Checo77 From Peru, joined Oct 2004, 1247 posts, RR: 7 Posted (6 years 4 months 3 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 1631 times:
I´m planning a trip to London in November. I´m staying probably close to downtown. What you guys recommend, fly from PRG to LHR, LGW or STN directly or to LCY with a stop in AMS? Which out of these 4 airports is the best (best check-in, security, overall basically).
Thanks beforehand to the Britons who know about the subject.
Regards,
Adam
WhiskeyHotel From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2004, 217 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 1602 times:
I'd say LCY...if only for the chance of flying a VLM F50 from AMS-LCY. It only takes one flight on VLM to become hooked. I took them a few months ago MAN-LCY-AMS, and must say that they are the most impressive regional carrier I have ever set foot aboard (and that's no small number of US and European airlines)
Work is the curse of the drinking classes - Oscar Wilde
"Downtown" is an American term which doesn't apply geographically to London. I assume you mean the touristy bits. Of course, they're spread all over London so it's a bit of an open ended question.
All four airports have excellent transport links to various parts of London. LCY is good for a nice, small airport. If your flight is cancelled then you'd have a poor chance of getting another flight, whereas if you were at Heathrow then you'd have no trouble. Gatwick is nearly as good in that respect. Stansted is a little further away - but is fairly efficient at processing passengers.
ZRH From Switzerland, joined Nov 1999, 5448 posts, RR: 47 Reply 7, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 1578 times:
For me LCY is by far the most covenient airport in London. The immigration and baggage claim is very, very fast. When I fly to London from here (ZRH) I always choose LCY if Swiss has reasonable prices. I agree that LHR is best for spotting but LCY is best coming to and going out of London.
HT From Germany, joined May 2005, 6245 posts, RR: 32 Reply 8, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 1561 times:
Checo77,
I would make the flight selection also depending on the location of your hotel !
LHR: Is a bad spot to arrive / to fly from, but its Heathrow Express takes you to Paddington Station in a whizz (Good for hotels near Paddington and in Bayswater).
LGW: Cramped at times, but Gatwick Express takes you into Victoria Station (for Victoria, South Kensigton, etc.)
STN: Check-in is cramped at times (depending on carrier); Stansted Express takes you into Liverspool Street Station (not many affordable hotels around that area) but you can switch at Tottenham Hale (IIRC) to Piccadilly Line (Underground) for more centrally located hotels.
LTN: Hopefully the construction area that "Baggae reclaim" was back in July this year is finished by November (though I doubt this). Public transport into London will involve a bus-transfer from the airport to the rail-station at Luton.
LCY: Is the best of Londons 5 airports (excluding "London Southend") in terms of "Ease of navigation" and "Speed of handling" as it is serving mainly business travellers. However, the DLR-link is scheduled to open in December this year only meaning that you´ll either have to use a shuttle-bus from the small terminal to the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) or even a taxi.
Beware: A taxi ride from LCY to a hotel in Bayswater will cost you a lot of Pounds !
For a budget traveller, those hotels around Paddington Station / Bayswater / Notting Hill probably should be first choice.
Reaching this area is best from LHR: 1. HEX to Paddington, then walk / taxi / tube or 2. and worse the Tube from Heathrow with one transfer.
Second best from STN: Change to Central line at Liverpool Street station after using the Stansted Express (but be aware that the Central line will be cramped and that the overall travel time will be rather long).
In case you want to rent a car in order to stay outside London, I´d recommend either STN or LCY, but then again it would be wise to select your airport with your final destination in mind (keep in mind that the M25 "London Orbital Motorway" is cramped at times).
-HT
Carpe diem ! Life is too short to waste your time ! Keep in mind, that today is the first day of the rest of your life !
Geoffm From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2004, 2111 posts, RR: 8 Reply 9, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 1550 times:
Quoting Pe@rson (Reply 5): Come now: STN's a doddle to reach central London from. Hell, there's plenty of coaches throughout the day and night and regular trains. No problemo!
Don't get me wrong - I like Stansted! I've driven past Heathrow to take a flight from Stansted before (with a choice of flights from either). Some people on a.net, however, seem to think it's a PITA to get to - something I can't quite understand, seeing as road links from the north are fine (A14/M11), and there's at least an hourly direct train from Liverpool cross-country IIRC.
AirbusA6 From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2005, 1682 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 1517 times:
Stansted has regular coaches (buses) into the west end (one of which the A6 is my username)! These are regular and good value, and stop off in various locations on the way, which may be convenient for you, depending on where your hotel is.
it's the bus to stansted (now renamed national express a4 to ruin my username)
Yorkie From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2001, 125 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 1506 times:
I'm dubious about 737s in LCY. I haven't been for some months but even F70 seems to be pushing it. Or have they recently extended the runway?
The only passenger jet I've seen amongst the Citations and other small biz is the 146.
As a place to watch or photograph hassle free give me the west (old terminal) side of STN any day, north of the control tower, though LCY is unique and a most enjoyable day out from the north side across the dock.
HT From Germany, joined May 2005, 6245 posts, RR: 32 Reply 14, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 1488 times:
Quoting B742 (Reply 1): LCY gets ... the F70's/737's from PRG,
Quoting Yorkie (Reply 13): I'm dubious about 737s in LCY.
Indeed, no B737 is certified to fly into LCY.
Biggest commercial a/c is the F70.
Status of trying to certify the A318 is unknown to me.
Quoting Yorkie (Reply 13): LCY is unique and a most enjoyable day out from the north side across the dock.
What about the south side ? Though you can´t see the apron, shots of a/c on the runway (incl. backtracking) should be possible from near the parking area. Last time I was at LCY, a lot of biz travellers spent their time before the flight outside the terminal enjoying the sun and the views of a/c ...
-HT
Carpe diem ! Life is too short to waste your time ! Keep in mind, that today is the first day of the rest of your life !
Yorkie From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2001, 125 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 1481 times:
Yep HT, I'll stay on the south side at LCY as well, and you're right about the car park, although I prefer the north for the following reasons:
1) Far better (ie possible!) for westerly landings
2) More extensive panoramic view
3) Probably better for seeing flight path from the east too
4) Seats and some shelter (lack of other facilities though loos in the nearby hotel foyer)
5) "Preparation time" - nothing can surprise you by emerging from behind the terminal
6) You are very close to the executive apron
7) Better travel for the visitor (to answer the original posting!)
Very close to Royal Albert docklands station. The cheapest and possibly quickest way into the west end, by taking this line about 4 stops west then the Jubilee Line from Canning Town....less than an hour and under £4, though not so useful if you are an airline passenger!
One place to get great looking-down views of the airport itself and general shots of the apron is from the station westbound platform - has anyone posted any on this site?
Sllevin From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 3376 posts, RR: 8 Reply 17, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 1458 times:
I like LCY, and from an aviation fan point of view, getting to change planes has its advantages.
If I were travelling with wife, though, I'd probably skip the connection and fly into LGW. I prefer LGW of LHR because it's less crowded, and, IMHO, you can be standing in the city of London (i.e., referring to the 1 square mile that is the actual City) quicker than from Heathrow.
As others mentioned, there's currently no rail link from LCY. A cab from LCY to St. Paul's will run around 20 pounds.
But you need to refine WHERE within Greater London you are going.
Geoffm From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2004, 2111 posts, RR: 8 Reply 18, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 1443 times:
Quoting Sllevin (Reply 17): As others mentioned, there's currently no rail link from LCY
Technically speaking there is. It's either (a) a short, 5 minute walk away (Silvertown and City Airport), or (b) not open yet (DLR, test trains have run and it is expected to open in a couple of months time).
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