A quick guide to London Luton airport in the UK

London Luton airport in the United Kingdom is located 45 kilometres away from central London, and serves as a hub for low-cost airlines connecting London with most of the main cities in Europe. Travellers who land in LTN may commute to the downtown by train, by direct bus, by bus via Paddington train station, taxi or Uber. While hiring a private shuttle service, taking a taxi or driving your own car will allow you to go from Luton airport to London in about 45 minutes, the bus and train options imply making at least one transfer and so travelling times may be extended to up to 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Catching a train from Luton Airport Parkway Station

In order to take high-speed trains which link Luton airport to central London in just 25 minutes, travellers have the option to transfer to Luton Airport Parkway Station. Shuttle buses that depart regularly from outside the arrivals zone transport arriving passengers to the railway station; this service implies the payment of a low fare, which might be already included in your train ticket as long as you purchased it in advance. The most popular train routes from Luton are those ending in St Pancras International and are operated by East Midlands Railway and

Flights to London Luton airport in the UK

As a base for Easyjet, Tui Airways, Ryanair and WizzAir, most flights to Luton airport in London have their origin in an European airport; nevertheless, chartered and seasonal operations also connect this low-cost hub to cities in Northern Africa and Asia, and other renowned international carriers such as Blue Air, El Al, Level, FlyBosnia, Sun Express and Vueling handle flights towards destinations overseas.

Should you need to spend the night close to LTN to catch a flight out of London first thing in the morning, we advise you to check out our recommended hotels near Luton airport.

Free WiFi in London Luton airport

You can connect your mobile device or laptop to the WiFi network in Luton at no charge for a limited time of four hours. If this is not enough and you will be spending more time waiting for your flight, you can always purchase extra time through the same web browser you used to get connected.

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ATMs and Currency Exchange counters in Luton airport

There are ICE ATMs and Bureau de Change offices both on the airside and the landside, and you can get sterling pound and euro cash withdrawals commission-free or currency exchange at the lowest rates. Besides, should you need an international SIM card or topping up your mobile phone, this is the place to go. If you carry a valid student card, do not hesitate to show it to the staff: you may get a discount.

Lounges in Luton airport of London

Would you like to spend your wait before boarding in the comfort of a quiet airport lounge that offers complimentary amenities like drinks and catering? Business and first class flyers, as well as those in possession of a loyalty travel card have two airport lounges in Luton: the Aspire lounge and the luxurious Clubrooms. The former open from 4 am to 10 pm every day and passengers can stay inside for three hours immediately before their scheduled departure time, whereas the latter are operational from 4:30 am to 9:30 pm; a pass for either one costs around 27 sterling pounds, which means there is no need for you to be a first-class traveller in order to enjoy the lounges.

The Aspire Lounge in London Luton has pioneered the integration of snooze pods or nap cabins in UK airports, and –aside from drinks and catering- it provides visitors with an extensive choice of breakfast foods. Otherwise, if you choose the Clubrooms for your last hours before leaving London, you will get the chance to order from an a-la-carte menu and be served by a waiter, relax in its comfortable seats, charge your mobile devices and catch up with work in the stations specifically designated for that purpose.

Dining and shopping in London Luton airport

The airport-shopping lovers who fly out of Luton airport in London need to wait until they clear security to get to the gift and fashion shops. Notwithstanding that, waiting in the public area of the airport or the landside will surely be a nice experience thanks to WHSmith, Burger King, Pizza e Pronta, Costa Coffee, Pret a Manger and Starbucks, some of which equally are ideal places to charge your phone or work before checking in for your flight.

After security, well-known franchises like Accessorize, Dixons Travel, Boss, Next, Rituals, Boots Pharmacy, Aelia Duty Free, MAC, Ted Baker and Victoria’s Secret await in the departures concourse, while Bella Italia, Frankie & Benny’s, Benugo, Crepeaffaire and Wasabi, among other restaurants, make up the varied array of foods you can enjoy before boarding the plane.

Commuting from London Luton airport to St Pancras International by train

Will Luton airport be your next gateway into London? Planning ahead for your trip can help you reach your final destination in the city in a smooth and convenient manner. Instead of making your way –for instance- to Paddington station, travelling to St Pancras means you will be within walking distance to London University, Camden, Regents Park, the Bloomsbury Area and Mary Lebone. Furthermore, choosing the train as your means of transport will guarantee a safe commute while carrying your luggage.

East Midlands trains, Thameslink and First Capital Connect are the railway companies most commonly used by travellers transferring from Luton airport to St Pancras International. Many of them are direct services with some stops along the way, so you won’t need to change trains. The average length of the journey both to the train station and to the airport is 30 minutes, plus 10 additional minutes required to commute between London’s Luton passenger terminal and Luton Parkway station, the point where trains depart from and arrive to.

Buying your train tickets to St Pancras

If you are flying with certain airlines, like Easyjet, you will be given the chance to purchase your train tickets onboard. A single ticket costs around 12 pounds, and normally includes the shuttle bus service. We advise you to compare journeys, prices and schedules on websites like The Train Line, then get your tickets from the offices at Luton airport or your railway station of departure.

Shuttle bus to Luton Parkway station

Upon arrival in London Luton airport and after collecting your bags, go outside the arrivals terminal and find the shuttle bus stop, which is clearly signposted. It will take you to Luton Parkway station in approximately 10 minutes. If you already have your train ticket and the shuttle fare is included, simply show it to the driver; otherwise, you must pay for your bus ticket. They only accept cash. This also applies to the reverse journey: your train ticket from St Pancras to Luton may include the shuttle bus fare or not, so check in advance and make sure you have coins handy to purchase the ticket at Luton Parkway on your way back to the passenger terminal.

The new DART shuttle for travellers commuting between Luton airport and St Pancras International

From 2021 onwards, the travelling time spent going from the Luton airport terminal to Luton Airport Parkway Station in order to transfer to a train towards London will be significantly reduced, in turn making this journey more energy efficient, eco friendly and effective. This will be thanks to the Luton Direct Air Rail Transit (DART), a fully-automated passenger shuttle that will run regular services around the clock, every day of the year and without a driver. It is planned that, once the DART reaches Luton Airport Parkway Station in less than five minutes, passengers will be able to change trains and get to St Pancras International station in less than half an hour. The same applies for the reverse journey.

The train journey from Luton airport

If you have not purchased your train ticket in advance, remember that you will need to buy your single or return train ticket either at Luton Parkway station or at St Pancras International. Providing that you are not travelling during the busy periods of the early morning and the evening, you may get an off-peak train ticket for a lower price. Oyster Cards cannot be used for this trip. St Pancras is usually the last stop in the journey; however, pay attention to the information displayed on the screens inside the carriage.

Are you ready for your trip to UK? If you have not done so yet, find the best hotels for your stay in London.

Hotels near Luton airport in London, UK

Booking your accommodation near London Luton airport may considerably reduce the hassle of catching an early flight or make your short stay in the UK better. This terminal is situated in the borough of the same name in Bedforshire, but is chosen by many travellers because it serves as operational base for some of the best low-cost airlines in Europe, and also because it offers perhaps the fastest and most convenient way to travel from the airport to the city centre. Easyjet, TuiFly, Ryanair, Wizz Air and Vueling sell cheap flights to London Luton, although Iberia also covers routes ending here. Upon arrival, passengers commute by shuttle bus to Luton Parkway railway station, where they can seamlessly connect to central London (St Pancras International) by train in less than 45 minutes.

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Sleeping close to the terminals of Luton airport in London

Booking a room to spend the night near the passenger terminals can considerably reduce the hassle of your trip to London. Continue reading to learn further about our recommended hotels located close to Luton airport in England and the guest services and amenities they offer.

Holiday Inn Express Hotel in London Luton airport

This 3-star establishment is within walking distance to the main arrivals and departures terminal. Aside from its comfortable guest rooms with private bathroom and ironing facilities, the HI Express hotel in Luton airport has an onsite cafe-bar serving delicious hot meals and drinks all throughout the day.

When selecting a breakfast-included nightly rate, guests can choose among their Continental or full English breakfast options. Other extra amenities are complimentary wireless internet access, parking on site, office equipment, meeting facilities, lift and safes. The entire premises are smoke-free. Make your reservation here.

Budget hotel near Luton Parkway train station and LTN airport

The Ibis Budget Luton Airport Hotel is strategically situated halfway between the passenger terminal and Luton’s railway station, thus enabling travellers to easily transfer to the departures area but also to use the direct train services to central London. The multilingual staff at their 24-hour reception will be happy to assist you with any information you may need about transport schedules and directions.

All units come with free WiFi and en suite bathroom, and their capacity ranges from single to family occupancy. The daily breakfast features continental, gluten-free and vegetarian options, and vending machines with snacks and cold drinks are available to guests. You may check nightly rates and availability for rooms at the Ibis Budget hotel near Luton airport in London.

Thistle Express Airport Hotel in London

This is one of the transit hotels near Luton airport, which is located 2,6 kilometres from the passenger terminal. It is considered a good value for money hospitality establishment, as it provides guests with free WiFi, private parking for a nominal fee, complimentary daily breakfast and unlimited tea and coffee.

The individual, twin, double and triple rooms at the Thistle Express hotel near Luton terminal building are fully equipped with cosy beds, bathroom, interactive TV, iron and safety deposit boxes. Visitors can walk to Luton Parkway station and catch a train to downtown London anytime.

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