London City Airport sits in the Royal Docks, about 6 miles east of the City of London and just 3 miles from Canary Wharf, which makes it the closest airport to central London. Its defining feature is the DLR station built into the terminal, roughly a two-minute step-free walk from the platform to check-in, with fares to Bank from £3.00 off-peak. There is no free drop-off. Prices checked August 2026.
Getting to and from London City Airport at a glance
| Option | Price | Time to central London | Runs at night? | Door to door? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DLR from the terminal | from £3.00 off-peak to Bank | ~25 min to Bank | Until ~00:15 Mon to Sat | No, station stops |
| Black cab from the rank | ~£20 to Canary Wharf, ~£40 West End | 15 to 45 min | Yes | Yes |
| Uber, Bolt or FreeNow | demand priced | 15 to 45 min | Fewer cars late on | Yes |
| Bus 473 or 474 | around £1.75 single (indicative) | a few min to Canning Town | Limited late | No, street stops |
| Drop-off forecourt | £8 for 5 min, then £1/min | n/a | n/a | Yes |
London City handled about 3.6 million passengers in 2024. It is a compact, single-terminal airport built for speed, with a reputation for getting hand-baggage travellers from check-in to the gate in around 20 minutes.
In this guide
- Taxis, Uber and private hire
- Public transport
- Parking
- Drop-off and pick-up
- Popular routes
- Latest news and updates
- Airport facilities and lounges
- Travel blog and guides
- FAQs
The quick answer
If you are heading into London, the DLR is almost always the answer. It is built into the terminal, runs every 4 to 10 minutes, and reaches Bank in about 25 minutes for £3.00 off-peak or £3.70 at peak. One stop to Custom House puts you on the Elizabeth line for Liverpool Street, the West End, Paddington and Heathrow, and a change at Canning Town gives you the Jubilee line.
If you are going to Canary Wharf or the nearby Docklands, a black cab from the rank outside arrivals is quick and cheap by London standards, roughly £20 in around 15 minutes. Uber, Bolt and FreeNow all serve the forecourt too. For longer runs to the West End or another airport, a pre-booked private hire with a fixed price is often the calmer choice.
If someone is collecting you by car, note there is no free kerbside drop-off. The forecourt charge is £8 for up to 5 minutes, then £1 per minute to a 10-minute maximum, so meeting an arriving passenger at a nearby DLR stop can save the fee entirely.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way from London City Airport to Canary Wharf? The DLR, about 20 minutes for roughly £2.30 to £2.50 on Oyster or contactless. A black cab is about £20 and takes around 15 minutes. See the public transport page.
How do I get from LCY to Bank and the City? The DLR runs from the station inside the terminal to Bank in about 25 minutes, for £3.00 off-peak or £3.70 at peak. More on the public transport page.
Is there a drop-off charge at London City Airport? Yes. It is £8 for up to 5 minutes, then £1 per minute to a 10-minute maximum, introduced in January 2026. You pay online by midnight the next day. See drop-off and pick-up.
How much is a taxi from London City Airport? A metered black cab is roughly £20 to Canary Wharf and about £40 to the West End. The rank is directly outside arrivals. More on the taxis page.
Why does London City Airport close at weekends? Noise rules require a 24-hour respite, so the airport shuts from around 12:30 on Saturday to around 12:30 on Sunday, which means no Saturday-afternoon flights.
How we verified this
The prices and facts on this site were checked in August 2026 against the airport's own website and the named operators, including Transport for London for DLR, Elizabeth line and bus fares, and Uber. Fares and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official London City Airport and TfL sites before you travel.
We recommend a transport partner and may earn a referral fee. It never changes what you pay, and we only list options we would use ourselves.
Last verified August 2026 by the London City Airport Guide editorial team. Prices and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official London City Airport website before you travel.