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
London City Airport’s opening hours are:
- Monday – Friday: 4:45 AM – 10:00 PM
- Saturday: 4:45 AM – 1:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:30 AM – 10:00 PM
These reflect terminal operating hours and correspond with flight schedules and official posted hours. Overnight stays inside the locked terminal are not permitted.
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.
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.
- First Class Lounge – Location: Private Jet Terminal. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door.
- Business Class Lounge – Location: Airside, Departures, near Gates 2–5. Hours: 5:30 AM – 9:00 PM (Monday–Friday), 5:30 AM – 1:00 PM (Saturday), 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Sunday). Showers: No. Dedicated Rest Zone: No. Sleep Facilities: No. Lounge Access: Pay at the door (£35 per person) • Prepaid lounge passes • Lounge membership programs • Credit Card rewards programs • Business Class or eligible elite frequent flyer passengers of contracted airlines.
Drinking Water
A reader tells us there are water bottle refill stations on the airside, at the entrance of the corridor for Gates 1 – 22a and between Gates 7 and 8. (October 2025)
Food & Drinks
Food outlets 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
There is no luggage storage or locker service at LCY. If this is incorrect, click here to update this guide.
Mobile Charging
Power outlets/charging points are available throughout the seating areas in the terminal.
Showers
No public shower facilities are available. If this is incorrect, click here to update this guide.
WiFi / Internet
Free WiFi is available. Connect to the “LCY Free WiFi” network. You must register with an email address and password.
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 and dispense Euros and GBP. Fees may apply, so check your bank’s fee schedule and daily withdrawal limits before travelling. ATMs are available landside and airside.
Currency Exchange – Global Exchange offers currency exchange services at multiple locations, including International Arrivals and Domestic Arrivals.
Duty-Free & Shopping – Aelia Duty-Free is available airside. Other airside shops include WHSmith, a WHSmith bookstore, and Boots Pharmacy. An additional WHSmith is located landside.
Family Services – The following family-friendly services are available:
- Baby Change Facilities – Baby-changing facilities are available in several washrooms and accessible toilets throughout the terminal, including landside and airside areas.
- Children’s Play Area – A children’s play area was previously located between Gates 5 and 6. We could not confirm whether this is still available.
- Fun Pack – Families can ask airport staff airside for a complimentary fun pack containing puzzles, word searches, cards, and crayons.
- Pre-Ordered Baby Food – Boots offers a pre-order service for baby food and formula. Orders should be placed several days before travel and collected landside.
Pharmacy – Boots Pharmacy is located airside.
Postal Services – A mailbox is available landside near the self-service check-in area. Stamps can be purchased at WHSmith.
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 – Smoking is permitted outside the terminal in designated areas only.
Spa – Aerospa offers spa and beauty services airside. Hours could not be confirmed at the time of our last update.
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: 2026-01-28
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.