Arriving at Luton Airport: What to do next

Located around 35 miles north of London in beautiful Bedfordshire, Luton Airport has been operating in some capacity since way back in 1938. After serving as an RAF base during the Second World War, the airport really (ahem) took off in the 1960s thanks to the rise of the package holiday. Now London’s fourth busiest airport (after Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted) it serves around 16 million passengers every year, with popular low-cost routes including Amsterdam, Malaga, Budapest and Dublin.

Fascinating, for sure. But you didn’t travel all this way just to hear about Luton Airport’s passenger numbers, right? And so, without further ado, let’s take a look at how to get from Luton into the big city and the essential London attractions to visit when you get there.

You can get into Central London in as little as 32 minutes. Roughly the same, in other words, as arriving from Gatwick or Heathrow. Check out all the different methods of transport below…

• Fastest: the Luton Airport Express is your best and quickest option for getting into Central London, with a journey time of 32 minutes and services that depart every half hour from early morning to late night, Monday to Saturday (plus several Sunday departures). Trains arrive at St Pancras, with plenty of onward travel options available at King’s Cross via the London Underground (Tube). One-way tickets from Luton Airport to St Pancras start from around £12 for off-peak travel. NB: tickets from Luton Airport include the DART shuttle bus that connects the airport with Luton Airport Parkway station. If you’ve pre-booked your ticket from Luton Airport Parkway, you’ll need to pay around £5 extra for the DART service. The DART runs every four minutes during peak hour, and every seven minutes at all other times.
• Cheapest: National Express coaches serve Luton Airport and cost around £14 one-way to Victoria Station, with a journey time of around 90 minutes. Savvy travelers can shorten the slog by hopping off at Golders Green or London Paddington and continuing onward journeys from there by Tube.
• And finally: naturally, cabs are available at Luton Airport. But you’ll find yourself paying anywhere from around £70-£100 (and beyond) depending on traffic and the distance to your end destination. Motoring masochists can also choose to rent a car if they wish to take up the notoriously difficult (and often highly stressful) challenge of driving (and finding affordable parking) in Central London. Note that congestion charges may also apply. Our advice? Leave the car behind if you’re traveling into London, but consider getting your own set of wheels if it’s the bucolic Bedfordshire countryside you’re here to explore.

So what’s the first thing you should do after negotiating your way out of Luton Airport and into your dreamy London hotel? After plundering the minibar, we mean. And yes, also after dialling room service to order a pot of tea and a scone in your plummiest English accent. Why, it’s sightseeing, of course!

London’s reputation for being a little overpriced is not entirely undeserved (£12+ for a medium glass of house wine, anyone?). But fear not: The London Pass® can take the edge off somewhat, promising big savings on entry to a mind-boggling variety of London attractions, tours and activities. Find out more about the available pass options here, or read on for our pick of the London attractions you simply must not miss, several of which are included with the London Pass® and London Pass Plus®. 

• The London Eye. An icon of the London skyline for more than a quarter of a century, this South Bank stalwart has lost none of its power to wow. Your 30-minute flight promises views of Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral and even, on a clear day, the fairytale turrets of distant Windsor Castle.
• Tower Bridge. Expect yet more unique views from one of London’s most-papped attractions. The bridge’s elevated walkways have glass floors, meaning that, as well as gazing down the Thames to the Tower of London, St Paul’s and the Tate Modern, you can also look straight down beneath your feet at the pedestrians, red London buses and black hackney cabs far below. Check out our guide to the best observation platforms in London.

• Kensington Palace. A favourite home of Diana, Princess of Wales, this Jacobean beauty sits just west of Hyde Park. Its sumptuous sunken garden features a statue of the late princess herself. Discover more of our favourite London palaces here.
• Madame Tussauds. Encounter further members of the British royal family – albeit rendered in wax, at this world-famous museum. Highlights include Wills, Kate, Camilla and Big Chaz himself, plus sport, screen and rock royalty galore. We’re talking everyone from Jack the Ripper to Taylor Swift, via Darth Vader, The Incredible Hulk and many many more.
• St Paul’s Cathedral. Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece is as eye-catching from the outside as it is fascinating on the inside. Step through the hallowed doors to experience the mighty organ and ornate crypt, plus the acoustic marvel that is the extraordinary Whispering Gallery. Check out our guide to London’s best churches and cathedrals here. 
• Kew Gardens. With more than 300 acres of gardens, woodlands, lakes, Victorian glasshouses and other botanical treats to explore, it’s easy to fill a whole day at London’s premier garden attraction. Find out more about Kew and our other favourite London gardens here.

Hit the buttons below to find out how you could save with The London Pass®, and to choose yours…