Luton is the London airport where the first four minutes decide the journey. The Luton DART shuttle runs from the terminal to Luton Airport Parkway station, and from there two train lines run into London: the Luton Airport Express to St Pancras in 22 minutes, and Thameslink, slower but more frequent, through St Pancras, Farringdon and the City to London Bridge. Below is each way in from Luton alone, and how we would reach each of the ten hotels in our London edit.
The short answer
Take the Luton DART from the terminal entrance to Luton Airport Parkway, under four minutes, then the Luton Airport Express to St Pancras in 22 minutes, from £10 booked ahead with the DART included, or Thameslink, which runs through the night to St Pancras in about 32 minutes and on to Farringdon, Blackfriars and London Bridge. Buy your ticket to Luton Airport, not Luton Airport Parkway, so the £4.90 DART is in the fare. By road our hotels are typically 68–92 minutes away.
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A driver meets you in arrivals with your name on a sign, at a fixed price agreed when you book. Booked and paid with Welcome Pickups through our partner Travelpayouts; we may earn a commission.
Leaves from the DART station at the terminal entrance. Every rail journey starts with it; the walk instead is about a mile, up a steep hill.
The fastest train from Luton, run by East Midlands Railway, and a straight line to The Standard opposite St Pancras. Outside its hours, take Thameslink.
Slower than the Express but more frequent, and it keeps going through the City: Farringdon for the Elizabeth line, City Thameslink, Blackfriars and London Bridge without a change.
Leaves from the airport bus station just outside the terminal. Useful for Baker Street, Marble Arch, Paddington and Victoria without a change, but the road makes it less predictable than the train.
The rank is just beyond Bus Bay A and a marshal hands out the cabs. The airport suggests it for groups, who can share one cab to St Pancras or Euston.
For a late or delayed flight, child seats or a lot of luggage. The driver meets you at the Pick Up Zone, a five-minute walk from the terminal through a tunnel.
City of London
Thameslink runs without a change from Luton Airport Parkway to City Thameslink, in the heart of the City, which beats the 84-minute drive.
Mayfair
Thameslink to Farringdon takes 37 minutes from Parkway, then the Elizabeth line runs west to Bond Street, a couple of minutes' walk from Claridge's.
London Bridge
Our longest drive from Luton at about 92 minutes, but Thameslink reaches London Bridge in 48 minutes from Parkway without a change, and the hotel is above the station.
King's Cross
The Luton Airport Express reaches St Pancras 22 minutes after leaving Parkway, and The Standard is across the road.
South Bank
Thameslink reaches Blackfriars in 41 minutes from Parkway without a change and leaves a short walk along the river, against an 84-minute drive.
Bethnal Green
Two changes after St Pancras, onto the Hammersmith & City line to Liverpool Street and the Central line to Bethnal Green, about 50 minutes from Parkway and still well ahead of the 87-minute drive.
Soho
Thameslink to Farringdon, then the Elizabeth line to Tottenham Court Road, and Hazlitt's is a few minutes' walk into Soho.
Pimlico
Take the Luton Airport Express to St Pancras and the Victoria line to Pimlico, about 46 minutes from Parkway against an 82-minute drive.
Marylebone
Thameslink to Farringdon and the Elizabeth line to Bond Street, under a kilometre from the hotel, beats the 70-minute drive.
Paddington
Our shortest drive from Luton at about 68 minutes, but Thameslink to Farringdon and the Elizabeth line to Paddington is quicker and leaves a short walk.
Not if you book right. Every train passenger goes through Luton Airport Parkway, and the Luton DART links it to the terminal in under four minutes, 24 hours a day. Bought on its own, the DART is £4.90. Book your rail ticket to Luton Airport, station code LUA, rather than Luton Airport Parkway, and it is included. You can also tap in on the DART with a contactless card. Walking instead is about a mile with a steep hill, around half an hour.
The Luton Airport Express is fastest: 22 minutes non-stop from Parkway to St Pancras, which puts the terminal to St Pancras in as little as 32 minutes with the DART. It runs every 30 minutes, from £10 in advance including the DART. Thameslink takes about 32 minutes from Parkway to St Pancras but runs up to eight times an hour, through the night, and carries on to Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars and London Bridge. For The Standard and Pimlico, take the Express. For The Ned, the Shard, Sea Containers and the Elizabeth line hotels, stay on Thameslink and change less.
The last Luton Airport Express to St Pancras leaves Parkway at 23:25 on weekdays, 22:28 on Saturdays and 21:58 on Sundays. After that, Thameslink runs through the night and the DART every 15 minutes between 22:00 and 04:00, so a late landing is still a train journey. National Express coaches run every 30 minutes overnight, and the black cab rank is open 24 hours.
Luton is outside London's taxi meter, so Transport for London advises agreeing the fare before you set off. The black cab rank is just beyond Bus Bay A, and a group sharing one cab to St Pancras or Euston is the case the airport makes for it. Our typical drive to our ten hotels is 68–92 minutes, longer than every train route, so we would only take a car for luggage, children or a very late arrival, and pre-book it.
The first Luton Airport Express leaves St Pancras at 05:45 on weekdays and Thameslink runs through the night. The airport advises arriving two to three hours before departure. A car dropping you in the Drop Off Zone pays £9 for up to 12 minutes; the Long Stay car park is free for two hours, ten minutes from the terminal by free bus.
Questions people ask
As little as 32 minutes from the terminal to St Pancras: under four minutes on the DART, then 22 on the Luton Airport Express. Thameslink takes about 32 minutes from Parkway to St Pancras.
£4.90 for an adult single on its own, or included when you buy a rail ticket to Luton Airport (LUA).
Yes. Contactless works on the DART and on Thameslink, £12.30 off-peak from Luton Airport Parkway to St Pancras.
The last Luton Airport Express leaves Parkway at 23:25 on weekdays, but Thameslink runs through the night.
The Express for speed to St Pancras, 22 minutes. Thameslink for frequency, night trains and stations beyond St Pancras: Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars and London Bridge.
Our typical drive to our ten hotels is 68–92 minutes. Luton is outside London's meter, so agree the fare first.
Image credits: Peter Richardson (CC BY-SA 2.0)