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Landing at Luton and heading into central London, or travelling from St Pancras to Luton Airport for a flight? You can take a train with the Luton DART shuttle, a coach, or a taxi door to door. This guide compares each option in both directions.
Luton Airport to London: the quick answer
- Fastest by rail: Luton DART to Luton Airport Parkway (about 4 minutes), then the Luton Airport Express to St Pancras. Luton Airport says you can reach the terminal from St Pancras in as little as 32 minutes.
- Most frequent trains: Thameslink to St Pancras, Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars and London Bridge.
- Round the clock: coaches run 24 hours a day to Baker Street, Marble Arch and Victoria.
- Paying: contactless works on the DART; Oyster cards are not accepted on the DART.
- Easiest with luggage: a pre-booked taxi from the terminal to your door, with no change at Parkway.
Luton Airport to London: All Options Compared
| Option | London stops | Changes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DART + Luton Airport Express | St Pancras International | One, at Luton Airport Parkway | Speed into King's Cross and St Pancras |
| DART + Thameslink | St Pancras, Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars, London Bridge | One, at Luton Airport Parkway | The City and south of the river |
| Coach | Including Baker Street, Marble Arch, Victoria and Paddington | None | Late-night arrivals and the West End |
| Pre-booked transfer | Your exact address | None | Luggage, families, groups, early flights |
Typical times published by London Luton Airport, not guarantees. Journey times by road vary with traffic and your exact address.
The Luton DART: Terminal to Luton Airport Parkway
Luton Airport's terminal isn't on the main railway line. The Luton DART is an automated shuttle that links the terminal with Luton Airport Parkway station, where you join trains to London.
- Journey time: about 4 minutes.
- Frequency: every 4 minutes at peak times, every 7 minutes off-peak, and 4 to 6 times an hour between 22:00 and 04:00.
- Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except 25 and 26 December.
- Tickets: the DART has its own fare. Rail tickets to "Luton Airport" include the DART; tickets to "Luton Airport Parkway" don't.
- Paying: tap in with a contactless card or mobile wallet. Oyster cards are not accepted on the DART.
- Step-free: both DART stations have lifts and level boarding.
Trains from Luton Airport to London
Two operators run from Luton Airport Parkway into London:
- Luton Airport Express (East Midlands Railway): non-stop to London St Pancras International, up to 2 trains an hour. The first train from St Pancras is at 05:45 and the last at 23:51 on weekdays.
- Thameslink: the most frequent service, around every 10 to 15 minutes during the day. Trains call at St Pancras, Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars and London Bridge, and some run through the night.
| London station | Average time from Luton Airport Parkway |
|---|---|
| St Pancras International | 22 to 32 min (Express); 24 to 45 min (Thameslink) |
| Farringdon | 41 min |
| City Thameslink | 43 min |
| London Blackfriars | 46 min |
| London Bridge | 49 min |
Times exclude the 4-minute DART transfer to the terminal. Farringdon has Elizabeth line connections, and St Pancras is next to King's Cross for the Underground.
Coaches from Luton Airport to London
Coaches leave from the Airport Bus Station directly outside the terminal's front entrance, so there's no DART change.
- 24 hours: coaches to London run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every 15 to 30 minutes across operators.
- National Express A1: via Golders Green, Baker Street and Marble Arch to Victoria Coach Station.
- National Express A2: via Golders Green and Baker Street to Paddington.
- Green Line 757: via Brent Cross, Finchley Road and Marble Arch to Victoria.
- Journey time: approximately 60 to 90 minutes, depending on traffic.
Taxi from Luton Airport to London
Train times measure station to station. Your real journey also includes the DART, the platform change at Parkway, and the trip from a London station to your door. A pre-booked transfer is usually the easier choice when:
- you have heavy luggage, a pushchair or sports equipment;
- you're travelling as a family or group;
- you land late at night or fly out very early;
- your address isn't close to St Pancras or a Thameslink station, such as Westminster.
Book a Luton to London transfer
- Door to door: Luton airport transfers to and from any London address, 24/7, with TfL-licensed drivers.
- Meeting point: your driver meets you at Costa Coffee in the Arrivals Hall; add Meet & Greet when you book.
- Flight monitoring: we offer flight monitoring for pre-booked airport pickups. Add your flight number when booking, and flight monitoring helps us coordinate your pickup around updated arrival information.
- Fixed fares: fixed fares for pre-booked airport transfers. Know your fare before confirming your booking, with no meter-based fare surprises.
- Vehicles: saloons to 16-seat minibuses in our fleet. Get an instant fare quote.
London to Luton Airport: Getting Back for Your Flight
The same options work in reverse. From St Pancras, take the Luton Airport Express or Thameslink to Luton Airport Parkway, then the DART to the terminal. Buy a ticket to "Luton Airport" so the DART is included. Coaches run back to the airport from Victoria, Marble Arch and Baker Street.
If you're dropped off by car or taxi, London Luton Airport charges £9 for up to 12 minutes in the Drop Off and Pick Up Zone, then £1 for each extra minute, with a 30-minute maximum stay. Travelling with Banana Cars? Check your quote and booking details for how this airport charge applies to your journey. Our Luton drop-off and pick-up guide explains the charges and the free alternative.
Which Option Should You Choose?
- Travelling light to King's Cross or St Pancras: the DART and the Luton Airport Express.
- Heading to the City or London Bridge: the DART and Thameslink, with no change in London.
- Going to the West End or Victoria: a coach, with no DART change.
- Arriving very late: a 24-hour coach, or a pre-booked taxi.
- Travelling as a family or group: one vehicle for everyone; see group transfers.
Comparing London airports? Read our Stansted to central London guide and our airport-by-airport guide to central London, or book a train station transfer from St Pancras.
Luton Airport to London FAQs
By rail, take the Luton DART to Luton Airport Parkway, then the non-stop Luton Airport Express to St Pancras. Luton Airport says you can reach the terminal from St Pancras in as little as 32 minutes.
An automated shuttle between the airport terminal and Luton Airport Parkway station. The journey takes about 4 minutes, and it runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except 25 and 26 December.
Not if your rail ticket is to "Luton Airport", which includes the DART. A ticket to "Luton Airport Parkway" doesn't, so you'd pay the DART fare separately. You can tap in with a contactless card or mobile wallet; Oyster cards are not accepted.
Yes. Coaches to London run 24 hours a day from the Airport Bus Station outside the terminal, the DART runs 24/7, and some Thameslink trains run through the night. You can also pre-book a taxi for a late arrival.
Approximately 60 to 90 minutes, depending on traffic. National Express and Green Line coaches serve stops including Baker Street, Marble Arch and Victoria.
Your TfL-licensed driver meets you at Costa Coffee in the Arrivals Hall. Your pickup instructions come with your booking.
We offer flight monitoring for pre-booked airport pickups. Add your flight number when booking, and flight monitoring helps us coordinate your pickup around updated arrival information. Airport waiting allowances vary between 45 and 60 minutes depending on your flight category, under the terms of your booking. Any additional waiting charges are also subject to your booking terms.
Yes. MPVs, the Executive MPV-7 and 16-seaters suit families and groups. Child seats are free on advance request: Group 0/0+ (infant), Group 1 (toddler) and Group 2/3 (booster). Tell us each child's age and how many seats you need when you book.
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