7 Elite Private Airports To Consider for Your London Trip
Choosing where to land is more than a logistical detail: in London, it sets the tone for the whole journey. With multiple smaller fields catering to business and leisure flyers, the right choice saves hours on the ground and keeps movements discreet. The wrong one can mean long transfers or late-night headaches with operating limits. This guide examines seven of the most relevant airports: Farnborough, RAF Northolt, London City, Luton, Stansted, Biggin Hill, and Oxford. Each offers a different mix of location, privacy, and facilities, from military-run tarmacs to terminals designed only for business aviation.
Farnborough Airport
Often described as the capital’s “private jet hub,” Farnborough sits southwest of London and caters exclusively to business aviation. The terminal is modern, purpose-built, and streamlined, with no scheduled airline traffic to get in the way. Transfers into central London usually take roughly an hour by car, but many regulars prefer the helicopter shuttle to Battersea. The trade-off is location; excellent facilities, but not the closest field if your base is north of the city.
RAF Northolt
Northolt, in West London, is still an active RAF station. It allows a controlled number of civilian flights, mainly for heads of state, government officials, and those seeking maximum privacy. At just 35 minutes by road to the West End, it’s one of the fastest entries into town. The catch is limited availability and stricter slot coordination. It’s not an airport you can use casually, but it’s unmatched in discretion for those who can.
London City Airport (Private Jet Centre)
Three miles from Canary Wharf, London City’s dedicated Private Jet Centre is the closest option to the financial district. The approach path is steep and the runway short, so not every aircraft can operate here, but for a smaller private jet, the convenience is hard to beat. Transfers are typically under 30 minutes into the City, making it a strong choice for time-sensitive business trips. The downside is that operating hours are more limited than 24/7 fields like Luton or Stansted.
London Luton Airport
Luton has long been one of the UK’s busiest hubs for business aviation. The setup is robust with multiple fixed-base operators (FBOs) offering lounges, customs, and maintenance. Rail links into London can be as fast as 25 minutes, though traffic on the M1 can stretch road transfers well past an hour. Expect more traffic overall as this is still a busy commercial airport, but you can also count on round-the-clock operations and excellent facilities.
London Stansted Airport
Stansted offers a cluster of FBOs with plenty of parking space and unrestricted hours, making it attractive for long-haul private flights. It’s further out, about 40 miles northeast of central London, but still reachable in around an hour by car or slightly less by rail. The trade-off here is distance versus flexibility: Stansted delivers if you need 24/7 operations and the ability to bring in larger aircraft.
Biggin Hill Airport
South of the city near Bromley, Biggin Hill has firmly repositioned itself as a business aviation airport. Two modern FBOs, customs on site, and a quick helicopter shuttle into Battersea (around six minutes) make it a favourite for those valuing speed into central London. Road transfers, however, can be unpredictable, with the M25 and local routes often congested. Still, the heli-link makes it one of the quickest ways into town for those who plan ahead.
Oxford Airport
Oxford, about an hour northwest of London, isn’t the obvious first choice, but it does appeal to travellers heading towards Oxfordshire, the Cotswolds, or country estates. The facilities are quieter, the apron is less crowded, and slot availability is more flexible. It’s further for central London travellers, but Oxford can be a strategic entry point for those whose plans extend beyond the capital.
Fly London Right
London offers a broader choice of private-aviation-friendly airports than most major capitals. The right pick depends on whether your priority is speed, discretion, or round-the-clock flexibility. Farnborough excels in purpose-built luxury; Northolt leads in privacy; London City puts you in the heart of the financial district; Luton and Stansted offer capacity and 24/7 service; Biggin Hill wins on helicopter access; and Oxford caters neatly to those splitting time between London and the countryside. Whichever you choose, one fact is apparent: in a city as complex as London, the airport you fly into can be just as important as the aircraft you arrive on.