As we mentioned earlier in the article Gatwick Airport, choose which train to go to London, when we plan to fly to London always raises the same question: what airport you choose?

Photography by UggBoy?UggGirl [ PHOTO : WORLD : SENSE ]

We have five options: Heathrow, London City, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton. We can opt for either of them based on price and schedule, we can even combine them, one for the outward and for the return. We can also choose the airport train station whose destination is closer to our hotel. In any case, we should not rule out either through ignorance or misconceptions. In this case speak of Luton, the farthest from London of all and see what a perfectly valid option.

Data:

– Luton enjoy the most competitive prices. The low cost airlines operating in this airport are Ryanair and Easyjet.

– The departure from London is in the railway station St Pancras International Station.

– At this station is accessed from the underground station King’s Cross St Pancras. Needless to surface, the directions from the metro is very good.

– King’s Cross St Pancras is the big switch stations in London, there go the lines: Northern Line, Picadilly Line, Hammersmith & City Line, Metropolitan Line and Victoria Line.

– The train journey takes about 45 minutes. The train goes slowly, slowly but surely.

– The destination of the train station is Luton Airport Parkway.

– The intermediate stations are:

Harpenden
Luton Airport Parkway
King’s Cross Thameslink
St Albans

– The fare is 12.5 (about 15 €, price approx. 2009).

– In Luton Airport Parkway we have to take a bus (First Capital Connect Train2Plane), which is free if we keep the train ticket. This bus takes 10 minutes to leave us in the airport departure terminal.

– Total travel time from King’s Cross St. Pancras to the airport about 80 minutes.

Photography by sludgegulper

Note:

If we have a flight at Luton at 6:55 p.m., we should not leave St Pancras later than 16 hours, to avoid problems. Recall that we take at least three transport (metro, First Capital Connect train, bus) and that airlines require us to do the check in at the airport until 45 minutes before departure. As always, it pays to be cautious and allow for some margin of time for delays or incidents.

Photography by Jemima G

Despite being the farthest from airport to London (the closest are in order of Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted), Luton is a very good option to fly to London. The ride is comfortable and well above, and 45 minutes by train is reasonable. The transfer to the bus works perfectly, and they have an output frequency of 10 minutes, more than enough. Just keep in mind that we leave a little earlier than if we are to Gatwick or Stansted (not to mention Heathrow), but if we believe that price or schedule compensates us, Luton is a very good choice.

Bon voyage!