You\u2019ve booked the accommodation, organised the airport transfers, and argued with your mates over the itinerary. Now the holiday is finally here. So after all that planning and admin, do you really want to risk missing your flight?<\/p>\n
We didn\u2019t think so. Most airports advise arriving two to three hours before your departure, depending on the destination.\u00a0To make it easier for you, below we have advised what time you should arrive at\u00a0each London airport for your flight, giving you\u00a0ample time to waltz through security stress-free and grab a pre-holiday pint in \u2019Spoons.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s when you should\u00a0arrive at each London airport, based on the airports\u2019 official advice.<\/p>\n
NB: All\u00a0suggestions below include\u00a0enough time to\u00a0drop bags.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Heathrow Airport (LHR)
\nLong haul<\/p>\n
Heathrow recommends arriving three hours<\/strong> before your flight if travelling out of Europe.\u00a0<\/p>\n Short haul<\/p>\n For domestic journeys and flights within Europe get there two hours<\/strong> ahead.\u00a0<\/p>\n Find more information here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Gatwick Airport (LGW) Check-in opens three hours<\/strong> before scheduled departures. Aim to arrive then.<\/p>\n Short haul<\/p>\n Within Europe Gatwick recommends two to three hours<\/strong> before. For UK and Ireland flights its two hours.\u00a0<\/p>\n Find more information here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Stansted Airport (STN) Get there three hours<\/strong> ahead. Here\u2019s what Stansted says: \u2018If you\u2019re flying long haul or with airlines like Jet2, TUI, or Thomas Cook, give yourself three hours to spare to help avoid any last-minute rush.\u2019<\/p>\n Short haul<\/p>\n For Europe and UK flights, plan to arrive two hours<\/strong> before the flight.\u00a0<\/p>\n Find more info here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n London City Airport (LCY)<\/p>\n London City only has one terminal, and it\u2019s fairly small, so you don\u2019t need to get there as early as other airports.\u00a0<\/p>\n Long haul<\/p>\n As a small business-oriented airport, London City doesn\u2019t\u00a0offer\u00a0long haul flights.\u00a0<\/p>\n Short haul<\/p>\n City asks for passengers not to arrive more than two hours before their flight, otherwise the airport will be too crowded. Ninety minutes<\/strong> ahead is usually plenty of time to arrive London City airport.\u00a0<\/p>\n Find more info here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Southend Airport (SEN) Southend doesn\u2019t currently\u00a0operate\u00a0any long haul flights.\u00a0<\/p>\n Short haul<\/p>\n London Southend airport recommends arriving at least two and a half hours<\/strong> before every flight.\u00a0<\/p>\n Find more info here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n London Heathrow Airport has unveiled a huge multi-billion-pound plan to add up to 10 million more passengers<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Stansted Airport has submitted plans to\u00a0boost passenger numbers to 51 million<\/a>.\u00a0 Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke \u2013 from news and reviews to events and trends. Just\u00a0follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nLong haul\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nLong haul\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nLong haul<\/p>\n
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