Most people leaving London City Airport are heading to Canary Wharf, the City of London or the West End, all close by thanks to the airport's Docklands location. Others connect on to Heathrow or Gatwick. The table below gives approximate distances, driving times and indicative black-cab fares. Prices checked August 2026.
Routes at a glance
| Destination | Approx distance | Driving time | Indicative taxi fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| ExCeL London / Royal Docks | ~1.5 mi | ~7 min | £10 to £15 (indicative) |
| Canary Wharf | ~3 to 4 mi | ~15 min | £20 to £30 |
| Stratford / Westfield | ~4 mi | 15 to 20 min | £20 to £30 (indicative) |
| Greenwich | ~4 mi | ~20 min | £20 to £30 (indicative) |
| Liverpool Street / City fringe | ~5 mi | ~25 min | £30 to £40 (indicative) |
| Bank / City of London | ~6 mi | 25 to 35 min | £30 to £40 |
| West End / Oxford Circus | ~8 mi | 35 to 45 min | £40 to £55 |
| Heathrow Airport | ~30 mi | 60 to 90 min | £90 to £130 (indicative) |
| Gatwick Airport | ~35 mi | 75 to 110 min | £110 to £150 (indicative) |
Distances and driving times are road estimates and vary with traffic. The taxi fares are indicative metered black-cab ranges, and those marked indicative should be confirmed with the driver or operator before you rely on them.
Canary Wharf and the Docklands
Canary Wharf is only 3 to 4 miles away, so a black cab is about £20 to £30 and takes around 15 minutes. The DLR covers the same ground in roughly 20 minutes for about £2.30 to £2.50, changing at Canning Town or Poplar, which makes it the cheaper choice for a solo traveller. ExCeL London and the Royal Docks are closer still, a short hop from the terminal.
The City and the West End
For Bank and the City of London, the DLR runs direct in about 25 minutes for £3.00 off-peak, and a taxi is £30 to £40 in 25 to 35 minutes. The West End is a little further, so the DLR to Bank then the Central line, or a change at Canning Town for the Jubilee line, takes around 40 to 45 minutes in total, while a black cab is £40 to £55 depending on traffic.
Onward to Heathrow and Gatwick
To reach Heathrow, take the DLR one stop to Custom House and change onto the Elizabeth line, which runs direct in about 49 to 51 minutes, so allow an hour or more overall. A direct taxi is faster but costs around £90 to £130. For Gatwick or Stansted there is no direct link, so you travel via central London to a mainline terminus and take the Gatwick Express or Stansted Express, allowing roughly 1.5 to 2 hours.
Routes FAQs
How far is London City Airport from Canary Wharf? About 3 to 4 miles, roughly 15 minutes by taxi at £20 to £30, or around 20 minutes on the DLR for about £2.30 to £2.50.
How do I get from LCY to the West End? Take the DLR to Bank then the Central line, or change at Canning Town for the Jubilee line, around 40 to 45 minutes. A taxi is £40 to £55.
How do I get from London City Airport to Gatwick? There is no direct link. Travel via central London to a mainline terminus, then take the Gatwick Express, allowing roughly 1.5 to 2 hours.
Which route is cheapest from London City Airport? For nearly every destination into London, the DLR from inside the terminal is the cheapest, with fares to Bank from £3.00 off-peak.
More: Overview, Taxis, Public transport, Parking, Drop-off, FAQs.
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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.