In this guide
London City Airport (LCY) is 6 miles (10 km) east of the City of London, in Zone 3.
💡 Quick Verdict: London City Airport to London (2026).
- Cheapest Route: Docklands Light Railway (DLR). Standard TfL Zone 3-to-1 pay-as-you-go fare (£3.40 off-peak / £4.10 peak).
- Direct Access: The DLR station is attached to the terminal by a covered walkway (about 2 minutes).
- Connections:
- Change at Canning Town (3 stops) onto a Beckton-branch train to Custom House for the Elizabeth Line to Liverpool Street, Farringdon and Paddington.
- Change at Canning Town (3 stops) for the Jubilee Line to London Bridge, Westminster and Waterloo.
- Payment: Contactless cards, Apple/Google Pay, Oyster cards and Travelcards all work.
🛂 Flying in from abroad? Unless you’re British or Irish, a visa-free visit to the UK now needs an ETA approved before you travel: £20 on GOV.UK or the official UK ETA app, and you can’t get one at the airport.
London City Transport Options Compared
| Transport Option | Central Destination | Journey Time | Single Adult Fare (Contactless / PAYG) | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DLR ➔ Canning Town ➔ Custom House (Elizabeth Line) | Liverpool Street / Paddington | 20–35 mins | £3.40 (Off-Peak) / £4.10 (Peak) | West End, City & Paddington |
| DLR ➔ Canning Town (Jubilee Line) | London Bridge / Westminster | 20–30 mins | £3.40 (Off-Peak) / £4.10 (Peak) | South Bank, Westminster & Waterloo |
| DLR Direct | Bank Station / City of London | 22 mins | £3.40 (Off-Peak) / £4.10 (Peak) | The Financial District & Bank, no change |
| Black Cab / Uber | Door-to-door anywhere in London | 15–40 mins | £30.00 – £60.00 | Door-to-door convenience & heavy luggage |
Which route is best for your hotel area?
| Hotel Area or Landmark | Recommended DLR Route | Why Take This Route? |
|---|---|---|
| Bank, Monument, The City | DLR Direct to Bank | Direct train in 22 mins. |
| Liverpool Street, Farringdon, Paddington | DLR ➔ Canning Town ➔ Custom House ➔ Elizabeth Line | Step-free Elizabeth line interchange at Custom House. |
| London Bridge, Waterloo, Westminster | DLR ➔ Canning Town ➔ Jubilee Line | Jubilee line trains from Canning Town. |
| Canary Wharf & Docklands | DLR ➔ Poplar or Westferry | Direct DLR connection in under 15 mins. |
| ExCeL London (Custom House) | DLR ➔ Canning Town ➔ Custom House | Custom House is ExCeL’s station. |
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DLR Station & Terminal Accessibility
London City Airport has one terminal.
London City Airport terminal. Photo: Arne Müseler, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE.
- Step-Free Access: The DLR station has lifts and level access between the terminal concourse and the platforms.
- TfL Fare Capping: All journeys count automatically towards standard daily TfL fare caps.
5 Common London City transit mistakes to avoid
- Paying for private taxis into Central London unnecessarily: The DLR costs £3.40 off-peak and reaches Bank in 22 minutes.
- Going all the way to Bank when heading to Paddington: Change at Canning Town and Custom House for the Elizabeth line.
- Switching payment devices between taps: Tapping in with a card and out with Apple Pay results in two maximum fare penalties.
- Forgetting weekend operating hours: London City Airport closes to flights early on Saturdays (~13:00).
- Overpaying for paper single tickets: Contactless or Oyster pay-as-you-go is cheaper.
Related London Transport Guides
- 🎟️ ExCeL London Travel Guide — the exhibition centre at Custom House
- ✈️ Heathrow Airport to London Transport Guide
- ✈️ Gatwick Airport to London Transport Guide
- 🚊 Getting Around London: Complete Transport Overview
- 💷 London Transport Fares and Costs 2026
- 💰 Money in London: Cash, Cards and ATMs
- 🧳 Luggage Storage in London — why London City itself has no left-luggage desk, and where the nearest one is
Live timetables: Transport for London.
