Luton Airport sits about 34 miles north of central London, just off the M1 in Bedfordshire. Its defining feature is the Luton DART, a 4-minute automated people-mover linking the single terminal to Luton Airport Parkway station, from where trains reach London St Pancras in around 30 to 35 minutes door to door. The cheapest way in is an advance train from about £10 or a National Express coach from about £7. Drop-off is not free. Prices checked August 2026.
Getting to and from Luton Airport at a glance
| Option | Price | Time to central London | Runs at night? | Door to door? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train (DART + Thameslink/EMR) | Advance from ~£10 | 30 to 35 min | Yes, DART 24/7 | No, St Pancras |
| National Express coach (A1/A2) | from ~£7 to £8 | 1 hr to 1 hr 30 | Limited late | No, Victoria |
| Green Line 757 coach | see public transport | ~1 hr | Yes, 24 hours | No, Victoria |
| Pre-booked taxi / private hire | ~£65 to £95 | 50 to 75 min | Yes, 24/7 | Yes |
| Uber / Bolt | demand priced | 50 to 75 min | Fewer cars late on | Yes |
Luton handled a record of more than 17.5 million passengers in 2025 and has approval to grow towards 32 million a year by 2032. It is a single-terminal airport, so there are no inter-terminal transfers to worry about.
In this guide
- Taxis, Uber and private hire
- Public transport
- Parking
- Drop-off and pick-up
- Popular routes
- Latest news and updates
- Airport facilities and lounges
- Travel blog and guides
- FAQs
The quick answer
If you are travelling light and watching the cost, the train is usually the best choice: take the Luton DART from the terminal to Luton Airport Parkway, then a Thameslink or East Midlands Railway service to St Pancras in about 22 to 25 minutes of train time. Book your ticket to "Luton Airport" rather than "Luton Airport Parkway" and the DART leg is included free. Advance singles start from about £10.
If you would rather not change, a National Express coach runs from about £7 to £8 direct to London Victoria, and the Green Line 757 runs 24 hours a day for late arrivals. These take longer, around an hour or more, but skip the DART fare and the platform change.
If you are two or more people with luggage, or landing at an unsociable hour, a pre-booked taxi to central London runs roughly £65 to £95 and takes you to the door. If someone is collecting you, note that the Express Drop-Off zone costs £7 for 10 minutes, while the Long Stay car park gives 2 hours free with a shuttle to the terminal.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Luton Airport to central London? The fastest way is the Luton DART to Luton Airport Parkway, then a Thameslink or EMR train to St Pancras, about 30 to 35 minutes door to door. A National Express coach to Victoria takes around an hour, and a taxi takes 50 to 75 minutes. See the public transport page.
What is the cheapest way to get to London? A National Express coach from about £7 to £8, or an advance train ticket from about £10 which includes the DART leg when booked to "Luton Airport". More on the public transport page.
How much is a taxi from Luton Airport to central London? Roughly £65 to £95 depending on destination, time and vehicle, taking 50 to 75 minutes. Pre-booking fixes the price. See the taxis page.
Is drop-off free at Luton Airport? No. The Express Drop-Off zone costs £7 for the first 10 minutes, then £1 per minute up to 30 minutes. The free alternative is the Long Stay car park, up to 2 hours free, with a shuttle to the terminal. See drop-off and pick-up.
What is the Luton DART? An automated electric people-mover that links the terminal to Luton Airport Parkway station in under 4 minutes. It opened in March 2023, replacing the old shuttle bus, and runs 24 hours a day. An adult single is £4.90. See the public transport page.
How we verified this
The prices and facts on this site were checked in August 2026 against the airport's own website and the named operators (Luton DART, Thameslink, East Midlands Railway, National Express, Arriva Green Line, Uber and APCOA). Tariffs and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official London Luton Airport site before you travel.
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Last verified August 2026 by the London Luton Airport Guide editorial team. Prices and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official London Luton Airport website before you travel.