Find Your Fixed Fare — Select Your Area, Pick Your Airport, See the Price
Select your departure area and destination airport below to compare airport taxi prices and see the estimated fixed saloon fare including the airport terminal drop-off charge. All fares are confirmed at booking — the price shown is the price you pay at your door. No meter, no surge, no additions at journey end.
Estimates shown. Exact confirmed fare depends on your specific address and terminal — confirm at booking. Drop-off charges: Heathrow £7, Gatwick £10, Stansted £10, Luton £7, London City £8 — all included. Fares verified June 2026.
Every London Airport, Every Route — Fixed Fares That Don't Change on Travel Day
Every taxi to airport cost below is for a standard saloon vehicle and includes the airport terminal drop-off charge — including the airport taxi fee pre-settled before you reach the kerbside. These are fixed fares confirmed at booking — not metered estimates. Traffic delays or M25 congestion do not change the confirmed fare. The Congestion Charge (£15/day central zone) and ULEZ charge may apply to central London pickup routes — both are stated upfront at booking with Gatwick Taxi Transfer, never added at journey end. Airport taxis charge per vehicle, not per person — a family of four pays the same cab fare to airport as a solo traveller. Apply the vehicle multipliers below for estate, MPV, WAV, or minibus.
| From | LHR Heathrow | LGW Gatwick | STN Stansted | LTN Luton | LCY London City | SEN Southend | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central London W1 / WC1 £7 / £10 / £10 / £7 / £8 drop-off incl. |
£49 | £69 | £65 | £55 | £35 | £85 | boltBook |
| Central London EC / City | £54 | £75 | £60 | £55 | £30 | £75 | boltBook |
| North London N / NW | £65 | £85 | £55 | £50 | £45 | £95 | boltBook |
| South London SW / SE | £65 | £60 | £80 | £70 | £45 | £90 | boltBook |
| East London E / Canary Wharf | £75 | £85 | £55 | £65 | £30 | £65 | boltBook |
| Cambridge CB1–CB5 | £120 | £155 | £55 | £90 | £130 | £110 | boltBook |
| Oxford OX | £85 | £110 | £105 | £80 | £95 | £135 | boltBook |
| Reading / Berkshire RG | £45 | £80 | £100 | £70 | £85 | £125 | boltBook |
| Brighton / Sussex BN | £110 | £55 | £120 | £100 | £120 | £135 | boltBook |
| Milton Keynes MK | £95 | £120 | £85 | £75 | £105 | £140 | boltBook |
| Northampton NN | £135 | £155 | £100 | £90 | £145 | £165 | boltBook |
| Peterborough PE | £110 | £145 | £75 | £85 | £125 | £135 | boltBook |
Saloon, Estate, MPV, WAV or Minibus — Which Vehicle and What It Adds to the Fare
The Kerbside Reality at Each Airport — Drop-Off Charges, Wrong Terminals & What Catches People Out
Each of the six London airports has a different kerbside setup, a different drop-off charge, and a different road approach. The guide below covers the practical details that most fare calculators do not include.
Heathrow £7, Gatwick £10, Stansted £10 — Every Airport Drop-Off Charge in 2026
£80 PCN non-payment
T2 · T3 · T4 · T5
£100 PCN non-payment
N & S Terminal
£100 PCN non-payment
DART rail nearby
Compact terminal
T2 · T3 · T4 · T5
- UK's busiest airport — 84.5M passengers in 2025
- T2 and T3 share forecourt via M4 tunnel
- T4 and T5 — separate roads via M25 J14
- Always confirm terminal from boarding pass
- M25/M4 peak: 07:30–09:30 Mon–Fri
North Terminal · South Terminal
- Two separate terminals — different approach roads
- Wrong terminal = 15–20 min delay + second £10
- Best option from South London, Surrey, Sussex
- easyJet → North · BA → South (mostly) · Gatwick Express → South Terminal station
- M23 approach from London via M25 J8
Single Terminal
- Best airport for North/East London and Cambridge
- M11 — most reliable motorway to any London airport
- Cambridge to Stansted £55 vs £120 to Heathrow
- Primarily low-cost: Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air
- Single terminal — no confusion about drop-off
Single Terminal
- Best for Milton Keynes, Northampton, Hertfordshire
- M1 approach — straightforward from North London
- Lower drop-off charge than Gatwick or Stansted
- Compact terminal — shorter security queues
- Luton to Heathrow: approx. £55 — often cheaper than public transport combination
Docklands · E16
- Closest airport to the Square Mile and Canary Wharf
- From EC / E postcodes: from £30 — cheapest London option
- Primarily European business routes
- Short security, fast boarding — best for time-critical trips
- For groups: taxi consistently cheaper than four Elizabeth line fares
Essex · SS2
- Best for Essex, East London (E / RM / SS postcodes)
- A127/A13 approach — no M25 required from East London
- Smallest of the 6 airports — relaxed kerbside
- Limited routes — check destinations before choosing
- easyJet and charter carriers primarily
Why Your Uber Quote Is Not Your Final Bill — Surge, Drop-Off Fees & the Fixed-Price Alternative
Before using any cab rate calculator, the most important pricing decision is not which company to use — it is whether to book in advance at a fixed price or rely on an on-demand app. The taxi cost in UK airport runs varies more by timing than by operator. The difference is most significant at exactly the moments that matter most: early mornings, Friday afternoons, summer peak weeks, and any date when demand outstrips supply. This guide also covers black taxi rates in London — helping you estimate cost of taxi journeys before you book, and understand exactly when a pre-booked minicab beats a black cab fare estimator on the same route.
Black Cab to the Airport vs Pre-Booked Minicab — Where the Price Gap Actually Sits
For London airport journeys, the choice between a licensed black cab and a pre-booked private hire minicab is a genuine pricing question — not just a preference question. London black taxi fares are regulated by TfL and run on a metered tariff. A pre-booked fixed-price minicab locks the fare at booking. The difference between the two grows significantly on longer journeys and during peak traffic windows.
Many passengers search for a black cab fare calculator or black taxi fare calculator before booking — and the figures they find can be surprising. The TfL 2026 tariff structure means a black cab from Central London to Heathrow at 17:00 on a Friday runs on Tariff 2 or Tariff 3, where the meter also runs during traffic delays at approximately £0.45–£0.55 per minute. A 25-minute M4 delay adds £11–£14 to the final bill — on top of the base fare and the Heathrow rank surcharge. A black cab fare estimator using the TfL 2026 tariff would show this total; the pre-booked minicab at £49 shows nothing extra because the confirmed fare does not change.
A black cab fare calculator using TfL's 2026 Tariff 1 (Mon–Fri 05:00–20:00) shows approximately £4.10/mile plus £0.45/minute in slow traffic. Central London W1 to Heathrow T5 by black cab at 13:00 off-peak: approximately £72–£88 depending on traffic. The same route by pre-booked minicab: £49 fixed. The gap widens further on cab fares London UK during peak windows — Friday afternoon and summer school holidays are when black taxi rates produce their highest totals on airport runs.
Black cab cost calculator vs fixed minicab — when does it matter most?
Peak morning (07:30–09:30): black cab meter runs in traffic, adding £15–£25 vs off-peak. Friday afternoon (15:00–19:30): same M4 delay that costs £0 on a fixed minicab adds £12–£18 to a metered black cab fare. For airport journeys of 15+ miles in these windows, the taxi cab cost calculator comparison consistently shows fixed-price private hire 20–35% below the metered black cab total.
| Route | Black Cab Estimate | Fixed Minicab (GTT) | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| W1 → Heathrow T5 · off-peak | £72–£88 | £49 | £23–£39 |
| W1 → Heathrow T5 · peak Fri PM | £95–£120 | £56 | £39–£64 |
| EC1 → Gatwick South · off-peak | £95–£115 | £75 | £20–£40 |
| SW6 → Gatwick North · Fri 16:00 | £85–£110 | £69 | £16–£41 |
| N1 → Stansted · early morning 04:30 | £75–£90 | £55 | £20–£35 |
Black cab figures above are estimates using TfL 2026 tariff rates — the actual metered total depends on precise traffic conditions. For a definitive london cab fare calculator figure, use TfL's official fare estimator with your specific route and time. For the pre-booked private hire fare, the figure shown is confirmed at booking and does not change.
The Friday Morning Problem — Why On-Demand Apps Cost More When You Need Them Most
- ✓Price locked at booking — no changes on travel day
- ✓All airport drop-off charges inside the confirmed fare
- ✓No surge multiplier during peak demand
- ✓Driver assigned and scheduled in advance
- ✓Flight tracked from origin — departure time calculated per address, adjusts for flight delay
- ✓45 minutes free waiting on arrivals
- ✓24/7 including overnight and early morning
- ✓Child seats and WAV confirmed at booking
- ✗Surge pricing adds 40–80% on peak airport windows
- ✗Drop-off charges sometimes added at journey end
- ✗No price certainty until the moment of booking
- ✗Driver assigned only when you request — no advance scheduling
- ✗Rank queues at Heathrow can exceed 30 min on peak days
- ✗No departure time calculated from your specific address
- ✗Bolt/Uber may not accept luggage-heavy groups reliably
- ✗Child seats and WAV: no guarantee on same-day request
Real Numbers: What Uber Charged vs What a Fixed Fare Cost on the Same Route
| Route & Window | GTT Fixed | Uber Off-Peak | Uber Peak Surge | Surge Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central London W1 → Heathrow T5 · Fri 07:00 | £49 | ~£42 | £68–£85 | +£19–£36 |
| Central London W1 → Heathrow T5 · Sun 18:00 Aug | £49 | ~£44 | £79–£102 | +£30–£53 |
| Cambridge → Heathrow T5 · Mon 05:30 | £120 | ~£105 | £140–£162 | +£20–£42 |
| East London E14 → Gatwick South · Fri 15:30 | £85 | ~£75 | £115–£140 | +£30–£55 |
| North London N7 → Stansted · Sat 04:30 | £55 | ~£48 | £65–£80 | +£10–£25 |
Five Things That Determine Your Airport Taxi Price — and How to Get Them Right at Booking
Any taxi fare estimator UK tool — including the one on this page — gives an estimate based on your area and airport. Booking an airport taxi correctly takes under five minutes but requires getting specific details right. The most common cause of wrong vehicle, wrong terminal, or a miscalculated departure time is incomplete information at booking.
The Five Details That Decide Your Exact Fare — Miss One and the Price Changes
2. Exact terminal from your boarding pass — not from memory, not from the airline homepage. At Heathrow: T2, T3, T4, or T5. At Gatwick: North or South. Both BA and easyJet split across terminals by route.
3. Flight number and scheduled departure time — enables departure-time calculation and arrival flight tracking.
4. Passenger count and luggage volumes — determines correct vehicle. A family of four with four large suitcases needs an estate or MPV, not a saloon.
5. Special requirements — WAV wheelchair type and dimensions (minimum 48 hours notice), child seat type and child age/weight, oversized luggage such as golf clubs or ski equipment.
When to Book — and Why Leaving It Late Costs You Options, Not Money
| Journey Type | Minimum Advance | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Standard saloon, off-peak date | 6–12 hours | 24–48 hours |
| Estate / MPV, off-peak | 12–24 hours | 48 hours |
| WAV wheelchair transfer | 24–48 hours | 1 week on peak dates |
| Minibus (5–8 pax), off-peak | 24 hours | 48–72 hours |
| Any vehicle — summer peak (22 Jul–3 Sep 2026) | 48 hours | 1 week minimum |
| Any vehicle — Christmas / New Year | 1 week | 2–3 weeks minimum |
A fixed airport taxi price from Central London (W1 / WC1) to Heathrow is from £49 saloon in 2026, including the £7 terminal drop-off charge. The confirmed fare is locked at booking — no surge, no additions at journey end. Journey time is 40–55 minutes off-peak via the M4. On Friday afternoons and summer peak weeks allow 60–90 minutes.
A fixed-price saloon taxi from Central London to Gatwick Airport costs from £65–£69 in 2026, including the £10 Gatwick terminal drop-off charge. Journey time is 55–75 minutes off-peak via the M23. Always confirm North Terminal or South Terminal from your boarding pass — wrong terminal means 15–20 minutes lost.
Off-peak, fares are often similar. During peak windows — Friday mornings, Sunday evenings, summer holidays (22 July–3 September 2026), early mornings before 07:00, and bank holidays — Uber and Bolt surge pricing adds 40–80% to the base fare. A pre-booked fixed fare is locked at booking regardless of demand on travel day — no taxi service calculator will predict surge pricing accurately, which is why fixed fares win on peak dates.
From EC or East London postcodes, London City Airport is cheapest — from £30 saloon. From North and East London, Stansted from £55–£60. From South London, Gatwick frequently undercuts Heathrow. The cheapest airport depends on your specific postcode. Cab fares London UK vary significantly by area and destination — use the fare finder on this page to compare all six airports from your exact departure area.
Not always. Some operators quote a base fare and add the airport drop-off charge at journey end — Heathrow £7, Gatwick £10, Stansted £10, Luton £7, London City £8. With Gatwick Taxi Transfer, all airport terminal charges are pre-settled inside every confirmed fare. Always confirm inclusion when comparing operators. Non-payment triggers PCNs of £80–£100 depending on airport.
A family of four with full holiday luggage typically needs an estate or MPV — approximately 20% above the saloon fare. Central London to Heathrow costs approximately £59 total for an estate, around £15 per person. Airport taxis charge per vehicle, not per person, making them highly competitive for groups — often cheaper per head than train tickets on the same journey.
Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Other London Airports
"Hey Siri, how much is a taxi to Heathrow from London?"
A fixed-price taxi from Central London to Heathrow Airport costs from £49 saloon in 2026 — the £7 terminal drop-off charge is included. The same price whether you travel at 05:00 or 18:00. Book at gatwicktaxitransfer.com.
"OK Google, taxi calculator London UK — which airport is cheapest?"
From East London and the City, London City Airport is the cheapest — from £30 saloon. From North London, Stansted from £55. The cheapest airport depends on your postcode — use the fare guide at gatwicktaxitransfer.com to compare all six London airports from your area.
"Alexa, is the airport drop-off charge included in my taxi fare?"
With Gatwick Taxi Transfer, yes — all airport terminal drop-off charges are pre-settled inside the confirmed fare. Heathrow £7, Gatwick £10, Stansted £10, Luton £7, London City £8. Some operators add these at journey end — always confirm at booking.
"Hey Google, how far in advance should I book an airport taxi?"
Cab rates to airport — including return journey fares — do not change with how far in advance you book — the fare is the same whether you book 3 weeks or 24 hours ahead. For a standard saloon off-peak, 24 to 48 hours is recommended. For summer peak weeks — 22 July to 3 September 2026 — book at least one week in advance. For a WAV wheelchair vehicle, always book at least 48 hours ahead, and one week minimum on peak dates.
- checkAirport taxi rates from Central London: Heathrow from £49 saloon · Gatwick from £69 · Stansted from £60 · Luton from £55 · London City from £30 — all drop-off charges included.
- checkAll airport terminal drop-off charges pre-settled: Heathrow £7, Gatwick £10, Stansted £10, Luton £7, London City £8. Nothing extra at the terminal.
- checkVehicle multipliers: Estate/MPV +20%, WAV +30%, Minibus 5–8 pax +60%. One minibus is almost always cheaper than two separate saloons on the same route.
- checkPeak surcharge of 15% on Friday afternoons 15:00–19:30 and summer school holiday weeks (22 July–3 September 2026). Confirmed at booking — not a real-time surge multiplier. A black cab meter calculator on the same route in these windows will show a substantially higher metered total.
- checkUber surge pricing on peak airport windows has reached 1.5×–2.5× the base fare. Pre-booked fixed fare removes that risk — locked at booking regardless of demand on travel day.
- checkAt Heathrow and Gatwick — always confirm your specific terminal from your boarding pass. Wrong terminal = 15–30 minutes lost at the most critical moment.
- checkWAV wheelchair transfers must be booked at least 48 hours in advance with full wheelchair type and dimensions. Summer peak: book one week ahead. Same-day WAV availability cannot be guaranteed. For corporate accounts and regular group bookings, contact Gatwick Taxi Transfer for a dedicated arrangement.
Book a Fixed-Price Airport Taxi — Confirmed Fare, No Surprises
All six London airports — door-to-door airport taxi prices fixed at booking, same across all vehicle types including WAV. All drop-off charges inside the confirmed fare. Fixed at booking — not recalculated at travel time. 24/7, 365 days.
