The cheapest airport transfer is usually the shortest one, booked in the smallest car that fits your luggage, with the return booked at the same time. Below are real fixed fares from our booker for short trips to each London airport, plus the honest ways to pay less. Enter your journey in the booking form above for your exact price.
Cheapest Airport Taxi Fares We Run
One-way fares for short local trips to each airport, quoted from our online booker on 27 October 2026 for a midday pickup:
| From | To | Saloon | MPV or 8-seater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southend Central station | Southend Airport | £37.29 | £49.02 |
| Canary Wharf | London City Airport | £40.46 | £52.95 |
| Harpenden station | Luton Airport | £41.85 | £54.79 |
| Crawley station | Gatwick North Terminal | £43.67 | £57.15 |
| Hounslow High Street | Heathrow Terminal 5 | £49.29 | £64.09 |
| Harlow Town station | Stansted Airport | £50.39 | £65.76 |
Every fare includes the airport drop-off charge, plus ULEZ and the Congestion Charge where they apply. The price is the same at night as in the daytime.
Six Honest Ways to Pay Less
- Book your return at the same time. Our booker takes 5% off both legs when you book a return together.
- Pick the car by luggage, not just people. A saloon is the cheapest option and takes four people with two suitcases. If your cases fit, don’t book a bigger car.
- Share one big car instead of two small ones. For groups, an 8-seater is usually cheaper than two saloons. From Canary Wharf to London City, an 8-seater is £52.95, against £80.92 for two saloons.
- Fly from your nearest airport. The table above shows how much a short trip saves. Check flights from more than one London airport before you book.
- Compare the full price. Our fares already include the drop-off charge. At Heathrow, Stansted and Luton, drivers pay a charge to use the terminal forecourt, so check whether another quote includes it.
- Consider the train if you’re on your own. For one person with a small bag going to a central station, the train is often cheaper. A taxi wins once there are two or more of you, or heavy luggage, or a very early or late flight.
What You Don’t Pay Extra For
- No night surcharge: a 4am pickup costs the same as midday.
- No charge for flight delays: we track your flight and the first 60 minutes after landing are free.
- No meter: the fare is fixed when you book, so traffic doesn’t change it.
Things that do cost more: child seats are £10 each, and larger or executive vehicles cost more than a saloon.
Cheap Doesn’t Mean Cutting Corners
A low fare is only good value if the car turns up and fits your luggage. Every booking with us gets the same service whatever the fare: flight tracking, 60 minutes of free waiting after landing, and a driver meeting you inside arrivals on airport pickups. The cheapest fares are simply the shortest journeys in the smallest car that suits you.
How Our Fares Are Worked Out
Each fare is based on the vehicle you choose and the distance and driving time of your route, worked out when you get a quote. The price is then fixed. If traffic is bad on the day, you don’t pay more. That’s why two quotes for a similar distance can differ slightly: a route through central London takes longer than a motorway run of the same length.
Cheaper Ways for Groups
The more people share a car, the lower the cost per head. Quoted on 27 October 2026:
- Canary Wharf to London City Airport in an 8-seater: £52.95, about £6.62 each for eight people
- Crawley station to Gatwick in an 8-seater: £57.15, about £7.14 each for eight
- London City to Gatwick in an 8-seater: £124.06, about £15.51 each for eight
Cheap Transfers Between Airports
Changing airports can cost more than you’d expect. Quoted on 27 October 2026, London City to Stansted is £75.22 in a saloon, London City to Gatwick £96.18, and Southend to Gatwick £109.84. See London City to Stansted, London City to Gatwick and all airport-to-airport transfers.
Airport Price Guides
For full fare lists by airport, see Heathrow taxi prices, Gatwick taxi prices, Stansted taxi prices, Luton airport taxi prices, London City Airport taxi prices and Southend Airport taxi prices. Our London airport transfers page covers all six airports.
Cheap Airport Transfers: FAQs
What is the cheapest airport transfer in London?
The cheapest is a short local trip in a saloon. Our lowest fares in the table above start at £37.29, from Southend Central to Southend Airport.
Is a return cheaper?
Yes. Booking both legs together saves 5%.
Is it cheaper to book an 8-seater for a group?
Usually, yes. It’s often cheaper than two saloons and takes eight passengers with eight cases.
Do you charge more at night?
No. The fare is the same at any hour.
Are airport drop-off charges extra?
No, they’re already in the fare.