By MinicabTransfer editorial team · Updated
For most London City Airport transfers, the DLR is the simplest choice: the station adjoins the terminal, and direct trains run to Canary Wharf, Bank in the City and Stratford International. The Elizabeth line doesn’t stop at the airport, so using it means a change. A pre-booked car takes about 10 to 15 minutes to Canary Wharf and 30 to 40 minutes to central London outside peak hours, and goes door to door.
London City (LCY) is the closest of London’s airports to the centre, and its location next to Canary Wharf and the City is why so many business travellers use it. This guide covers each transfer option, how they compare, and how pickups and drop-offs work for cars at the terminal. Timetables and charges are as of October 2026 and can change, so check the official sources linked below.
London City Airport transfer options at a glance
| Option | To Canary Wharf | To the City (Bank) | To the West End | Door to door? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DLR | Change at Canning Town for the Jubilee line | Direct trains to Bank | Change to the Jubilee line or Elizabeth line | No |
| Elizabeth line (with DLR) | Change required | Liverpool Street, Farringdon | Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road | No |
| Black cab | Metered, from the rank outside the terminal | Metered | Metered | Yes |
| Pre-booked private hire car | About 10–15 min | About 25–35 min | About 30–40 min to central London, outside peak hours | Yes |
Car times are typical outside the rush hours. For rail, add the walk to the platform, any wait, and the final leg to your door.
The DLR: the default for travelling light
London City Airport DLR station is on the DLR’s Woolwich Arsenal branch and sits right next to the terminal, with lifts to the platforms. The airport says trains run every 8 to 15 minutes, taking under seven minutes to Canning Town or Woolwich Arsenal and 17 minutes to Stratford International.
Direct trains run to Bank, in the heart of the City, and to Stratford International. At Canning Town you can change to the Jubilee line for Canary Wharf, London Bridge, Waterloo, Westminster and Bond Street. The DLR is part of the TfL network, so Oyster and contactless pay-as-you-go work. Check TfL Journey Planner for times and fares on the day you travel.
The DLR suits a solo traveller with a cabin bag heading to the City or Docklands. At peak times trains can be busy with commuters, which is less comfortable with large cases.
Using the Elizabeth line from London City
There is no Elizabeth line station at the airport; the line passes close by without stopping. You can still use it, but it involves a change:
- Via Custom House. Custom House has Elizabeth line and DLR stations, but its DLR stop is on the Beckton branch, not the airport’s branch. From the airport, take the DLR to Canning Town and change there for a Beckton-bound train to Custom House.
- Via Canary Wharf. Reach Canary Wharf on the DLR or Jubilee line, then walk to the Elizabeth line station.
Once on the Elizabeth line, you have a direct run to Liverpool Street, Farringdon, Tottenham Court Road, Bond Street and Paddington. It’s a good option if your destination is near one of those stations, but with two changes it’s rarely quicker than the DLR plus Jubilee line for the West End. Use the journey planner to compare on the day, especially at weekends when engineering works can affect either line.
Why LCY suits business travel
London City’s appeal for business travellers comes down to geography. Canary Wharf is a short drive or a few DLR stops away, and the City is closer than from any other London airport. A meeting in the City the same morning as a flight is realistic in a way it rarely is from Stansted or Luton.
That proximity also changes the maths on a car. A short transfer costs less than a long one, and a door-to-door ride avoids changes at Canning Town or Bank in a suit with a laptop bag. Many business travellers use a pre-booked car for one direction and the DLR for the other, depending on the time of day and how much they’re carrying.
If you need a car for the whole day, for example a roadshow of meetings after landing, hourly hire or executive car hire can be arranged with an operator instead of a single transfer.
Pickup and drop-off at London City
The airport has its own rules for cars on the terminal forecourt, so it helps to know them before you travel.
Drop-off. From 6 January 2026, the airport introduced a charge for vehicles stopping on the terminal forecourt. Head for Points reported the charge as £8 for up to five minutes, then £1 a minute, with a ten-minute maximum stay, and said Blue Badge holders and licensed black cabs were initially exempt. Check the airport’s website for the current tariff. Ask the operator whether their quote includes it.
Pickup. Operators usually meet passengers just beyond the arrivals exit and walk them to the car. The operator confirms the exact meeting point, and whether any parking or waiting charges are included in the quote.
Black cabs. There’s a taxi rank outside the terminal. Cabs are metered, so the fare depends on traffic and isn’t known in advance.
Tip: give the flight number, not just the time. Landing times can shift. With your flight number, the operator can adjust the pickup to your actual landing time.
Our guide to airport meet and greet explains how meeting in arrivals works in more detail, and how to check a TfL private hire licence before you travel.
Car fares from London City
On MinicabTransfer, fares from London City Airport to central London start from £49 for a saloon, or from £71 for an MPV. MinicabTransfer compares fares from TfL-licensed operators and forwards your quote request; the operator you choose confirms the final price and terms directly with you.
To compare operators, see London City fares, or request a quote with your flight details. You can see the vehicle classes on offer on the fleet page.
Which should you choose?
- Solo, cabin bag, heading to the City or Canary Wharf? Take the DLR.
- Heading to the West End by rail? DLR to Canning Town, then the Jubilee line, is usually simpler than routing via the Elizabeth line.
- Carrying luggage, travelling with colleagues, or on a tight schedule? A pre-booked car takes you straight to the door, and the short distance keeps the estimated fare down.
- Connecting to another airport? Our Heathrow to central London guide covers the options at the other end of town.