What does a taxi to the airport really cost in 2026 — and is it cheaper than the train, an Uber, or leaving your own car in long-stay parking? Here are the real fixed fares to every UK airport, plus the booking tricks that quietly save you the most money.
There are three ways an airport transfer can be priced, and the difference between them is where most people overpay without realising it.
These are typical fixed-fare starting prices for a standard saloon from Central London (W1 / WC2). Every fare below is confirmed at booking with no meter and no surge, and the driver meets you in arrivals with a name board.
| Airport | Code | Distance | Typical time | From Central London | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow | LHR | ~15 mi | 30–50 min | from £52 | Heathrow taxi → |
| Gatwick | LGW | ~28 mi | 45–60 min | from £58 | Gatwick taxi → |
| Stansted | STN | ~38 mi | 55–70 min | from £80 | Stansted taxi → |
| Luton | LTN | ~32 mi | 48–65 min | from £72 | Luton taxi → |
| London City | LCY | ~8 mi | 20–35 min | from £35 | London City taxi → |
Prices rise for executive cars, MPVs and 8-seat minibuses, but the structure stays the same: fixed at booking, identical at 4am and 4pm. For exact pricing on your route, the Heathrow price guide and Gatwick price guide break down each vehicle class.
Outside London, fixed fares are usually quoted from the nearest city centre. RushXO covers every major UK airport, door to terminal:
| Airport | Code | Region | From nearest city | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | BHX | West Midlands | from £18 | Birmingham → |
| Manchester | MAN | North West | from £22 | Manchester → |
| Edinburgh | EDI | Scotland | from £18 | Edinburgh → |
| Glasgow | GLA | Scotland | from £28 | Glasgow → |
| Bristol | BRS | South West | from £28 | Bristol → |
| East Midlands | EMA | Midlands | from £28 | East Midlands → |
See the full list of routes, terminals and price guides on the UK airport transfers hub.
The honest answer to "which is cheapest" is: it depends who's travelling and when. Here's how a fixed-fare transfer stacks up against the alternatives.
Cheapest per person if you're travelling alone with one bag and live near a direct line. The catch: you still need to get to and from the station, manage luggage, and you're tied to the timetable. For groups the per-head cost multiplies fast.
Convenient and often fine midday, but surge pricing bites exactly when you need it most — early mornings, Friday nights, bank holidays. No guaranteed pickup for a 4am departure, no flight tracking, and the price you see can change before the car arrives.
Long-stay parking, fuel, and the stress of a pre-flight drive. Over a 7–10 day trip, airport parking frequently costs more than a return transfer — and your car sits exposed for a week. Compare it yourself on our Heathrow taxi vs parking page.
One price for the whole car, door to terminal, flight tracked, driver waiting in arrivals. Wins clearly for two or more people, heavy luggage, families, very early or late flights, and anyone who simply wants the price settled in advance.
This is where the real savings hide. Apps that use dynamic pricing can multiply a fare during airport peaks, and many private-hire firms quietly add a night tariff after midnight. The fixes are simple:
Picking the correct vehicle class is the difference between a comfortable run and a cramped one — and it's almost always cheaper than booking two cars.
For business and VIP arrivals, see executive chauffeur and Heathrow meet & greet.
Two things derail more airport trips than any traffic jam: pre-dawn motorway roadworks and flight delays. Both are solvable.
Roadworks. The M4, M25, M23, M11 and M1 all run scheduled overnight maintenance, typically 4–6am. A pre-booked driver monitors live closures and routes around them — message your departure time on WhatsApp and it's planned for.
Delays. Your inbound flight is tracked automatically. If it lands early or late, the driver adjusts, and free waiting time is measured from actual landing — not the scheduled time — so a delay never costs you a surcharge.