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.
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 located airside. For added comfort while you wait, economy class passengers can pay to enter two airport lounges. See Airport Lounges in the guide below for location and access information.
Sleeping in London City Airport
Spending the night here is not possible due to limited operating hours, closing by 10:00PM most nights and by 1:00PM on Saturdays. For uninterrupted sleep, hotels are nearby. See the Airport Hotels section below for locations or read some traveller airport reviews for more tips.
Covid-19 Update
Some airport reviews and tips in this guide and elsewhere on the site were written before March 2020 and may no longer be valid. 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. You can also visit the airport’s web site for current information.
For more airport information continue scrolling down to explore more in our London City Airport Guide.
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. For more information on Europe’s Schengen Area, click here.
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 to also find out how you can gain lounge 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
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 – 5 minute walk » Check Rates
- Travelodge Hotel – London City Airport – 9 minute walk » 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 WiFi/Internet
Free WiFi is available at London City Airport. Connect to the “LCY Free WiFi” network. To access unlimited WiFi, you will need to register with an email address and password (or link one of your social media accounts), otherwise, without registration you can get 15 minutes of free WiFi.
More Services, Facilities & Things To Do On A Layover At The Airport
ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. Euros and GBP are dispensed are dispensed. Fees may apply, so be sure to check your bank’s fee schedule and your 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 – Travelex offers currency exchange at multiple locations: Landside, near entrance of International Terminal • Departures, airside, just after the security checkpoint • International Arrivals Hall, airside, to the right of the entrance • Domestic Arrivals concourse, airside.
Duty Free & Shopping – Aelia Duty Free offers tax-free shopping airside. Other airside shops are WHSmith, a WHSmith book store, Boots Pharmacy, and Dixon Travel store. 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 Pilots Bar & Kitchen • by Gates 5 and 23 • in the First Aid room in the main terminal (Landside).
- Children’s Play Area – When you want to ensure your kids burn off all their energy before their flight, take them to the children’s play area. Location: between Gates 5 & 6.
- Fun Pack – Ask any staff member (Airside) for a fun pack which includes puzzles, word searches, a deck of cards and crayons.
Food & Drinks – Food concessions throughout the airport operate on varying schedules during terminal operating hours. While there are a few offerings landside, a wider variety of dining options is available airside.
Luggage Storage & Lockers – Left luggage storage is available at a rate of £10 per item, per 24-hour period. To store your items, report to the Information Desk with your items and a valid passport or photo ID, where you will receive a receipt to present to the luggage storage room along with your items. To pick up your items, you pay at the Information Desk before collecting your items at the storage room. Location: Left Luggage Room, landside, Security Zone A (behind the check-in desks). Hours: 5:00AM – 10:00PM (Mon – Fri) • 5:00AM – 1:00PM (Sat) • 11:00AM – 10:00PM (Sun).
Mobile Charging – Power outlets are available throughout the airport to charge your devices.
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).
Rest Zones – There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.
Shoe Shine – Complimentary shoe shine service is available.
Showers – Not available.
Silent Airport Policy – The airport only makes announcements regarding bad weather or emergencies. Flight announcements are not made which can make for nice napping but be sure to set your alarm.
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. AeroSpa offers express manicures, beauty treatments and massage. Location: Airside. Hours: unknown.
Airport Hours
The airport hours are: 4:30AM – 10:00PM (Mon – Fri) • 4:30AM – 1:00PM (Sat) • 10:00AM – 10:-0PM (Sun). Overnight stays are not permitted on airport property, and the terminal is locked during off-hours.
Airlines
London City airport is served by the following airlines: Alitalia • British Airways • KLM • Lufthansa • LOT Polish Airlines • Luxair • Swiss • TAP Portugal.
Airport Transportation: Getting To/From The Airport
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. Hours: 7:00AM – 9:30PM (Mon – Fri) • 7:00AM – 4:00PM (Sat) • 10:00AM – 9:30PM (Sun – Avis closes at 8:00PM).
Docklands Light Railway
The Docklands Light Railway connects LCY Airport to East London and the London Underground. Trains depart every 8 – 15 minutes, with connections to other DLR lines at Canning Town station and connections to Underground and National Rail stations available from other DLR stops via the Jubilee Line. 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 who approaches you to solicit a ride.
The following one-way black taxi rates were current at the time of this update: Buckingham Palace £35.00; City of London £30.00; Earls Court £50.00; Paddington £50.00; Piccadilly £40.00; West End £40.00.
Last updated: 2022-10-28
This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning. All information, including rates and hours, are 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 web sites. 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.
