The most recent fact check on London City Layover was on 7 November 2026, and the most recent update to its pages on 7 November 2026; each group below gives its own page's date.
Every City Layover guide follows the same method, editorial standards and affiliate policy, published once on citylayover.com.
How the planner times a layover
The planner on the overview times each plan with London City Layover's own allowances:
| Allowance | London City |
|---|---|
| From landing to the DLR and Jubilee line | about 30 min |
| Back at London City | 2 hours before departure |
| Shortest layover on your own | 4 hours: The London Cable Car from the Royal Docks |
Layover lengths
- Under 4 hours: Stay at the airport
- 4 to 5 hours: Possible but tight
- 5 to 7 hours: Go into London
- 7 to 10 hours: Go into London
- 10 hours or more: Go into London
Time in town
| Layover | In town, about | On the plan |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | 1 hour | The London Cable Car from the Royal Docks |
| 6 hours | 2.5 hours | Big Ben, Westminster and the South Bank |
| 8 hours | 4.5 hours | Big Ben, Westminster and the South Bank |
| 10 hours | 6.5 hours | Big Ben, Westminster and the South Bank |
| 12 hours | 8.5 hours | Big Ben, Westminster and the South Bank |
The plans
10 plans: 7 into London and 3 ways to rest at London City Airport. 1 of the London plans starts with a rest near the airport. The itineraries page, What to do on a London City layover, groups them like this:
| Band | Plans |
|---|---|
| 4 to 5 hours: the cable car or Westminster | The London Cable Car from the Royal Docks; Big Ben, Westminster and the South Bank |
| 5 to 7 hours: Greenwich or Bankside | Maritime Greenwich; St Paul's, Tate Modern and Borough Market |
| 7 to 10 hours: the Tower of London | The Tower of London and Tower Bridge |
| 10 hours or more: the Thames on foot | From the Tower to Westminster along the Thames |
| Overnight: a hotel by the airport, then the Tower | A night by the airport, then the Tower at opening |
| Rest at the airport | The departure lounge, after security; Courtyard by Marriott, a walk from the terminal; Hotels by the ExCeL, a short taxi ride |
Where the facts come from
The links below to GetYourGuide pages are affiliate links: how London City Layover makes money.
The 39 sources London City Layover cites, each listed once and grouped by the page that cites it:
Cited on the visa and transit page
Do you need an ETA or visa for a London City layover? · facts checked 7 November 2026
- London City Airport: FAQs, transfer area (checked 7 Nov 2026); UK Border Force (checked 7 Nov 2026); opening hours (checked 7 Nov 2026)
- GOV.UK: Electronic Travel Authorisation (checked 7 Nov 2026); when you do not need an ETA (checked 7 Nov 2026); apply for an ETA (checked 7 Nov 2026); transit visas (checked 7 Nov 2026); Visitor in Transit visa (checked 7 Nov 2026); faster travel through the UK border (checked 7 Nov 2026); check if you need a UK visa
- Home Office: ETA factsheet, April 2026 (checked 7 Nov 2026); transit caseworker guidance v9 (PDF, checked 7 Nov 2026)
Cited on Getting from London City into London
Getting from London City into London · facts checked 7 November 2026
- London City Airport: getting to and from (checked 7 Nov 2026); taxi rank (checked 7 Nov 2026); check-in and bag drop (checked 7 Nov 2026)
- British Airways: checking in (checked 7 Nov 2026)
- TfL: Journey Planner (checked 7 Nov 2026); single fare finder (checked 7 Nov 2026); taxi fare card from 25 April 2026 (PDF, checked 7 Nov 2026); London Cable Car opening hours (checked 7 Nov 2026); London Cable Car tickets (checked 7 Nov 2026)
- Historic Royal Palaces: visiting the Tower of London (checked 7 Nov 2026)
- St Paul's Cathedral: visit us (checked 7 Nov 2026)
- Tate Modern: visit (checked 7 Nov 2026)
- GetYourGuide: London Cable Car
Cited on the itineraries page
What to do on a London City layover · facts checked 7 November 2026
- Borough Market: plan your visit (checked 7 Nov 2026)
- Westminster Abbey: opening times and prices (checked 7 Nov 2026)
- Royal Museums Greenwich: National Maritime Museum (checked 7 Nov 2026); Cutty Sark (checked 7 Nov 2026); the Royal Observatory's transformation (checked 7 Nov 2026)
- Old Royal Naval College: opening times and tickets (checked 7 Nov 2026)
Cited on the airport page
Spending your layover at London City · facts checked 7 November 2026
- London City Airport: airport operating hours (checked 7 Nov 2026); hotels near the airport (checked 7 Nov 2026); seating and power (checked 7 Nov 2026); AeroSpa (checked 7 Nov 2026); Wi-Fi (checked 7 Nov 2026); currency exchange (checked 7 Nov 2026)
- Marriott: Courtyard by Marriott London City Airport (checked 7 Nov 2026)
Cited on the overview only
London City layover guide · facts checked 7 November 2026
How London City Layover makes money
- Partners: GetYourGuide, Viator, Expedia, Welcome Pickups, Bounce, Airalo and Saily
- Pages with GetYourGuide boxes: the overview and the itineraries page
London City Layover earns a commission on bookings through these partners' links (how that works).