The capital city of England, London, has continued to attract tourists since ages from all across the globe. The primary reason for this is its wide variety of museums, restaurants, and shops. Planning to visit London with your loved ones during the vacation? Take a look at the airports of London to plan your trip accordingly.

London has 6 international airports making the city one of the busiest metropolises in the aspect of passenger footfall. These airports bridge the gap between London and up to 400 international destinations.

This detailed guide about London airports will come in handy if you are planning a trip to this metropolis.

Note: The services and other factors keep changing frequently. So, please verify all information before planning your trip.

1. Heathrow Airport(LHR), London Borough of Hillingdon

Heathrow Airport is one of the busiest airports, not just in London, but the entire United Kingdom, serving more than 80 million passengers annually. It was opened in 1946. Also, it operates more than 80 airlines.

• Address: Longford TW6, UK
• ICAO Code: EGLL
• IATA Code: LHR
• Category: International Airport
• Terminals: There are altogether five terminals at Heathrow Airport.
  • Terminal 1 has been closed since 2015.
  • Terminal 2, also recognised as ‘the Queen’s Terminal’, handles both arrivals and departures.
  • Terminal 3 comprises the Virgin Atlantic hub and facilitates up to 20 other airlines.
  • The newly-renovated Terminal 4 is home to exciting shops and services.
  • Terminal 5 is British Airway’s main Heathrow hub.
• Services and Amenities Available:
  • Cash machines and money exchanges
  • Several top-rated shopping centres

2. Gatwick Airport (LGW), Crawley, West Sussex

This airport was established in 1958. Gatwick Airport is the second busiest in the United Kingdom, with more than 46 million passengers annually. Also, it is another major international airport in London connected to more than 200 destinations worldwide.

• Address: Horley, Gatwick, UK
• ICAO Code: EGKK
• IATA Code: LGW
• Category: International Airports
• Terminals: Gatwick Airport has two terminals. Both these terminals witness passengers travelling to numerous destinations each year.
  • North Terminal owns various communication centres, self-service facilities providing special assistance to passengers.
  • South Terminal facilitates arrivals and departures of several airlines.
• Services and Amenities Available:
  • Dedicated food area
  • Numerous shopping centres

3. Stansted Airport (STN), Stansted, Mountfitchet, Essex

This happens to be the third largest airport in London and the main hub for Ryanair. The Stansted Airport was opened on 7 August 1943. Here, you can opt for low-cost flights from this airport if you are on a tight budget. Stansted Airport is one of the busiest airports in the United Kingdom, witnessing almost 28 million passengers annually.

• Address: Bassingbourn Rd, Stansted CM24 1QW, UK
• ICAO Code: EGSS
• IATA Code: STN
• Category: International Airport
• Terminals: There is only one terminal at Stansted Airport. It is a single-level passenger terminal which makes it easy to navigate.
• Services and Amenities Available:
  • Meeting rooms and exclusive lounges
  • Baby changing rooms
  • A chapel
  • Video games arcade
  • Currency exchanges

4. Luton Airport (LTN), Luton

If you are on a strict budget, Luton Airport is one of the most suitable London airports to onboard flights from. It was opened on 16 July 1938. Numerous airlines frequently operate from this airport. These include Ryanair, EasyJet and Wizz Air. Also, it is ranked as the 5th busiest airport in the UK, witnessing over 16 million passengers every year.

• Address: Airport Way, Luton LU2 9LY, UK
• ICAO Code: EGGW
• IATA Code: LTN
• Category: International Airports
• Terminals: There is only one terminal at Luton Airport.
• Services and Amenities Available:
  • Several cafes, restaurants, and bars
  • Numerous shopping centres

5. London City Airport (LCY), Royal Docks, Newham

London City Airport witnesses about 5 million people passing through it every year. It is one of the busiest airports in the United Kingdom and became operational on 26 October 1987. Airlines flying from London City Airport include KLM, Lufthansa, Blue Islands, CityJet, British Airways, Alitalia, Luxair, Sky Work and Swiss International Airlines.

• Address: Hartmann Rd, London E16 2PX, UK
• ICAO Code: EGLC
• IATA Code: LCY
• Category: International Airport
• Terminals: There is only one terminal in the London City Airport due to its restricted size.
• Services and Amenities Available:
  • Cash exchanges
  • Top-notch restaurants
  • Shopping centres

6. Southend Airport (SEN), Southend-on-Sea and Rochford

The Southend Airport opened in 1935. This airport is not as big as the other airports in London. Yearly, it witnesses only about 1.4 million people passing through it. Although this number is quite large on its own, compared to the other airports in London, it is much less. You can onboard low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet if you have budget constraints.

• Address: Eastwoodbury Cres, Southend-on-Sea SS2 6YF, UK
• ICAO Code: EGMC
• IATA Code: SEN
• Category: International Airports
• Terminals: Only one terminal in the Southend Airport has two levels for arrival and departure.
• Services and Amenities  Available:
  • Medical facilities
  • Shopping centres

London is all set to witness its seventh international airport by the end of 2023. Its details are as follows:

7. Manston International Airport, Manston Kent

The UK Government is planning to make Manston International Airport the most modern in the world. They have designed this airport to become the most efficient and environment-friendly across the globe. You can expect it to be fully  operational by 2023.

London is the largest aviation hub in the world, witnessing the hustle of over 130 million passengers. So, when travelling to this city, it becomes imperative to know all about the airports in London. Accordingly, you can decide which airport to land at and which fits your budget to ensure a smooth trip.