New York to London Flights: Arrival Guide and Taxi Into London

New York to London is the busiest long-haul route out of the United States. Between JFK and Newark there are more than a dozen nonstop flights to Heathrow on a typical day, plus a smaller number into Gatwick. That choice keeps plane tickets from New York to London competitive, but it also means there is a real chance your “London” flight lands somewhere you did not expect. This page sets out which airline goes where, what the arrival is like, and what it costs to get from the airport to your hotel by taxi.

Airports Taxi UK runs pre-booked airport transfers across London. We meet New York flights every day at Heathrow and Gatwick, follow the flight so the driver is there when you land, and charge a fixed fare agreed when you book. From Heathrow to central London, a saloon currently costs £67 one way.

JFK or Newark: Where Each Airline Lands in London

From JFK, five airlines fly nonstop to Heathrow: British Airways, American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Delta and JetBlue. From Newark, the nonstop Heathrow flights are with United and British Airways. The flight takes around seven hours eastbound and a little longer on the way back. Norse Atlantic also flies from JFK to Gatwick a few times a week, usually for the lowest fares on the route.

Airlines sometimes move between terminals, and codeshares can put you on a partner’s plane, so the terminal on your boarding pass is the one to trust. When you book a taxi with us, you only need to give the flight number. The terminal and the live arrival time come from the flight data.

Cheaper Tickets and What They Really Cost

The cheapest plane tickets from New York to London are usually the basic economy fares on the big airlines and the low-cost fares into Gatwick. Before you pick the lowest price, check what is included. Some basic fares do not include a checked bag or seat selection, and a flight into Gatwick adds a longer trip into central London at the other end. As a rough guide, the taxi from Gatwick to central London costs around £43 more than from Heathrow, and the Gatwick Express is dearer than the Elizabeth line from Heathrow.

For many trips that still works out cheaper overall, particularly for a couple or a family. The point is to compare the full journey, door to door, and not just the flight. If your hotel is south of the river, in Victoria or near London Bridge, Gatwick can even be the more convenient airport.

You Will Need a UK ETA

American citizens travelling to the UK need an Electronic Travel Authorisation before they fly. It costs £20 and is applied for online or through the UK ETA app. Most decisions arrive within minutes, but the official advice is to allow three working days. Your airline will check it at check-in, and you cannot board without one. It lasts for two years, or until your passport expires if that is sooner, so one application covers repeat trips.

Arriving: Passport Control, Bags and Finding Your Driver

Most evening departures from New York land in London between about 6am and 10am, and London is five hours ahead of New York for most of the year. US passport holders can use the eGates at UK border control, which are usually quicker than the staffed desks. After that, you collect your bags, walk through the green channel if you have nothing to declare, and come out into the arrivals hall.

Your driver waits in arrivals with a name board. Because we track your flight, the driver knows if you have landed early or been held on the tarmac, and allows time for passport control and baggage reclaim. If you have been delayed further, for example your bag did not arrive, just call the number on your booking confirmation and let us know.

Heathrow to Central London by Taxi

The drive from Heathrow to central London normally takes 45 to 75 minutes, along the M4 and then the A4 through west London. Mornings between 7am and 10am are the slowest, and New York flights land right in the middle of that window. The fare does not change with traffic, so a slow journey does not cost you more. Here are the fixed fares our system is quoting from Heathrow to central London:

For Kensington, a saloon is around £59, and for Liverpool Street and the City it is around £79. Enter your exact address in the booking form at the top of the page for your own fare. Booking both ways takes 5% off the return trip.

Gatwick to Central London by Taxi

If you are on the Norse flight into Gatwick, allow 75 minutes to an hour and 45 minutes by road into central London. A saloon currently costs £110 one way, an estate £119 and a people carrier £141. The Gatwick Express is about 30 minutes to Victoria. Our driver can meet you at either the North or South Terminal. Details are on our Gatwick to central London taxi page.

When a Taxi Beats the Train

Trains from Heathrow are quick and reliable, and we would not pretend otherwise. If you are one person with a carry-on, staying near Paddington, the Heathrow Express or Elizabeth line is hard to beat. A taxi makes more sense in a few situations. Families with children and luggage do not have to manage stairs, platforms and connections. Groups of three or four pay one fare for the car, which is often less than four train tickets. And a hotel away from the main stations, say in Chelsea, Hampstead or Canary Wharf, is a straight run by car rather than two changes on the Tube.

A car also helps if you are not staying in London at all. Many New Yorkers fly into Heathrow and go straight on to Oxford, the Cotswolds, Windsor or the south coast. Those trips are awkward by train with luggage and easy door to door, and we cover them all.

Where New Yorkers Tend to Stay

Our New York pickups mostly go to a handful of areas. Mayfair and the streets around Park Lane are popular for business and for first-time visitors who want to be close to Hyde Park and the West End. Covent Garden and Soho suit people who want theatres and restaurants on the doorstep. South Kensington is quieter, close to the museums, and the closest of the central areas to Heathrow, which takes a little time off the drive.

For work trips, the City and Canary Wharf are the usual destinations, and Shoreditch has become popular with people in tech and media. If you are not sure where to book, our guide to London hotel areas compares them by airport, drive time and taxi fare.

Business Travel From New York

A lot of people on the New York to London route are travelling for work, heading for the City, Canary Wharf or Mayfair and going straight into a meeting. Our executive cars are a good fit for that, and we can send receipts for expense claims. If a colleague is flying in on a different flight, or you are arriving from Newark while they come from JFK, we can arrange separate pickups. We can also arrange one larger vehicle if the flights land close together.

Holidays and Busy Seasons

Thanksgiving week, Christmas and New Year, and the summer holidays are the busiest times on this route, both for flights and for airport transfers. Book the taxi when you book the flight if you can, particularly for a people carrier or 8-seater, which are the first vehicles to go at peak times. In December, London traffic is heavier around the shopping streets and Christmas markets, so allow a bit longer for the drive in and out.

Going Back to New York

Allow three hours at Heathrow before a flight to the US, plus the drive from your hotel. From central London that usually means leaving four hours before departure. Tell us the flight time when you book and we will work out the pickup time. The driver drops you at the departures entrance for Terminal 2, 3 or 5, depending on your airline.

Common Questions

How long is the flight from New York to London?

Around seven hours to Heathrow or Gatwick, and around eight hours on the way back to New York.

Is JFK or Newark better for London?

It depends on where you live and which airline you prefer. JFK has more airlines and more flights, while Newark has United and British Airways. Both land at Heathrow, but in different terminals.

How much is a taxi from Heathrow to a hotel in the West End?

Our booking system currently quotes £67 for a saloon to Trafalgar Square, and the price is fixed for the car.

Can I book a taxi before my ETA is approved?

Yes, and you can change the booking if your plans change. We only need your flight number and the address you are going to.

Related Pages

• Flights to London from the USA
• Boston to London flights and arrival guide
• United Airlines at Heathrow Terminal 2
• American Airlines at Heathrow
• Delta at Heathrow
• Heathrow to central London taxi