North of the Thames: a Ramsgate airport taxi to Stansted, Luton or London City

Routes from Ramsgate across the Thames

All three journeys begin on the A299 and the M2. For Stansted and Luton the car crosses the river at Dartford and carries on north. For London City it follows the A2 into south-east London and goes under the river through the Blackwall Tunnel.

• London City: typically 1 hour 35 minutes to 1 hour 55 minutes, via the A2 and the Blackwall Tunnel.
• Stansted: typically 1 hour 55 minutes to 2 hours 20 minutes, via the Dartford Crossing.
• Luton: typically 2 hours 5 minutes to 2 hours 35 minutes, via the Dartford Crossing.

Dartford, Blackwall and Silvertown: the river crossing charges

The Dartford Crossing is charged between 6am and 10pm every day. The Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels are charged from 06:00 to 22:00 in both directions, with no charge overnight between 22:00 and 06:00.

Under the booking terms, tolls on the journey and car parking fees can be added to the fixed fare where they apply, so if you want to know exactly how they affect your trip, ask when you book. Nothing else on the route moves the price: a queue at the crossing or a closure that forces a detour leaves the fare exactly where it was.

Ramsgate to Stansted airport taxi: the terminal

At Stansted the drop-off and collection areas are outside Departures. The airport's Express Set Down gives each vehicle an allocated 15-minute visit, paid online or by phone by midnight the following day, so the driver unloads your bags and moves on rather than lingering at the kerb.

For picking passengers up, the airport points drivers to its Green and Blue Short Stay car parks, or to Mid Stay, where the first 60 minutes are free and a free shuttle bus runs to the terminal. On a collection, your driver meets you in the arrivals hall with a name board and walks with you to the car.

Ramsgate to Luton airport taxi: the longest run

Luton is usually the longest airport journey from Ramsgate. After the Dartford Crossing the car heads north to the airport, where the Drop Off and Pick Up Zone, a short walk from the terminal, allows a maximum stay of 30 minutes.

If you are weighing up the train, the Luton DART links Luton Airport Parkway station with the terminal in about four minutes, and the airport puts the trip from St Pancras at as little as 32 minutes. From Ramsgate that still means a high-speed train into St Pancras, a second train out and then the DART, each with your luggage. The car does it in one leg.

Ramsgate to London City airport taxi: close in time, strict at the kerb

London City is the nearest London airport to Ramsgate in typical driving time, which suits short business trips. Its forecourt rules are tight: you can be dropped in front of the terminal building, but a vehicle may not wait on the forecourt or be left unattended, and the drop-off zone has a 10-minute maximum stay. Have your bag ready to lift out.

Collections use the airport's Pick Up area, a short walk from the terminal. As at any airport, the driver is in arrivals with a name board and helps with your luggage. For an early flight, work back from your airline's check-in deadline, allow the top of the typical range and add a margin.

Choosing between Stansted, Luton and London City

If more than one of these airports flies where you are going, compare the drive as well as the ticket. London City is the shortest typical run from Ramsgate and Luton the longest, with Stansted in between.

Timing can matter for the crossing charges too. A journey that reaches the river between 10pm and 6am crosses outside the charging hours at Dartford and in the two tunnels.

Booking the transfer and the return

Give us the airport, your flight number and, for the way home, the arrival time. Collections are timed to the actual landing, and waiting is free for 45 minutes after an international flight or 30 after a domestic one. Southend and other airports can be booked on request.

A few details make the day easier for the driver and for you:

• the full pickup address, and for a harbour or marina address, where you will be waiting;
• how many passengers and large cases there are, so the right car is sent;
• your mobile number, so the driver can reach you at the kerb or in arrivals;
• any stop you want on the way, which needs to be in the booking.