London City Airport that you can conveniently walk to with your luggage is the Travelodge City Airport, a budget-friendly chain hotel located roughly a 10 minute stroll from the City Airport terminal.
Local red London buses can transport you from the Airport to several hotels located within about a mile of the airport terminal.
Visit Metro Bus for information and routes.
Local Hotels
A variety of hotels can be found in the area surrounding London City Airport. Almost all are brand new, large chain hotels, either on or very near the waterfront, which has become a leisure resource.
Visit our Hotels near London City Airport page for more information.
Day rooms at Stansted Airport
A great alternative to airport lounges are day rooms, where hotels offer regular rooms for your use during the daytime.
Day rooms are exactly the same as purchasing a room for an overnight stay, the only difference is the check-in and check out times on the room rate. You can make full use of each hotel’s extensive facilities or you can just try to get some sleep between flights.
Hotels that offer day rooms near London City Airport
DoubleTree by Hilton London Excel: Day rooms with free Wi-Fi, Desk, shuttle service
Aloft London Excel: Facilities include, indoor swimming pool, bar and 2 restaurants
Courtyard by Marriott London City Airport: Spacious day rooms, restaurant, bar and free Wi-Fi
London City Airport Car Parking
If planning to drive to the airport, London City Airport offers short-term and long-term parking options.
Official On-site Parking – Main Car Park
Located within a 5 minute walk of the airport terminal entrance. This main car park is also utilizes an “Orange Zone” for short-term parking.
Long-Term Parking
The Long-term car park is just a short walk to the terminal, offering barrier controlled access and 24/7 security.
Valet or Meet ‘n’ Greet parking
Airport parking has never been simpler. You simply drive to the designated areas set aside for these parking services at the passenger terminal. Then, you can walk straight into the passenger terminal. Your vehicle will be safely parked in a secure lot while you’re gone and brought back to the spot where you left it when you return.
Recently, Meet ‘n’ Greet airport car parking has received negative attention due to reports of unscrupulous operators in the media. Therefore, it’s crucial to choose a reputable company that has a solid reputation and a secure facility for parking your vehicle.
Pre-book your parking
Not only will you guarantee yourself a space but you will save money whilst doing so.
Whether you’re looking for a Park and Ride car park or a good deal on Meet ‘n’ Greet parking, there’s plenty of choice – and what’s more, we’re never beaten on price.
Airport hotel & car parking packages
Many popular hotels located around London City Airport provide excellent long-term car parking options and packages for overnight stays.
LCA offers a variety of hotel and long stay parking deals at many of its popular hotels, featuring competitive prices across all categories, from Bed & Breakfast options to budget-friendly chain hotels, and even luxurious 4-star accommodations.
These hotel and parking packages can offer substantial savings to purchasing hotel and car parking separately. On a few occasions the package has been cheaper than just buying the long term car parking!
Connectivity
London City Airport has excellent connections to London and various regions of the UK. It offers a broad selection of rail and bus transport choices for travellers.
London Underground
LCA is linked directly to the London Underground network, featuring its own stop on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). Trains operate roughly every 8 to 15 minutes.
Visit our London Underground page for more information.
For journey planning, check out the Transport for London (Tfl) Website.
Bus
Frequent red busses run services into the city and local areas. A single journey (Hopper fare) costs just £1.75.
Taxi
Licensed London Black taxis are available directly outside the terminal building. As a broad indicative guide expect to pay in the region of £35-£45 for a journey into the centre of London, around Trafalgar Square/Oxford Street.
London luggage storage
If you are travelling with luggage, but still want to explore London before you leave, then consider using the Luggage Hero storage solution. You can easily find locations all over London to safely store your luggage for any amount of time you need. It is cheap, secure and bookable online.