Clear answers to the questions travellers ask most about getting to and from Luton Airport, the Luton DART, taxis and coaches, parking, the drop-off charge, and the practical side of the terminal. Prices checked August 2026.
Getting to and from
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 East Midlands Railway 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 Luton DART and how much is it? The DART is a 4-minute automated electric train from the terminal to Luton Airport Parkway station. An adult single is £4.90 and a child single (ages 5 to 15) is £2.45, with under 5s free. It is free if your rail ticket is booked to "Luton Airport".
Did the DART replace the shuttle bus? Yes. The DART opened in March 2023 and replaced the old free shuttle bus between the terminal and Parkway station.
What are the DART operating hours? It runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every 4 minutes or so at peak, about every 7 minutes off-peak, and 4 to 6 times an hour overnight.
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 when booked to "Luton Airport". More on the public transport page.
How fast is the train to St Pancras? About 22 to 25 minutes of train time from Luton Airport Parkway, or around 30 to 35 minutes door to door with the DART. There are up to 8 trains an hour at peak.
Should I book my ticket to "Luton Airport" or "Luton Airport Parkway"? Book to "Luton Airport". That bundles the DART leg for free. A ticket to "Luton Airport Parkway" means paying the £4.90 DART fare on top.
Does the train from Luton Airport go anywhere other than St Pancras? Yes. Thameslink continues south through Farringdon, Blackfriars and London Bridge, and on to Gatwick Airport and Brighton, so you can reach those without changing at St Pancras.
How much is the National Express coach and how long does it take? Singles start from about £7 to £8 when booked ahead, with a journey of around 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes to London Victoria, and up to about 19 departures a day.
What is the Green Line 757 coach? An Arriva-operated coach linking Luton Airport with London Victoria and Baker Street, running every 15 to 30 minutes, 24 hours a day, with a journey of about an hour. The walk-up single fare was not confirmed on the operator's site, so check the current price before you travel.
Where do I get a taxi and how much is it to London? The rank is on the forecourt outside Arrivals, just past Bus Bay A, open 24 hours. Central London runs roughly £65 to £95, and pre-booking fixes the price. See the taxis page.
Is Uber allowed at Luton Airport? Yes. Drop-offs use the Priority Drop-Off zone and pickups happen at a designated Priority Pick-Up Zone, with drivers waiting in geo-fenced car parks nearby, so a pickup can involve a short wait.
Parking and drop-off
How much is the drop-off charge at Luton Airport? £7 for the first 10 minutes, then £1 per minute up to a 30-minute maximum, in the Express Drop-Off zone. It is still sometimes called "the £5 charge", but the current price is £7.
How do I avoid the drop-off fee? Use the Long Stay car park, which is free for up to 2 hours, with a free shuttle every 20 minutes taking about 10 minutes to the terminal. See drop-off and pick-up.
How do I pay the drop-off charge? Online only, at lutondropoff.apcoa.com, by midnight the day after your visit. The zone is cashless and barrier-free, using ANPR cameras to read your number plate.
What happens if I do not pay the drop-off charge? It becomes a £95 penalty, reduced to £55 if paid within 14 days. Pay online by midnight the day after your visit.
What is the cheapest car park at Luton? The Long Stay car park, from about £30 a day on the gate and cheaper when booked ahead, with a free 24-hour shuttle. See the parking page.
How much is Short Stay parking at Luton Airport? Indicative advance prices are from about £38 for a stay of around 4 days, for the Terminal Car Parks 1 and 2, a 4 to 5 minute walk from the terminal. Confirm the live rate when you book.
How much is Mid Stay parking at Luton Airport? Indicative advance prices are from about £46 for a stay of around 4 days, for a car park about a 10 minute walk from the terminal. Confirm the live rate when you book.
Is there a free shuttle from the Long Stay car park? Yes. It runs every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, and takes about 10 minutes to the terminal.
At the airport
How early should I arrive at Luton? Allow 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international one, adding about 30 minutes at peak.
How long is security at Luton? It varies. Peak queues are around 05:00 to 07:00 and 16:00 to 18:00, so allow extra then. FastTrack and free Prebook Security can both help.
How much is FastTrack security? From about £4 per person booked online 24 hours or more ahead, or around £8 on the day at a kiosk. It is available roughly 04:15 to 20:00.
Is there a free way to skip the queue? Yes. Prebook Security is free and reserves a 30-minute slot, currently for arrivals around 03:00 to 15:00. It is separate from paid FastTrack.
Does Luton still use the 100ml liquids rule? Yes. New CT scanners mean liquids and electronics can stay in your bag, but the 100ml per-container limit still applies, and Luton had not moved to a 2-litre allowance as of August 2026.
Can I sleep overnight in the terminal? Yes. Landside seating areas, such as those near gates 5 and 6, are used by overnight travellers, though it can be busy with limited comfortable seats.
Is there a lounge? Yes, the Aspire Lounge airside, open roughly 04:00 to 21:00, from about £28 per person pre-booked, including food, drink, wifi and showers. See the facilities page.
Practical questions
Is there left luggage? Yes. The Excess Baggage Company on the concourse charges from about £5 per item for 0 to 2 hours, or about £10 for 2 to 24 hours. See the facilities page.
Is there a prayer room? Yes, a 24/7 multi-faith prayer room after security, near Gates 20 to 28, with washing facilities. It is for prayer, not for sleeping.
Can I smoke or vape at Luton? Only outside the Departures entrance. There is no smoking or vaping airside after security.
Is the wifi free at Luton Airport? Yes. Unlimited free wifi is available via the "Luton Airport WIFI" network, and also on the DART shuttle.
How do I book special assistance at Luton? Book with your airline at least 48 hours ahead, then use the help desk landside at the terminal entrance or airside near Gates 20 to 28.
Is there a Changing Places toilet at Luton? Yes, in the Assisted Travel Lounge after security, with a hoist and shower. No RADAR key is needed for this or any other accessible toilet.
Can I bring my assistance dog through Luton? Yes. Register it in advance by emailing specialassistance@ltn.aero with your flight details and the dog's documentation. There is a relief area at the front of the terminal, near bus stop T.
Is there an ATM or currency exchange at Luton Airport? Yes. ATMs are located in the check-in, departures and arrivals areas, and there is a currency exchange desk on site.
More: Overview, Taxis, Public transport, Parking, Drop-off, Routes, Facilities, Blog.
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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.