England, and the charges nobody mentions.
London is the most heavily charged city we operate in, and the charges are daily, camera enforced and invisible until the bill arrives. Knowing which ones apply to your journey is most of the value here.
Where we collect
London has six airports and they are not interchangeable. Heathrow is the long-haul hub and closest to the west of the city; Gatwick sits well to the south; City is genuinely in the city and the quickest for Canary Wharf and the financial district; Stansted, Luton and Southend are further out than their names suggest. We also collect from Manchester and Birmingham.
The cruise terminals matter too. Southampton is the main turnaround port and roughly two hours from central London, with Dover and Tilbury handling the rest. Those days run to the ship's clock rather than to yours.
The routes we run most
- Heathrow, Gatwick and City to central London hotels
- London to Southampton or Dover for a cruise, about two hours
- Day trips to Windsor, Oxford, Cambridge, Bath and Stonehenge
- London to the Cotswolds and the country house hotels
- Event work at Ascot, Wimbledon, Henley and Goodwood
- Corporate work in the City, Canary Wharf and along the M4 corridor
ULEZ, the Congestion Charge, and which airport is actually closest
Central London charges vehicles twice over. The Congestion Charge applies in the middle of the city on a daily basis, and the Ultra Low Emission Zone now covers all of Greater London, every day, for any vehicle that does not meet the emissions standard. Both are camera enforced with no barrier and no warning, and both are charged per day rather than per journey. Our vehicles are ULEZ compliant and any applicable charge is inside your quoted price, which is worth confirming with any operator working into London.
The airport you chose may not be the near one. Gatwick to a hotel in north London can take longer than the flight from Amsterdam. Stansted and Luton are further out still. If your flights are not yet booked and your London address is fixed, ask us which airport is genuinely closest in time rather than in name.
Cruise days need the ship, not the hour. Southampton is about two hours from central London on a good day and considerably more on a Saturday in summer when several ships turn around together. Give us the vessel and the all-aboard time and we will work backwards from it.
Questions
What people ask us.
Are the ULEZ and Congestion Charge included?
Yes. Our vehicles meet the ULEZ emissions standard and any applicable charge is inside the quoted price. Both are camera enforced daily charges with no barrier, so they are a common place for a cheaper quote to be incomplete.
Which London airport should I fly into?
It depends entirely on where you are staying. Heathrow for the west and for long haul, City for Canary Wharf and the financial district, Gatwick for the south. Stansted and Luton are considerably further out than most visitors expect. Ask us before booking flights if your address is already fixed.
How long is London to Southampton for a cruise?
About two hours on a good day, and longer on a summer Saturday when several ships turn around at once. Give us the ship and the all-aboard time and we plan backwards from it.
Do you cover Dover and Tilbury as well?
Yes, both, along with Southampton. Dover is about two hours from central London and is also the ferry port for France.
Can you do Stonehenge, Oxford or the Cotswolds as a day?
Yes. Windsor and Oxford work comfortably in a day with time to spare; Bath and Stonehenge together is a full day; the Cotswolds are better with the vehicle staying with you, since the villages are spread out.
Do you cover Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
England is where we operate. For the rest of the UK, ask us with your dates and we will tell you honestly whether we are the right operator for that job.
Travelling in England?
London charges and any port timings are in the price before you commit.