Quick Summary
To collect someone at London City Airport (LCY), follow the Pick-Up signs to the pick-up area in the Short Stay car park next to the terminal (postcode E16 2PB). It costs £10 for up to 20 minutes, then £16.90 up to 30 minutes and £21.90 up to an hour. Payment is by card only (no American Express). You cannot wait on the drop-off forecourt: that zone is for drop-offs, charged at £8 for 5 minutes. If the flight is late, move to the Main Stay car park.
London City is the easiest London airport to get in and out of, which is exactly why the pick-up rules catch people out. The terminal is small, the walk from the plane to the exit is short, and the drop-off forecourt right outside is camera-controlled, with a fee and a 10-minute limit. Collections belong in the pick-up area of the Short Stay car park instead. This guide sets out where to go, what it costs in 2026 and the cheapest way to handle a delayed flight.
London City Airport Pick-Up Charges 2026
These are London City Airport’s own published pick-up rates for the Short Stay car park pick-up area:
| Time in the car park | Charge |
|---|---|
| Up to 20 minutes | £10.00 |
| 20 to 30 minutes | £16.90 |
| 30 minutes to 1 hour | £21.90 |
| 1 to 2 hours | £29.90 |
| 2 to 4 hours | £39.90 |
| 4 to 8 hours | £59.90 |
| 8 to 24 hours | £97.90 |
The car park is cashless and takes all major cards except American Express. You take a ticket at the barrier on the way in and pay before you leave, at the pay point in the pick-up area, at the terminal entrance or online.
Where to Pick Someone Up at London City Airport
- Pick-up area (Short Stay car park): follow the Pick-Up signs as you approach the terminal. The car park postcode is E16 2PB; the terminal itself is E16 2PX. This is where pre-booked minicabs and executive cars collect passengers too.
- Not the forecourt: the area in front of the terminal is the drop-off zone. It costs £8 for up to 5 minutes, then £1 a minute, with a 10-minute maximum, and you cannot wait there or leave the car. The full rules are in our London City Airport drop-off charge guide.
- Waiting longer than 20 minutes: London City says to move to the Main Stay car park, where you can stay as long as you need and leave when ready.
How to Avoid Paying More Than £10
The £10 rate covers 20 minutes, and the next band is £16.90. At London City that is usually enough, because the terminal is compact and many passengers travel with hand luggage only. The trick is to arrive when your passenger is nearly out, not when the plane is due:
- Track the flight, not the timetable. Check the live arrival time on our London City flight tracker before you set off.
- Agree a signal. Ask your passenger to message when they have cleared passport control or collected their bag, then enter the car park.
- Do not wait on the forecourt. It is the drop-off zone; stopping there to wait for an arrival is what leads to a charge notice.
- Remember the timetable. London City has no flights overnight, roughly 22:30 to 06:30, and is closed from Saturday lunchtime to Sunday lunchtime, so check the arrival really is today.
Blue Badge Holders
Blue Badge holders who register with the airport get 60 minutes’ free parking in the pick-up area; follow the Pick-Up signs. Registration matters: displaying the badge alone is not enough. Passengers who need help through the terminal can book London City’s Assisted Travel service before they fly.
No Car? Other Ways Out of London City Airport
- DLR: London City Airport station is attached to the terminal, with direct trains towards Bank and Stratford.
- Black cabs: there is a rank of licensed London black taxis just outside the terminal, many with built-in wheelchair access. They are metered, so the fare depends on time of day and traffic.
- Pre-booked taxi: a fixed price agreed before you travel, with the driver waiting for you (see below).
Or Book a London City Pick-Up Instead
If collecting someone means a rush-hour drive into Docklands and a car-park fee, a pre-booked transfer is often simpler. A LondonAirport-Taxi.com driver tracks the flight, meets your passenger inside the arrivals hall with a name board and allows 60 minutes of free waiting from when the flight actually lands. The pick-up parking charge is already inside the fixed fare.
| From London City to | Saloon (up to 3) | MPV (up to 5) |
|---|---|---|
| Canary Wharf | £51 | £73 |
| Stratford | £51 | £73 |
| Greenwich | £59 | £81 |
| Liverpool Street / the City | £51* | £73* |
| Central London (West End) | £51* | £73* |
All-in fixed fares at the time of writing; the exact fare for your postcode is shown before you book. *Trips into the Congestion Charge zone add TfL’s £18 charge at checkout during charging hours (for example £69 to the West End at 11:00). See every route on our London City taxi prices page, or read how the service works on our London City Airport taxi page. Child seats are free on request.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to pick someone up at London City Airport?
£10 for up to 20 minutes in the pick-up area of the Short Stay car park.
After that it is £16.90 up to 30 minutes, £21.90 up to an hour, £29.90 up to two hours and £39.90 up to four hours. Payment is by card only, not American Express.
Where is the pick-up area at London City Airport?
In the Short Stay car park next to the terminal, postcode E16 2PB. Follow the Pick-Up signs.
Pre-booked minicabs and executive cars collect from the same area. The road in front of the terminal is the drop-off zone and is not for waiting.
Can I pick someone up from the drop-off zone at London City Airport?
No. The forecourt is for drop-offs only, and you cannot wait there.
The drop-off zone costs £8 for up to 5 minutes, then £1 a minute, with a 10-minute maximum. London City asks drivers collecting passengers to use the pick-up area in the Short Stay car park.
What if the flight is delayed?
Move to the Main Stay car park if you need more than 20 minutes.
Check the live arrival time before you set off and enter the pick-up area only when your passenger is nearly through, so you stay inside the £10, 20-minute band.
Is pick-up free for Blue Badge holders at London City Airport?
Yes, for 60 minutes in the pick-up area, if the Blue Badge holder has registered with the airport.
Displaying the badge alone is not enough, so register before the visit. Passengers who need help in the terminal can also book Assisted Travel.
How much is a taxi pick-up from London City Airport?
From £51 for a saloon to Canary Wharf, Stratford or central London, all charges included.
A LondonAirport-Taxi.com driver meets your passenger inside arrivals with a name board, tracks the flight and waits 60 minutes free from landing. The pick-up parking charge is already in the fixed fare. Trips into the Congestion Charge zone add TfL’s £18 at checkout during charging hours.
Related London City Guides
- London City Airport drop-off charge 2026 — the forecourt fee and how to pay it
- London City flight tracker — live arrivals
- Cheapest way from London City Airport to central London
- How to get to London City Airport
- UK airport drop-off charges compared
Final Thoughts
Picking someone up at London City is quick if you use the right place: the pick-up area in the Short Stay car park, £10 for up to 20 minutes, entered only once your passenger is nearly through. Do not wait on the drop-off forecourt, and move to the Main Stay car park if the flight is late. And if nobody can make the drive into Docklands, get a fixed-price quote and a driver will be waiting inside arrivals instead.
