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Transfer Options from Luton Airport to City Centre

There are three different modes of transportation available to you if you’re travelling to the city centre of London from Luton airport (LTN), taxi, train and bus. Taking an airport taxi from Luton airport to the downtown area of London is the most convenient transfer option. The ride costs approximately €80 (£70) and will take around 1 hour and 15 minutes. The fastest way to reach the city centre of London is by train. Off-peak train tickets cost €16 (£14.20) and the journey only takes 35 minutes. A slightly cheaper alternative is the bus. Single tickets for the National Express or Green Line/Terravision bus cost €12 (£11), but the average travel time is 1 hour and 30 minutes, making it the slowest transfer option from Luton airport.

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to London at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS
OPTION PRICE DURATION AVAILABILITY
Welcome Pickups €90 50min 24/7 Book
Book
Taxi €80 75min 24/7
Train €32 35min 04:43–02:07
Bus €24 90min 24/7

How to get from Luton airport to the city centre by taxi

Hiring a Luton airport taxi is the best option for a care-free and comfortable transfer from Luton airport to the city centre of London. Your taxi trip will be charged based on distance using a taximeter as there’s no flat-rate fee for this journey. The average trip duration is 1 hour and 15 minutes, but that may increase dramatically if you’re travelling during rush hour traffic.

Be sure to always choose an official black taxi from the rank located outside of the terminal building and not from one of the private companies that approaches you as you exit the airport.

Taxi fare from Luton airport to city centre

The fare of your taxi ride will be calculated by a taximeter as there is no official fixed price for the trip from Luton airport to the city centre of London. The approximate cost of your journey will be €80 (£70), depending on your final destination in the city. Please note that additional costs from tolls or late-night driving may be applied.

Some private taxi companies offer a flat fare for the trip from Luton airport to the city centre of London, but you will need to book your ride in advance.

Cost

€80

Trip Duration

75 Min.

*Rates may vary unless you book your taxi in advance.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Taxis are available 24/7 at Luton airport.

Where do I get it from?

You can easily locate the black London cabs just in front of the airport’s exit doors. You will see a long line of taxis waiting to pick up arriving passengers. Simply stand in the queue and you will be shown to your car.

Convenience

Public transportation in London can be extremely crowded, hot and overwhelming for first-time visitors. If you are travelling with a lot of luggage or simply want to get yo your hotel in comfort, then taking a Luton airport taxi is your best transfer option.

Editor’s Note

Even though taxi rides can be expensive, they are ideal if you're travelling with friends and can split the fare.

Useful Tips

It is recommended to have the details of your destination written down for your driver so there are no mistakes.
All London taxis accept payments with debit/credit cards.
It's best to not try and negotiate a fixed price with the taxi driver as you can often end up paying more than is shown on the taximeter.
Standard Luton airport taxis can carry up to 3 passengers with one piece of average sized luggage each.

How to get from Luton airport to city centre by train

Unfortunately, trains don’t run from Luton airport to the city centre of London. To reach the train, you will first have to take a 10-minute shuttle bus to Luton Airport Parkway. From there, you can take the Thameslink train towards Brighton and stop at one of the major central stations in London, including Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon and St Pancras International. Thameslink train tickets cost €16 (£14.20) and the average travel time is 35 minutes, making it the quickest transfer option available from Luton airport to the city centre of London.

The shuttle buses depart from the airport every 10 minutes and the travel time is only 10 minutes.

How much is the train from Luton airport to city centre?

A one-way off-peak train ticket costs €16 (£14.20) and you can buy them from the Onward Travel Centre in the arrivals hall at Luton airport or from the automatic ticket machines located in the International Baggage Reclaim area.

Make sure you purchase a ticket that starts at Luton Airport (LUA) and not Luton Airport Parkway (LTN), as this way the cost of the shuttle bus is included. If you do choose a Luton Airport Parkway (LTN) ticket, don’t worry, tickets for the shuttle bus cost just €2.40 (£2.10) and can be bought straight from the shuttle driver with cash.

Cost

€16

Trip Duration

35 Min.

Waiting time is around 30 minutes.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Thameslink trains run from 04:43 to 02:07. The airport shuttle bus operates every 10 minutes from 05:00 to 00:00.

Where do I get it from?

The shuttle bus can be located right outside the arrivals terminal, at Bay T.

Once you arrive at Luton Airport Parkway, follow the signs for the Thameslink trains that head towards Brighton.

Convenience

The fact that there is no direct train service from Luton airport makes the trip slightly less convenient, especially if you are carrying heavy luggage or have small children with you. However, once you are on the train, the journey is extremely quick.

Editor’s Note

Once you reach St. Pancras International train station in London, you will access to 6 different underground lines and multiple bus lines, so you shouldn't have any problem continuing your journey to your hotel.

Useful Tips

Trains get extremely crowded during rush hour and can get very hot, so be sure to keep hydrated.
Children under 5 years of age travel for free.
As there are multiple stops on the line into the city centre, be sure to keep an eye on your belongings as people exit the train.
The shuttle bus is free if you purchase a train ticket starting in Luton Airport (LUA).

How to get from Luton airport to the city centre by bus

There are two bus services to choose from when making the journey from Luton airport to the city centre of London; National Express and the Green Line/ Terravision. Both buses stop at the major stations in the city such as; Paddington Station and London Victoria Station. Ticket prices for these buses depend on which one you choose and how far in advance you book, but are around €12 (£11). Both the National Express and Green Line/ Terravision buses run 24/7 and the average travel time from Luton airport to central London is 90 minutes.

How much is the bus from Luton airport to city centre?

One-way bus tickets for the Green Line / Terravision bus cost €12 (£11) no matter when you travel or book your ticket. The National Express bus, on the other hand, can be as little as €6 (£5) if you book it in advance online or as much as €14 (£12) if you buy it on the day.

Tickets for both buses can be bought online or from the ticket desks and ticket machines in the arrivals hall.

Cost

€12

Trip Duration

90 Min.

Waiting time is around 30 minutes

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Both the National Express and Green Line/ Terravision buses run 24/7.

Where do I get it from?

Both the National Express and Green Line/ Terravision buses can be found just outside of the arrival hall exit doors. There’s almost always a bus waiting, so they shouldn’t be too hard to see.

Convenience

The National Express and Green Line/ Terravision buses are modern, comfortable, and offer free Wi-Fi. However, the journey is fairly long and in traffic can take a considerable amount of time. If you are in a rush or aren’t travelling on a budget, it’s advisable to look for a different mode of transport.

Editor’s Note

If you decide to travel with National Express do not forget to pick the route you want to follow. A1 is for Paddington station and A2 for Victoria station.

Useful Tips

Children under 6 years of age travel free.
There's a luggage allowance of 22kg per passenger.
Book your tickets online in advance and save up to 50%.

Welcome Pickups transfer

Welcome Pickups

Book a trained, English-speaking taxi driver to pick you up at the same price as a regular cab from the line

If you feel more relaxed knowing that somebody is waiting for you, you may as well book a Welcome Pickups transfer. As soon as you arrive at the airport you will be greeted by your driver. He will be waiting for you at the terminal of your arrival with a sign that has your name on it. Your driver will help you out with your luggage and together you will make your way to the vehicle. While he is driving you to your accommodation, the driver can give you some tips and recommendations on what to do during your holidays in London. Our drivers are hand-picked and speak fluent English. No need to worry about miscommunication issues that you may face with the local taxi drivers regarding your destination. Relax and enjoy your ride.

Best drivers

Hand-picked english-speaking drivers

Flight monitoring

Drivers are always on time

Quality support

24/7 email & phone support

Cancel up to 24 hours before the pickup and get an 80% refund

Edit or cancel transfers

Read more Book Welcome Pickups transfer

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.

  • 20 minute gap between transfers

  • Regular Car Sanitisation

  • Contactless ride

  • Sanitiser in every car

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Frequently asked questions

How much is a taxi from Luton airport to the city centre?

The average price of a taxi ride from Luton airport to the city centre of London is €80 (£70) based on a taximeter. Without traffic, the journey will take approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

How much is a train ticket from Luton airport to the city centre?

Off-peak train tickets from Luton airport to St. Pancras International station cost €16 (£14.20). Tickets can be bought either from the Onward Travel Centre in the arrivals hall or from the ticket machines in the International Baggage Reclaim area.

How far is it from Luton airport to the city centre?

The distance between Luton airport and the city centre of London is approximately 56 km. The average journey time is 35 minutes by train, 75 minutes by taxi and 90 minutes by bus.

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