London City Airport is in the Royal Docks in east London, about 5 miles from the City of London. It has its own DLR station next to the terminal, and the roads around it link to the A13, the North Circular and two tunnels under the Thames.
By DLR: London City Airport station
The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) stops at London City Airport station, an elevated station next to the terminal. A lift links the platforms with the terminal. The airport is in fare Zone 3, and you can pay with contactless or mobile pay as you go. The airport says trains run every 4 to 10 minutes, depending on where you are going.
- Towards central London: trains run to Bank in the City, and to Stratford International via Stratford, where you can change for the Elizabeth line.
- Towards south-east London: trains run the other way to Woolwich Arsenal.
- For the Jubilee line: change at Canning Town, which both the Bank and Stratford International trains pass through.
By Elizabeth line, via Custom House
The Elizabeth line runs close to the airport but does not stop there. The nearest interchange is Custom House, which is on a different DLR branch, the one to Beckton. From the Elizabeth line at Custom House, take a DLR train west to Canning Town, then change for a train towards Woolwich Arsenal, which stops at London City Airport. You can also change at Stratford for a DLR train towards Woolwich Arsenal. TfL's journey planner shows the quickest option.
By car: the postcode and the last few miles
For sat-nav, the terminal postcode is E16 2PX. The airport's own car park, which also holds the Pick-up Area and Blue Badge parking, uses E16 2PB.
Locally, the airport is reached from the A1020, which runs east from the Tidal Basin roundabout near Canning Town, along the Royal Docks, to the North Circular (A406) at Beckton, and from the A112.
The airport is inside London's Ultra Low Emission Zone, which covers all London boroughs, so check your vehicle meets the standard or budget for the daily charge; our guide to clean air zones on the way to the airport explains how it works.
Routes from each direction
- From the east (Essex, the M25, the Dartford Crossing): leave the M25 at junction 30 and take the A13 west towards London. At the Beckton Roundabout, where the A13 meets the North Circular, take the A1020 west along the Royal Docks to the airport.
- From the north (the M11, Cambridge, north London): leave the M11 at junction 4 for the A406 North Circular, then follow the A406 south to its end at the Beckton Roundabout on the A13. From there, take the A1020 west along the Royal Docks to the airport.
- From central London and the west: take the A13 east to Canning Town, then pick up the A1020 at the Tidal Basin roundabout and follow it east through the Royal Docks.
- From south London and Kent: take the A102 north to the Greenwich Peninsula and cross the river by tunnel (see below). The Silvertown Tunnel brings you out closest to the airport, on the north side near the A13 and the Lower Lea Crossing.
The Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels and their charge
Both tunnels carry the A102 under the Thames from the Greenwich Peninsula. The Blackwall Tunnel comes out at the A12 at Poplar. The newer Silvertown Tunnel, on the east side, connects to the A1026 Lower Lea Crossing and the A13, close to the start of the A1020.
Transport for London charges for both tunnels, per crossing and in both directions, from 06:00 to 22:00 every day except Christmas Day; overnight crossings are free. Since 21 September 2026 a car pays £1.55 off-peak with TfL Auto Pay, and £4.20 at peak times (weekdays 06:00 to 10:00 northbound and 16:00 to 19:00 southbound). Without Auto Pay you pay £4.20 at all times, online or in the TfL Pay to drive in London app, by midnight on the third day after crossing. There are no barriers. Blue Badge holders can apply for a full discount.
Dropping off and picking up
There is no free drop-off at the terminal. The Drop-off area on the forecourt in front of the terminal costs £8 for up to 5 minutes, then £1 a minute, with a maximum stay of 10 minutes. Cameras record your number plate, and you pay online through the airport's operator, APCOA, by midnight on the day after your visit. Overstaying brings a £100 enforcement charge, and you must not leave the car unattended.
To collect someone, follow the Pick-up signs to the Pick-up Area by the terminal, which charges £10 for up to 20 minutes and more after that; it is cashless. Blue Badge holders can register for 10 minutes free in the Drop-off area and get an hour free in the Pick-up Area or main car park. Because the DLR stops at the terminal, it is often the simplest way to avoid these charges.
By bus
Three London bus routes serve the airport directly:
- 129: Lewisham to Gallions Reach.
- 473: North Woolwich to Stratford.
- 474: Canning Town to Manor Park, which runs 24 hours.
Routes 473 and 474 connect at North Woolwich with the SL2 Superloop bus towards Walthamstow. The buses serving the airport have step-free wheelchair access.
By taxi
There is a taxi rank just outside the terminal. Black cabs may add part of the drop-off charge to the meter.
To compare parking for your dates, see London City Airport parking. For what to eat and buy once you are there, see our page on shops, food and drink at London City Airport.
Sorted before you fly.
