What is the best london airport to fly to for a theatre break?

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James Bond

Mike H is getting you think correctly. The real question here is what is the cheapest flight you can get because the theatres are mostly in the very centre of London and all airports will require a journey to central London. Once you have the flights sorted out you can check out the options to central London here:
http://www.milesfaster.co.uk/information/london-airports-guides.htm

each airport has a page with the journey options.

However another question is, the theatres are in central London but do you need to stay right on top of them? Because central Hotels can be a lot more expensive. However a popular cheapish (relatively) one near the theatres is the Strand palace hotel
http://www.strandpalacehotel.co.uk/

Cari

London City is the most conveniently located - in fact it's the only airport that actually is in London proper. But, I'm aware that it has a limited number of flights and therefore you may not find a flight in or out which suits you.

If this is the case, then the next best option is either Heathrow, where you can take the tube in if you've got all day or the Heathrow Express into Paddington if you've got limited time, or Gatwick, where there are trains into Victoria and the City.

If you're looking to fly to Luton or Stansted simply because they have more buget flights operating, then Luton's the better bet out of the two.

SLF

you're looking at a good half-hour journey into central London at least from any of the airports. I would choose your airport based on the cheapest flight!

stepney_lad

Ignore carrie, she would rather send you a mini cab from addison lee to pick you up.

London city airport is the closest too all the things you have mentioned.

Arcadia

All the main theatres are in the West End, which is about as central as you can get, so it really makes very little difference which airport you arrive at since you are still going to have to travel into the centre. Physically, Heathrow is the closest to central London and has a direct tube connection which gets you into the West End in about 35 minutes, which Gatwick doesn't.

Rocksteady

Heathrow Airport and then tube.

City Airport is far more convenient if flying from Scotland. Heathrow next best. Luton, Stanstead, Gatwick in that order are all further away.

Carrie S

It depends which flight is cheapest. If you're flying EasyJet then they usually fly cheaply to Luton (about 2 hours from central london) or Stansted (same travel time as Luton).

None of the airports are in London itself so you have to travel from them all. Heathrow has the quickest time if you take the Heathrow Express train (every 15 minutes and takes 15 minutes). However it then takes you to Paddington so you have to get to the centre from there.

Gatwick Express takes you into Victoria (about 35 minutes journey every 20 minutes). Victoria is more central and there are a few theatres in Victoria itself such as WIcked and Billy Elliot.

I'd look at which theatre you want to visit first and then organised the cheapest flight you can find. Try Expedia for flights, BMI Baby, Ryanair, EasyJet or British Airways. For theatre breaks try www.lastminute.com - they often do a deal where you get a pre-theatre meal and ticket for the same price as a ticket on it's own.

Wise Old Owl

Either Gatwick or Heathrow. Both have good links to London.
You would be well advised to buy your tickets in Leicester Square on the day of the show, as close to the time as possible, as they can be upto 70% cheaper. If the show starts at 9pm, you'll get a good deal at 8pm.
Personally I would come via train, straight into Kings Cross. Your central, your journey will be a relaxed one, instead of a mad 2 hour dash. Train is cheaper too, as National Express Trains are doing London to Edinburgh for Â£11.00 one way, so you can use that to return on.
Loads of cheap hotels, and everywhere is a mere tube ride away.

It needn't cost a fortune

Mike H

All airports will require a trip into central london, whether it be tube from heathrow, or train from stansted or gatwick.

The trains from stansted or gatwick will be quite expensive, so perhaps heathrow might be best. Although a cheaper flight to e.g. stansted might balance out the expense.

Think I would personally do heathrow, as the tube is prob slightly quicker, cheaper and you are guaranteed a seat as its effectively the first stop. Although I wouldnt put any airport particularly as the winner, down to personal preference.

Mintz

Forget Heathrow or other. The tube journey from Heathrow is cramped hot and sweaty and can be a nightmare.

From Gatwick you can get a train to Victoria train station in London very quickly Either the regular stopping service or the Gatwick Express. I just checked it and the Gatwick Express takes takes 30 minutes. There is the Apollo Theatre right outside Victoria Train Station and the other West-End theatres are within walking distance, or a short bus journey away.

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