London is a big city, and we know traveling to Europe can feel overwhelming, so we’ve put together some tips to help you navigate the city with ease.

London’s public transport is awesome — super easy to get around! Whether you’re hopping on the Underground (aka the Tube), catching a bus, or even taking a riverboat, you’ll have no trouble exploring the city!

There are 6 airports in London! I know, right?

Londra è una grande città e sappiamo che viaggiare in Europa può sembrare complicato, quindi abbiamo raccolto alcuni consigli per aiutarvi a muovervi in città con facilità.

I trasporti pubblici di Londra sono fantastici—super facili da usare! Che stiate prendendo la metropolitana (nota come "Tube"), un autobus o anche una barca sul fiume, non avrete problemi a esplorare la città!

Londra ha ben 6 areoporti, parecchie opzioni!

No matter what country you’re traveling from you’ll need a passport to enter the United Kingdom. If you don’t already have one, please check the US State Department’s website for all passport information. Be sure to apply for your passport as soon as possible given that passport processing times can range from a few weeks to a few months depending on where you live.

Important heads-up—As of January 2025 to visit the UK, you’ll now need to apply for an ETA visa (Electronic Travel Authorisation) before you go. Don’t worry, it’s super easy and only costs £10 ($12.42)! You just fill out a quick online form downloading the ETA app, and you’ll get your approval in a few minutes. Just make sure to apply ahead of time, as it can take a little while to process. Once it’s approved, the ETA lasts for up to two years, so you can come to visit us again multiple times without needing to reapply.

Heathrow is the London's biggest international airport, located on the west side of the city. If you are flying in from the US this is most likely going to be your airport.

Austin (AUS): British Airways

Atlanta (ATL): British Airways, Delta Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic

Denver (DEN): British Airways and United Airlines

Dallas (DFW): American Airlines and British Airways

Houston (IAH): British Airways and United Airlines

Try to avoid going through Houston if you can. They currently have major construction going on that causes delays.

Phoenix (PHX): American Airlines (starting in 2025) and British Airways

Heathrow is located about 1 hour away from London's city center depending on your mode of transportation. Below we've listed some options for you to use to get into the city.

The Underground, £14 per person

From Heathrow you can take The Elizabeth Line (purple on the map) directly into London's city center. It's one of the fastest and most convenient ways to get back into the city from Heathrow. Depending on the hotel you choose, you can easily change tube lines at Bond Street or Liverpool station to hop on the line that goes closer to your hotel.

Paying on the Underground is simple. Instead of buying a ticket, just touch in at the start of your journey and touch out at the end using a contactless card or device on the yellow card readers. These readers are located at the small gates you use to enter and exit the Tube. Be sure to use the same card or device to touch in and out during your journey.

Please note that we only recommend using the Underground to get to and from Heathrow if you are traveling light. Moving around the tube with large suitcases is never fun.

Uber or Bolt, £60 - £90 per car

If you're bringing a bit more luggage and prefer a more scenic commute from the airport, we recommend booking an Uber or Bolt. Cars are typically available at all times, so there's no need to book in advance. Just open the app and enter your destination and then follow directions to the garage for pickup. While this option is a little more pricey it's also a great way to see the city from the car.

British Black Cab, £70 - £100 per car

If you'd like the full British experience and have a bit of luggage, we recommend the British black cabs. London is know for it's spacious and clean cabs. You can easily find the taxi stand at the airport by following airport signage. While this is the most expensive option, it is a one of the kind experience. These drivers know the city best and quickly get you to your destination. Paying is super convenient. All cabs come equipped with tap pay.

Car rental

We highly recommend NOT renting a car while you're in London. Parking is as tricky as it gets—think mid-town Manhattan levels of impossible—and you'll be driving on the "other" side of the road. London is super walkable with fantastic public transport, so you won’t need a car at all. But if you're planning to venture out of the city and explore the beautiful English countryside or charming villages like those in the Cotswolds, then go ahead—renting a car from an airport is perfect for that. That way you don't have to drive in the big bad city and pay tolls.

Avviso importante—Da gennaio 2025 per visitare il Regno Unito, ora dovrete fare domanda per un visto ETA (Autorizzazione Elettronica al Viaggio) prima di partire. Non preoccupatevi, è super facile! Basta compilare un breve modulo online scaricando l'ETA app e riceverete l’approvazione in pochi minuti. Assicuratevi solo di fare la domanda con anticipo, perché potrebbe richiedere un po’ di tempo per essere elaborata. Una volta approvata, l’ETA dura fino a due anni, quindi potrete venire a trovarci di nuovo più volte senza dover fare una nuova richiesta.

Il costo del visto e' di 10£ (12 € circa)

Gatwick is the second biggest airport in the city, located on the south side of London.

Taxi, Uber, Bolt are also available from and to central London and a little bit more expensive, from 80-100£ as the ride takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes.

There are trains running regularly from Gatwick south terminal to London Bridge station. The fast train only takes 29 minutes to reach central London for around 12£ per person.

Local tip, download the Train App to check the time schedule and from which platform the train will depart.

Gatwick è il secondo aeroporto più grande della città, situato sul lato sud di Londra.

Taxi, Uber e Bolt sono disponibili anche da e verso il centro di Londra, ma sono un po' più costosi, con tariffe che vanno da 80 a 100£, poiché il viaggio dura circa 1 ora e 30 minuti.

Ci sono treni che partono regolarmente dal terminal sud di Gatwick per la stazione di London Bridge. Il treno veloce impiega solo 29 minuti per arrivare nel centro di Londra, con un costo di circa 12£ a persona.

Consiglio locale: scaricate Train App per verificare gli orari e da quale piattaforma partirà il treno.