Luton Airport is north-west of London, and the quickest way into the city is a short ride on the DART shuttle to Luton Airport Parkway station, then a train to St Pancras. The whole trip can take as little as 32 minutes. Contactless bank cards work on the trains, but Oyster cards do not.
London Luton Airport is in Bedfordshire, beyond the northern edge of Greater London. Unlike Stansted or Gatwick, it has no railway station inside the terminal. Instead, an automated shuttle train called the DART links the terminal with Luton Airport Parkway station in about 4 minutes. From there, two train companies run into London: East Midlands Railway's non-stop Luton Airport Express to St Pancras, and Thameslink, which continues through Farringdon, the City and London Bridge.
That extra step is the source of most confusion. This guide explains how the DART works, which train to choose, how to pay without being caught out, and what to do if your flight is very early or very late.
Luton Airport transport at a glance
- Luton DART
- Terminal to Luton Airport Parkway in about 4 minutes, 24 hours a day
- DART fare
- Included in rail tickets to "Luton Airport" (code LUA); otherwise £4.90 adult single
- Luton Airport Express (EMR)
- Non-stop to St Pancras (upper level), 22 minutes, up to 2 trains an hour
- Thameslink
- St Pancras (lower level), Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars, London Bridge; 24 to 45 minutes, up to 8 trains an hour, runs through the night
- Contactless / Oyster
- Contactless yes; Oyster no
- Coach
- National Express from £13.20 one way
How the Luton DART shuttle works
The DART is a driverless shuttle between the airport terminal and Luton Airport Parkway station. The ride takes about 4 minutes, and it runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Shuttles leave every 5 minutes at peak times (06:00 to 09:30 and 14:00 to 18:00), every 8 minutes at other times during the day, and every 15 minutes late at night (22:00 to 04:00).
After you land, go through passport control and baggage reclaim, then follow the signs for the DART from the arrivals area. At Luton Airport Parkway you change to the national rail network. Going the other way, you get off the train at Luton Airport Parkway and take the DART up to the terminal.
The DART is not free. How you pay for it depends on how you buy your train ticket, which is explained below. The airport's Luton DART page has the current timetable and fare.
Book to "Luton Airport", not "Luton Airport Parkway"
This is the single most useful thing to know. When you buy a paper or e-ticket, choose Luton Airport (station code LUA) as your destination or starting point. A ticket to Luton Airport includes the DART. A ticket to Luton Airport Parkway stops at the station, and you need a separate DART ticket for the last 4 minutes.
A separate DART ticket costs £4.90 for an adult single. That is a lot for a 4-minute ride, so it pays to get the ticket right from the start. The Advance fares quoted by the airport, from £10.00 on the Luton Airport Express and from £6.50 on Thameslink, do not include the DART.
A Parkway ticket leaves you 4 minutes short of the terminal. The two station names look almost the same in a booking list. Unless your ticket says "Luton Airport" (LUA), you will have to pay £4.90 per adult on top for the DART. Check the destination before you pay, especially when booking for a family.
The Luton Airport Express from St Pancras
East Midlands Railway runs the Luton Airport Express between Luton Airport Parkway and London St Pancras International. It is non-stop and takes 22 minutes (22 to 32 minutes in the airport's timetable table), with up to two trains an hour. In London it uses the upper level of St Pancras, while Thameslink uses the lower level, so check the signs when you arrive for your train home.
Including the DART, the airport says you can get from St Pancras to the terminal in as little as 32 minutes. The Luton Airport Express is the best choice if you are staying near King's Cross and St Pancras, or if you plan to change to the Tube there. King's Cross St Pancras is served by six Underground lines, which makes it one of the easiest stations in London for onward travel. Our guides to the King's Cross area and hotels near King's Cross and St Pancras cover the neighbourhood.
Advance tickets start from £10.00, excluding the DART. Advance fares are only valid on the specific train you book, so they suit departures more than arrivals, when a delayed flight can make you miss your train.
Thameslink: more stops and trains all night
Thameslink trains run from Luton Airport Parkway through London, calling at St Pancras (lower level), Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars and London Bridge, and many continue south. They take 24 to 45 minutes to London depending on the train, and there are up to eight an hour. The airport notes that Thameslink runs through the night.
Thameslink is the better choice if you are staying in the City, near Blackfriars, or south of the river around London Bridge and Borough. At Farringdon you can change to the Elizabeth line for Liverpool Street, Canary Wharf, Tottenham Court Road and Paddington. Advance tickets start from £6.50, excluding the DART. Our guide to London's main railway stations explains where each of these stations is.
| Luton Airport Express (EMR) | Thameslink | |
|---|---|---|
| London stations | St Pancras International (upper level) | St Pancras (lower level), Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars, London Bridge |
| Time to St Pancras | 22 minutes, non-stop | 24 to 45 minutes |
| Frequency | Up to 2 trains an hour | Up to 8 trains an hour |
| Night service | Check the timetable | Yes, runs through the night |
| Advance fares from (excluding DART) | £10.00 | £6.50 |
Paying with contactless: yes, but the DART is separate
You can tap in and out with a contactless bank card or phone between London and Luton Airport Parkway. Oyster cards are not accepted on this route, so a Visitor Oyster card is only useful once you are in London.
With contactless, the fare between St Pancras (lower level) and Luton Airport Parkway is £16.60 at peak times and £12.30 off-peak, according to TfL's fare data. That fare only takes you as far as the station. The DART is charged separately, so check on the airport's website how to pay for the shuttle before you tap in.
A couple travelling off-peak with contactless and buying two separate DART tickets would pay £34.40 one way (2 × £12.30 plus 2 × £4.90). At peak times the same trip costs £43.00. Advance tickets booked to "Luton Airport" may cost less, so compare before you travel. TfL's single fare finder shows the current contactless fares.
Price an Advance ticket to LUA before your flight home. If you know which train you will take, typically on the way back to the airport, compare an Advance ticket booked to "Luton Airport" (DART included) with the contactless fare plus a £4.90 DART ticket. Keep contactless for arrivals, when your landing time is less certain and a fixed-train ticket is a gamble.
If you plan more train journeys around Britain, visitors can buy a Two Together Railcard or a 16-25 Railcard, which give a third off many fares, and the Two Together card is sold at Luton Airport Parkway station. Our guide to UK train tickets and railcards explains how Advance fares and railcards work. For how contactless payments and caps work once you are in London, see our explainer on Oyster and contactless.
Coaches and taxis from Luton
National Express runs coaches from Luton Airport to London, from £13.20 one way, with stops in north-west London including Golders Green, Finchley Road and St John's Wood. The coach takes you straight from the terminal without the DART, which helps with heavy luggage, but road traffic makes journey times less predictable than the train. Check routes and times on the National Express website.
London black cab drivers can agree a fare with you before a trip to Luton; otherwise the meter applies. Minicabs and app-based cars must be booked in advance, and you should never accept a ride offered in the terminal. Our guide to London's taxis and minicabs explains how to check a licence. A taxi mostly makes sense for families or groups with a lot of luggage, or when you need to reach an address far from a station at night.
Very early flights and late arrivals
If your flight leaves early in the morning, Luton has an advantage over some other London airports: the DART runs 24 hours a day and Thameslink runs through the night. That means there is usually a rail option even for a dawn departure. Night trains run less often than daytime trains, so check the exact times for your date before you rely on them.
If you arrive late, the same applies in reverse. Thameslink will take you to St Pancras, Farringdon or London Bridge, but onward Tube services may have stopped unless it is a Friday or Saturday night, when the Night Tube runs on some lines. Our guides to night-time airport transport and airport hotels around London help you plan.
Arriving at Luton: passport control and practical tips
Luton has a single terminal. Arrival follows the same order as at other UK airports: passport control, baggage reclaim, customs and the arrivals area. Most visitors need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), costing £20, before they fly, and EU citizens should travel with a passport rather than an ID card. Our page on UK entry requirements has the details.
The DART makes the route to the station step-free, but allow time for lifts and queues at busy periods, particularly with pushchairs or a wheelchair. Our guide to step-free travel in London covers onward journeys once you arrive.
Travelling between Luton and the other airports
Thameslink runs directly between Luton Airport Parkway and Gatwick, which Gatwick says takes about 1 hour 30 minutes, plus the DART at the Luton end. That makes Luton one of the easier airports to combine with Gatwick; see our Gatwick Airport guide for the arrival side. For Heathrow, Heathrow's website gives about 55 minutes for the direct National Express coach, or you can travel by train via St Pancras. If you are still choosing an airport, our comparison of London's airports sets Luton against the others.
Frequently asked questions
Is the DART included in my train ticket to Luton Airport?
It is included only if your ticket is to or from "Luton Airport" (station code LUA). Tickets to "Luton Airport Parkway" do not include it, and you then need a separate DART ticket, which costs £4.90 for an adult single. Contactless fares also cover only the train.
Can I use Oyster to get to Luton Airport?
No. Oyster cards are not valid between London and Luton Airport Parkway. You can tap in and out with a contactless bank card or phone for the train, then pay for the DART separately, or buy a ticket to "Luton Airport" that includes the shuttle.
What is the fastest way from Luton Airport to central London?
Take the DART to Luton Airport Parkway and then the non-stop Luton Airport Express to St Pancras, which takes 22 minutes. The airport says the whole trip from the terminal to St Pancras can take as little as 32 minutes, including the DART.
Do trains run all night from Luton Airport?
Thameslink runs through the night between Luton Airport Parkway and London, and the DART runs 24 hours a day, every day. Night trains are less frequent than daytime services, so check the timetable for your date before relying on a very early or late train.
Does Luton Airport have a train station?
The nearest station is Luton Airport Parkway, which is not inside the terminal. The DART shuttle links the terminal and the station in about 4 minutes. It runs every 5 to 15 minutes depending on the time of day.
Sources
- London Luton Airport - Luton DART (checked September 2026)
- London Luton Airport - Trains to and from London (checked September 2026)
- Transport for London - Single fare finder (checked September 2026)
- National Express - Airport coaches (checked September 2026)
- London Gatwick - Train travel (checked September 2026)
- Heathrow - Travelling between London airports (checked September 2026)
- Transport for London - Taxi fares (checked September 2026)