London City Airport pick-up points: taxi, Uber, DLR and friends
London City has one terminal, so every pick-up starts from the same arrivals hall. The catch is that the kerb outside is for dropping off only: black cabs wait at their own rank by the entrance, while minicabs, app cars and friends all collect from the pick-up area in the Short Stay car park. Here is each point as the airport and the operators describe it, with what it costs.
The 30-second version
Black cabs wait at the rank just outside the terminal entrance, and the meter adds nothing for picking up there. Pre-booked minicabs, executive cars and Uber collect from the pick-up area in the Short Stay car park, signed Pick-Up, a short walk from arrivals. A friend collecting you pays £10 for up to 20 minutes in that area; the forecourt in front of the terminal is drop-off only, with a 10-minute limit. The DLR station is joined to the terminal by a lift, 23 minutes from Bank.
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Main terminal
- Taxi
The black cab rank just outside the terminal building, by the entrance
Walk out of the arrivals hall to the rank; there is nothing to book. These are licensed London black taxis, many with built-in wheelchair access, and they run on the Transport for London meter. Transport for London adds no extra charge for a journey that starts at the London City rank, and cards and contactless are accepted. The airport says fares vary with the time of day and traffic, so ask the driver for an estimate before you set off.
- Pre-booked driver
The pick-up area in the Short Stay car park, signed Pick-Up, close to the terminal (car park postcode E16 2PB)
The airport's rule is that pre-booked licensed minicabs and executive cars collect you from the Short Stay pick-up area, not the terminal forecourt. Give the driver your flight number so they time their arrival, then follow the Pick-Up signs from arrivals. The terminal is small, so the walk from baggage reclaim to the car is short.
- Uber and ride apps
The Short Stay car park pick-up area
Uber tells its drivers that riders at London City are sent to meet them at the Short Stay Car Park. Drivers wait for trips off the airport, in the car park of Gallions Reach Shopping Centre, and may not wait at the terminal, so request the car once you have your bags and expect a few minutes while it drives in. Follow the Pick-Up signs from arrivals.
- Friends collecting you
The Pick-Up area, reached by following the Pick-Up signs; terminal car park postcode E16 2PB
For friends and family collecting you by car. The airport charges £10 for up to 20 minutes, £16.90 for 20–30 minutes and £21.90 for 30 minutes to an hour. It is cashless and takes all major credit cards except American Express, at the pay point in the Pick-Up area or at the terminal entrance. For longer, the airport says to move to the Main Stay car park.
- Metro
London City Airport DLR station, joined to the terminal by a lift
The DLR is step-free and the lift runs from the platforms to the terminal. Tap a contactless card or phone on the yellow reader before you board. Bank is 23 minutes without a change for £3.30 off-peak, and Canning Town, for the Jubilee line, is six minutes. The airport is in fare zone 3.
- Bus
London City Airport bus stop, Stand J
Three Transport for London routes stop here: the 129 between Lewisham and Gallions Reach, the 473 between North Woolwich and Stratford, and the 474 between Canning Town and Manor Park, which runs 24 hours. All have step-free wheelchair access. They are local routes, useful late at night or for East London, not for central hotels.
Being picked up by a friend: where to wait and what it costs
Whoever collects you by car should follow the Pick-Up signs to the pick-up area in the Short Stay car park, not wait on the forecourt. The airport asks drivers not to wait in their vehicle in front of the terminal, and the forecourt is a drop-off zone with a 10-minute maximum stay. The airport does not publish a free pick-up option.
In the pick-up area, the charge starts at £10 for up to 20 minutes and rises to £16.90 up to 30 minutes and £21.90 up to an hour, payable by card at the pay point in the pick-up area or at the terminal entrance. Because the terminal is compact and bags come through quickly, a driver who waits until you have messaged from reclaim can usually stay inside the first 20 minutes.
- Pick-up area, up to 20 min
- £10
- 20–30 min
- £16.90
- 30 min to 1 hour
- £21.90
- Payment
- Card only, no American Express
The drop-off charge on the forecourt
Yes. Cars stopping on the forecourt directly in front of the terminal pay £8 for up to five minutes and £1 a minute after that, with a maximum stay of 10 minutes. Number-plate cameras record each visit and the driver pays online afterwards, by midnight the day after. Staying past 10 minutes brings a £100 enforcement charge, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days, and an unattended car is towed. Black cab drivers may add up to £6 to the meter to cover part of their own charge.
Meeting a pre-booked driver
Minicabs and executive cars are not allowed to collect from the forecourt, so your driver will be parked in the Short Stay pick-up area. Agree with them whether they will meet you in arrivals or by the car, share your flight number, and send a message when you reach baggage reclaim. London City's walk from aircraft to kerb is short, which means a driver who arrives on time rarely waits long, and their pick-up fee stays at the lowest band.
Late at night
London City is not a 24-hour airport. It lists its opening hours as 04:45 to 22:00 on weekdays, 04:45 to 13:00 on Saturdays and 10:30 to 22:00 on Sundays, and there are no flights on Saturday afternoons. A late arrival therefore lands into a quiet terminal with the black cab rank outside and the DLR below. If you land late into the evening, the 474 bus runs 24 hours to Canning Town, and a pre-booked driver who tracks your flight takes the timing out of it.
Accessible pick-up
Many of the black cabs at the rank have built-in wheelchair access, the DLR is step-free with a lift from the platforms to the terminal, and the buses serving the airport are step-free too. Blue Badge holders who register get free time: the airport's drop-off page gives 10 minutes free on the forecourt and 60 minutes in the Pick-Up area. Register at least seven days before you travel, as approval can take up to five days; the exemption also covers a taxi or a friend's car carrying the badge holder. A relief area for assistance dogs is landside, opposite the drop-off.
Questions people ask
Good questions about London City
Where do Ubers pick up at London City Airport?
In the Short Stay car park pick-up area, signed Pick-Up from arrivals. Uber drivers wait off the airport until your trip is confirmed, so request the car once you have your bags.
Where is the taxi rank at London City Airport?
Just outside the terminal building by the entrance. Black cabs are metered, with no extra charge for starting at the London City rank, and many have wheelchair access.
How much is it to pick someone up at London City Airport?
£10 for up to 20 minutes in the pick-up area in the Short Stay car park, £16.90 up to 30 minutes and £21.90 up to an hour, by card only.
Can a friend wait for me outside the terminal at London City?
No. The forecourt is for drop-offs only, with a 10-minute limit and a charge, and the airport asks drivers not to wait there. Collect from the Pick-Up area instead.
Is there a drop-off charge at London City Airport?
Yes: £8 for up to five minutes and £1 a minute after that, with a maximum stay of 10 minutes, paid online by midnight the next day.
Where do minicabs pick up at London City Airport?
Pre-booked licensed minicabs and executive cars collect from the pick-up area in the Short Stay car park, not the forecourt.
Is there a bus from London City Airport?
Yes, from Stand J: the 129 to Lewisham, the 473 to Stratford and the 474 to Canning Town and Manor Park, which runs 24 hours.
Image credits: calflier001 (CC BY-SA 2.0)