Helicopter or train from London?
A helicopter from the London Heliport takes between 25 minutes and about three hours in the air to reach the places below, and the train, the ferry or the road can take anything from two hours to most of a day. This guide sets the journey times side by side, says where each figure comes from, and says when the train is the better choice.
Helicopter charter from London
Tell us where you are going and we send one clear quote. Request a quote below, or call +44 (0)20 7781 8094.
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Helicopter or train
Where a helicopter saves hours, and where it does not
The helicopter wins most clearly on long journeys to places without a good station, and on journeys with several stops. On a single trip between two city centres the train is cheaper and often close. Journey times to Yorkshire, Scotland and Cornwall are compared in the sections below.
- Flight times are straight-line figures from the London Heliport, with a range for the helicopter and the wind
- Train and ferry times come from timetable sites or the ferry company’s own page, as noted
- Both exclude the journey to the station, the heliport or the landing site, which matter at each end
- See all our destinations at where we fly
Journey times side by side
London to the regions: helicopter, train and ferry
Helicopter times are in the air only. Train and ferry times are the fastest figures we found, and the source is named in the notes below each row.
| Isle of WightHelicopter 25 to 35 min. Train and ferry about 2 hr: Wightlink gives most Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour journeys as 1 hr 40, plus the FastCat to Ryde in 22 min | 25 to 35 min |
| YorkHelicopter 1 hr 05 to 1 hr 25. Train about 1 hr 50 from King’s Cross, from timetable sites | 1 hr 05 to 1 hr 25 |
| Jersey and GuernseyHelicopter 1 hr 05 to 1 hr 25. Condor’s own pages give about 3 hr from Poole to Guernsey and about 4 hr to Jersey, after you reach Poole | 1 hr 05 to 1 hr 25 |
| Penzance and CornwallHelicopter 1 hr 30 to 1 hr 55 to Penzance. Fastest train from Paddington a little over 5 hr, from timetable sites | 1 hr 30 to 1 hr 55 |
| Alnwick and NorthumberlandHelicopter 1 hr 40 to 2 hr 10. We found no reliable sourced figure for the train, and the road is most of a day | 1 hr 40 to 2 hr 10 |
| EdinburghHelicopter about 2 hr to 2 hr 35. Train about 4 hr 10 from King’s Cross, from timetable sites | 2 hr to 2 hr 35 |
| GleneaglesHelicopter 2 hr 10 to 2 hr 45. Gleneagles’ own page gives just over 5 1/2 hr by train from King’s Cross | 2 hr 10 to 2 hr 45 |
When the helicopter wins
Far from a station, or with more than one stop
The helicopter’s advantage grows with the distance from a good railway line, and with the number of places you need to visit.
- Places a long way from a station: the Cornish coast, Alnwick, the Scottish Highlands, a country estate
- Journeys with several stops in one day, where each rail connection adds an hour
- A party of several people, where the helicopter’s price is shared and the time is saved for everyone
- Journeys that start or end at a private jet at Farnborough, Biggin Hill or Luton: read business helicopter charter
When the train is the better choice
A single trip between two city centres
We would rather tell you when a helicopter is not the answer.
- York is the clearest case: the fastest train takes about 1 hr 50 from central London to the city centre, where the helicopter flies in about 1 hr 05 to 1 hr 25 and then needs a transfer from the landing site
- A solo traveller on a tight budget will find the train far cheaper
- On a day of heavy cloud or low visibility the helicopter may not fly, and we tell you early
- If a private jet suits your trip better, read helicopter or private jet for a short trip
How to compare fairly
What the journey times leave out
A fair comparison counts the whole journey, not only the time in the air or on the rails.
Add 10 minutes to arrive at the London Heliport, plus the way to Battersea. A train also needs a journey to the station and a margin for the platform.
A helicopter lands at an airfield or a site you agree with us, and a car takes you the last stretch. A train ends at a station, and a taxi or a hire car takes you on. We can arrange a car at either end.
A helicopter leaves when you are ready and does not connect with anything. A train has set departures, and some routes need a change.
Some landing sites are for daylight only, and the helicopter flies in suitable weather only. If your flight to the north is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing. See helicopter charter and the weather.
The train is cheaper for one person. For a group, a helicopter’s price is shared across the seats. See helicopter hire prices and how costs are calculated.
Helicopter times use the straight-line distance from Battersea and a range of cruising speeds. Train and ferry figures come from timetable sites, Wightlink, Condor and Gleneagles, as named in the table, and may change with the timetable.
How it works
Book your helicopter to the regions in three steps
- 1Tell us where and whenThe date, how many of you are flying, where in the north you want to land, and if you would like to return the same day or later.
- 2We agree the landing and your priceWe contact the airfield or site near the north, ask for permission and agree a plan B. You then receive one clear price. Landing fees charged by the site are shown where they apply.
- 3Fly from BatterseaArrive at the London Heliport 10 minutes before departure. Your helicopter flies the direct line to the north, above the roads.
Cost
How much is a helicopter to the regions?
There is no single price for a flight to the north, because it changes with the helicopter, the date, how many of you are flying, how long the helicopter waits and the landing fees at the journey end.
Helicopters are priced by flying time, not by the mile. Tell us your plan for the north and a charter specialist sends one clear price, any time of day or night.
- The type of helicopter for the north, from the AS355 to the Agusta 109 Grand and the H145
- The date and the time of day
- One way, return, or a return with waiting time or an overnight stay in the north
- Landing and handling fees at the other end
For examples of what other routes cost besides the north, see our helicopter hire prices page and how helicopter charter costs are calculated.
Your helicopter
Choose your helicopter
Pick by party size and style. We will advise on the best choice for your trip to the north.
A reliable twin-engine helicopter and our most economical choice for a small group flying to the north.
Quick and refined, with panoramic windows and a comfortable cabin for the flight to the north.
More room for a larger party and its luggage. Ask us about availability to the north for your dates.
Before you fly
What to know before flying to the regions
We agree the landing site near the north with you when you book, and ask the site for permission. Every landing is subject to permission and site suitability, and we always agree a plan B.
Soft-sided bags fit a helicopter hold better than hard suitcases, which matters on a flight to the north. Tell us how many bags you have, and each passenger’s weight, when you book, and we will confirm that everything fits.
Helicopters fly in suitable weather only, so the forecast for the north matters. If your flight to the north is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing, and we will work with you on the earliest alternative. Check conditions on our Battersea Heliport weather page. See also helicopter charter and the weather.
Arrive at the London Heliport 10 minutes before departure. Book as early as you can for busy weekends and big events, and earlier for groups or larger helicopters.
Our partner Executive Global Travel can meet you in the north with a chauffeur car, timed to the helicopter, so if the flight moves, the car moves with it.
Your flight to the north leaves from the London Heliport, on the south bank of the Thames at Bridges Court, Battersea SW11 3BE. See getting there and the opening hours.
Questions
Helicopter charter to the regions: your questions answered
Still unsure? Call +44 20 7781 8094 any time.
Is a helicopter faster than the train from London?
On most of the journeys in this guide, yes, and by a wide margin to Cornwall, Northumberland and Scotland. To York the fastest train takes about 1 hr 50 and the helicopter about 1 hr 05 to 1 hr 25 in the air, so the gap is smaller, and the helicopter still needs a transfer from the landing site.
How long does a helicopter take from London to Scotland?
About 2 hr to 2 hr 35 to Edinburgh and about 2 hr 10 to 2 hr 45 to Gleneagles, in the air, on a route we plan with you. The fastest train from King’s Cross to Edinburgh takes about 4 hr 10 according to timetable sites.
How long does a helicopter take from London to Cornwall?
About 1 hr 20 to 1 hr 45 to Newquay and about 1 hr 30 to 1 hr 55 to Penzance. The fastest direct train from Paddington to Penzance takes a little over five hours according to timetable sites.
Is a helicopter quicker than the ferry to the Channel Islands?
Yes. Condor’s own pages give about three hours from Poole to Guernsey and about four hours to Jersey, and you still have to reach Poole. The helicopter takes about 1 hr 05 to 1 hr 25 from central London.
Is a helicopter cheaper than the train?
No. For one person the train is much cheaper. A helicopter’s price is shared across its seats, so for a group the gap narrows, and the time saved on a long journey can be worth the difference. Tell us your plan and we send one clear quote.
When should I choose the train?
When you are travelling alone, when your journey is between two city centres on a good line such as London to York, or when you do not mind the time. We say so when a helicopter is not the best answer.
Where do you get your journey times from?
The helicopter figures are straight-line distances from the London Heliport with a range of cruising speeds. The train and ferry figures come from timetable sites, Wightlink, Condor and Gleneagles, as named in the table. They change with the timetable, so check before you travel.
What happens if the weather is bad?
If your flight to the north is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing. We work with you to find the earliest suitable alternative, which may be a train. See helicopter charter and the weather.
How many people can you carry?
The AS355 carries up to 5 passengers, the Agusta 109 Grand up to 6 and the H145 up to 8 on a flight to the north. For larger parties flying to the north we can use more than one helicopter.
Ready to fly?
Tell us where and when
A charter specialist will reply to your journey enquiry quickly, any time of day or night, with options and a price.
or call +44 20 7781 8094 any time