Book Your Southend to London City Transfer
Airportbee runs fixed-price, licensed transfers between Southend and London City, with your driver tracking your inbound flight so pickup happens when you actually land. This page is about London City Airport (LCY) specifically — if you mean central London rather than the airport, the directions differ slightly, though both routes head broadly the same way.
Get a Fixed Quote — Southend to London City →
Quick facts
- Distance: around 28 miles direct; the road route via the A127 and A13 is typically 35–36 miles
- Typical journey time: 45–65 minutes in normal traffic — the shortest of any Southend route Airportbee covers
- No direct train — reaching London City by rail means changing at Stratford, taking around 70 minutes
- London City has a weekend flight curfew — no flights land or depart between roughly 12:30pm Saturday and 12:30pm Sunday
- Pickup: Southend Airport terminal (single terminal, with its own onsite railway station)
- Drop-off: London City Airport terminal (single terminal)
The Shortest Southend Route in Airportbee’s Network
Southend sits out on the Essex coast, and London City is in East London in roughly the same direction — which makes this the shortest and most direct of any of Airportbee’s Southend routes, considerably shorter than the equivalent journey to Heathrow, Gatwick or Luton. By road, they’re around 28 miles apart direct, or 35–36 miles by the standard route via the A127 and A13, staying largely within Essex and East London rather than needing a long motorway loop. Journey time is typically 45–65 minutes in normal traffic.
London City’s Weekend Curfew
Worth knowing before you book either leg of a trip: London City Airport doesn’t operate flights between roughly 12:30pm on Saturday and 12:30pm on Sunday, under a long-standing noise curfew, plus an overnight curfew during the week and a first departure around 06:30. If you’re planning a weekend connection through Southend and London City, check your London City flight time against the airport’s current operating hours before finalising anything.
Getting There Without a Car
There’s no direct train between Southend and London City, but it’s not as poor an option as on some of Airportbee’s longer routes: Greater Anglia runs from Southend Airport’s own onsite station to Stratford, where you pick up the DLR on to London City, with the whole journey commonly taking around 70 minutes — not far off the road time. For a solo traveller without much luggage, it’s a reasonable option; for anyone with bags, a family, or a tight connection, the private transfer avoids the change at Stratford.
Pickup at Southend
Southend has a single, compact terminal, so there’s no terminal choice to make. It also has its own onsite railway station, a two-minute walk from arrivals — useful for other journeys, though as above, driving is still the quicker way to reach London City specifically. More detail is on the Southend Airport transfers guide.
Drop-off at London City
London City has a single, compact terminal, so there’s no terminal choice to confirm, and the walk from gate to arrivals is short. Premium Meet & Greet is available for £17, and as an express-pickup airport you get 10 minutes of free waiting rather than the standard 5. The express drop-off charge here is £3.50, the lowest of any airport in Airportbee’s network. See the full London City Airport transfers guide for more.
Connecting Between Separately Booked Flights
Because Southend and London City have no shared airline network, any same-day connection between separately booked flights is a self-transfer — clear immigration if arriving internationally, collect your baggage, then make the road journey before checking in again. Given how short this particular route is, the transfer itself eats less into your connection than on Airportbee’s longer Southend routes, but it’s still worth checking your airline’s own guidance rather than assuming the short distance guarantees a comfortable connection.
If your inbound Southend flight runs late, flight monitoring means your driver adjusts to your actual landing time automatically, so a delay doesn’t mean a missed pickup.
Fixed Price, Confirmed Before You Travel
Airportbee runs fixed fares for every booking channel — phone, app, live chat, email or online — so the price you’re quoted is the price you pay, regardless of traffic on the day. Get your live fixed quote through the booking engine below.
Get Your Fixed Southend to London City Quote →
Choosing Your Vehicle
A Saloon covers most solo and business journeys on this route. Families or anyone with more luggage should look at an Estate or 6-Seater; groups can use the 8-Seater. For a business transfer where comfort matters more than boot space, the Executive option is available.
Why Book Airportbee
- Fixed price agreed before you travel — traffic on the day doesn’t change what you pay
- Flight monitoring on your Southend landing and your booking details
- Meet & Greet available at London City
- Fully licensed, TfL-authorised vehicles and PCO-certified drivers
- 24/7 booking and support, 365 days a year
Southend to London City FAQs
How far is Southend from London City Airport?
Around 28 miles direct. By road, via the A127 and A13, it’s typically 35–36 miles — the shortest of any Southend route Airportbee covers.
How long does it take to get from Southend to London City?
Usually 45–65 minutes in normal traffic.
Is there a direct train from Southend to London City?
No, but it’s a reasonable option — a Greater Anglia service to Stratford, then the DLR on to London City, commonly takes around 70 minutes in total.
Does London City Airport fly on weekends?
Not in the early-to-mid part of Saturday afternoon — London City operates under a curfew with no flights between roughly 12:30pm Saturday and 12:30pm Sunday.
Does London City Airport have more than one terminal?
No. London City has a single, compact terminal.
How much does a transfer from Southend to London City cost?
Airportbee runs fixed fares agreed before you travel, so the price doesn’t change with traffic on the day. Get a live quote through the booking engine for your exact route and vehicle.
What happens if my flight into Southend is delayed?
Airportbee tracks your flight and adjusts your pickup to your actual landing time, so a delay doesn’t mean a missed pickup.
Book your fixed-price Southend to London City transfer today — flight-monitored, door-to-door, no surprises at the terminal.
