London Luton is the second-closest airport to most of the Chilterns and South Bucks: around 40–55 minutes by car from Gerrards Cross, and under 70 minutes from anywhere in our area. The route runs clockwise round the M25 to the M1, then a short run north to the terminal. It is the base for a lot of low-cost European flying, which is why many local trips start there. Here is what to know before you go.
- Denham is the quickest Chilterns start at 35–55 minutes; Little Chalfont and Penn are the furthest at 55–70.
- The Drop Off Zone costs £9 for 12 minutes and £1 a minute after that, with a 30-minute limit; the Long Stay car park is free for two hours.
- By rail, Luton means going through London and finishing on the DART shuttle from Luton Airport Parkway, around 1 hour 30 minutes from Gerrards Cross or Amersham.
How long is the drive to Luton from each Chilterns village?
All of these runs join the M25 and leave it for the M1 at M25 Junction 21, so the variation comes from how far you are from the motorway. Times are the ones on our local airport pages, in normal traffic.
| From | To Luton |
|---|---|
| Denham | 45–65 min |
| Gerrards Cross | 40–55 min |
| Iver | 40–60 min |
| Stoke Poges | 42–57 min |
| Amersham, Farnham Common and Fulmer | 45–60 min |
| Slough | 45–65 min |
| Beaconsfield | 48–63 min |
| Chalfont St Peter and Seer Green | 50–65 min |
| Chalfont St Giles | 52–67 min |
| Little Chalfont and Penn | 55–70 min |
What does it cost to drop off at Luton?
Luton's Drop Off and Pick Up Zone is about a five-minute walk from the terminal. It costs £9 for up to 12 minutes, then £1 per minute, with a maximum stay of 30 minutes; it is cashless and barrier-free. Stay past 30 minutes and there is a £95 enforcement charge, reduced to £55 if paid within 14 days (London Luton Airport, correct as of September 2026).
The free option is the Long Stay car park, which gives up to two hours free with a bus to the terminal from Bus Bay B, running every 20 minutes and taking about 10 minutes. Blue Badge holders, and passengers with booked assistance, get 30 minutes free in Terminal Car Park 1. For a friend dropping you off, the Long Stay option saves money but adds up to half an hour; with a transfer, the driver takes you to the zone and the fare is agreed before you travel.
How do collections work at Luton?
The same zone is used for pickups, on the same £9 for 12 minutes tariff, so anyone collecting you needs your flight to be on time and your bags to come through quickly. If they need longer than 30 minutes, Luton directs them to the Long Stay car park and its two free hours (London Luton Airport, picking up). A booked driver avoids the stopwatch: we track the flight, wait for you inside and walk you to the car, with free waiting on international arrivals.
Can you get to Luton Airport by train from the Chilterns?
Yes, but it is a trip through London. TfL Journey Planner searches for a weekday in September 2026 gave these routes:
- From Gerrards Cross: Chiltern Railways to Marylebone, a walk to Baker Street, the Hammersmith & City line to King's Cross St Pancras, then an East Midlands Railway train from St Pancras to Luton Airport Parkway. About 86 to 93 minutes to the station.
- From Amersham: the Metropolitan line to Finchley Road, a short hop to West Hampstead, then Thameslink to Luton Airport Parkway. About 91 minutes to the station.
The Luton Airport Express runs half-hourly from St Pancras to Luton Airport Parkway in 22 minutes, with advance fares from £10 one way including the DART (London Luton Airport). From Parkway, the Luton DART shuttle reaches the terminal in under four minutes. It runs 24 hours a day, every 5 minutes at peak times, every 8 minutes off-peak and every 15 minutes between 22:00 and 04:00, and a separate adult single costs £4.90 if your rail ticket does not include it (Luton DART, correct as of September 2026). Walking instead is about a mile, up a steep hill.
What is twilight bag drop, and is it worth it?
Several airlines at Luton let you drop hold luggage the evening before an early flight, then go straight to security in the morning. According to London Luton Airport (correct as of September 2026):
- Jet2: Twilight Check-In for flights before midday, bags accepted 16:30 to 21:00 the evening before.
- easyJet: Twilight Bag Drop for flights at or before 09:00, bags accepted 18:00 to 21:00.
- Wizz Air: Twilight Bag Drop for flights up to 09:00, bags accepted 21:00 to 02:00.
You must check in online first. From the Chilterns it means two return trips to Luton in 12 hours, so it mostly suits families with a lot of luggage and a very early flight. For most people, a well-timed pickup and online check-in do the same job.
When should you leave for a Luton flight?
Luton's short journey tempts people to leave late, and the first wave of budget flights makes early mornings busy. Check your airline's guidance on arrival time, then add the top of your village's range. For example, to be at the terminal two hours before a 06:30 departure from Little Chalfont, book the car for about 03:15. Our guides to red-eye transfers and packing hand luggage help with the rest of a budget-airline trip.
Luton or Stansted?
The two airports share a lot of low-cost routes. From the Chilterns, Luton is usually much closer: Gerrards Cross is 50–65 minutes from Luton against 90–105 minutes from Stansted. If the fares are close, Luton saves time at both ends of the holiday. The Stansted guide explains when the longer drive is worth it, and the cheapest London airport article compares the hidden costs.
Ready to book? Get a fixed fare on the Luton airport transfers page or call 01753 858585.