Flying by Helicopter from London.
The flight times below are based on departure from London Battersea Helport in a twin-engine Agusta 109 Grand Helicopter with 4 passengers on board.
The table also shows the time to drive the same distance as an interesting comparison to the helicopter, and how a helicopter does buy you time back and allows you to do things in a day that travelling by car would not allow.
Helicopter Flight Times from London Battersea Heliport
One of the most compelling advantages of departing from Battersea by helicopter is the sheer speed of point-to-point travel compared to road, rail, or commercial aviation. The table below shows approximate helicopter flight times from London Battersea Heliport to key UK destinations:
| Destination | Helicopter Flight Time | Approximate Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Farnborough Airport | 12 minutes | 30 miles |
| Oxford | 20 minutes | 55 miles |
| Luton Airport | 22 minutes | 35 miles |
| Birmingham | 40 minutes | 100 miles |
| Manchester | 60 minutes | 165 miles |
| Cardiff | 45 minutes | 130 miles |
| Antwerp | 1 hour 20 minutes | 200 miles |
| Paris (Le Bourget) | 1 hour 25 minutes | 210 miles |
| Dublin | 2 hours | 290 miles |
| Edinburgh | 2 hours 15 minutes | 335 miles |
How long does a helicopter take to fly 100 miles?
About 40 minutes. A twin-engine helicopter such as the Agusta 109 Grand cruises at roughly 150 mph (130 knots), which is about 2.5 miles every minute, before wind and routing. The table gives the same rule for other distances.
| Distance | Helicopter flight time |
|---|---|
| 50 miles | 20 minutes |
| 100 miles | 40 minutes |
| 150 miles | 1 hour |
| 200 miles | 1 hour 20 minutes |
| 300 miles | 2 hours |
| 400 miles | 2 hours 40 minutes (a fuel stop may be needed) |
These are flying times in a straight line. Allow a few extra minutes for start-up, taxi and air traffic routing, and expect the wind to add or take away a little.
London to Ireland, Paris, Antwerp and Edinburgh by helicopter
Measured in a straight line from Battersea, Dublin is about 290 miles (around 2 hours), Edinburgh about 335 miles (around 2 hours 15 minutes), Paris about 210 miles (about 1 hour 25 minutes) and Antwerp about 200 miles (about 1 hour 20 minutes). Flights over water are planned with a twin-engine helicopter, and the longer routes can need a fuel stop depending on the aircraft, the weather and the route. We plan the route, any fuel stop and the landing permissions for you. For an exact time and price, ask us for a helicopter quote.
All flight times are approximate and subject to routing, air traffic control, and weather conditions.
Why Fly by Helicopter from Battersea?
The numbers in the table above tell only part of the story. The real advantage of helicopter travel from Battersea Heliport becomes clear when you compare door-to-door journey times against the alternatives.
A drive from central London to Birmingham by road takes between two and three hours, depending on traffic. By helicopter from Battersea, the same journey takes 40 minutes. London to Manchester — a journey that takes over two hours by the fastest train, and longer still if you factor in the commute to Euston — takes just one hour by helicopter, with departure from the heart of the capital.
For business travellers connecting to a private jet, the Farnborough figure is particularly striking. A helicopter from Battersea Heliport lands at Farnborough Airport in just 12 minutes — a journey that by road can take anywhere from 45 minutes to well over an hour, depending on traffic conditions on the A3. Combined with a private jet departure from Farnborough, this makes Charter-A’s integrated helicopter-to-jet transfer service one of the most time-efficient ways to leave London for any destination in Europe or beyond.
Battersea Heliport: Key Facts
- Location: Bridges Court, Battersea, London, SW11 3BE
- Status: London’s only CAA-licensed central heliport
- Operating hours: Monday–Friday 07:30–19:30 | Weekends & Bank Holidays 08:00–18:00
- Extended hours: 07:00–23:00 by prior arrangement (departing aircraft must be airborne by 22:45)
- Nearest areas: Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Mayfair, Westminster — all within 10–15 minutes by chauffeur
- Services: Helicopter charter, private jet connections, VIP lounges, chauffeur transfer, customs and immigration
Book a Helicopter from London Battersea Heliport
Charter-A Ltd operates exclusively twin-engine helicopter charter from London Battersea Heliport, with a carefully selected fleet available for airport transfers, business travel, events, and leisure flights throughout the UK and into Europe.
To discuss your requirements or request a quote, contact our operations team — available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
📞 020 7781 8094 🌐 charter-a.com | www.batterseahelicopter.com 📍 London Heliport, Bridges Court, Battersea, London, SW11 3BE
