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Reading to London City Airport Taxi – Airport Transfers to LCY
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Need a Reading to London City Airport taxi? Reading Taxis runs pre-booked transfers from Reading and the surrounding villages to London City Airport (LCY), about 50 miles away by road. Your driver collects you from your door, tracks your flight and takes you to the terminal. We are available 24/7, so early departures and late arrivals are covered. Call 0118 430 0018 or use the Book Now form for your quote.
How much is a Reading to London City Airport taxi?
Reading Taxis quotes your Reading to London City Airport fare when you request it, because the price depends on your pickup address, the vehicle and the number of bags. London City Airport also charges vehicles that use its terminal drop-off area, £8 for the first five minutes. Ring 0118 430 0018 or use the Book Now form and we will confirm your fare before you travel.
How long does the journey take?
The journey from Reading to London City Airport covers about 50 miles and takes roughly 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes without heavy traffic. The final stretch runs through London, so weekday rush hours and incidents can add a lot of time. Reading Taxis sets your pickup time from your flight time, with a safety margin included.
Where do I get dropped off and picked up?
At London City Airport, departing passengers are dropped on the terminal forecourt, where an £8 charge covers the first five minutes, and arriving passengers are collected from the Short Stay car park. Reading Taxis drivers know the rules, so you step out at the terminal and go straight to check-in, or meet your driver after landing.
The Journey from Reading to London City Airport
The road from Reading to London City Airport is about 50 miles. Your driver heads east on the M4 towards London, then crosses the city on main roads to the Royal Docks, where the airport sits in East London. Most of the time you can lose is in the last part of the trip, so a flight-time-led pickup matters more than the mileage.
London City Airport has a single terminal and a Docklands Light Railway station beside it. It introduced a vehicle drop-off charge on 6 January 2026: £8 for the first five minutes, then £1 per extra minute, with a maximum stay of 10 minutes, as reported by Travelling for Business. Drivers cannot wait on the forecourt, and anyone collecting passengers must use the Short Stay car park.
| Route | Miles | Typical time | Roads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading to London City Airport | About 50 | 80–100 min (longer at peak) | M4 towards London, then city roads to the Royal Docks |
| Reading to Heathrow | 27–28 | 30–50 min | M4 east to J4 |
| Reading to Gatwick | 50–55 | 60–90 min | M4, M25 (J15 to J7), M23 |
| Reading to Luton Airport | 48–52 | 60–75 min | M4, M25, M1 north to J10, A1081 |
| Reading to Stansted | 75–78 | 90–120 min | M4, M25 (J15 to J27), M11 |
Reading to London City Airport Taxi Fares and Facts
We do not publish a single flat price for the Reading to London City Airport route, because your fare depends on your pickup point, the vehicle and your luggage. Tell us those three things and Reading Taxis gives you a quote before you book.
| Detail | Reading to London City Airport |
|---|---|
| Fare | Quote on request – call 0118 430 0018 |
| Distance | About 50 miles |
| Typical journey time | 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes |
| Availability | 24/7 |
| Vehicles | Standard, executive, MPV, 6, 7 and 8-seater |
| Airport drop-off charge | £8 for the first 5 minutes, then £1 per minute (set by London City Airport) |
| Airport pickup | Short Stay car park |
What's Included
- 24/7 availability for early flights and late arrivals
- Flight tracking so your pickup follows your real landing time
- Meet and greet when you return to London City Airport
- Door-to-door pickup from your home, hotel, office or Reading Station
- Choice of vehicle from a standard car to an 8-seater minibus
Pick-ups from Reading and Nearby Villages
We collect from across Reading, including the town centre, Reading Station, Caversham, Woodley, Earley, Tilehurst, Calcot, Theale and Whitley, and from the villages around it. Reading Station is about 25 minutes from Paddington by train, and we can meet you there. Local pages with more on each area:
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Taxi or Train from Reading to London City Airport?
A pre-booked taxi is usually simpler when you have luggage, children or an early start, because it runs door to door with no changes. The train gets you to central London quickly, but you then need onward connections and the DLR, which has a station beside the airport. A lone traveller with hand luggage may prefer rail, while a family or group is usually easier by taxi.
Vehicles for Your London City Airport Transfer
Reading Taxis runs standard and economy cars, executive cars, MPVs and 6, 7 and 8-seater minibuses. Our 8-seater minibus carries about five to seven bags. Tell us how many people and how many suitcases are travelling and we will match the vehicle. For bigger groups see our minibus taxi reading page.
Reading to London City Airport Taxi FAQs
How much is a taxi from Reading to London City Airport?
Reading Taxis quotes your Reading to London City Airport fare when you request it, because the price depends on your pickup address, the vehicle and the number of bags. London City Airport also charges vehicles that use its terminal drop-off area, £8 for the first five minutes. Ring 0118 430 0018 or use the Book Now form and we will confirm your fare before you travel.
How long does a taxi from Reading to London City Airport take?
Allow about 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes by road, and longer when traffic builds up on the way into London. Reading Taxis recommends planning around the slowest likely journey rather than the fastest, especially for early flights and weekday rush hours. Give us your flight time when you book and we will set the pickup time with that margin built in.
How far is Reading from London City Airport?
Reading is about 50 miles from London City Airport by road, depending on your exact pickup point and the route taken. Reading Taxis covers the journey door to door from your home, hotel or office, so a pickup in Caversham, Tilehurst or Earley will differ slightly from one in the town centre. The route heads along the M4 towards London, then through city roads to the Royal Docks.
Do I have to pay a drop-off charge at London City Airport?
Yes, London City Airport charges vehicles that use its terminal drop-off area. Since 6 January 2026 the fee is £8 for the first five minutes, then £1 per extra minute, with a ten-minute maximum stay. Reading Taxis drivers drop you at the terminal and move off promptly, and we confirm any airport charges when you book.
Where will my driver meet me at London City Airport?
For arrivals, drivers collecting passengers use the airport’s Short Stay car park rather than the terminal forecourt, where waiting is not allowed. Reading Taxis offers meet and greet and flight tracking, so your driver follows your landing time. Give us your flight number when you book a return pickup and we will confirm the meeting arrangements with you before you travel.
Is a taxi better than the train from Reading to London City Airport?
A pre-booked taxi from Reading Taxis is usually simpler when you have luggage, children or an early start, because it runs door to door with no changes. The train gets you to central London quickly, but you then need onward connections and the DLR, which has a station beside the airport. For a lone traveller with hand luggage the train can suit; for groups, a taxi often wins.
Can I book a taxi from London City Airport back to Reading?
Yes, Reading Taxis can book your return from London City Airport to Reading as well as the outward journey. Add your arrival flight number and landing time when you book, and your driver tracks the flight, so a delay or early arrival does not leave you stranded. You can arrange both legs in one call to 0118 430 0018 or through the Book Now form.
How many passengers and bags can you carry to London City Airport?
Reading Taxis runs standard and economy cars, executive cars, MPVs and 6, 7 and 8-seater minibuses, so most groups fit in one vehicle. Our 8-seater minibus carries five to seven bags, which suits families and teams travelling together. Tell us the number of passengers and suitcases when you book, and we will choose the right vehicle for the journey.
Can you pick me up from Reading station for London City Airport?
Yes, you can ask Reading Taxis to collect you from Reading station and take you straight to London City Airport. Reading is the main rail hub for the area and about 25 minutes from Paddington by train, so many passengers arrive by rail and finish the trip by road. Give us your train arrival time when you book so the driver is waiting.
More Airport Transfers from Reading
Flying from elsewhere? See our reading to heathrow taxi service, which starts from £65, our reading to gatwick taxi, reading to luton taxi or reading to stansted taxi. To arrange any transfer, call 0118 430 0018 or use the Book Now form.
Book Your Reading to London City Taxi
Call 0118 430 0018, email info@reading-taxis.co.uk or use the booking form. 24/7 airport transfers from Reading and Berkshire to London City Airport.
Updated: October 2026
