London Helicopter Rides

The London heli lanes are special flight paths specifically for single-engined helicopters flying in and over the capital. The routes generally follow the River Thames and you'll fly at a level well below the London Heathrow flight path. All this means you get see some of the very best sights of the capital using the official routes, all at a cruise level well below commercial jet traffic.

You can catch a glimpse of the capital on the horizon for less than £100. If you want full-blown London sights by helicopter, a tour departing from a helipad near London with direct access to the airspace over the capital is a must. Yes, these tours cost more, but it's a once-in-a-lifetime type of thing that is well worth the money spent!

It depends on where you take off from, as well as weather conditions and any flying restrictions on the day, but in general, you head along the Thames from the West, following the course of the river through the capital, before reaching your return point to fly back to base.

From your very privileged viewpoint of the helicopter, you will see all the 'big hitter' sights of London, from the Houses of Parliament and the Shard, to St Paul's and the Thames Barrier. 

We work with helicopter operators within Greater London, including departure points such as Redhill Aerodrome, Redcrofts near Romford and the famous London Biggin Hill Airport. Make sure you browse the whole section for the lastest departure points.

Yes, you absolutely can! Of course, central London sits beneath some of the busiest and most heavily regulated airspace in the world, so flying a helicopter there is a masterpiece of precision aviation, which requires adhering to strict rules - but that's what makes it all so amazing!

Our full London sightseeing tours (departing from locations like Redhill, Fairoaks, and Romford) feature 30 minutes of total flight time. Because these airfields sit just on the outskirts of Greater London, this gives you the perfect balance: a scenic transit watching the countryside give way to the urban landscape, followed by an unforgettable transit down the River Thames to see the main landmarks of the capital.

Central London airspace is incredibly congested and restricted. Flying from established, executive airfields just outside the perimeter allows operators to offer things like free customer parking and café amenities. It also gives passengers a thrilling "transition" flight, watching the green hills of Surrey, Kent, or Essex transform into the dense London skyline.

Yes we do. The difference between a standard tour and an executive charter is that on a private tour you will not be charing the cabin with other sightseeing passengers, it's all private to your group, usually between four and six passengers. Private charters over London feature on this page and we also have a section dedicated to Exclusive Helicopter Charters from departure points around the UK.

Don't worry—all Into The Blue vouchers. If you gift a London helicopter ride and the recipient decides it isn't for them, they can easily swap it using our 365-Day online exchange portal as long as the voucher is still valid and has not yet been booked with the flight operator.