London is an amazing city, one of the best in the world. What better way to see it than by air? Although there is plenty to do on the ground, there will be nothing that can live as long in the memory as an aerial view of the city. Airline pilots have told us that London Heathrow is one of their favourite places to fly to just for the amazing view of the city.
Read on to get the Bookado round up of the best helicopter tours in London.
All of the helicopter tours will take you over some of London’s most famous landmarks. This includes popular favourites such as; Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace and The London Eye.
We’ve summarised our top top picks of the Helicopter tours on offer; so whether you’re on a budget, in a rush or buying a gift, we’re sure there is a helicopter tour that is right for you. This is a once in a lifetime activity, it’s important you choose wisely!
There are both private and shared helicopter tours on offer from many different locations. Although each of the tours below depart from different locations, they all follow a similar route due to the tight constraints of the London airspace.
Shared Helicopter Tours over London
Scheduled shared helicopter tours are the most cost effective way to see London, depending on your departure location they can cost just £99 per head. For this you will have to turn up at the scheduled time, just as if you were catching any other flight. Below we list four helicopter tours that are departing at scheduled times. Find out departure times, availability and how to book.
London Helicopter Tour: Departing from North Weald, Essex
Perfect for anyone staying in North London and hoping for a cheap option. This Bookado approved operator offers flights from just £99 per seat. Scheduled flights are offered from North Weald, usually on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays.
This tour can be booked for 1-4 people, the total flight time is approximately 30 minutes.
Flight Type: Scheduled
Number of people: 1-4
Price per person: £99 – £109
Departure Point:
North Weald Airfield, Essex
Availability: Instant bookings every other Friday, Saturday and Sunday with Bookado, other dates are available on request.
Is this London Helicopter tour available as a gift?
Yes, you can purchase a gift card with 12 month validity to use on any Bookado London Helicopter tour.
Book London Helicopter Tour from Essex
London Helicopter Tour: Departing from Fairoaks Airport, Surrey
This departure point is well suited for those staying in the South of London, particularly the South West. Fairoaks Airport is only 30 minutes from Wandsworth. Scheduled flights are offered from Fairoaks, usually on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays, approximately once a month.
The Bell 206b helicopter can seat up to 4 people, the total flight time is approximately 40 minutes.
Flight Type: Scheduled
Price per person: £123 – £129
Number of people: 1-4
Departure Point: Fairoaks Airport, Surrey
Availability: Instant bookings on selected Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays with Bookado. Other dates available on request.
Is this London Helicopter tour available as a gift?
Yes, you can purchase a gift card with 12 month validity to use on any Bookado London Helicopter tour.
Book Helicopter Tour London from Surrey
London Helicopter Tour: Departing from Battersea Heliport
The departure point for the London Helicopter Tour is perhaps the most central departure point. Departing from right next to the River Thames, you can purchase flights as short as 10 minutes. The cost does reflect the more central departure point, with seats on these trips start from £300. The helicopter is a 4 seater and scheduled flights depart every Friday, Saturday & Sunday. It seems to be a theme, we know!
Flight Type: Scheduled
Price per person: £300pp
Number of people: 1-4
Departure point:
Availability: Every Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Enquire London Helicopter Tour Battersea
London Helicopter Tour: Departing from Redhill Aerodrome
Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey hosts helicopter flights that run on a schedule on Thursdays & Sundays. Single seats can be bought at a price of £140. The flight time is 35 minutes and the aerodrome is 1 hour from central London by either car or train.
Flight Type: Scheduled
Price per person: £140pp
Number of people: 1-4
Departure point: Redhill Aerodrome, Surrey
Availability: Thursdays & Saturdays
Enquire London Helicopter Tour Redhill
Private Helicopter Tours over London
Private London Helicopter Tours are the perfect way to celebrate a special occasion. Maybe it’s a wedding proposal, a big birthday or a once in a lifetime family trip to London. They also offer increased flexibility with regards to your departure point.
Private London Helicopter Tour: Departing from Biggin Hill Airport, London
The departure point of Biggin Hill is perfect for those in South London. Biggin Hill was originally opened for the Royal Flying Corps during World War One. Today it remains a busy airport for pleasure flying, it is conveniently only 17 miles from central London.
The private charter from Biggin Hill allows you to depart at your convenience (in daylight hours). You can bring up to 4 people in this helicopter.
Flight Type: Private
Price: £535 (£133.75 per person) – £30 off with code Heli30
Number of people: 1-4
Departure point: Biggin Hill Airport, London
Availability: Daily
Bookings: Book instantly through Bookado, for special requests contact a Bookado activity coordinator.
Book Private London Helicopter Tour from Biggin Hill
Private London Helicopter Tour: Departing from Battersea Heliport, London
This private charter also departs from Battersea Heliport. On this tour you can take up to 6 of you on this private helicopter charter (500kg weight restriction applies). Once again, paying for the central location, this charter will cost you £1500 for the whole helicopter and gives you 20 minutes flying.
Flight Type: Private
Price: £1500 – £2200
Number of people: 1-4
Departure point: Battersea Heliport, London
Availability: Every Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Private London Helicopter Tour: Departing from Redhill Aerodrome, Surrey
Private charters are also available from Redhill aerodrome, perfect for those in the Surrey region. Redhill aerodrome is only a short distance from London Gatwick airport and is one hour from central London by car or train. Exclusive trips are available for 2 or 3 people from £440. Private tours booked for 2 will include complimentary champagne to make the flight even more memorable. The tour takes you in from the west past Clapham Junction before flying up the Thames to see some of London’s most prominent landmarks. There is an option to lengthen the tour to reach the Olympic Village in North East London should you desire.
Flight Type: Private
Price: £440
Number of people: 1-3
Departure point: Redhill Aerodrome, Surrey
Availability: Daily
London Helicopter Tours | Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Qs)
– How much is a Helicopter tour of London?
Depending upon if you want a private flight or a scheduled flight. London Helicopter Tours can range from anywhere between £99 and £300 per seat. Scheduled tours are usually at a lower cost but you will have to arrive at the specified time and may need to share the experience with others.
– Can Helicopters fly over London?
Yes, however they are constricted to certain routes through the city in the controlled airspace up to 800 metres (2,500ft). Flights within the London Control Zone must get air traffic control clearance and comply with instructions from controllers.
– Can I propose on a London Helicopter Tour?
Yes, and what a perfect way to pop the big question. If you’re arranging your experience with Bookado then inform us before the big day so we can help to make it an extra special occasion.
– How long is a London Helicopter Tour?
London Helicopter Tours can range anywhere from 10 to 50 minutes depending upon your departure location and desired tour length.
– Can I book a London Helicopter tour today?
Scheduled flights are available to book on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays. If you would like to fly on a different day then private helicopter tours are also available.
– Can helicopters fly in bad weather?
To fly a helicopter over London we need visual conditions, helicopters also may not be able to take off and land in windy conditions.
– Can I take a helicopter out of London?
It is possible to take a helicopter from London to other parts of the UK on a private hire basis. Popular destinations include the historic city of Bath, the royal town of Windsor and Shakespeare’s birthplace of Stratford upon Avon. Should you wish to enquire about one of these either email us or contact one of our activity coordinators through the live chat.
– Where do the Helicopter tours depart from?
There are multiple departure heliports in and around London. The five location are; North Weald (Essex, CM16 6HR), Fairoaks Airport (Surrey, GU24 8HU), Battersea Heliport (London, SW11 3BE), Redhill Aerodrome (Surrey, RH1 5YP) and Biggin Hill (London, TN16 3BH) are the Heliports that all facilitate London helicopter tour, the map below indicates all of the departure locations.
– Closest international airports?
There are multiple large airports around London. Gatwick Airport which has trains links into central London is under 30 minutes, parking is available in Gatwick Airport and by using ParkHero, in just 2 minutes you can compare prices and book online without any reservation fees to worry about.
Summary of London Helicopter Tours
If you’re looking for a tour over the next few days, then the selection (summarised in the table below) should give you a good insight into the offerings and prices available. If you’re unsure on a date and are looking to gift this item, then we highly recommend a personalised Bookado gift card.
Bookado Gift Card
Not quite ready to choose your Helicopter Ride? No problem, Bookado gift cards have a validity of one year and are available to use on any activity.
Guide written by: Jack Powell – Bookado Activity Coordinator & Edited by: Adam Stone- Bookado Activity Coordinator
