London City Airport taxi prices with Esskay Cars start at £50 from Canary Wharf, £57 from King’s Cross and £68 from Victoria in a saloon. Each fare is fixed for the whole vehicle and includes the airport’s drop-off charge. Below are fares from 12 places across London, Surrey, Kent and Essex, all taken from our live booking system.
Quick answers
- Cheapest fare? £50 from Canary Wharf in a saloon.
- Central London to City Airport? From £57 (King’s Cross) to £68 (Victoria).
- Per person or per car? Per car, for up to 3 passengers in a saloon.
- Drop-off charge included? Yes. London City’s £8 charge is in the fare.
- Night surcharge? None. The fare is the same 24 hours a day.
How much is a taxi to London City Airport?
A saloon to London City Airport costs from £50 from Canary Wharf to £126 from Canterbury, fixed per car.
Fares were checked in our booking system on 24 October 2026 for a weekday morning journey. They are per vehicle, so the more people sharing, the cheaper it is per head.
| From | Saloon | Estate | People carrier | 8-seater | 16-seater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canary Wharf | £50 | £56 | £63 | £86 | £265 |
| Kings Cross | £57 | £64 | £71 | £100 | £281 |
| Central London (Victoria) | £68 | £74 | £83 | £108 | £286 |
| Sevenoaks | £69 | £80 | £94 | £110 | £340 |
| Croydon | £71 | £80 | £92 | £117 | £306 |
| Chelmsford | £72 | £82 | £97 | £114 | £355 |
| Kingston | £72 | £81 | £94 | £116 | £417 |
| Reigate | £86 | £99 | £115 | £128 | £381 |
| Guildford | £106 | £121 | £143 | £158 | £438 |
| Brighton | £119 | £137 | £158 | £179 | £464 |
| Cambridge | £122 | £138 | £162 | £216 | £418 |
| Canterbury | £126 | £142 | £167 | £221 | £422 |
Why is London City cheaper to reach than Heathrow or Gatwick?
For most of central and east London, City Airport is much closer, so the drive is shorter.
London City sits in the Royal Docks, about 7 miles east of the City of London. From Canary Wharf it is a 10 to 15-minute drive, and from King’s Cross or Victoria usually 30 to 45 minutes. For travellers from Surrey and Kent, the fare is closer to a Gatwick fare because the route crosses London or goes round the M25.
How long does a taxi to London City Airport take?
From Canary Wharf, 10 to 15 minutes. From Victoria, 35 to 50 minutes. From Reigate, about an hour.
| From | Off-peak | Rush hour |
|---|---|---|
| Canary Wharf | 10 to 15 minutes | 15 to 25 minutes |
| King’s Cross | 25 to 35 minutes | 40 to 55 minutes |
| Victoria | 35 to 50 minutes | 50 to 70 minutes |
| Croydon | 40 to 55 minutes | 60 to 80 minutes |
| Sevenoaks | 40 to 50 minutes | 55 to 75 minutes |
| Chelmsford | 45 to 55 minutes | 60 to 80 minutes |
| Reigate | 55 to 70 minutes | 75 to 95 minutes |
Is the London City drop-off charge included?
Yes. London City charges £8 for a 5-minute drop-off, based on published 2026 rates, and that is already in every fare.
The drop-off area at London City is small, and the 5-minute limit is enforced. Our drivers know the layout and get you to the door quickly. More detail is in our airport drop-off charges guide.
When should I arrive at London City Airport?
Most passengers aim to arrive 45 minutes to an hour before departure, because London City is small and quick to get through.
Check-in and bag drop usually close 20 to 30 minutes before departure, depending on the airline. That is much later than at the larger airports, which is why London City is so popular with business travellers. Leave a margin for traffic in east London, particularly around the Blackwall Tunnel and the A13.
Is a taxi better than the DLR?
The DLR is cheap and direct if you are near a DLR station and travelling light. A taxi is better with luggage, for early flights, or for groups.
The DLR stops right at the terminal. From the West End, though, it means a Tube journey and a change at Bank or Canning Town. For two or more people with bags, a fixed taxi fare is often similar per head and goes from door to door.
Which vehicle should I book for London City?
For one to three passengers, a saloon. For business travellers, the executive saloon. For groups, a people carrier or minivan.
- Saloon: 3 passengers, 3 large cases.
- Executive: a Mercedes E-Class or similar, from £63 from Canary Wharf.
- Estate: 4 passengers, 4 large cases.
- People carrier: 6 passengers, 5 large cases.
- 8-seater minivan: 8 passengers, 8 large cases.
For groups, see our 8-seater taxi to London City Airport page.
Do you meet passengers at London City arrivals?
Yes. The driver waits in the arrivals hall with a name sign, and we track your flight so a delay costs nothing extra.
London City is compact, so you are usually through arrivals within 15 to 20 minutes of landing. The driver will be ready when you come out. Our meet and greet guide explains how it works.
Is it the same price from London City back home?
Yes. Fares from London City Airport to these places are the same fixed prices as going there.
For example, London City to Canary Wharf is £50, and to Reigate £86 in a saloon.
Who uses London City Airport?
Mostly business travellers flying to European cities, plus leisure passengers on routes to popular European destinations.
Its location near Canary Wharf and the City makes it ideal for day trips and short business visits. Trips through London City are often early-morning departures and evening returns. A fixed-fare car with a set pickup time makes those tight schedules easier to manage. For more detail, see our London City Airport taxi page.
What does a London City taxi cost per person?
Shared, it is often cheaper per head than you expect: four people in an estate from Victoria pay about £19 each.
A people carrier from Croydon for six is £92, or about £16 each. For business teams travelling together, the executive minivan, a Mercedes V-Class or similar, seats six for £121 from King’s Cross.
Is a taxi cheaper than parking at London City?
For anything longer than a day or two, usually yes.
London City’s car parks are small and priced for short stays. Two fixed taxi fares from most of London and the inner South East usually cost less than a few days of parking, with no worries about finding a space.
Can I book for an early-morning flight?
Yes. We run 24 hours a day, and early pickups cost the same as daytime ones.
London City’s first flights leave around 6:30am. For a 7am departure from Victoria, a pickup at about 5:30am is usually enough, as the roads are quiet at that hour. Book the night before at the latest so we can confirm your driver.
Can I book a same-day return for a business trip?
Yes. Book the outward and return journeys together, and add your return flight number so the driver can track it.
Many business travellers fly out of London City in the morning and back the same evening. With both legs booked, the driver is waiting in arrivals when you land, and the evening run home is fixed in price too. If your return flight changes, call or WhatsApp us and we will move the pickup.
How do I book?
Enter your address and London City Airport in the booking form at the top of this page, choose a vehicle and confirm.
You get a fixed price instantly and a confirmation by email. You can also call 0207 8400 344 or WhatsApp 020 3355 8186, 24 hours a day.
London City Airport taxi prices: common questions
How much is a taxi to London City Airport?
From £50 from Canary Wharf to £126 from Canterbury in a saloon, fixed per car.
How much is a taxi from central London to London City Airport?
From £57 from King’s Cross or £68 from Victoria in a saloon.
Is the London City drop-off charge included?
Yes, it is in every fare.
How long does it take from Canary Wharf to London City Airport?
Usually 10 to 15 minutes.
When should I arrive at London City Airport?
About 45 minutes to an hour before departure.
Do you charge more at night?
No. Fares are the same 24 hours a day.
