Airports - information and advice

London Gatwick - LGW

Gatwick is located 28 miles south of London, it has excellent rail and road links making it very easily accessible. Gatwick began its life back in 1931 as a private airfield that was owned by the Home Counties Aviaton Services. Offically known as London's second airport it has established itself as a major international hub, and the current owners BAA are investing £100million in redevelopment. The airport has two terminals- North and South- which 70 airlines fly to over 200 worldwide destinations. It is now Britain's second busiest airport, with a staggering 30million passengers taking off from its single runway each year.

London Heathrow - LHR

Heathrow airport is located 15 miles west of London, the airport has excellent public transport links from central London and all over the rest of the country. Heatrow airport began its life as a small grass airfield that was privately owned. Then in 1946 the Ministry of Civil Aviation took over and the tented terminal was soon replaced, and by 1947 three new runways had been completed. Today Heathrow is the UK's busiest airport and handles a staggering 64 million passengers per year, and flies to over 170 worldwide destiantions.

London Stansted - STN

Stansted airport is located close to Stevenage and Chelmsford, approximately 40 miles north-east of the central London. Stansted Airport was first developed in 1942 as a USAAF bomber base during the war. It has continued to develop since then as one of Londons main airports and is now the city's fourth major airport, home of the British budget airline and sees 19 million passengers through its doors each year.

London Luton - LTN

Luton Airport is located just 32 miles from Central London, close to the M1 and M25 with good transport links around the country. The airport was officially opened in 1938 and now plays an important rols as part of London's airport network. Over 6 million passengers fly from Luton each year and there are over 60 destinations available.

City of London - LCY

London City Airport is loacted just six miles from the City of London and has good tranport connections from both inside and outside the city. Discussions for an airport in the Docklands area first began in 1981 and the London City Airport was officailly opened in 1987. Today the airport transports 1.5 million passengers to over 25 destinations a year and is an important business transport link for the capital.

Kent International Airport - MSE

Kent International Airport (KIA formerly London Manston) is located on the Thanet Peninsula just two miles west of Ramsgate. The airport first began as a seaplane base on the bay at Westgate-on-Sea back in 1914 and today Kent International is the gateway to the South East and useful for passengers not wanting to travel into London.

Lydd

Lydd Airport is located 22km south of Ashford, Kent. The airfield was first constructed after the Second World War and has recently undertaken a multi-million pound improvement programme which included 13 acres of brand new apron and a newly regulated and resurfaced runway. Lydd Airport handles about 4,500 passengers a year.