LTN · Traveller guide
London Luton: arrivals, pick-up and getting to London
Luton has one terminal and its railway station, Luton Airport Parkway, is a short automated shuttle ride away. This guide covers how pick-up works, what Luton charges, the DART and the trains into London, and the drive.
After you land
What happens after you land
After you leave the aircraft, follow the signs to passport control. Luton says passport holders from the UK, EU, EEA, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the USA with a biometric passport can use the eGates, and Registered Travellers too. Children aged 8 and over can use them with an adult from 8 July 2026 if they are tall enough. Everyone arriving clears customs: green channel for nothing to declare, red channel for goods to declare.
Between baggage reclaim and the arrivals area you pass through customs. The airport's arrivals board shows your reclaim belt, and there is an Outsized Luggage Desk in the hall. An ETA is mandatory for eligible visa-free visitors, and each person, including babies and children, needs their own.
Luton's official airline page lists easyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Jet2, TUI, SunExpress, El Al, FLYONE and others. Airlines change over time, so check your booking.
Meeting and collection
How collection works at Luton
Luton directs people collecting passengers to the Pick Up Zone, a short walk from the terminal, or to the Long Stay Car Park with a free shuttle from Bus Bay B. The airport's pages do not name a meeting point inside the arrivals area. A chauffeur will be in arrivals with a name board; for anyone else, agree a spot inside the terminal.
The airport's pre-booked taxi guidance reads 'Head to the Pick Up Zone or your agreed meeting area', and says the company can pay the charge by midnight the following day, so the driver is likely to add it to the fare.
The airport's own charges
These are the airport's published figures, read on 28 October 2026. They change, so use the link on each line to confirm before you rely on them.
Drop Off and Pick Up Zone
Official page, checked 28 October 2026£9 for 12 minutes, then £1 a minute; maximum stay 30 minutes
Cashless and barrier-free, with number-plate cameras on entry. Pay online by midnight the next day. Staying over 30 minutes means a £95 charge, reduced to £55 if paid within 14 days. One Luton taxi page still shows older figures, so check the link before you rely on the numbers.
Long Stay Car Park (free alternative)
Official page, checked 28 October 2026Free for the first 2 hours
Free shuttle about every 20 minutes, around ten minutes to the terminal, returning from Bus Bay B.
Getting to London
From Luton to central London
Typical driving times without traffic, then the train options. Allow more time at rush hour and on Friday afternoons.
By car, without traffic
| To | Time | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Mayfair | about 1 hr 5 min | 36 miles |
| Westminster | about 1 hr 10 min | 38 miles |
| The City (Bank) | about 1 hr 10 min | 37 miles |
| Canary Wharf | about 1 hr 15 min | 48 miles |
| King's Cross | about 1 hr | 36 miles |
Our estimates from OpenStreetMap road data at normal free-flow speeds, rounded to the nearest five minutes. They are not a promise: traffic, roadworks and the time of day change them.
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By train, coach and Tube
Luton DART
under 4 minutes
Automated shuttle between the terminal and Luton Airport Parkway station, 24 hours a day, every day. Adult single £4.90.
Official pageLuton Airport Express
about 22 minutes St Pancras to Luton Airport Parkway
East Midlands Railway, up to two trains an hour. 'As little as 32 minutes' from St Pancras to the terminal, including the DART.
Official pageThameslink
about 24 to 45 minutes St Pancras to Parkway
Direct from St Pancras, Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars and London Bridge, up to eight trains an hour, running through the night.
Official pageCoach
check the operator's timetable
National Express A1, A2 and A31, and Greenline 757, run to Victoria and Paddington. National Express runs 24 hours.
Official pageRight now
Weather at Luton
The latest report and the next twelve hours, in plain English. Strong wind, low cloud or fog can slow flights, so it is a good moment to check your flight status.
Loading the weather at Luton…
Good to know
Assistance and useful tips
Assistance
Book Assisted Travel with your airline, tour operator or travel agent at least 48 hours before you fly, and the Assisted Travel team meets you on arrival and supports you through baggage collection and onward travel. The airport warns of fairly long walks and stairs, and a lift to Gates 20 to 28 was out of service for refurbishment when we checked.
Useful to know
- Free Wi-Fi: join 'Luton Airport WIFI'.
- The arrivals area has an Aelia duty free store, WH Smith, Pret A Manger, Burger King and Starbucks.
- Black taxis queue at the Hackney Carriage rank just beyond Bus Bay A, 24 hours, metered, no booking needed.
Questions
Luton FAQs
Where does my chauffeur meet me at Luton?
What does Luton charge for pick-up and drop-off?
How long does it take to drive from Luton to central London?
How do I get from the terminal to the train?
Sources
Where this information comes from
Checked on 28 October 2026against the airport's own pages, TfL, rail operators and GOV.UK. Airports change terminals, charges and timetables, so confirm anything important with them before you travel.
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