But default does not always mean best. The crowds, the queues, the long walks to distant gates and the sheer size of Heathrow and Gatwick can make the start and end of your holiday feel more like an endurance test than the beginning of something special.

On our recent holiday to Florida, I decided to do things differently and was genuinely impressed: we flew from London City Airport instead.

Why London City Airport deserves a closer look

Tucked into London’s Docklands, in the heart of the financial district, London City feels completely different to the big London hubs. Where Heathrow and Gatwick are all about scale, London City is about ease and efficiency.

The first thing you notice is the size. It feels more like a smart, boutique terminal than a sprawling international airport. Everything is close together, clearly signposted and designed with the time-poor traveller in mind. We dropped our car off at the meet and greet, walked the 2 minutes to the terminal, and were checked in within 10 minutes of getting out of the car! From there, security was a 2 minute wait, and we were soon sat down enjoying a coffee and breakfast.

For clients who value a calmer, more civilised start to their journey, this can make all the difference. Instead of building in hours of contingency for traffic, security and the long walk to your gate, you can move through the airport in a much more streamlined way.

A calmer, more civilised airport experience

One of the stand-out benefits of London City is how compact and easy to navigate it is.

• Short walks, minimal stress: Check in, security and the departure gates are all within a short stroll of each other. You do not feel as though you are trekking for half an hour just to reach your boarding gate, and you are not battling your way through a maze of terminals, concourses and people.
• Quicker through the airport: The smaller footprint and fewer passengers generally mean shorter queues, quicker security and an overall smoother flow. It all feels more relaxed and less frantic, which is exactly what you want at the beginning of a holiday.

When we flew to Florida, that sense of calm really set the tone. Instead of arriving at the gate frazzled, we had time to breathe, grab a drink and properly settle into holiday mode before we even stepped on the plane.

Faster boarding and a smoother start to your flight

London City focuses largely on regional jets and aircraft with fewer passengers compared to the wide-body planes you find at the larger airports. In practice, that translates into:

• Faster boarding thanks to fewer people per flight.
• Quicker turnaround times, so you are less likely to be waiting around needlessly once you are at the gate.
• A more orderly experience overall, with fewer long queues stretching down the terminal.

It feels more personal and less like you are being processed alongside thousands of other travellers, which can make a big difference, especially if you are travelling with children, older relatives or simply want to start your break in a more relaxed frame of mind.

Where can you fly from London City?

Do not let the airport’s size fool you. London City offers a surprisingly broad range of destinations. There are routes across the UK and Europe, with over 30 destinations across 14 countries, and crucially, excellent connectivity via major European hubs such as:

• Amsterdam
• Frankfurt
• Paris
• Madrid

These hubs open up a world of long-haul options, allowing you to connect on to destinations further afield. So while you might not always be able to fly direct from London City to your final holiday spot, you can often enjoy a relaxed departure from London City, connect seamlessly through a European hub, and still reach your long-haul destination with far less stress than a traditional Heathrow or Gatwick experience.

For holidays like our recent Florida trip, this can be a very attractive route: start in a quieter, more manageable airport, then connect through a major gateway for the transatlantic sector.

Getting to London City: simple and well connected

Despite its slightly tucked-away feel, London City is actually very easy to reach, whether you are travelling by public transport or by car.

• By public transport: The airport sits directly on the DLR, giving you straightforward connections into central London and on to the wider rail and Underground network. No complicated transfers, just a simple hop off the train and straight into the terminal.
• By car: If you prefer to drive, parking is available just a few minutes’ walk from the terminal. You can be from car to check in in a very short time, without the long shuttle-bus journeys that are common at larger airports.

For many travellers, this combination of easy access and a compact terminal creates a genuinely time-efficient alternative to the traditional big-airport experience.

Who is London City Airport ideal for?

London City can work brilliantly for:

• Couples and solo travellers who value a calm, grown-up feel and a quick, efficient journey through the airport.
• Business travellers extending into leisure who are used to flying via London City and want to continue that smoother experience when they go on holiday.
• Families who would rather avoid long walks, crowded terminals and lengthy queues with tired little ones in tow.<
• Anyone travelling from the south-east or east of London for whom Docklands is actually more convenient than the traditional airport belt around the M25.

It is also a strong option if you are taking shorter European breaks and city escapes, where convenience and time-saving are just as important as the destination itself.

Is London City right for your next trip?

While London City will not be the solution for every itinerary, it is an option that is often overlooked when people

If you are keen to start your holiday feeling relaxed and in control, rather than stressed and exhausted before you even board, it is well worth exploring what is possible from London City.

Let me help you choose the right departure airport

Every trip is different, and the best airport for you will depend on where you are going, when you want to travel and how you like to start your holiday. Part of my role is to look beyond the obvious options and find the combination of airports, routes and timings that suits you best.

If you are based in the south and are fed up with the crowds and queues at Heathrow and Gatwick, let me look at whether London City could be a smarter alternative for your next escape.

• Share your travel dates and destination ideas with me, and I will:
• Compare options from London City and the other London airports.
• Look at routings that make sense for your specific trip.
• Build a tailored holiday that starts as it means to go on: smooth, stress-free and well organised.

If you are curious to see how flying from London City could work for your next holiday, get in touch and I will put together personalised options for you. Let us see if we can swap the Heathrow and Gatwick hassle for a calmer, more time-efficient departure on your next trip.