Grand Tour of London by Helicopter
Take to the skies for an unforgettable view of London. From the moment you lift off, the capital begins to open up below, with the Thames, skyline and famous landmarks all becoming part of the view. Around 50 minutes in the air makes this something genuinely special.
One voucher. Choose your participating departure point and flying date later.
London looks different from up here.
The excitement starts with the helicopter itself. Lift away from the ground, watch the landscape fall beneath you and then see London appear ahead as the flight turns into a sightseeing experience unlike anything on the ground.
Roads, fields and towns quickly become part of a much bigger view. Then the skyline starts to gather, the Thames becomes easy to follow and familiar London landmarks begin to appear beneath you.
From the air, the city makes sense in a completely different way. Places normally seen one at a time suddenly sit together in the same panorama, from historic Westminster to the towers of the City and Canary Wharf.
With around 50 minutes flying, there is time to enjoy the view rather than simply catch a glimpse of it. That is what turns the Grand Tour into a London experience you are likely to remember for a very long time.
See London from a completely different point of view.
From the air, famous landmarks become part of one enormous cityscape. The exact view depends on your departure point and the route flown, but the map gives you a taste of the London sights that can appear below.
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.
Book the experience now and choose your participating departure point and flying date afterwards. The voucher is open-dated for 12 months, giving you plenty of time to plan the day.
Start from the side of London that suits you.
Choose from three participating departure points around London. Each gives the flight its own approach towards the capital before the skyline takes over.
A western departure point for the Grand Tour from Fairoaks Airport, just north of Woking.
Exact joining instructions are supplied for your booked flying date.
A few 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 Grand Tour special?
The Grand Tour combines the excitement of a helicopter flight with around 50 minutes of London sightseeing from the air. There is time to enjoy the approach, take in the skyline and settle into the view as the capital opens out beneath you.
It is the kind of experience where the flight itself is part of the memory, not simply the way you get to the view.
Do I have to choose my departure point when I buy the voucher?
No. The Grand Tour 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 Grand Tour from?
The Grand Tour currently departs from Fairoaks Airport near Woking, Redhill Aerodrome and Biggin Hill Airport. Each location gives you a different approach towards London before the capital fills the view.
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 famous 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 a wider panorama stretching across central and east London.
The extra flying time gives you longer to enjoy the city as one complete view, with the Thames linking historic London, the modern skyline and the greener western side of the capital. Exact routing and views can vary with operating requirements.
How long will I actually be in the helicopter?
The Grand Tour gives you approximately 50 minutes in the helicopter. That is flying time, so the experience itself lasts longer once check-in and the pre-flight briefing are included.
You will also need time at the departure point for check-in and the pre-flight safety briefing, so allow around 75 minutes for the experience as a whole.
Can children take the City Tour?
Yes. Children from the age of six can join the Grand Tour, with children under 12 accompanied by a fare-paying adult. For a child who has never flown in a helicopter before, the aircraft itself can be as memorable 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 Grand Tour limit is 114 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 Grand 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 London from the air?
Lift off, watch London open beneath you and enjoy around 50 minutes of sightseeing from one of the best viewpoints in the capital.
