London City parking
Premium short-stay specialist. Best for fast in-out for business travellers.
About London City
London's business-focused city-centre airport.
London City is unique among UK airports — it sits on a single runway in the heart of London's Docklands and is built specifically for short-haul, premium and business travel. It opened in 1987 on what was once the Royal Albert Dock and remains the most central airport for the City of London and Canary Wharf.
Its runway is short, which historically limited aircraft to small regional jets and turboprops. Recent infrastructure upgrades have allowed slightly larger aircraft (Embraer E190/E195, Airbus A220), but the focus remains short-haul: Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Zurich, Dublin and a steady stream of European capitals.
Operating hours are restricted by local agreements — early arrivals and late-evening departures are limited, which suits the airport's business-day focus. There's no terminal shuffle and check-in to gate is typically under 15 minutes.
Getting to LCY
All the practical access info — by car, train, coach and otherwise.
Vehicle access is via Hartmann Road, off the A1011. Driving from central London takes 30–45 minutes off-peak; from the M25, allow 45–60 minutes via the A13.
The DLR's London City Airport station is directly above the terminal. The DLR connects with Bank, Canary Wharf, Stratford and the wider Tube network. From central London, expect 25–35 minutes door-to-door.
Local TfL bus services connect the airport with Stratford, Canning Town and the surrounding area.
The Elizabeth Line at Custom House (one DLR stop away) provides fast onward travel to Heathrow, Reading and central London.
How parking works at London City
London City has the smallest parking footprint of any London airport — a single multi-storey directly outside the terminal handles short, mid and long stay. The walk from car to check-in is around 3 minutes.
Independent off-airport options are limited because of the dense urban setting. A handful of meet-and-greet operators in Beckton and Silvertown serve City; most travellers either drive in directly or use the DLR.
Tips travellers wish they'd known
- On-airport parking is the practical default — independents are scarce and the journey time from off-site lots tends to outweigh any saving.
- If you're flying outbound on a weekday morning, traffic on the A13 inbound peaks heavily — leave 30 minutes earlier than you think.
- DLR is genuinely faster than driving from anywhere west of Tower Hill — consider train + Uber for the last mile.
- Drop-off is allowed at the front of the terminal but limited to a few minutes — there's no formal short-stay layby.
- EV drivers: the on-airport multi-storey has a small bank of rapid chargers; book ahead during business hours.
LCY questions, answered
The questions our 24/7 team gets asked most about flying from London City.
Is London City actually in central London?+
Yes — it's about 6 miles east of the City and 1 mile from Canary Wharf. The DLR connects you to Bank in around 22 minutes.
What aircraft can fly into London City?+
Mainly Embraer E190/E195, Airbus A220 and turboprops. The runway is shorter than other London airports, which limits long-haul options.
How early should I arrive?+
60–75 minutes for European flights — the airport is small and security is fast.
Is parking expensive?+
On-airport rates are higher than at suburban London airports because the site is constrained. For 1-day trips it's still usually cheaper than a return Uber from central London.
Is there a hotel attached to the airport?+
Yes — there are several hotels within a short walk or DLR stop, including in the ExCeL complex.
Can I park my car here for a long-haul trip via Heathrow?+
It's not a sensible plan — there's no direct Tube link and the savings aren't worth the journey time. Park near your departure airport.