Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our London City Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.
Table of Contents
There are no seats before security other than an upstairs bar where you cannot nap. – dysentry
LCY Airport Overview
To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at London City Airport.
What to Expect
The small terminal at London City Airport (code: LCY) primarily caters to business travellers, with connections to many European capitals and some seasonal destinations. Amenities include free WiFi and several eateries, cafes, and shops, most of which are airside.
Sleeping in London City Airport
Spending the night here is impossible due to limited operating hours, closing by 10:00 PM most nights and by 1:00 PM on Saturdays. For uninterrupted sleep, hotels are nearby. See the Airport Hotels section below for locations.
Read the latest traveller airport reviews for more tips. For more airport information, continue scrolling down to explore more in our London City Airport Guide.
To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos.
In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security.
Airport Hours
The airport hours are: 4:45 AM – 10:00 PM (Mon – Fri) • 4:45 AM – 1:00 PM (Sat) • 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Sun). Overnight stays are not permitted in the terminal, which is locked during off-hours.
Rest & Relaxation Zones
There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.
The airport has a Silent Airport Policy, meaning they only make announcements regarding bad weather or emergencies. Flight announcements are not made, which can make for nice napping, but be sure to set your alarm.
Cots
The airport does not provide cots to stranded travellers. If this has changed, click here to update the guide.
Airport Hotels
If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels near London City Airport that are within a 10-minute walk from the terminal:
- Courtyard by Marriott London City Airport » Check Rates
- Travelodge Hotel – London City Airport » Check Rates
For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near London City Airport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.
Airport Lounges
Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships
Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there are lounges that you can enter by paying at the door. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and learn how to gain access with just an economy class ticket!
- First Class Lounge – Location: Private Jet Terminal. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door.
- Business Class Lounge – Location: Private Jet Terminal. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door.
Related Pages: London City Airport Lounges
Drinking Water
Information is unavailable. Does the airport have water fountains or water bottle refill stations? Click here to update this guide.
Food & Drinks
Food concessions throughout the terminal operate on varying schedules during terminal operating hours. While there are a few offerings landside, a wider variety of dining options are available airside.
Luggage Storage & Lockers
Unavailable. If this is incorrect, click here to update this guide.
Mobile Charging
Power outlets are available throughout the terminal to charge your devices.
Showers
Unavailable. If this is incorrect, click here to update this guide.
WiFi / Internet
Free WiFi is available at London City Airport. Connect to the “LCY Free WiFi” network. You must register with an email address and password to access unlimited WiFi.
Security & Safety
Sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:
- Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
- Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
- Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
- Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.
More Airport Information
ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. Euros and GBP are dispensed. Fees may apply, so check your bank’s fee schedule and daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Locations: Landside and Airside.
Currency Exchange – Global Exchange offers currency exchange at multiple locations: International Arrivals • Domestic Arrivals.
Duty-Free & Shopping – Aelia Duty-Free offers tax-free shopping airside. Other airside shops are WHSmith, a WHSmith book store, and Boots Pharmacy. A second WHSmith is available landside.
Family Services – The airport offers the following services to families:
- Baby Change Facilities – available at these locations: next to Cafe Nero, in the male and female washrooms • in the accessible toilets next to Soul & Grains n • by Gates 5 and 23 • in the First Aid room in the main terminal (Landside).
- Children’s Play Area – A children’s play area used to be available between Gates 5 and 6.
- Fun Pack – Ask any staff member (Airside) for a fun pack that includes puzzles, word searches, a deck of cards, and crayons.
- Pre-Ordered Baby Food – Located Landside, Boots Drugstore offers pre-order service for baby food and formula. Place your order ideally five days before your travel and pick it up at the designated Boots location, freeing up space in your hand luggage for other essentials.
Pharmacy – Boots Drugstore is located airside.
Postal Services – Drop off your last-minute postcards at the airport’s mailbox Landside, beside the self-serve check-in. Stamps are sold at the WHSmith (ground floor).
Shoe Shine – Complimentary shoeshine service used to be available. We could not confirm this at the time of our November 2023 Update. If you know whether it’s still there, click here to update this guide.
SIM Cards – A reader has asked us to include where to buy SIM Cards. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.
Smoking – Permitted outside the terminal in designated areas.
Spa – Aerospa offers spa services, hair treatments, manicures, etc. Location: Airside. Hours: unknown.
Buses
Bus 473 and 474 run between London City Airport and Canning Town, Plaistow, Stratford and North Woolwich. For route maps, schedules and fares, visit the Transport for London website.
Car Rentals
Onsite car rental agencies include Avis • Budget • Europcar • Hertz. Location: next to the Terminal Building.
Docklands Light Railway
The Docklands Light Railway connects LCY Airport to East London and the London Underground. Trains depart every 8 – 15 minutes, connecting to other DLR lines. A ride to Canning Town station will take seven minutes, while going to Woolwich Arsenal takes 17 minutes. For route maps, schedules and fares, visit the Transport For London website.
Hotel Shuttles
See also Airport Hotels above.
Taxis and Minicabs
Fully licensed London (black) taxis are available outside of the terminal. Taxis and minicabs can also be pre-booked before or upon arrival. Please note: Both taxis and minicabs are licensed to transport passengers, but while taxis can be hired without a reservation, minicabs (by law) are not allowed to take passengers without a reservation. Do not accept rides from a minicab driver approaching you to solicit a ride.
At the time of our November 2023 update, a 6 to 13-minute ride costs from £7 to £12, a 10 to 20-minute ride cost from £10 to £18, a 16 to 30-minute ride cost from £21 to £31, a 28 to 40-minute ride cost from £36 to £40, and a 30 to 60-minute ride cost from £56 to £105. Visit the Transport for London website for more info.
Last updated: 2024-08-26
This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning. All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice. The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or write a review.