The cheapest public transport from Luton Airport to central London is a National Express coach from about £7 to £8, or an advance train ticket from about £10 that includes the Luton DART. The fastest is the DART to Luton Airport Parkway followed by a Thameslink or East Midlands Railway train to St Pancras, about 30 to 35 minutes door to door. Prices checked August 2026.
The Luton DART
The Luton DART, short for Direct Air-Rail Transit, is a cable-hauled, fully automated electric people-mover that connects the terminal to Luton Airport Parkway railway station. It opened in March 2023, replacing the old shuttle bus, and covers the 2.3 km link in under 4 minutes. It runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: every 4 minutes or so at peak (06:00 to 09:30 and 14:00 to 18:00), about every 7 minutes off-peak, and 4 to 6 times an hour overnight.
An adult single is £4.90, a child single (ages 5 to 15) is £2.45, and under 5s travel free. The key detail: if your train ticket is booked to "Luton Airport" rather than "Luton Airport Parkway", the DART leg is included free in the rail fare. The DART entrance is right outside Arrivals.
Train to London St Pancras
From Luton Airport Parkway, Thameslink and East Midlands Railway trains run to London St Pancras International, and Thameslink continues through central London to Farringdon, Blackfriars and London Bridge, and on to Gatwick and Brighton. Train time to St Pancras is about 22 to 25 minutes, making the total terminal-to-St-Pancras trip around 30 to 35 minutes including the DART. At peak there are up to 8 trains an hour on the combined corridor.
Advance singles start from about £10 and include the DART leg when booked to "Luton Airport". A walk-up Anytime single is about £24.10 (child £12.05), and a Super Off-Peak single, valid at weekends and on bank holidays, is about £19.90.
National Express coach
National Express routes A1 and A2 link Luton Airport with London Victoria coach station, calling at points such as Golders Green, Finchley Road, Baker Street and Marble Arch. Singles start from about £7 to £8 when booked ahead, with a journey of around 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes depending on traffic. There are up to about 19 departures a day.
Green Line 757 coach
The Green Line 757, operated by Arriva, links Luton Airport with London Victoria and Baker Street. It runs roughly every 15 to 30 minutes, 24 hours a day, with a journey of about an hour. Arriva publishes weekly (£75) and 4-week (£270) passes; the walk-up single fare was not confirmed on the official page, so check the current price before you travel. The 24-hour service makes it a useful option for late arrivals.
Buses to other towns
Other coach links serve destinations such as Milton Keynes and Oxford through various operators. Fares for these routes were not confirmed, so check with the operator when planning.
At a glance
| Mode | Price | Time to central London | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| DART + train to St Pancras | Advance from ~£10 | 30 to 35 min | Up to 8 trains/hr peak |
| National Express A1/A2 | from ~£7 to £8 | 1 hr to 1 hr 30 | Up to ~19/day |
| Green Line 757 | passes from £75/week | ~1 hr | Every 15 to 30 min, 24/7 |
| Luton DART only | £4.90 adult single | Under 4 min to Parkway | Every 4 to 7 min by day |
When a taxi is worth it
Public transport is cheapest and, by train, often fastest to central London. A taxi makes more sense when you are two or more people with luggage, when you are heading somewhere off the rail and coach routes, or late at night when a door-to-door car saves the platform change. See the routes page for times and indicative fares to other towns, and drop-off and pick-up if someone is meeting you.
Public transport FAQs
What is the cheapest way from Luton Airport 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".
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 once you add the 4-minute DART.
How much is the Luton DART? An adult single is £4.90 and a child single (ages 5 to 15) is £2.45, with under 5s free. It is included free if your rail ticket is booked to "Luton Airport".
Does the Green Line 757 run at night? Yes. It runs 24 hours a day, roughly every 15 to 30 minutes, between Luton Airport and London Victoria via Baker Street.
More: Overview, Taxis, Parking, Drop-off, Routes, FAQs.
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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.