City of London Helicopter Tour
Take to the skies and see London in a way few people ever do. Watch the capital open up beneath you, with its famous skyline and landmarks seen from a completely different point of view. This is London sightseeing made special.
One voucher. Choose your participating departure point and flying date later.
The flight gives London an entrance.
You do not simply appear above the city. The experience starts from the moment the helicopter lifts away from the departure point and the landscape begins to open beneath you.
At first, the helicopter is the experience: the lift-off, the changing angle through the cabin and the extraordinary feeling of watching roads, fields and towns shrink into a much bigger view. Then the landscape begins to change.
Buildings gather, the horizon becomes unmistakably urban and London starts to take over. What began as the excitement of flying gradually becomes a sightseeing tour of the capital, with the Thames giving the city its shape and familiar landmarks appearing as part of one enormous panorama.
That approach is part of what makes the City Tour work. London is the reason for the flight, but getting there is part of the memory.
Explore the landmarks at the heart of the City Tour.
The exact view depends on your departure point and the route flown. Use the map to explore some of the defining London sights that can form part of the panorama.
Tower Bridge
One of the clearest anchors on the Thames, Tower Bridge is especially striking from the air because its towers, bascules and river setting can be understood in a single glance.
The towers, lifting bascules and river can be read as one complete structure from the air.
One voucher. 12 months to choose when and where you fly from.
You can secure the City Tour without committing to a departure point today. Choose from the participating London locations and arrange the flying date that works for you within the voucher period.
Start from the side of London that suits you.
The City Tour is currently offered from participating departure points to the south, west and east of the capital. Select a location to see where the experience begins.
A western departure point serving the City Tour from Fairoaks Airport, just north of Woking.
Exact joining instructions are supplied for your booked flying date.
A few useful answers before you book.
You may not need every detail now. But if something is holding up the decision, the answer may already be here.
What makes the City Tour different from the shorter London flight?
The shorter Glimpse is as much about the thrill of being in a helicopter as it is about London. The City Tour changes the balance. With around 30 minutes in the air, the capital has time to arrive, spread out beneath you and become the reason for the flight.
If you want the classic shared London sightseeing experience rather than a first taste of it, this is the natural step up.
Do I have to choose my departure point when I buy the voucher?
No. That flexibility is one of the useful parts of the City Tour. The voucher is open-dated for 12 months, so you can secure the experience first and choose a participating departure point and flying date afterwards.
It makes the tour particularly easy to give as a gift: you are giving somebody the flight without also choosing their day out for them.
Where can I fly the City Tour from?
The participating departure points give you several ways into London. Fairoaks Airport near Woking serves the west, Redhill Aerodrome and Biggin Hill Airport cover the south and south-east, while Redcroft Fields near South Ockendon and Grays Helipad serve the eastern side of the capital.
Availability varies by flying date, so you do not need to treat the location choice as part of the purchase itself. The departure map above is there to help you see which side of London suits you best.
Which London landmarks will I see?
The London skyline and its iconic landmarks are the focus of the experience. Depending on the departure point and route flown, views can include the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye, Tower Bridge and The O2, with The Shard and the wider skyline rising around them.
The real reward is not simply ticking off landmarks. From the air, the Thames gives the city its shape and places normally experienced one at a time suddenly belong to the same view. Exact routing and views can vary with operating requirements.
How long will I actually be in the helicopter?
The City Tour provides approximately 30 minutes of flying time. That is the time in the helicopter, not the total time you should allow for the experience.
You will also need time at the departure point for check-in and the pre-flight safety briefing, so it is best thought of as a day-out experience built around a 30-minute flight rather than a 30-minute appointment.
Can children take the City Tour?
Yes. Children from the age of six can join the shared City Tour, with children under 12 accompanied by a fare-paying adult. For an older child who has never flown in a helicopter before, the aircraft itself is often as much a part of the occasion as London appearing below.
Are there passenger weight limits?
Yes. Passenger weight is part of safe helicopter flight planning because the aircraft has to be correctly loaded and balanced. The current City Tour limit is 95 kg per passenger.
Passenger weights are collected as part of the booking process so the flight can be planned correctly before the day.
What happens if the weather is unsuitable?
Helicopter sightseeing is weather dependent, so the flight only goes ahead when conditions are suitable. If the weather prevents the City Tour from operating, the experience can be rearranged for another suitable date in line with the booking terms and availability.
It is frustrating when a flying day moves, but the view is the whole point of this experience. Waiting for a day when the helicopter can fly safely and London can actually be seen is the better outcome.
Ready to see the capital from above?
Thirty minutes in the air, a choice of participating departure points and a full 12 months to arrange the day.
